Fearless Maverick (23 page)

 
          
‘Can’t
or won’t?’

 
          
‘Alex,
we have some intense days ahead of us. Let’s concentrate on that.’

 
          
His
voice deepened. ‘You’re sure you’re okay?’

 
          
She
said yes but wanted to add,
Or I will be
.

 
          
She
couldn’t wait for Wednesday to come and go. She knew Alex couldn’t either.

 
          
She
and Alex worked diligently together on Monday and Tuesday. She told him she’d
feel happier not to see each other on an intimate basis until these hard yards
were out the way. They didn’t discuss those photographs again. He didn’t
mention whether any reporters had tried to get a quote. She couldn’t bear to go
near her computer or the internet and told Payton to do her a favour and not
fill her in on any goss.

 
          
When
Wednesday dawned, Libby rocked up at the Rose Bay mansion and tested Alex’s
shoulder. She held nothing back and was vigilant for any sign of weakness or
pain, but he showed no trace of fatigue. Never came near wincing. After their
setback on Friday, she found it difficult to believe. She didn’t want to make a
mistake or have anyone assume she’d forfeited her ethics for her ‘boyfriend.’
Her client’s best interests always came first. And in this case, it seemed,
Alex’s interests would be best served by returning early to the track.

 
          
Of
course the team doctor would want to perform his own evaluation. But she couldn’t
see that he wouldn’t concur. Seemed Alex Wolfe would be racing in China after
all. Hopefully he would surge back to the top, and her reputation would be left
intact. Of course they wouldn’t be attending his brother’s wedding, but she had
a feeling that with the eldest brother’s unexpected appearance after twenty
years, there would be many more Wolfe reunions in the future. Hopefully she and
Alex would continue to see each other … which meant her privacy would be
affected. She could barely tolerate the thought of being corralled by heartless
members of the paparazzi as she had been on Monday. But it was a price she was
prepared to pay.

 
          
With
the evaluation complete, Alex shrugged back into his shirt. ‘Well, doc, what’s
the verdict?’

 
          
Standing
alongside him before the mirror, she crossed her arms and raised her chin. ‘I
have to say that based on what I’ve seen today and the progress that you’ve
made …’

 
          
He
stopped buttoning and almost frowned. ‘Is it a green light or a red?’

 
          
She
smiled. ‘Green. In my opinion your shoulder is strong enough to cope well under
professional car racing conditions.’

 
          
Ecstatic,
Alex punched the air, but he was wise enough to do it with his left arm. Then
he brought her close and kissed her with a tender passion that left her heart
banging against her ribs. When his mouth released hers, he smiled into her eyes
and then, relieved and so pleased, he laughed and Libby discovered she was
laughing too. She’d made the right decision, and now she only had to wait for
Alex to win that race in Beijing and then contact her to discuss how, where and
when they would celebrate. The world might see her as ‘not up to par’ but Alex
wouldn’t use her emotions, use her growing affection and trust, to get what he
needed. Not after everything they’d shared.

 
          
Alex
strode over to collect his phone off a ledge near the treadmills. ‘I need to
call the team manager. The test driver needs to be told and forms have to be
signed.’

 
          
Understanding
completely, Libby headed off to collect her bag. ‘Absolutely. I’ll be on my
way.’

 
          
Phone
in hand, Alex quizzed her eyes. ‘Do you need to write up a letter? Sign
something?’

 
          
‘I’ll
fix it with your assistant when I get back to the office.’

 
          
He
held her gaze, his expression lighter than she’d ever seen, but somehow she
knew he wasn’t really seeing
her
.
Rather he was imagining the crowd cheering him on this weekend. He was
anticipating the challenge and thrill of being back in the driver’s seat, of
doing what he was born to do. Race and win. He was excited. He had every right
to be.

 
          
Of
course he’d need to keep up with the specific stretches and strengthening exercises,
not only for the short-term but for the rest of his life. He’d need regular
physio checkups to be on the safe side. Given he wasn’t permanently stationed
here in Sydney, it didn’t necessarily have to be her.

 
          
Libby
chewed her lip.

 
          
How
much time did Alex actually spend in Australia?

 
          
As
if he’d read her thoughts, Alex set the phone aside and strode over. Looking
proud and happy, but also distracted, he held her upper arms and spoke in an
earnest voice she hadn’t heard before.

 
          
‘We
can celebrate next week. In the meantime … can you fly out later today?’

 
          
She
could only gape.
Fly out?

 
          
‘You
mean to
China
?’

 
          
‘Practice
laps start tomorrow.’

 
          
Libby
held her swooping stomach. She couldn’t get her mind around what he’d asked.
She’d assumed that he’d board his private jet and, focused only on the finish
line, leave her behind. He wanted her to fly with him to Asia?

 
          
But,
‘I—I can’t. I have appointments.’

 
          
Responsibilities.
He knew that.

 
          
His
mouth pressed into a thin line. ‘There’s no use trying to convince you, I
suppose. But I can be back by Tuesday. We’ll go out on the town then.’

