Chapter 3 #2
I really can’t seem to stop myself from saying stupid things around this man.
Good Lord. He is going to start thinking I’m a complete moron.
And I wouldn’t blame him at all. I am a nurse working in trauma.
I’ve never stumbled over my words or made dumb comments like this before. Sighing, I shake my head at myself.
“Of course, I will lean when you do. I’ll make sure I hold on too.”
Casper grabs a bright blue helmet with pretty flowers on it and places it on my head, buckling it under my chin.
“It’s so pretty.”
“I wanted you to have your own helmet, and this one looked like it was made for you.”
“You went and bought a helmet for me? But we haven’t even gone on one date. At least let me pay you back for it.”
“No,” he says with a growl.
“I’m starting to think you speak in growls and grunts. Do you need to see someone for that?”
Pinching the bridge of his nose for a second, he then narrows his eyes at me. “Still pushing, babe.”
“I might not even like being on your bike. Then what? Are you going to wear this helmet?”
“You will like it, and you will wear it.”
“Hmm... we’ll see.”
He gets on the bike and holds his hand out to me. I am awkward as I get on behind him, but I did manage not to fall over the other side. Yay me.
Starting up the bike, I get a little zing. What was that?
Casper reaches back behind my knees and pulls me until I’m plastered to his back from chest down. Then he grabs my arms and winds them around his waist, settling my hands just above his belt on his rock-hard abs. Oh, dang. This should be a fun ride.
Once he is satisfied, Casper revs the engine and takes off. Squealing like a little girl, I squeeze my eyes shut and clutch him tighter. I hear him chuckling.
Getting out on the road and noticing how careful he’s being, I start to relax. This is nice.
“What do you think, babe? It’s not so bad, right?”
“Oh my gosh! I didn’t know we could talk. That’s nice. It’s actually much better than I thought it would be. I’m very much enjoying how freeing this feels.”
“That’s good, babe. Because I can see you on the back of my bike all the time.”
Hugging him tighter, we ride for a bit before pulling into a Mexican food restaurant. Who doesn’t love Mexican food in Arizona? Chips and salsa? Yes please! Throw in a little queso, and I’m in heaven.
They show us to a booth, and I slide in. Thinking that Casper is going to sit across from me, I’m surprised when he slides into the same side, pushing me closer to the wall.
The waitress comes to bring us menus. Since I already know what I want, I’m ready to order.
Casper chooses quickly, and the waitress comes back to take our order.
As we are eating, Casper is telling me about himself and what he does for the MC. I’m amazed that he works on the books for their businesses.
“Wow, I never thought you might be someone that does book work.”
Chuckling, he says, “What did you think I do for a living?”
“I don’t know. Biker stuff.”
“Biker stuff? What does that mean?”
“Whatever bikers do. I don’t know what you do. I just never imagined you would be an accountant of all things. You don’t look like a nerd.”
He starts laughing. He laughs so hard he has tears streaming down his face.
“It’s not that funny,” I grumble.
Getting it together he says, “Babe, someone needs to do the books, and I happen to know how. So that’s my job.”
“Huh. You look like you belong in another occupation. Something more fitting for a big and scary biker. Maybe security?”
Laughing, he tells me they do, in fact, have a security company, but he never does anything with it other than the books.
I find myself enjoying our night. Casper is intelligent and so interesting to get to know, with a great sense of humor. It doesn’t hurt that he is so handsome.
Casper tells me about his family and how they died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Even though it was a long time ago, my heart breaks for him. He doesn’t have any other family left. Just like me.
I tell him about my day at work yesterday, about little Peter and what he will have to go through, and how it breaks my heart to see him having to deal with so much, being so young.
I can tell he is getting angry on Peter’s behalf. I’ve been thinking some crazy ideas about fostering again. I don’t know if I should now that I’m older. I would need to talk to Gemini first though. I mention it to Casper.
“Babe, you should do whatever you feel is right. If you want to foster, then that’s what you do. I’ll be there to help in any way I can.”
I’m stunned. I don’t even know what to say as I gape at him.
“What?” He says when he notices my mouth hanging to the ground.
“Um, we are only on our first date. It’s hard for me to think you want to be there for any kids I might foster.”
“Babe, I already told you I could see you on the back of my bike all the time. I don’t let anyone on the back of my bike. That is now your place.”
“But you don’t know if you will want to stick around for long. We just met.”
“I have been told multiple times that I may be on the Autism spectrum. I don’t like people touching me. I don’t like people in my space. But you, I need you there, touching me, in my space, talking to me. I need it like I need air to breathe. I know what I want. And what I want is you.”
My mouth drops open again at that.