moved. “Who told you that?”
“Shane.”
And just like that he was cured of any improper thoughts. His best friend’s little sister was forbidden. Always had been and always would be.
“His mountain bike isn’t the same thing.”
“No. He doesn’t need an engine to feel manly.”
Luke laughed. “When was the last time you felt a man, Sela?”
She choked and nearly knocked over the motorcycle when she faltered. Luke rushed to the other side, ready to put his body between the bike and the concrete floor. He’d saved for an entire summer working as an adventure guide after his junior year of college to buy the bike, and it was still one of his most prized possessions. He appreciated that his parents didn’t mind it taking up space.
“None of your business.” Her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink.
“So no boyfriend, then?” He should not be fishing. Not be asking personal questions.
“You ready to ride this thing or what? I didn’t follow you out here to talk. I followed you for a ride.”
He thought about teasing her with exactly the kind of ride he could offer but instead handed her one of the extra helmets. The last time he’d had a girl on the back of his bike had been five years ago. They’d ridden up the coast, found a secluded spot to get horizontal, and stayed friends afterward. A good time, nothing more. Exactly how he liked it.
“I’m always ready,” he said, and then realized the main hitch in his plan. Sela would be wrapping her arms around him. Her warm breath would rest on the back of his neck. Maybe he should take his rental car after all.
But the second she put on her helmet, he knew he couldn’t do that. Her eyes sparkled, and her chest rose and fell with the kind of anticipation Luke recognized well.
She wanted to be a little reckless.
“No one is always ready,” she said. “Sometimes things happen that you never saw coming and you have to figure out how to deal.”
Hell if her words didn’t ring true. His accident had taken him by surprise, and he hadn’t been ready for the feelings of self-doubt and fear it left behind.
Luke blinked away those uncomfortable reminders and steered the bike out of the garage and down the driveway. The cold night air doused the warmth rising up the back of his neck.
“Hang on a sec,” he said, using the kickstand to keep the bike in place. He ran back into the garage, found his old leather jacket, and brought it to Sela. “Put this on. That’s not going to keep you warm once we start moving.” He nodded at the thin black coat she wore over her scrubs.
“Thanks.” She slipped her arms through and zipped it up. She could add another person in there with her if she wanted to.
He smiled. Her petite frame reminded him she may talk tough, but she was about as soft as they came on the inside. He put on his helmet, hopped on the bike, and watched her over his shoulder.
She took a deep breath and straddled the seat behind him. Hands on her thighs, she said, “Ready.”
“You might want to hold on, daredevil, if you don’t want to fly off the back the second we take off.”
Her pennies-from-heaven eyes argued for a moment before she wrapped her arms around him. With her tight against his back, her hands clasped and pressed below his rib cage, he started the bike.
The nearest gas station was too close to give him the ride he wanted with her, so he went down Seascape Drive instead. Away from town and toward the long stretch of two-lane road that offered a free pass for exceeding the speed limit and glimpsing moon rays over the ocean.
Sela’s grip on him tightened, but she didn’t protest. With her acquiescence, adrenaline pumped through his veins. He relished the air rushing past him. This was exactly what he’d needed. Certainty and control filled his chest for the first time since his accident.
The beautiful woman behind him didn’t hurt, either.
Luke had a feeling she was grinning and it caused the corners of his mouth
“Shane.”
And just like that he was cured of any improper thoughts. His best friend’s little sister was forbidden. Always had been and always would be.
“His mountain bike isn’t the same thing.”
“No. He doesn’t need an engine to feel manly.”
Luke laughed. “When was the last time you felt a man, Sela?”
She choked and nearly knocked over the motorcycle when she faltered. Luke rushed to the other side, ready to put his body between the bike and the concrete floor. He’d saved for an entire summer working as an adventure guide after his junior year of college to buy the bike, and it was still one of his most prized possessions. He appreciated that his parents didn’t mind it taking up space.
“None of your business.” Her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink.
“So no boyfriend, then?” He should not be fishing. Not be asking personal questions.
“You ready to ride this thing or what? I didn’t follow you out here to talk. I followed you for a ride.”
He thought about teasing her with exactly the kind of ride he could offer but instead handed her one of the extra helmets. The last time he’d had a girl on the back of his bike had been five years ago. They’d ridden up the coast, found a secluded spot to get horizontal, and stayed friends afterward. A good time, nothing more. Exactly how he liked it.
“I’m always ready,” he said, and then realized the main hitch in his plan. Sela would be wrapping her arms around him. Her warm breath would rest on the back of his neck. Maybe he should take his rental car after all.
But the second she put on her helmet, he knew he couldn’t do that. Her eyes sparkled, and her chest rose and fell with the kind of anticipation Luke recognized well.
She wanted to be a little reckless.
“No one is always ready,” she said. “Sometimes things happen that you never saw coming and you have to figure out how to deal.”
Hell if her words didn’t ring true. His accident had taken him by surprise, and he hadn’t been ready for the feelings of self-doubt and fear it left behind.
Luke blinked away those uncomfortable reminders and steered the bike out of the garage and down the driveway. The cold night air doused the warmth rising up the back of his neck.
“Hang on a sec,” he said, using the kickstand to keep the bike in place. He ran back into the garage, found his old leather jacket, and brought it to Sela. “Put this on. That’s not going to keep you warm once we start moving.” He nodded at the thin black coat she wore over her scrubs.
“Thanks.” She slipped her arms through and zipped it up. She could add another person in there with her if she wanted to.
He smiled. Her petite frame reminded him she may talk tough, but she was about as soft as they came on the inside. He put on his helmet, hopped on the bike, and watched her over his shoulder.
She took a deep breath and straddled the seat behind him. Hands on her thighs, she said, “Ready.”
“You might want to hold on, daredevil, if you don’t want to fly off the back the second we take off.”
Her pennies-from-heaven eyes argued for a moment before she wrapped her arms around him. With her tight against his back, her hands clasped and pressed below his rib cage, he started the bike.
The nearest gas station was too close to give him the ride he wanted with her, so he went down Seascape Drive instead. Away from town and toward the long stretch of two-lane road that offered a free pass for exceeding the speed limit and glimpsing moon rays over the ocean.
Sela’s grip on him tightened, but she didn’t protest. With her acquiescence, adrenaline pumped through his veins. He relished the air rushing past him. This was exactly what he’d needed. Certainty and control filled his chest for the first time since his accident.
The beautiful woman behind him didn’t hurt, either.
Luke had a feeling she was grinning and it caused the corners of his mouth
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