Clare Connelly Pairs: Warming the Sheikh’s Bed & Love in the Fast Lane

by Connelly , Clare

  The sound of the door clicking shut caught her attention and she turned around guiltily. Leonardo’s expression was distant; his eyes shuttered. He focused his gaze on her and seemed to breathe out with a heavy sigh of feeling.

  “Aurora.” He moved with his panther like grace across the room and crouched before her. “I was wrong to pressure you. I’m sorry.”

  She froze, surprise etched in her features. It was the last thing she’d been expecting him to say. “You’re sorry?”

  He nodded, a small smile on his lips. “I know I don’t say it often. Asking you to marry me was very, very spontaneous. Completely unplanned. Until I heard myself say the words, I didn’t realise that I even wanted that either.” He took her hands in his and held them tight. “It surprised me as much as it obviously did you. But I know now. It is what I want. One day, you’ll be ready, and I’ll be waiting. Because married, or not, all that matters is that we’re together.”

  She let out a small sound – a cross between a sob and a moue of gratitude. She couldn’t formulate the words to express what she was feeling. She dipped her head forward. “I wore the dress.”

  He was quiet for a moment. “I thought you might.”

  “And some stupid pap got a shot of me in it.”

  He could have laughed at how glum she sounded. “Why does this surprise you?” He queried, putting a finger under her chin so that she was looking at him.

  “It wound up on a stupid gossip column online. That and the fact that you and I are dating.”

  “Good. Great. I told you, honey, I want to shout it from the rooftops. As for the dress, you look great in it. Sinfully delicious. A little too great for my liking, when I’m not there to ward off unwanted attention, but it’s not the end of the world.”

  She shook her head. “I’m sorry we fought.”

  “No.” He kissed her lips, and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You don’t get to apologise this time. It was my fault. It’s your life and your decision to make. I was very wrong to pressure you, instead of listening to you. It won’t happen again.”

  Why did that leave her with an aching gulf of emptiness? The idea that he’d accepted her refusal. Worse, that he might not ask again?

  She tossed and turned all night, until eventually, afraid of disturbing Leonardo’s sleep the night before the qualifying round, she slipped out to the lounge area and lay on the sofa. If she was going to not sleep, it didn’t matter if it was in bed, or on a leather divan.

  The frustration she felt at herself was immense, and it showed no signs of abating. The next day, during qualifying, she steeled her nerves, to sit trackside with Beatrice and Peter and watch the race.

  It was the most nerve-inducing day of her life.

  By the end of it, Aurora felt exhausted. Physically drained.

  “You’re joining us for dinner again?” Peter asked in the lobby of the hotel.

  “No.” Aurora forced a smile to her pale face. Leonardo was still at the course, going over some final details with the car. He made control freaks look lazy, Aurora had always thought. “I’m beat, guys. I didn’t sleep at all well last night. I’m going to turn in early.”

  Beatrice scanned her best friend’s face thoughtfully. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” She cleared her throat. “I’ll be fine. I just need to rest.”

  Beatrice nodded, though she insisted on walking Aurora to the door of her room. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”

  “Yeah.” She pulled a face. “Sorry, Bea. I got so used to bottling everything up that I can’t break the habit.” She shrugged. “I don’t know what I can and can’t talk to you about anymore. Leonardo’s your brother. It’s not like a normal guy, where I can bore you with all my relationship problems. I don’t want to put you in a weird position.”

  Beatrice’s smile was reserved. “It’s new ground for all of us. But you’re my best friend. Our relationship works best when we’re honest. What’s going on?”

  Aurora’s beautiful face was haunted. “I hate this.” She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall for support. “I hate that he races. Every time he gets in the car, it’s like I’m back in that hospital.”

  Beatrice frowned. “You were in Germany?”

  Aurora nodded jerkily. “Yes. I was there. I saw his car come apart. I saw him crash into a hard wall of cement. I saw his broken, mangled body wrapped in bandages and stuck to machines and cables.” She shuddered. “He was broken, and it’s going to happen again. How can it not? And how can I see that?”

