Page 115 of Downforce

“Sorry, was I interrupting something? I can go.”

“No.”

“We were leaving.”

Edwin and I say at the same time. He looks at me, confused.

“We have dinner tonight with Randy, Scott, and his family.”

My frown deepens from being reminded of the dinner with our friends from school and some of their business colleagues.

“I’ll meet you down in the lobby,” I tell him before turning back to Annalise. I haven’t told Edwin about my seeing Annalise only because I know she’s leery of anyone finding out. And by anyone I mean her brother.

“Okay,” Edwin says with hesitation in his voice. “And thi⁠—”

I cut him off as he’s about to raise the book I shoved at him, into his chest. “Drop it off in the room. I’ll see you later.”

I give him a look says ‘leave’. He tilts his head as if to say ‘there will be questions about this later.’ I ignore the look and turn back to Annalise.

She watches Edwin leave.

“What was that about?”

“What?”

“Tell who to bugger off?”

I grin at her fake British accent.

“It’s about the Sao Paulo race.”

She cocks her head. “Wait.” There’s a pause as she bounces Lucky on her hip.

He’s found a new interest in playing with the diamond and gold pendant that hangs from the necklace she always wears in the days leading up to a qualifying. For qualifying and race days, she switches to a tear drop diamond necklace.

“Is this about you driving your father’s car?”

I drag my attention from the scant amount of exposed skin of her chest back up to her eyes. An instant punch to the stomach. One I can’t get enough of.

“What was that?”

“You heard what I said.”

I did. But I don’t want to talk about Brazil or my father’s old Amato car.

“What are you doing after the race on Sunday?"

That question puts her back on her heels, which I suppose, is what I was aiming for. Cocking her head, Annalise narrows her eyes at the same time Lucky sighs loudly.

Both of our gazes fall on the baby in her arms. His eyelids have visibly lowered, and I’m pretty certain if he could walk, he’d be a hazard to himself if he tried to at this point.

Soft, slightly husky laughter fills the air as Annalise laughs, staring at her nephew.

“He’s finally losing the battle with sleep.”

“I’m certain he fought hard,” I comment, then frown. “Though, is this his way of saying we’re boring him?” I press an affronted hand to my chest.

A ghost smile flashes across her face before casting her gaze her nephew’s way again. “Probably. I mean, you’re not as entertaining as my necklace pendant.” She briefly touches the pendant Lucky was enthralled by only minutes earlier.