 
          
Holding
that thought, she nodded, snatched a kiss and, grinning, headed for the door. ‘Great.
Then I’ll leave you with it.’

 
          
‘I’ll
see you out.’

 
          
‘No.
Really, I’m fine.’

 
          
But
he was already a step ahead of her.

 
          
As
they walked down the hall, she tried not to dwell on the fact that he didn’t
take her hand or rest his palm against her back as he had these past days. His
mind was thousands of miles away. Understandable. She remembered well how
intense psyching up before a competition could be.

 
          
After
opening the front door, he accompanied her out on to the patio. Suddenly
uncertain of whether to kiss him again, shake his hand or perhaps simply send a
salute, she muttered a quick, ‘Good luck,’ then headed for the steps. About to
take the first, a hand on her elbow pulled her up.

 
          
She
turned and peered up into his smiling eyes. ‘One more kiss and I’ll let you go.’

 
          
He
was bringing her near when Libby’s thoughts leapt upon those intimate shots
taken of them last week. Then she thought of those horrible questions that
reporter had shot at her, and she flinched and pulled away.

 
          
‘Let’s
not.’ She skipped a glance around. ‘There could be some lenses pointed this
way.’

 
          
But,
smiling still, he only slid a step closer so Libby took a step back. Then the
ground seemed to vanish from beneath her and she was falling backward with
nothing to grip. Her arms had flailed in an arc over her head and her body was
going horizontal when her waist was lassoed and she was tugged back up and onto
her feet.

 
          
Out
of breath, she got her balance, then her bearings. She looked over in time to
see Alex’s right arm fall away from its hook around the nearby patio column …
in time to see him grimace and hold his shoulder while his jaw clenched tight.
When he saw her studying him, his hand dropped away, the contorted expression
vanished and he rolled back his shoulders.

 
          
Holding
her roiling stomach, she came closer and reached to touch the joint. ‘Oh, God,
Alex, you’re hurt.’

 
          
Winding
away, he seemed stuck between a scowl and a smile.

 
          
‘I’m
fine
.’

 
          
‘Please,
Alex, let me see.’

 
          
He
caught her hand. ‘You were on your way to write a letter.’

 
          
‘Are
you in much pain?’

 
          
‘Not
even a twinge.’

 
          
She
studied his darkening gaze and swallowed back worry and regret. Her voice was
choked. ‘I’m sorry—’ sorrier than he could ever imagine ‘—but I don’t believe
you.’

 
          
His
eyes narrowed at the same time his nostrils flared and a vein pulsed down the
side of his throat. ‘You want proof?’ He fisted his right hand and brought it
almost level to his waist before bringing it down again. Dying inside, Libby
bit her lower lip. He hadn’t been able to lift his arm any higher.

 
          
She
put a professional note in her voice. ‘We’ll get another MRI.’

 
          
‘No
more tests, dammit! I’m ready to drive.’

 
          
‘I’m
sorry, Alex, I’m so sorry.’ She knew what it meant to him. What he thought he
was losing.
Everything
. ‘But I don’t
think you are ready.’ She raised her hands in a calming gesture. ‘We’ll work on
it, okay? Your next race after China is when? Two weeks? If we put all our
effort into—’

 
          
‘Right
now I need to make a phone call,’ he cut in, something like rage and betrayal
darkening his face. ‘If you’ll excuse me.’

 
          
He
turned on his heel and left Libby gaping as the door shut in her face.

 
          
At
one in the afternoon, Eli Steele arrived at Libby’s practice. Payton led him
straight through to her office.

 
          
Eli
was a tall, attractive man. Well-mannered, Libby remembered as she rose from
behind her desk. And one hundred and ten percent dedicated to Alex Wolfe. She
wondered if Alex had ever abused his assistant’s trust like he’d so recently
abused hers. Having that twelve-foot-high door shut in her face wasn’t an event
she’d soon forget.

 
          
‘I
have communication here from Alex,’ Eli said, after taking her hand in a
professional greeting. ‘I wanted to deliver it in person.’

 
          
Her
stomach churning, Libby murmured that she appreciated that and with shaking
hands opened the sealed envelope. Holding her breath, she scanned the lines.

 
          
Libby
,

 
          
Thank you for all your efforts. After
discussions with my team manager and doctor it’s been decided my situation may
well benefit from a different approach. I thank you for your time and
dedication to date. I will be in contact after I’m back behind the wheel.
Sincerely, Alex Wolfe

 
          
Feeling
as if a bomb had exploded in her face, Libby set down the letter.

 
          
‘He’s
… disappointed,’ Eli explained, as if that could be an excuse.

 
          
Alex
was disappointed?

 
          
She
sank into her chair. ‘So am I.’

 
          
Particularly
that he’d had Eli do his dirty work. Bet it wasn’t the first time.

 
          
Like
a good assistant, Eli made an excuse. ‘You have to understand … racing is Alex’s
life. He couldn’t be a champion if he didn’t concentrate everything he had on
showing up and winning.’