  “I went to Germany.” Beatrice frowned.

  “I was gone by then.” Her laugh was without humour. “You’re missing the point.”

  “Sorry.” Beatrice shook her head. “I just can’t believe how well you guys hid it from everyone.”

  “I know.”

  “Okay, racing is dangerous.” She put an arm on her friend’s shoulder. “I hate it too. If things go wrong, they can go really, badly wrong.” She shrugged. “But they don’t go wrong often. The chances of Leo being in another accident like that are… slim.”

  “I can’t help it. I just keeping seeing that crash. I can’t forget it. And it makes me sick.”

  Beatrice frowned. “I don’t know what to suggest, Rors. He’ll never give up driving, so if you want to be with him, you’re going to have to find a way to deal with what he does. That’s it. You’ve already tried walking away, and it didn’t work. So?”

  “So I have to try this. I know. I am trying.” She swallowed. “I am.”

  Beatrice exhaled a long slow breath. “I’m not sure you should have to try so hard though.”

  Aurora nodded. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll work it out. Go back to Peter; I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “You’re going to the race?”

  Aurora nodded, though her stomach was in knots. “I promised Leo I would.”

  “Good. I think the more times you see him race, the more you’ll realise that he’s incredibly good at what he does. And I’ll be there to hold your hand.”

  Aurora spontaneously wrapped her arms around her friend’s shoulders. “Thank you. I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “Me too. And Aurora? Don’t worry about it. Germany was a freak accident. Leo’s the best. He’ll be fine.”

  * * *

  The morning of the race began with a rumbling of distant thunder and a flash of lightning. The clouds were dark, threatening rain, and the air was dense with humid moisture. Aurora tried not to think of it as ominous, but the word kept coming to mind.

  “Morning.” Leonardo seemed like his usual self, perhaps a little tension had crept in, but that was to be expected on the mornings he had to front up and try to win something as important as an F1 event.

  She nodded. “Morning.” Her fingers fidgeted in her lap; the buffet that had been brought up no longer had any appeal. “How are you?”

  He looked at her with drawn brows. “Fine.”

  “It looks like it might rain?”

  He sighed, and took up the seat opposite her. “And so it might.”

  The last thing he needed was to worry about her. She knew that. He needed to be completely focussed on the race. She imitated a smile and cupped her hand over his. “What shall we do tomorrow?”

  He didn’t react at first. He continued to stare into her eyes, his expression thoughtful. Then a grin cracked across his face, and he reached for a piece of toast. “Something wonderful.” He kissed her, then stood, chewing on his toast as he went. “I have to go. I’ll see you after.” He grabbed his cap from behind the door. “Baby? I love you.”

  She nodded. “I know.”

  Her sense of unease grew as the morning progressed. By the time she had arrived, with Beatrice and Peter, at Sepang, her stomach was in knots. She slid her over-sized Chanel sunglasses in place, and ruffled her hair, as she stepped out of the car. In a matter of days, the fact that she was dating Leo had spread like wildfire. A small pack of photographers were huddled at the secure e
ntrance, waiting to get her picture. She stepped out, mindful of the fact, keeping her eyes averted, her head tilted down, her body posed. Nothing the press loved so much as unflattering angles.

  Despite her anxiety, it was impossible not to get a little caught up in the excitement. The team box was beneath them, the walls glassed and containing a fevered hive of activity. Aurora, Beatrice and Peter sat just above, in a section with perhaps ten other people, who were all special invitees of the team. Tens of thousands of people were crammed into the stands opposite, beneath the bright yellow sunshades.

  It was an hour into the race when the rain began to fall. Enormous black clouds moved overhead, and as though someone had run a knife along their underbellies, water gushed down. Torrentially, it drenched the track.

  Aurora gripped the railing even tighter.

  Seasoned viewers simply reached for their ponchos and continued watching, but Aurora felt as though her body was about to fall apart. The anxiety was enormous.

