DANTE

"It's okay to look sad, mate. You broke up with your girl. But no need to look too upset. All those chicks want you. Want us," Jack said, and he tipped his glass in the direction of a group of women who were smiling and blowing kisses our way.

"You're incorrigible. Where's Tanya? I thought you two were hooking up."

"She's back at the hotel. We had a fight a couple weeks back and we're taking a breather. But she emailed me with the news about you and Savvy. So how 'bout it? Now that you're officially single we can resume our old habits, no?"

I winced and surveyed the crowd in the club from the VIP platform. This wasn't where I wanted to be. Rather, it wasn't who I wanted to be with. I shifted my weight from foot to foot. I didn't even feel like drinking champagne tonight. Well, not with Jack.

"Not interested. Oh, and I wanted to tell you. Please make sure Savannah's in the pits for the remaining races. She's done such an excellent job that she deserves to be there. She can handle herself and her safety."

Jack scowled and waved a hand in front of my face. "Excuse me. Who are you? What have you done with Dante Annunziata? I mean, I agree with you about Savannah."

I cracked a smile.

"What the hell's going on?" Jack sipped from his glass.

"I haven't told you any of this."

"You haven't told me anything over the last few months because you've been joined at the hip, lips, and everywhere else with one redheaded pit crew girl. You sure got the seducing part down, but you didn't get her off the team."

I pushed out a breath. "Remember that photo of me and Savannah in the garage in Italy?"

Over the next half hour, I explained what happened after the photo had circulated. How Bronson had all but blackmailed me into a fake relationship with Savannah so the press would focus on that and not Max's alleged involvement in the technical information scandal.

"I knew all about it." Jack sucked on his teeth.

"You did?" I said, gaping at him.

Jack guffawed. "Tanya tells me everything."

I jiggled my knee. "Of course. Anyway, it gets complicated." I hesitated, not wanting to reveal too many intimate details about Savannah.

"Uh-oh. Why? Is she pregnant?"

"Ovviamente, no." My brain flashed to an image of Savannah, big with my child. To my surprise, I wasn't horrified. Quite the opposite, actually. I shoved the thought aside with a shake of my head. "But let's put it this way. I'd prefer to be with her tonight rather than your ugly mug."

I finished my champagne. My chest had felt like it was in a vise grip watching her pull off the engagement ring earlier. As if I'd actually asked her to marry me and she'd ripped it off like she didn't care. Or worse, didn't want me. I had to look away when she removed it; otherwise I was worried I'd blurt out my true feelings in front of everyone.

Leave it on, I'd wanted to say.

I'd noticed how Bronson had taken her aside during the meeting, and I'd thought about physically carrying Savannah out of the room when the team owner had leaned close to her ear. Was it possible that he'd asked Savannah out? I wouldn't put anything past Bronson, that sneaky douchebag. Savannah wouldn't say yes to him, would she? Of course not. She was smarter than that.

"Why are you hanging around here with the likes of me? Go be with her. Go have fun. Hell, settle down with her. She's a good person."

"Settling down didn't work for you." Jack had been divorced twice.

Jack shrugged. "Racing's bad for marriages. The travel, the women. But you, you're retiring. You're starting a new chapter in life. If you've found somebody you connect with, why not give it a whirl? At least the girl knows her stuff about racing. Damn, she's smart, Dante. And she seems to know how to tolerate your bullshit."

"I know. She is. And she does." Downing my drink, I clapped Jack on the back. "As usual, you're right. I'm calling it a night, friend. Have fun tonight, and be safe."

I stalked out, followed by team security. Several photographers followed, eager to get any scraps about how I'd broken up with my fiancée. Tanya had leaked the news to Brazil's biggest tabloid, and within hours, it was at the top of every website.

"Everything okay with you and Savannah?"

"Why are you here alone?"

"Where's your grid girl?"

The questions made me scowl, and it took all of my willpower not to snarl a response—or shove a camera into one of their faces. Once ensconced in the elevator with a security detail, I blew out a breath.

The suite was quiet and dark when I let myself in.

"Savannah? Amore?" I checked the bedroom. I didn't hear her welcoming voice, or see her reading in bed as I'd hoped. Was she still at the spa? Somewhere else?

With a growl, I pushed open the door to the second bedroom.

"Hey, I'm sleeping."

"What are you doing in here?" I shut the door and lifted the duvet so I could crawl into bed and stretch out next to her. "How was your night with Kayla?"

"She went out with Travis. But she came back here for a drink after. We had some wine. It was nice."

"Look at you. You're warm. And you're almost naked." I nuzzled her neck, and her skin smelled like sleep and sugar. She was wearing one of her soft little tank top and panty combos. "You smell amazing." My hands went to her ass and my dick immediately grew hard.

"I went to the spa all night," she said, her voice sleepy. "I got an epic, intense massage."

"But why are you in the smaller bedroom?" I kissed her mouth several times, but I was already thinking of where else I wanted to place my lips on her body. "God, you smell good. Like vanilla. I want to lick you. Can I? Will you spread your legs for me and let me—"

"Dante, I'm in here because I thought you'd want privacy when you returned. In case you brought—"

I stopped caressing her. "What? Do you honestly think I'd bring someone back to the suite while you were here? What do you take me for?"

In the darkness, she lifted her shoulders into a shrug.

"Savannah." I took my hands off her. My voice was louder and harsher than I intended. "You don't get it, do you?"

"Get what? We're over, Dante. We're done. Finished. We don't need to pretend anymore. Plus, the season is ending in two races. After Mexico City and Dubai, you can get back to your life in Italy, and I can return to mine in the US."

"Ohh, Savannah mia." I wrapped her in my arms and drew her close, making soothing shh noises in her ear.

"You don't even know how I take my coffee," she said in an accusing tone.

"What?"

"When we were having drinks the other night with Kayla and Travis. You seemed shocked that I drink my coffee with sugar. We've had coffee dozens of times together on planes and in the team canteen. That one little thing proves you know nothing about me."

"I know lots about you."

"What's my favorite color?"

I paused. "Red?"

"That's your favorite color. Jerk."

"This is a ridiculous conversation. Come here."

She let out a strangled, impatient noise.

"Savannah Jenkins," I said sharply, hauling her body next to mine. "I know lots about you. I know how sweet your kisses are, and how to make you tremble when I touch you in certain spots. I know that you make little moaning noises in your sleep that are a more alluring sound than any thousand-horsepower racing engine. I know you more than you realize."

After a minute, she relaxed into me.

She still didn't understand the depth of my feelings, despite my actions. I had so many things to tell her, but it was too terrifying to say the words aloud. All I could do was cup her face and kiss her sweetly, then love her in my own wordless way.