The Daredevil Tycoon / Hired: Sassy Assistant. Barbara McMahon

She thrust the map at him and reached for the controls. “You figure that out, I’ll keep us afloat.”

      She didn’t trust the amusement in his eyes, but didn’t try to figure out what she’d done. Reaching for the knob, her hand brushed his and she felt the touch as if it had been a caress. Oh, oh, bad, bad, bad. She drew a deep breath and looked everywhere but at Rafael. She was not going to get some stupid crush on the playboy. That would be the dumbest thing she could do. Her immediate goal was to get back to earth in one piece and have a good night’s sleep. Maybe tomorrow something would happen to end the race and let her return home.

      Rafael calculated where they were and called the chase team. When he’d notified them, he handed her the walkie-talkie. “Press this button to talk, release to listen,” he said.

      “What do I have to say?”

      “Anything you want, I merely want you to know how to use it.”

      “Why?”

      “In case something happens to me, of course.”

      Amalia felt a flare of panic. “What could happen?”

      “Nothing, this is just in case.”

      She stared at him as she pressed the button. “This is Amalia. Will we stop near a town that has a good restaurant for dinner?” It was inane, but the only thing she came up with.

      “We can hope, Amalia,” Marie responded. “And we hope for a decent hotel with hot shower and comfortable beds. Over.”

      Rafael took it back. “We have air mattresses. No time to be locating five-star hotels. We have a long-distance race to win. Out.”

      He heard their laughter before the radio went silent.

      “We’re sleeping on the ground?” she asked.

      “Not if I can help it. But it keeps them on their toes.”

      She nodded. He had a good relationship with his ground crew. Did he operate his business that way? It was far different from the way Stefano ran things. He was the boss and he wanted everyone to know that.

      The other balloon remained in sight all afternoon. Amalia felt more courageous and, as long as she didn’t look directly over the side, she was able to keep her fear of heights under control. She enjoyed the distant views, watched the other balloon when it would move up or down, trying to see if Stefano or Rafael’s PA was at the controls. Most likely Stefano. He didn’t like to share the spotlight and would want bragging rights if he won.

      At one point Rafael peered over the edge and called the chase team. It was time to switch out the tanks again and there were several wide-open spaces he thought would work.

      This time the team was waiting when the balloon settled to the earth. Once again Amalia was amazed at the precision exchange. They were airborne again within thirty minutes.

      Late in the afternoon, Rafael called the ground crew.

      “I see what I think is San Paolo up ahead. If so, there’s a large soccer field on the outskirts. I’ll see if we can touch down there.”

      There was momentary discussion among the ground crew, then Manuel came on and confirmed Rafael’s estimation. The small resort town was in a valley between two mountain ranges. Amalia had heard about it, but never thought to visit. It looked as if Maria might get her five-star hotel after all. Surely they wouldn’t camp out if a hotel was that close?

      She looked at the other balloon.

      “Do you think they’ll keep going?” she asked. Already Rafael was descending.

      “I have no idea, but this is the best landing area around. I for one wouldn’t take the chance on finding something else farther on before dark.”

      Even as he said that, she could tell the other balloon was beginning to descend.

      “I’ll be able to call my brother, right?” she asked.

      “Yes. Are you worried about him? I assure you my housekeeper will take care of all his meals. Beyond that, he’s well able to look after himself.”

      “I’m not worried, but I do want to check in with him. He is only seventeen. Besides, he’ll have a million questions about today. I wish he had been able to go in my place.”

      “Suggest that to your boss. Do you mother Jose a lot? In another year he will be going off to university. Are you planning to accompany him?”

      “Don’t be absurd. Of course not.” Intellectually she knew she had to let her brother go. He was almost a man, had his own way in life to make. But it had been just the two of them for so long. Was this how parents felt when their children left the home? “Didn’t your parents worry about you and your brother when you left home?” she asked.

      “I doubt it. We were sent to a boarding school from the age of eight. Neither seemed particularly concerned.”

      “I gather you aren’t close.”

      He looked at her and slowly shook his head. “Not close at all. I’ve only met my mother’s current husband once. I avoid my father’s woman of the week. He changes them too frequently to keep track.”

      “That’s sad,” she murmured.

      “It’s reality. Not that you have such a great life in comparison. No parents, no other family apart from your brother, and you’re obviously struggling with money issues.”

      “I make a good living and support us just fine. There’s money for Jose’s university fees and he can also work.” She was insulted he thought her unable to provide.

      “I only meant it must have been hard when your parents died and everything fell on you.”

      She hated to talk about that time. It still could cause nightmares. She’d been so scared of the future, so worried she’d not be able to take proper care of her younger brother.

      “I managed,” was all she said.