Chapter 9 #2
“You didn’t really ask. You told me I was, and though I don’t tend to take orders, a bike ride sounds lovely. I’ve never actually been on the back of a motorcycle before.”
That made me smile. It was odd. Ever since losing Michelle, I hadn’t smiled often. It wasn’t that I still loved her. I had fallen out of love with her long before she died, but there hadn’t been much to smile about. Then the Cage kids started to be born, and who wouldn’t smile around babies?
And of course there was Scarlett. When she wasn’t making me want to rip my beard off, she was making me laugh.
I did not know what was up with that.
I scratched my chin, my beard longer than usual. “I’ll make sure you know what you’re doing when you’re on the back. And I have a helmet that should fit you. Emily used it last.”
“I don’t know her that well. But she seems really sweet.”
“Phoebe don’t visit often because they have their own lives in Denver, but they’re the youngest of us all. So I feel overprotective.”
“Even though Phoebe’s happily married,” Scarlett added with a snort.
“Hey, they were already together when I found out she existed. I didn’t get to do the whole big brother thing.”
“And did you do that with Weston when it came to Isabella? Cale, too?”
“Yes, with Weston, no, with Cale. Cale and Sophia were already together as well.”
“And you only do that with the sisters?”
“I figured Isabella can take over when it comes to the women. You know, ensuring that whoever my brothers pick is right for them.”
“That’s a lot of trust in her. But I have the same trust.”
“I take it she didn’t like Ronin?” I asked and could have kicked myself. Instead of letting her answer, I gestured for her to sit at the kitchen island and put a plate in front of an empty chair. “Ignore me. Eat.”
“You didn’t like Ronin. Nobody did. I thought it was because they didn’t know him. But apparently, I didn’t know him. It’s over though. I haven’t heard from him since that night. Thank you. For your help.”
“What did I say about thanking me?”
“I’m going to keep doing it. Especially if you’re being nice. It’s kind of creepy.”
“I’m sure I’ll be an asshole soon.”
“That would make me feel better.”
She smiled then and dug into her breakfast. “I don’t exactly have a hangover, but I feel a little off. And this is perfect. I didn’t know you could cook.”
“I can’t really. I’m glad you like the spice though.”
“It’s not that spicy,” she added with a roll of her eyes.
“I’ll have to add more peppers next time.” I started eating, grunting as I realized that I had said there would be a next time.
And she hadn’t countered that.
By the time she went back to her house to change, I assumed she would change her mind. After all, it wasn’t like I was forcing her into this. But maybe I sort of was.
I pulled my bike out of the garage, grateful that the sun was shining, and it felt like it was going to be a good ride.
I put on my leather jacket, knowing it was still going to be a little chilly while on the bike, and packed the saddlebags with water and snacks.
I knew where I was heading and there would be a good lunch there, but it always proved to be safe.
We weren’t going for hours, so I wasn’t going to add the full biker gear. I’d done Sturgis once, and never again. It wasn’t my type of scene. But Theo and Flynn had had a grand old time, at least for a few moments before they decided it was a one and done as well.
Just when I had given up hope that Scarlett would be joining, she came up the drive, wearing boots, jeans, a long sleeve shirt that made her breasts look fucking amazing, and a red leather jacket.
“I don’t have the biker babe attire, but I figured this would work.”
I let my gaze run down the curve of her body and knew that she had to blush all over, especially with the reddening of the tops of her breasts that I could see. I barely resisted the urge to lick my lips. “I think you’re a kick ass biker babe right now.”
“Oh. Well. I liked the leather jacket.”
I gestured towards the bike and then leaned down to pick up her helmet. “Let’s get on our way.”
Her teeth worried her lip once more and part of me wanted to reach out and rub the sting. Maybe with my mouth. And that was enough of that. “Do you know where we’re going? Or am I about to find out that you’re an ax murderer and you’re taking me to another part of the forest to bury the body?”
“First, I wouldn’t tell you.” She laughed. “Second, there’s plenty of land on this property for that to happen. Third, after what happened in our family recently? I’m going to flat out say that, no, I’m not going to cut you up into a thousand pieces and bury the body.”
Her face paled, and she reached out for my arm. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
I looked down at where her hand covered my arm over the leather jacket. “It’s fine. We all make jokes.”
“I know this is an odd segue, but have you heard from your mother?”
