Race to the Top: Book one in the Racing to Find Love series

by KT Shears

  ‘Nikki,’ Jack said, roaring with laughter. ‘Dazzling but deadly dull Nikki. Do you ever see her anymore?’

  Erik shook his head fervently.

  ‘Nope,’ he said. ‘I’ve seen her around a couple of races but believe me, that ship has sailed.’

  Elena was looking at him interestedly.

  ‘Is there someone else?’

  His moment of hesitation was fatal. Elena pounced.

  ‘There is someone else! Who is she? Model? Singer?’

  ‘Porn star?’ Jack piped up, causing Erik to glare at him.

  ‘There isn’t anyone else,’ Erik said, not even believing himself. ‘Or, well, there’s this girl…’

  Elena clapped her hands together.

  ‘I knew it,’ she said. ‘You’ve got a glow about you, doesn’t he have a glow, Jack?’

  Jack snorted with laughter and Erik rolled his eyes at Elena.

  ‘I don’t have a glow,’ he said. ‘I’m just sweating at the Spanish inquisition here.’

  Elena shrugged, vaguely apologetically.

  ‘Come on, then. Who is she?’

  Erik sighed. He wasn’t going to get out of this one.

  ‘Her name is Anna. Anna Sawyer,’ he said. ‘And she’s a magazine writer.’

  Elena and Jack stared at him.

  ‘You mean, she’s not a model? Or full-time racing groupie? She’s actually got a normal, everyday career?’ Elena asked, clearly astounded.

  Erik nodded, feeling a bit proud of this.

  ‘This is a turn-up for the books,’ Elena said, excitedly. ‘What magazine does she write for?’

  ‘Er, something called Stylish magazine I think.’

  ‘Ooh I have an online subscription to Stylish.’ Elena vanished out of the room.

  ‘So,’ Jack said ‘Is she a hottie?’

  Erik nodded slowly.

  ‘She’s gorgeous,’ he said. ‘But she’s not my usual type. She’s brunette, for a start, and she’s got some curves.’

  He thought of those mouth-watering curves.

  ‘Calm down,’ Jack said, laughing. Clearly Erik hadn’t disguised his thoughts very well.

  Elena came back into the room with her laptop and set it down on the table, tapping away.

  ‘Here,’ she said. ‘I thought I recognised the name. I just finished an article she wrote in the latest issue about the sex trade. It was really, really well written.’

  She passed the laptop across the table to him and Erik scanned the story. Wow, Elena was right. It was great writing.

  ‘So she’s got brains,’ Jack said. ‘What does she see in you?’

  Erik threw a bottle cap at him and Elena tutted.

  ‘If you boys are going to mess about, you can do it outside,’ she said, pointing to the patio doors.

  Erik and Jack carried their drinks outside and sat in the evening sun, overlooking the sparkling blue swimming pool. Maybe he should buy a house in Monaco, Erik thought. Everyone else had one, and it was really something out here.

  ‘So, this girl,’ Jack said, taking a swig of beer. ‘How far have you got?’

  ‘Not far at all,’ Erik said. ‘We went for dinner after qualifying, that’s about it. We talked a lot, though. We sat together on the plane.’

  ‘Dinner? And nothing else?’ Jack was surprised.

  ‘Yep,’ Erik said, and then sighed.

  ‘What’s bothering you?’

  ‘It’s just not the right time.’ Erik said. ‘I really have to focus 100%. Any distraction at all and Devlin will have me. You know what it’s like.’

  Jack nodded.

  ‘I do,’ he said. ‘And I totally know where you’re coming from. But all I’m going to say is – sometimes you can’t stop something if it’s right.’ And he looked through the doors, smiling as Elena busied herself clearing up the dinner things.

  Chapter nineteen

  Anna felt giddy with happiness. She and Erik had been e-mailing back and forth for weeks, and she felt like she was floating around on a cloud. She often went back and re-read their conversations, finding some other small detail to pore over. When Erik’s first reply had come over with a kiss, she had taken a picture of it on her phone and texted it to Jules, who had phoned her immediately and squealed down the phone.

