The Race Director's Daughter (Sebastian Vettel)

13. All The Fun of The Fair

"So do you like rides, or are you a scaredy cat?" Daniel asked Leah the following evening as they jumped out of the taxi they'd taken down to the fair.

"Oh I love them!" she said excitedly. "Mind you, it's been a while since I've been to a fair."

"Yeah? How come?" Daniel asked, curiously.

"I guess life just got in the way," Leah replied cryptically. Daniel wondered to himself what Leah's story was. He felt drawn to her, something about her just captivated him. It certainly wasn't her dress sense. He cast his gaze over her black leggings and yellow T-shirt. He thought back to the dress she'd worn at the afterparty in Bahrain. Her day to day outfits were such a contrast to that! She had an amazing body, but she chose not to show it.

They crossed the road and entered the fair. The loud music was overpowering. Leah inhaled, sighing at the smell of hot donuts and candy floss.

Daniel adjusted his cap. He hoped he wasn't going to be recognised but he knew he would be at some point. He was a national hero. He knew he shouldn't really have come to such a public place but he'd acted impetuously, certain that Leah would have turned down an invite to a more private date. Was this even a date?

"So what do you want to go on first?" he asked Leah. She looked deep in thought.

"How about the Ferris wheel?" she said finally.

"You got it sweetheart," Daniel answered, grabbing her hand and pulling her in the direction of the queue for the wheel.  Leah felt her breathing begin to quicken.   She snatched her hand back.   Daniel looked at her out the side of his eye.   She really didn't like physical contact did she?

They joined the end of the queue.  It wasn't too bad.   They wouldn't be waiting long.

"Hey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overstep the mark by grabbing your hand.  It's just me. I'm a tactile person."

"It's ok, I just...I don't know you very well.  I may seem strange to you, but it's the way I am.  I don't like being touched by people I don't trust."   She sighed and looked down at her feet.  "That sounded bad.  I'm sorry.  It's not that I don't trust you. I meant I don't know you well enough to trust you yet."

"Yet.  You said yet!" Daniel said, grinning from ear to ear.  "Does this mean you're open to getting to know me?"

"I'm here with you aren't I?"   She smiled and Daniel noticed how her nose wrinkled when she smiled.  She was adorable!   "So, fifth in quali.  You happy with that?"

"Yes and no.  No because it's my home race, and I wanted to do better.  Yes because I think I got the most out of the car.   Fifth was the best we could have hoped for."

The queue moved forward.  They'd just reached the front when a fair worker stopped them. 

"Next ride guys," he said. 

"Well maybe you can make up some places in the race.  You could still get to do a home shoey."   Daniel laughed. 

"I'm a sick bastard aren't I?"

"Yeah, it's gross," she laughed.  "I loved it when you got Lando doing one last year. His face was a picture."

"Yeah I love corrupting the others. They all say it's gross, but really they're gagging for it.  My aim this season is to finish on the podium with Seb.  He has to do it!  He swears he won't, but he will."  

Leah laughed. She bit on her bottom lip at the mention of the German's name.  She hadn't seen him since he'd given her the rose the other day.  Maybe he wasn't really interested, but why give her a rose if he wasn't?  It wasn't as if she wanted him to be interested anyway.  She wasn't on the market for anything.  Not a relationship or a fling.