  “Here.” Beatrice handed her a glass of champagne.

  “Got anything stronger?” Aurora asked with a grimace, as she took the flute and sipped it gratefully.

  Peter leaned across Beatrice. “He’s used to this, Rors. Sepang is known for its unpredictable weather. Last year was just the same, and he nailed it. Just sit back and enjoy the show.”

  She did, or at least, she pretended to, for the next ten minutes. She sipped her champagne and kept a politely interested expression on her face in case the cameras swung to get a close up shot of her, as they often did at these events. Nothing made more riveting viewing in the midst of what could be an almost two hour long event than the occasional sticky beak at what the families of the racers were doing.

  There were only ten laps to go when Aurora at last accepted that he would be fine.

  That he was as good as home.

  And just like that, she let her guard down, and tempted all the fates to laugh at her.

  It happened so suddenly. Coming out of a sharp turn, a tyre of the car in front of him sped off, wheeling riotously across the track.

  Leonardo Fontana, in his bright red car, didn’t stand a chance. He came around the bend with speed, just as the wheel flopped into his path.

  The crowd let out a collective gasp, as his car left the bitumen and sailed into the air, flipping from back to front, and back again, before it crashed about twenty metres from where it had started. It skidded on the wet road, and then tipped on its side, as it hit the barrier. The sleek red machine was reduced to a hunk of scrap.

  And inside it was Leonardo Fontana.

  11

  Aurora lifted her hands to her face, and stood. Her eyes were drawn to the big screen, and all she could see was the mangled wreck. The car’s whole side was crumpled. Beatrice, beside her, was frozen. Even Peter was lost for words.

  “Oh, God, No.” Aurora shook her head from side to side, her body shaking like a leaf as the squeal of ambulances heralded the arrival of the safety team. “No, no, no, no, no.”

  She looked at the screen again, only to see her own image reflected back at her. “Shit.” She swore, and turned away. “What’s happening?” She gripped Beatrice’s hand, so hard that Beatrice yelped. “Peter, what’s happening?’

  “Hang on.” Peter craned forward, over the balcony, so that he could see the full sight of the crash. “They’re lowering the car. Hang on.”

  Aurora looked at the screen now, and she could see what Peter was describing. The Ferrari was tipped back onto its bottom, gently. A swarm of paramedics and Ferrari officials crowded around the vehicle, making it impossible to see anything.

  It felt like forever, but in fact, it took only minutes.

  “He’s walking!” Peter exclaimed. “He’s walking!”

  Aurora leaned over the balcony, to see for herself. Sure enough, Leonardo was moving with all his usual strength, away from the wreck. He undid the helmet and threw it carelessly onto the grass. His eyes scanned the crowds, then focussed on the Ferrari box.

  “Oh, thank God.” Aurora whispered, and then, her legs gave out on her. She collapsed to the ground, and pulled her knees to her chest. “Thank God.”

  Leonardo burst into the small platform moments later, to the sound of rapturous applause from the crowd. But still, Aurora stayed on the ground.

  He pushed past those who would have wished him well, pausing only to put a reassuring hand on his sister’s shoulder as she passed. He crouched down and put his hands under Aurora’s arms, lifting her with him, and holding her against his chest. “I’m okay.” He promised huskily. “I’m okay.”

  Several paramedics and Ferrari team members came through the doors after him.

  “Signore Fontana, you must allow us to check you over.”

  “When I’m ready,” he responded fiercely, without taking his eyes off Aurora’s stricken face. “I told you I have to do something first.”

  Aurora blinked, finally taking in the situation. She reached out and put her hands on either side of his face. “You’re okay,” she murmured thickly, with a small nod.

  She stared at his face, and felt as though her whole world made sense. “I thought you were dead.” A sob erupted out of her. “I thought you’d died. And all I could think… all I could think… was that I hadn’t said yes. That you might have died without knowing that I want to be with you for all my life.” She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. “Oh, Leo, in case you’re ever wondering, my answer is yes.” She sobbed again, not caring who saw. He was okay, and all that mattered was that he always would be. “Now please let these guys have a look at you.”