  Her column had gone down well. James O’Hare had seemed happy with it, Stella told her, and that was all that matters. To her surprise, Anna had received a few letters and e-mails too from readers telling her how much they had enjoyed it. She had still been glad, though, to get back to her usual bread and butter and pursue some more serious stories.

  She smiled suddenly, thinking how different her weekends had become of late. Instead of the usual round of shopping, meals out, going to bars, she found herself sitting in her Willis Mechanical shirt at all hours watching all the races – and not just the races themselves, she watched all the practice sessions, qualifying, even the analysis programmes afterwards. She loved when Erik came on the screen, or when he gave an interview, although it did make her realise that she missed him in a way she never would have thought she could miss a man she had only spent a handful of days with. She hated when Devlin came on, and had been known to throw things at the screen when his cocky face appeared.

  Chatting with Erik had made time seem to pass more quickly, and as she lay in bed one night, she realised it was less than a week until she would see him again. He had mentioned in one of his latest emails that his parents would be at the next race; she remembered him telling her about that in Australia, too. She hadn’t been sure what to reply – it wasn’t like they were dating or anything, so it would be weird to meet his parents, right? But then, he seemed to be hinting that she would. Did that mean he wanted to get their approval? She felt very excited and hoped the remaining days at work would pass quickly.

  ***

  To her surprise, when Anna arrived at the airport – suitably prepared for the private charter, this time – Erik was there. She had assumed he would make his own way there as he did to most races, and nothing in his emails had led her to believe that he would be there. Although she was delighted he was there, she felt a bit ambushed and wished she had worn something a bit more attractive than her loose-fitting travelling garb.

  She saw him first, and hovered awkwardly, wondering whether to go and say hello. Even though they had been chatting via email, she still wasn’t sure what stage of a relationship they were at or if there was any relationship at all. Maybe he’s just bored, she had mused to Jules at dinner that week. Jules had shaken her head.

  ‘Anna, he’s a millionaire. If they’re bored, they buy a yacht or go to the Riviera with a host of models.’

  Erik spotted her and waved, striding over to her. When he reached her, Anna wasn’t sure what to do in greeting, so she ended up giving him a sort of half hug. Argh, she was such an idiot. Why couldn’t she be one of those cool women who could just give a little nod or a smile?

  ‘Good to see you’ve travelled a bit lighter than last time,’ Erik said, lifting her suitcase.

  Anna laughed.

  ‘I think I learned my lesson. You should have seen me trying to get my case to my car when we arrived back last time. It was like a comedy sketch.’

  Erik laughed and they started walking.

  ‘I thought you’d make your own way to the race,’ Anna said, wondering why he was here.

  Erik shrugged.

  ‘I was back at home for a few days so it made sense just to fly with everyone else.’

  ‘Devlin’s not here is he?’ Anna said, looking around cautiously.

  Erik shook his head.

  ‘I think he’s been in the Caribbean,’ he said.

  ‘Oh, with his wife?’

  Erik scoffed.

  ‘I doubt it.’

  They reached the airfield and boarded. It seemed natural they would sit together, so Anna just walked to the seats they had occupied last time and sat down. Erik sat beside her.

  ‘Thank god this is a short fli
ght,’ Anna said. ‘I don’t think I could cope with ever doing another Australia trip.’

  Erik shrugged.

  ‘You get used to it. Sometimes you’re so busy, it’s nice to have the flight time to actually relax and read or get some sleep.’

  Anna thought Erik looked particularly gorgeous today. He looked better in flesh than on TV, and he already looked pretty damn good on TV. Her heart felt like it was skipping as they sat and chatted.

  ‘My parents will be arriving not long after us,’ Erik said.

  ‘They must be looking forward to seeing you.’

  ‘And the cars, in my dad’s case.’ Erik laughed. ‘You’ll like them I think, although they can be a bit…what’s the phrase? Full-on, that’s it.’

  So she was going to meet them.

  ‘They sound great.’ Anna thought for a moment. ‘Where will they watch the race from?’

  ‘The same VIP bit you did last time.’

  ‘VIP bit? I thought that was Gary’s version of the naughty corner.’

  Erik laughed.

