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Caleb suddenly scowls, which normally makes me laugh, but not today. “She said you were into him. I didn’t believe her.” He pauses and folds his arms defiantly across his chest. “Listen, I don’t know what kind of arrangement you have with Clark.” Then his face shifts to one of disgust. “And I don’t want to know whatever you are doing with him, if it’s hooking up or—”

“It’s not that,” I interrupt. “We like each other. We’re going to date and see how it goes.”

Caleb groans, which irritates me, but I have to remember his position in this. Mason is his teammate. His biggest rival. I never expected him to do backflips of joy over this news.

“I have concerns,” he finally says, running his fingertips along his jaw.

I move across the small space and sit down on the fold-out bed. “Go on.”

Caleb walks over to the sink and leans his back against it, so he’s directly facing me. “This is complicated. You know that.”

I nod. “It is.”

“If you and Mason stop seeing each other, things will be super weird in the paddock. He’s going to be everywhere you go, Catherine. You won’t be able to avoid him. At all.”

My stomach tightens as I take in his words. I know he’s right.

Which makes me feel sick, to be honest.

“Once people find out about it, you’ll get a lot of media attention,” Caleb continues. “The past will be dragged out again, and comparisons will be made to Mum and Lars. Even though you aren’t cheating on anyone, there will be clickbait headlines about a Collings woman linking herself to a team driver.”

I don’t say anything. I just absorb his points. I know Caleb is just getting started.

“I know how badly you were hurt when that went down,” he says softly, a protective tone entering his voice. “I don’t want to see you go through that again. You need to think about this and decide how you’re going to handle it. And if Mason is worth the risk.”

“I have decided,” I reply without hesitation. “He is worth it, Caleb. I have fought my attraction to him for a long time for all these reasons and more. If he weren’t worth this risk, trust me, I’d never take it.”

Caleb looks at me, and I stare back into blue eyes that are identical to my own. I see a deep reservation in them, and I hate it.

But at the same time, I understand it. Because I’ve wrestled with the same fears myself.

“Okay, let’s say you get through all of that,” Caleb continues. “I don’t even like saying this, but I have to because you’re my sister and I love you. Mason is my rival. For twenty-four weekends a year, my entire job is to beat him. We can’t be friends for that reason. It’s too bloody hard when I have to go into the mindset of racing against him on the same team. I’m pushing him hard. I want to be the number-one driver. That’s not going to change because you are dating him.”

“I would never ask for that to change,” I reassure him quickly. “I know there’s a line that makes it impossible for you two to have anything more than respect for each other. Even best friends get pissed off at each other on track. You know what Xavier has said about you on the radio.”

Caleb finally cracks a smile. “I love that TV has to bleep out the names he’s called me during races.”

“But he’s not your teammate, so it’s easier to put that aside. You aren’t in the same garage. I know that. All I ask is that you and Mason both continue to do what you are doing. Respect each other and put Collings Motors first.”

“That’s what we’ll have to do. You’re going to have to remember that when we vent about each other on the radio or in meetings you’re in. You’re going to have to take that with a lot of salt, for both of us.”

I stare at him in disbelief. I can’t believe how rational and calm he’s being about this. “So you aren’t mad at me?” I ask, needing confirmation.

He furrows his brow. “Catherine, why would I be mad at you? Like, would it have been more convenient for you to date Xavier? Yes, but then again, I’d kill him if he ever came near you, so maybe that’s not a great example.”

Caleb grins at me, and I laugh softly. Then I grow serious.

“I promise I will not share any information with Mason. You’re my brother. I work for you. That’s a boundary I will not cross.”

“Oh, I’m not worried about that. You don’t hear my strategy sessions with JP anyway.”

I stick my tongue out at him, and he chuckles.

“Just be careful, okay?” Caleb says. “I know how careful you are with your heart, so it says something about Mason if you’re willing to take this chance with him. But proceed with caution.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Oh, okay, like you did with Isla, Mr. Love at First Sight?”

“Not true. I liked her at first sight. Love came at least a week later,” he teases.