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She would wait a long tin of the old humour, Mia realised Ram just continued to stare at her, his brow furrowed as if he were reading everything she didn’t want him to know

Seconds ticked by Her breathing sounded loud in the silence Suddenly she was eight years old again and aith braces on her teeth Or worse—sixteen, when she had wanted nothing more than the touch of his hands—

Apart fros, Mia concluded as Ram eased onto one hip ‘I like the outfit,’ he said And finally his lips tugged in a grin

‘Your approvalto me,’ she countered dryly

She had laughed with relief when Monsieur Michel had personally orchestrated her costume at one of the more outlandish costumiers in the principality, but now she felt aard and exposed, exactly as she had at Toement party Why did Ram have to make those remarks—look at her that hen he clearly wasn’t interested? Who was he to coe her? So her outfit was brazen What was that to him?

‘Whatever happened to irl, Mia?’

‘She grew up’

He had expected to feel ain, but he had not expected this—or the fierce desire to protect her that came with the discovery that his perfect imp had been so cruelly injured Mia had always been defiant—always vulnerable—but her fighting spirit had always carried her through Not this time, he suspected She didn’t fool him—she never had been able to do that She had co to defiantly lick her wounds—choosing the uilt He had lived wildly too, but he had got aith it

Why hadn’t Tom told him? Why hadn’t he picked up on this?

There was only one possible explanation Mia’s injuries must have occurred around the tiedy There was only one certainty here—he couldn’t leave her He would have to make plans All this he decided in a heartbeat as he stared into Mia’s ravaged face

‘So,’ he prohts had occurred to him ‘We’d better talk about the rally Are you sure you’re up for it?’

‘I have a problem with one eye, Ram I’m not blind’

He wanted to cheer at this proof that the old Mia was still in there, but instead he stared at her steadily as he explained, ‘The last leg of the race is to be a ti streets of the principality—’

‘Which is why I’m perfect for it,’ she cut in ‘I’ve only cycled the route, but I’ve lived here for some time and I know every curve and bump like the back of my hand’

‘So you could do it blindfold?’

She was shocked for a moment, but then she realised they were back where they used to be in the old sparring corral ‘If you’re prepared to risk it, I am…’

‘Then we have a deal’ He turned to go

‘Are you offering me the job?’

The uncertainty—the hope—in Mia’s voice stabbed hih,’ he warned

‘I will’ She held his stare

What had happened to them both? Mia’s injuries were obvious, but they were both profoundly changed

‘Just one thing, Ram…’

‘Yes’ He held her gaze, enjoying the connection between them

‘Why are you racing cars when you should be running a country?’

He ht have expected a counter-attack ‘Ah…’ He shifted position

‘I know, it’s none of my business—’