  ‘Are you often naughty?’ he asked, winking.

  Anna thought she would faint.

  Chapter twenty

  Erik knew by the time he got off the plane that he was in trouble. He thought that the weeks apart might have led him to remember Anna as prettier and smarter and funnier than she actually was – but within seconds of seeing her at the airport, he discovered the reverse was true – she was actually prettier, smarter, and funnier than he remembered. And she had hugged him. He recalled the way her body felt pressed against him. He’d wanted to draw her in to him…but then she’d stepped back and the moment was over.

  He was sorry it had been such a short flight. It had seemed like mere minutes before they were touching down in Germany, and getting off the plane. They’d lingered in the hotel foyer. Erik wanted to ask Anna out somewhere, but he had to go and meet his parents who would be arriving shortly.

  Reluctantly, he told her he had to go.

  ‘I’ll see you at practice tomorrow,’ she said, smiling up at him.

  Erik marvelled at how suddenly less than 24 hours seemed like an age, when they’d just done two months without seeing each other.

  His parents were in fine form when they arrived. His dad loved coming to grand prix, and the minute he arrived, launched into an excited babble about the upcoming days ahead. Erik’s mother wasn’t particularly interested in the minutiae of racing, but she was always first in the VIP seating area, hands clasped on her lap, waiting for the race to begin.

  Erik hoped he would win. In the past two months, it seemed like he and Devlin were trading wins, and they were just about neck-and-neck in the standings. Devlin had been getting increasingly aggressive with his driving, and Gary had hauled him aside after the last race to warn him about his behaviour. Erik didn’t think it would make any difference – Devlin was determined to win at any cost. He would just have to be extra careful himself. He couldn’t afford any non-finishes, that could kill his chances.

  By the time his parents had settled into their hotel room, it was almost time for dinner. He thought of Anna, and wondered what she was doing. He didn’t like the idea of her being on her own – but he didn’t want his parents to think there was something going on between them. His mother would never stop going on about it.

  Erik knew that both his parents would really like Anna. She was the kind of girl his mother had been on at him to find for a good few years, finally becoming tired and exasperated with the chain of leggy models he kept being snapped in magazines with.

  ‘I brought you up to have a brain, Erik Jonasson,’ she’d said. ‘You need a woman who also has a brain.’

  Well, Anna certainly had a brain. She was much smarter than him, and dedicated to her own career. He thought of Jack and Elena. Could he have that with Anna?

  Erik shook himself. He was getting carried away – they hadn’t even kissed yet, and he was envisaging Anna following him round the world. He needed to chill out – he had a race to win this weekend, and a championship to win, too. He had to stay focused.

  His parents had been reluctant to go out to eat, as they were tired after their journey, so Erik had booked a table for them in the hotel restaurant.

  They entered and sat down, perusing the menus that the waiter handed out. Erik was facing the door and, with a start, he noticed Anna walk in. She hadn’t noticed them, and he watched as a waiter guided her to a table in the corner. She was obviously on her own.

  Erik’s mother followed his gaze.

  ‘Friend of yours?’ she asked, slyly.

  Erik wasn’t quite sure how to answer. He didn’t want to give his mother any ammunition.

  ‘She’s a writer travelling with the team,’ he said, carefully.

  ‘Is she on her own?’ his father asked, now also staring at Anna.

  ‘She seems to be,’ Erik said. He knew what was coming.

  ‘Oh Erik, invite the girl over. She can’t sit on her own, it’s not right.’ His mother elbowed his father, who nodded sagely.

  ‘Your mother’s right, Erik.’

  Erik sighed. On the one hand, he relished the idea of getting to spend more time with Anna. She was looking stunning tonight. She’d curled her hair, and it fell in soft waves about her shoulders. She wore a red fitted dress with matching heels; the dress clung in all the right places, accentuating her curvy figure. Erik wanted to run his hands all over those curves. On the other hand, he knew she would be interrogated by his mother. But what could he do? They were right, she couldn’t eat on her own.

  He crossed the room and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned and Erik was pleased to see that she looked happy to see him.

  ‘I didn’t realise you would be eating here,’ she said to him.

