Caleb steps through the doorway, and my breath catches in my throat. He smiles politely at Allyson, but then his gaze abruptly shifts to the hallway. When he sees me, his eyes meet mine, and I swear the air leaves my body.
Today he’s not dressed in a Collings Motors shirt and team baseball cap, like he is for the drivers’ press conferences. He’s in clothing of his own choosing this afternoon. I allow myself to drink him in. Caleb is wearing a white T-shirt with a black suede overshirt thrown over the top, and a pair of dark designer jeans.
His fashion is spectacular. I mean, I know that from watching his paddock fits since last season, but seeing it up close?
It only makes him more gorgeous.
Sexy.
HOT.
I snap myself into action, putting those thoughts aside, and walk up to meet Catherine, who introduces me to Bethany.
Then I turn to face Caleb, and my heart flutters like mad inside my chest. That or I’m having a stroke.
But something tells me my cardiology is fine, and this reaction is purely driven by being in the same airspace as Caleb.
“Caleb,” I say, extending my hand to him. “Thank you for coming today. I’m looking forward to our conversation.”
I shake his hand firmly, trying to ignore how my pulse leaps from the sensation of feeling his strong, calloused, oh-so-masculine hand gripping mine.
“You’re welcome,” he says, staring at me through the fringe of his long inky-black eyelashes.
Before I can say another word, I have all the jock-sniffers of the network behind me, and Caleb does the friendly thing and shakes hands with all of them. Catherine and Bethany are introduced to everyone, and Bethany immediately falls into conversation with the media relations VP for The Downforce Network.
Polite chitchat ensues for about ten minutes, and I watch as Caleb engages with everyone who speaks with him. It’s impressive, really. Caleb is a race car driver first. One of the best in the world, a driver who has one of the very elusive twenty seats available in Formula 1.
But watching him schmooze with the bigwigs of The Downforce Network? He’s good.
Really, really good.
Caleb actively listens and remains engaged in each conversation he has. He’s well-spoken and obviously knows what is expected of him when he’s with this kind of crowd. I know it’s no different than how he acts at team sponsor dinners, and he’s natural at it.
Finally, after about fifteen minutes, I wait for a break in conversation. When it happens, I’m ready.
“Caleb, may I have a word? There are a few things I’d like to ask you about before we step out into the garden for our interview.”
“Of course,” he says. I lead him away from the living room, back to the deserted hallway.
“Next time you need to do that faster,” he says, his eyes taking on a mischievous glint. “Because those conversations were ten minutes longer than I liked.”
I can’t help but smile at that. “Then, Mr. Collings, how are you going to sit down and have an extended interview with me?”
“Easy.”
He dips his head closer to my ear, so close that I can smell the sensual cologne he wears.
“I like talking to you.” His voice reverberates into my skin, and heat seeps through me from the sensation.
He quickly straightens before anyone can see us. “Now what do I need to know?”
For a moment, my brain can’t process anything other than what he just murmured in my ear. I can still smell him. Feel his words against my skin …
I use everything I have to reset myself.
“I made this a closed set,” I tell him. “The Downforce Network execs all wanted to watch, but I told them I’d cancel the interview before I’d allow that to happen.”
Caleb’s eyes widen in surprise. “Isla, why did you do that? I would have done it if that was a requirement.”