Chapter 10 #2
Was this sexy Cuban American sending her heart into overdrive? Jump-starting an engine that had gone cold?
Nope. Rafe and his hot guy vibe, charm and underlying tone of respectful concern had been making her heart race like a speed demon all along. This was only the first time she’d been fully aware of her feelings.
This can’t happen to me. I can’t fall for a guy like Rafe, who can easily break my heart. I’m a solo rider.
“Ally, did you hear me?” Dan waved a hand in front of her face.
She pushed off the chair and drained her soda. “I heard you. Now hear this, Dan. Thanks for the lecture on bike care. I’ll keep it in mind when I lube the chain on my bike. Have a great ride and rally.”
Chucking the soda can into a nearby recycle bin, she headed for her bike. Forget socializing. It was safer to avoid people and indulge in reading.
Fishing a book out of her pack, she brought the paperback over to a spot next to her sister, beneath a shady tree. Allison cracked open the spine and began to read.
A tap on her shoulder. “Ally, why are you shutting everyone out like this? There’s plenty of men here to meet.” Diana shook her head.
“Already met one and have no desire to meet others,” she muttered, trying to focus on the page.
“Books can’t help you with relationships.”
She held up her tattered copy of Animal Farm. “Oh? They open your eyes to the world around you, Di. Give you a deeper perspective than the one you already have. You know, more than fashion magazines and wedding books.”
“I have that book you gave me, Ally. The Help. I planned on reading it during this trip. I don’t want to read children’s books about goats and sheep.”
Allison grit her teeth. “Animal Farm is far from a children’s book. You can borrow it if you want. I’ve already read through it. Reading a book might take your mind off your wedding stress or your damn cell phone.”
Diana scowled. “My ‘damn cell phone’ is my connection to Paul. He’s worried about me on the road. He thinks I can’t take care of myself and wants me to call him every time we stop.”
“Guy thing.” Allison set the book down. “Do you have to check in with him all the time? Doesn’t he trust you?”
“He trusts me. He worries about me, Ally. And he thinks I should be home helping with wedding plans.”
Something in her sister’s voice told her there was more to the story.
“Di, you know, maybe a big wedding isn’t a great idea. You’ve been to huge society events. They’re impersonal. It’s your day. Don’t you want to be the star attraction at your own wedding?”
“Yes, but...” Diana rubbed a spot on her shiny blue helmet. “Paul says we owe it to Uncle Hector to have a lavish wedding. He doesn’t want to hurt his feelings.”
“What about your feelings? Your marriage?”
Diana started to open her mouth, then shook her head. “Topic closed, Ally. Why don’t you focus on your own guy problems?”
“I don’t have any.”
“Oh?” Diana pointed to Rafe.
“Him?” She debated. Diana would find out soon enough. “He’s not a boyfriend, Diana. I only wanted you to think that so you’d take us to see Hector’s mansion. I wanted to impress him. He’s always been curious about the lifestyles of the rich and famous.”
And drug dealers.
As Diana smirked, she added, “Besides, Rafe isn’t interested in me.”
“Oh, I knew you weren’t dating and it was an excuse. You never mentioned him before. But if he’s not interested, why does he keep checking you out?”
Her gaze flicked over to Rafe. Stunned, she realized Rafe was eyeballing her with much more interest than the sleek motorcycles at the center. Then she realized he was staring at her sister, and her heart gave a little pang of disappointment.
“It’s not me, it’s you he’s checking out. You’re the one all men stare at.”
“Maybe.” Diana shrugged. “You don’t give yourself enough credit, Ally. You’re smart, funny and attractive. You should go out on more dates. Find a nice guy.”
“I don’t need anyone.” What was it about people thinking she needed someone?
“I know, I know. You’re busy with your career. I get it. But Ally, you’re my big sister. I worry about you. And next time you want a favor for a guy you’re trying to impress, don’t go to such extremes. I would have been happy to ask Uncle Hector for a tour of his house for you and Rafe.”
Does that tour include where he stashes all his fentanyl?
Her little sister whipped out her cell phone. “And speaking of tours, it’s time for me to post.”
Allison rolled her eyes. “On your Insta?” She waved a hand at the phone. “Or your finsta, so Paul can see what you’re up to?”
Di’s finsta account was private, only for family and friends. Like her parents, Allison had been added. Sometimes she even shared photos for Di to post.
“Paul isn’t on my finsta. He doesn’t know about it.”
Allison tried to conceal her shock. “Why? Di, you’re marrying the guy and you don’t even let him know about your fake Instagram account for family and friends?”
Di shrugged. “I figure after we’re married, I’ll shut it down, make everything out in the open. That account is my way of keeping my private life private.”
Private from the man she was supposed to trust and love? Allison started to ask, when Diana brought the cell phone closer.
“Hey, everyone! It’s Di and I’m here with my big sister, Ally!”
Allison forced a smile and waved.
“We’re on the road for my bachelorette party, heading out with a big gang of handsome and sexy bikers.”
Diana did a quick sweep of her phone, showing the bikers. “I’ll be posting more from the road. Remember to check my account for exclusive, behind-the-scenes content! Till later. Remember, you’re the beauty inside and out!”
She signed off. Allison sighed. “You could have given me a warning and I’d have had my makeup done and my hair styled.”
“Quit the sarcasm, Ally.” Diana beamed as she pressed buttons on her phone. “Now it’s posted to my Insta and my Jump ONit account. Do you know I have about ten thousand followers?”
I could care less. I care more about the fact you’re hiding stuff from Paul.
Why? Allison made a mental note to comb through Di’s finsta account and see exactly what she’d been posting that she didn’t want Paul to discover.
Lately, she’d regarded Di’s social media activity as amusing, a way for her sister to keep in touch with a small fan base who followed her fledgling modeling career.
“Are Paul and Uncle Hector two of them?” Allison asked.
Frowning, her sister finally set down the cell phone. “Stop making fun of them. Uncle Hector isn’t the bad guy everyone thinks he is. He’s maligned.”
Maybe she could make Di see reason. “Di, Uncle Hector isn’t a saint. Far from it. I’ve read the articles and heard the rumors about drug deals...”
“Nothing was ever proved. Stop it, Ally. He’s Paul’s godfather, and I won’t have you talking crap about him. Or trying to convince me to call off the wedding simply because you’re jealous.”
“Diana, I’m...”
Too late. Her sister stormed off toward her bike. Allison hugged her knees. Less than five hours into this trip and already it was turning into a disaster.
She had to find a way to drill sense into Diana and make her see reason.
Before it was too late.