  ‘My parents were tired,’ Erik said. Now up close, he could savour the scent of her. It was intoxicating and he breathed her in. ‘Would you like to join us?’

  Anna looked uncertain.

  ‘I don’t want to intrude,’ she said, hesitantly.

  ‘You won’t be – they suggested it.’

  He regretted saying that in case she thought he didn’t want her there.

  ‘And I would you like you to,’ he added.

  She beamed at that, and he smiled too.

  ‘Sure, then, that’s very nice of you.’

  Anna followed Erik across the room to the table where his parents sat.

  Erik introduced them as she sat down.

  ‘So, Anna. Erik says you are a writer. Do you just do sports?’ His mother was wasting no time.

  ‘Oh no,’ Anna laughed. ‘I guess Erik didn’t tell you I know barely anything about sports. I usually write human interest and political pieces, so this is a bit of an education.’

  ‘Oh that sounds fascinating. What are you working on at the moment?’

  ‘I’m writing a piece about austerity measures and how they are impacting on the everyday lives of normal families. It’s been quite an eye-opener, meeting some people who are really struggling to make ends meet.’

  Erik felt a bit of a hypocrite for being a millionaire sitting in an expensive hotel.

  ‘That sounds like a very worthy cause,’ his dad said, smiling at Anna. ‘So how did you end up getting sucked into the race scene?’

  Anna laughed, and Erik felt a swell of pride. Her parents liked her, he could tell already. His mother had already shot him a few looks over the table to indicate that this was the kind of woman he should be involved with.

  ‘Basically,’ Anna said, taking a sip of wine that Erik had poured her, ‘The magazine I work for is owned by James O’Hare, who owns Willis Mechanical. He wanted a bit of free promotion and the end result is me being sent off around the world a few times to report on celebrity spottings, fashion, that sort of thing.’ She pulled a face.

  ‘It sounds like a bit of a change from your usual stuff,’ Erik’s dad said.

  ‘It is,’ Anna admitted, ‘But I have to say, I really enjoye
d my first race. I was amazed by the speed of the cars and the drivers…’ She looked at Erik and he thought he detected a little blush. ‘The drivers have so much skill, it’s incredible.’

  Alfred was nodding enthusiastically.

  ‘You must sit with us tomorrow,’ he said.

  Anna seemed surprised.

  ‘I wouldn’t want to intrude,’ she said, again.

  ‘Don’t be silly,’ his mother chipped in. ‘We’d love to get to know you a bit.’

  Erik wanted to roll his eyes at her. She was being incredibly obvious. It was time to step in.

  ‘So, Mama, what happened with the conservatory you guys were building?’

  Chapter twenty-one

  Anna had fallen in love with Erik’s parents. They had chatted long after the meal had been finished, and she had learned lots more about the sexy racing driver who sat next to her. His parents were full of hilarious anecdotes about Erik’s childhood and Anna had listened with pleasure. She had laughed when Erik blushed at some of the stories, amused that a millionaire superstar could still be embarrassed by his parents. So he was human, then.

  They had eventually broken up at around 11pm, when Mrs Jonasson’s yawning had got too much to ignore and Erik had sternly told her to go to bed. Erik had walked Anna back to her room, and they stood outside the door, neither one wanting to be the first to say goodnight.

  ‘Thanks for dinner. It was really nice of you and your parents to let me sit with you.’

  ‘Not at all,’ Erik said, and Anna gazed into his piercing blue eyes. She could lose herself in those eyes, she thought.

  ‘I guess I’ll see you at practice tomorrow morning,’ Anna said, reluctantly withdrawing her key.

  Erik was staring at her, and she wasn’t sure why. He didn’t speak for a few seconds, and she wondered, suddenly, if she’d offended him somehow. And then, suddenly, his arms were round her, pulling her tight against him.

  She responded immediately, her lips seeking out Erik’s. He tasted divine, and she couldn’t get enough of him. She pressed herself into him and felt his breath quicken as he gripped her tightly. Anna didn’t know how long they stood there like that, it could have been seconds, it could have been hours. They broke apart, both breathing heavily.