  “We need to talk,” he whispered in her ear. “Later.”

  She nodded, and kissed him gently on the lips. “There’ll be time.”

  She watched him go, as he was escorted away by the medical professionals, then, she moved to Beatrice and put an arm around her.

  Beatrice’s eyes were huge green pools in her pale face. “Oh, Rors. I get it. That was just about the worst thing I’ve ever seen. I get it.”

  Remarkably, he had survived unscathed. Though the car was damaged almost beyond repair, Leonardo was judged to have only a slight concussion from the way his head had been shaken.

  When all the fuss had died down, and they were alone again, Aurora sat beside him on the balcony of the apartment, her expression unreadable. In the distance, fireworks were exploding above the racetrack, as they would, on and off, for the rest of the night.

  “I’m sorry you didn’t finish the race,” she said, finally.

  He nodded. “I would have won.”

  “I know.” She swallowed nervously. “You’ll win next time.”

  He tilted his head towards her. When he spoke, it was with incredible softness. “There won’t be a next time. I’m done.”

  Aurora sat up straighter. “What?”

  “I’m done. I’ve told Amaro.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “You’re not. You’re doing this for me. And that’s wrong.”

  His smile was indulgent. “I am doing this for you, but that is not wrong.” He took her hand in his and sighed heavily. “Do you know what I have always loved about racing?”

  “What?”

  “The thrill. Nothing makes me feel more alive than getting behind the wheel and feeling the engine roar beneath me.” He shook his head. “I should say, nothing used to make me feel more alive. Winning in Melbourne should have been the most exciting point of my day. But it wasn’t.”

  “It wasn’t?”

  “No. It was waking up to you that morning. And the next morning. You are the greatest thrill in my life; the passion I love above all else. Racing was important to me, until you came along. Now? I realise I’ve just been marking time. This is better. This is bigger. I lost you once because I refused to face up to that fact. Not again.”

  Her heart turned over in her chest, but still she shook her head. “I can’t let you do it, Leo. I know you. You’ll be miserable without the tea
m.”

  “I haven’t quit the team. I have a contract. I’m switching to a design and training role. No one knows the engines and tracks quite like I do.”

  Aurora swallowed. “And that will make you happy?”

  “No.” He grinned. “That will be nice. You are what makes me truly happy.” His eyes were haunted. “I cannot risk putting you through what you felt today. When I saw you on the balcony, I knew I would do anything to take that fear away. Either I quit, or we break up. And we both know how that turns out.”

  His attempt at a joke fell flat. She furrowed her brow, forming a little crease between her eyes. “I told you in Melbourne that I would support you. That I could get past my own worries because you love to race.”

  He laughed with a small shake of his head. “And your willingness to try meant the world to me. That was enough. That you wanted to understand my love for F1. I am simply not willing to put you through that again, though.”

  “I don’t ever want to feel that again,” she whispered, her eyes hollow. “But I know you Leo. You won’t be happy without that… adventure. And I can’t be the one who makes you give it up. You’ll end up hating me for it.”

  “Don’t you see?” He kneeled down in front of her, his smile genuine. “I’m not giving anything up. The thrill I got from racing is nothing compared to life with you. And I can’t, and won’t, do both. It would be selfish and wrong. When I asked you to marry me, it wasn’t because I thought things should always be on my terms, so that I could be happy doing everything I want, and you would just have to suffer through it. No. I asked you to marry me because I want to make a real life with you. That means making compromises sometimes. And believe me, Sleeping Beauty, the love that I feel for driving is way, way down on the list compared to how I feel for you.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’m only sorry I didn’t realise this three years ago, to save us all that time apart.”

  Like sunshine piercing rays through thick clouds, Aurora felt true happiness punctuating her soul. “Are you… are you absolutely sure?”