Chapter 1 #2
Just one more thing I missed while being on the road all the time…
my black beauty. I got her when we landed our first real paying gig playing for a local restaurant every Friday night.
My mom was totally against it at first, but learned early on with four sons that sometimes you just have to surrender and trust that everything is going to be okay…
that and a lot of prayers and wine over the years.
With my oldest brother, Travis, owning a bike and my younger brother, Ryder, with his love for fast cars, I’m sure we kept our parents up late more often than not with worry.
We always joke that God had to give her one son, who wasn’t a thrill seeker, because having four would just be flat-out mean.
Enter Jake, my other older brother, and grounded as they come. He wouldn’t even touch a roller coaster when we were young, let alone trust a pile of metal and flammable liquid between his legs as he speeds down the road.
He was Mom’s reprieve and took on the protective role for all of us growing up.
With all my brothers married now with families, his job has gotten easier, but as busy as he is with a four-year-old and one on the way, he still finds the time to ride my ass about settling down and hanging up my helmet for a more reliable mode of transportation.
I throw my black-clad leg over my bike and sink onto the leather seat. Just the feel of the bike under me sends a spark of excitement shooting through me. I secure my dark black helmet and bring her to life—my ink-covered hands grip tightly as I rev up my favorite sound.
Sorry, Jake.
Buying a dive bar is about as settled as I’m going to get, and no way in hell am I parting from the one girl in my life who always makes me feel alive.
I toe the kickstand with my boot and gun the shiny black bike as I fishtail it out of the parking lot before shooting down the road, leaving a dust cloud in my wake.
Taking the coastal road home, I hug the turns as adrenaline races through my veins. My body is flooded with a high as the salty air whips against my t-shirt. The vast ocean to my left is a blue blur as I test the limits and enjoy the powerful beast beneath me.
I spot a red jeep off to the side of the road in the distance and slow down as I approach it. There’s not a lot of traffic on this stretch of road unless you are headed home and live in one of the houses sitting high up overlooking the water.
I notice the front tire is flat and slow to a stop to see if they need help. Turning off my engine, the hairs on my arm stand up, and I get a weird feeling in my stomach. I feel a strong pull toward the direction of the vehicle, like a magnetic energy that wants to connect strongly to something.
Movement from the back of the jeep catches my eye, and long, tanned legs meet my vision as she bends over and searches for something in the vehicle.
She’s wearing cut-off black jean shorts that hug an ass most men would drop to their knees for. I remove my helmet, running a hand through my dark black hair before securing it on my bike and heading her way. The need to see who she is sends an intoxicating rush of excitement throughout my body.
She’s so engrossed in what she’s doing that she doesn’t hear me approach her as I admire the view a little bit longer before finally speaking.
“Do you need any help with that flat tire?”
She jumps at the sound of my voice and twirls around to meet me.
I blink in shock at her beauty as light hazel eyes capture mine and widen in surprise.
Her long blonde hair hangs in loose waves down the front of her white tank top.
I feel my fingers twitch at my side as they beg to see if it’s as soft as it looks.
Her eyes roam over me as she takes me in.
A grin stretches across my face as they linger on me longer than what should be necessary.
When she finally meets my gaze, her eyes narrow at me, which should cause me to stop the smile on my lips, but I can’t help it.
I love a good challenge, and something tells me she’s got a little fire in her as I take in the heated stare she’s giving me.
“Thank you for stopping, but I’m good.” She turns and goes back to moving boxes around and peering under things.
“It’s in the floor panel.”
“What is?” She turns at the sound of my voice, clearly agitated that I’m still standing here.
“The tire iron and jack. Lift the panel under the boxes,” I say, nodding my head in the direction where they are kept. “It’s stored in there.”
She moves the boxes out of the way and finds the latch to open the floor panel.
“Thanks,” she mutters as she takes it out. I bite back my grin this time, but I’m still determined to see this play out as I keep my feet firmly planted.
I glance at her left hand and notice there’s no wedding ring. Relief washes over me that she doesn’t appear to be married. I’m not into wrecking homes and satisfying bored housewives whose husbands work too much and neglect them. Plenty have tried, but it’s not my thing.
She shuts the jeep door and starts to work on taking off the spare tire secured on the back. I shake my head and chuckle at her determination not to have me help her.
“Let me help you. You have a white shirt on, and it’s going to be ruined when you try to wrestle that tire down. I’m already here, so you might as well take advantage of my tire-changing skills. I’m pretty good with my hands.” I wink at her and get an eye roll.
Damn, if that doesn’t do something to me. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this kind of excitement. She must be passing through or new in town because there is no way I wouldn’t have noticed her before.
The sun comes out behind the clouds, and a glint of sparkle catches my eye when I notice her small diamond nose piercing. The face of an angel with a little devil in her…my one weakness on this earth. I give my lip ring a slight tug with my teeth before releasing it as my eyes are drawn to hers.
She glances down briefly at my mouth, and even though she’s hiding it, I know she feels this current of electricity tethering us together.
It’s like a goddamn shock waiting to happen on the highest voltage setting.
Her eyes flick back to mine, and the desire I briefly see is gone within seconds as she holds out the jack to me.
“Since you obviously won’t leave until this damn tire is fixed…have at it,” she says, waving her hand at the spare. “I need to make a phone call anyway because I’m running late.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely.” I grin and take the tire iron and jack from her. “Are you always so welcoming to strangers who want to help you, or is it just me?”
Sighing, she runs a hand through her hair and briefly shakes her head. “Sorry. It’s been a long day, and the last thing I wanted to do was deal with a flat tire and being hit on by a random guy on the side of the road.”
My lips quirk at her boldness, and I bite back my laugh. “Who said anything about me hitting on you? Maybe I’m just a nice guy who sincerely wants to help a stranded stranger.”
She studies me with a look of doubt in her eyes, causing me to chuckle as I take a step, closing the distance between us. Her eyes widen, but she holds her ground as I lean down close to her ear.
“Trust me, beautiful…if and when I decide to hit on you, you’ll know it.
There won’t be a single doubt in your mind about what I want.
” I hear her suck in a small breath as her scent invades my senses.
It’s sweet like honey and has my mouth watering for a taste.
I force myself to step away and move toward the spare tire, leaving her standing there as my words sink in.
She can pretend all she wants, but this sexual attraction between us is not one-sided.
Her body language is betraying what her tough demeanor is trying to hide.
Luckily, I love a good chase. It’s rare I get one, and I’m more than ready to see what this angel in disguise will do once caught.
I may be facing my biggest challenge yet, but I have a feeling the journey to break down her walls is going to be the most fun I’ve ever had.