Free One in a Million by Abby Gaines

said.
    â€œThat’s what matters to you. ” He regained his equilibrium, slanted her a flirty smile. “What matters to me is enjoying the moment. Which, frankly, chickadee, you’re making difficult with all this girl-talk.”
    â€œYou don’t think knowing you’re loved would make even the most ordinary moment more enjoyable?” she persisted. She had the nerve to look sorry for him, nibbling on the corner of one thumbnail.
    Eli staged a yawn. “Shucks, chickadee, what would a guy like me know about ordinary moments?”
    Â 
    G IL AND THE REPORTER , Marion Galton, arrived five minutes ahead of schedule.
    Jen sat next to Eli on the couch for the interview, his arm slung along the back of the cushion so that his fingertips rested on her shoulder, their caress as light as a summer breeze.
    His touch distracted her from processing their earlier discussion—she wouldn’t be surprised if that was the whole point. She’d learned that somewhere beneath the flirty, flighty Eli Ward, the real Eli Ward was carefully fenced-off. Because the real Eli Ward was vulnerable.
    If he’d been attractive to her before, discovering he had hidden depths made him truly, ironically irresistible. Just like the magazine said.
    Marion, the reporter, was firmly focused on the superficial. Her eyes raked Eli with a blatancy that would have been questionable had their genders been reversed.
    â€œSo, how did you two meet?” she asked.
    Eli trotted out the story they’d agreed on. His index finger drew lazy circles on Jen’s shoulder, but she sensed a latent pressure. He was annoyed by her breaching his defenses.
    Too bad. Because the real Eli Ward took intriguing to a new level.
    â€œVery romantic,” the woman cooed when he finished. “Are you two serious?”
    â€œWe’ve only just reconnected,” he said. “Ask me again in a couple of months.” By then, of course, her article would have been printed.
    â€œIf you two are still dating in a couple of months, I won’t need to ask,” the woman joked. “That would be a record for you.”
    Eli’s mouth tightened. “The length of my past relationships isn’t relevant to this interview.”
    Jen couldn’t agree more. Besides, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the lack of permanent relationships in his youth had made Eli commitment-shy. All those women, all those connections made on the basis that it wouldn’t hurt when they were severed.
    â€œWhat about the length of your professional relationships?” Marion asked.
    Eli paused. “I’m not sure what your question is.”
    Marion leaned forward. “Is it true you’re looking for a new ride? That you’ve been interviewing with other teams?”

CHAPTER NINE
    T HE SILENCE WAS ABSOLUTE …and rapidly turning grim.
    Gil might have been made of granite, for all the expression he showed.
    Eli’s gut churned. He had to answer the question. Even if it was to refuse to answer. A giveaway in itself.
    Then Jen took his hand. Laced her small fingers through his. Squeezed.
    It was as if he’d been given permission to breathe.
    Eli let out a little air. Sucked some more in. Not enough, but it helped.
    â€œYou spoke to Taney Motorsports, I believe?” Marion prompted. “And Fulcrum Racing?”
    A hiss from Gil, which the reporter noticed. His boss would be furious with himself for betraying his anger. Eli should never have told Gil how much he admired Fulcrum.
    â€œMarion, are you aware of Eli’s personal motto?” Jen asked.
    His head jerked around. She squeezed his fingers again.
    â€œSeize the Day,” she said. “Carpe diem.”
    That was it, the Latin words. Eli felt a sneaking sense of pride in his fake girlfriend, which didn’t make a lot of sense.
    â€œYour point is?” the woman asked.
    â€œYou might also know that last year Eli had more