I threw my head back and laughed, surprising the hell out of both of us.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you laugh like that.”
“You just thought of my mother after we talked about serial killers. I think it’s apropos.”
Her eyes danced. “Look at you with the big words.”
“I learned them good while in the service.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, stop.”
“Get on the bike. And I’ll show you what we need to do.
And no, I haven’t heard from my mother. Dorian blocked her, and I’m pretty sure the rest of the family did as well.
One day maybe she’ll realize that she wants to be a grandma and figure out that maybe she was just as toxic as Dad was.
She still has time to figure things out, but I want nothing to do with her. ”
“Well good. I don’t like her.”
I laughed again. “I don’t like her either. Not the best thing for a son to say but fuck her. Now, let me show you what to do.”
I put my hands on her hips, and her eyes widened, but I taught her the few things that she needed to know to ride on the back of a motorcycle.
“I’m not going to speed, and in this area there’s not allowed to be any trucks. At least not the eighteen-wheelers. They can’t make it on this path, and they have their own highway for that. And we won’t be riding that highway.”
“Where are we going?”
“I thought maybe we could head to Sunrise Ridge or Silver Lake. Silver Lake has a decent place for lunch too.”
“I’d like that. I go to Ashford Creek often with Luna and Ivy, but I don’t really know the other towns that well. Even though I’ve lived here all my life other than college.”
“They’re growing like weeds just like Cage Lake is. But it’s nice to get out of town.”
“So says the hermit.”
I strapped on her bike helmet and tapped the top. “So says the hermit.”
I got on the bike first, straddling it as I held it up straight. “Okay, put your one leg there and then swing your leg over like you’re getting on a horse.”
“You think I’ve been on a horse?”
“Isabella mentioned it,” I mumbled, and she gave me a look, before putting her hands on my shoulders and doing exactly what I had said.
She felt even better against me than I thought possible. I leaned back, and she chuckled, the movement warm against my back, and when I turned on the engine, she let out a squeal.
“Wrap your arms around my waist,” I called out, and she snuggled into me, and then we were off.
We went the back way, so we could do the full circle of Cage Lake. However, in order to get out of town, we had to go down Main Street. She’d known that when we had made this plan, so the town would see her on the back of my bike. Tongues would wag, but they always did in Cage Lake.
We made our way past the beginning of the street, and I was grateful that we hit every green light and only had to stop at a few stop signs. But people had still seen. Including Ms. Patty.
“She’s going to tell her entire knitting group,” Scarlett called out over the engine as we moved towards the main bridge out of town.
“Yep!” I yelled back and then there was no more talking.
Though Scarlett had pulled her hair back in a braid, I knew we’d both end up with messy hair at the end of the day, but that was the fun part of riding.
We had sunglasses on to combat the wind and light.
It was still slightly colder than when I usually first rode out.
I’d wanted to get Scarlett on a bike, even though we knew the cold was probably an issue.
She learned quickly, leaning into the curves with me and waving at the kids in cars as they passed by.
I leaned back, feeling far more relaxed than I had in ages. This was going to be a problem, but with Scarlett around, the voices stopped. At least the ones that screamed I was guilty.
I was guilty, but not exactly how she thought.
Not exactly as the world thought. But with Scarlett pressed against me, I could breathe. We pulled through Silver Lake, a town decently close to ours, and I parked in front of a small diner.
“You okay to eat here?” I asked as I turned off the engine.
“If you say it’s good, I’m game. Plus, I think I really need to walk.”
I reached back and squeezed her thigh, noticing the way she moaned.
“Is that moan because you liked that? Or are you going to be sore later?”
“I plead the fifth,” she laughed.
I helped her off the bike first, then slid my legs over. When her knees nearly gave out, I cursed.
“You okay?”
“I’ve only ridden a horse a few times, and it’s been a while.”
I ran my gaze over her body before I finally undid the strap underneath her chin. “You’ll get better at it.”
“You keep saying things like that.”
“Things like what?” Though I knew the answer.
“Like this will happen again.”
I shrugged. “Maybe.” I didn’t say anything else, but I gestured towards the diner behind her, and she turned, letting the non-answer slide. When I opened the door for her and pressed my palm to the small of her back, she didn’t flinch.
I had no idea what the hell I was doing, but I might as well go full tilt.