Chapter 4
FOUR
Ruby
Part of me can’t believe I’m out here.
With Ransom.
I glance over at him, taking in his mussed hair. It’s sticking up from the wind on the ride up here, and my fingers itch to reach out and smooth it back into place. I force my fingers into my palms instead so that I don’t actually do it.
I don’t know what has gotten into me. Maybe it was seeing him stand up for me against that asshole in the diner.
I had been scared of the man, and I found myself wishing that Ransom was there to help me.
I know he would have stood up for me and made me feel safer.
I hated that thought, and that I felt like I needed a man to save me.
Still, that doesn’t change the fact that I was relieved and happy when Ransom came charging in earlier.
I think that maybe I’m just tired of fighting my feelings for him. Every day that passes, my crush on him grows. I’ve started counting down the hours until I see him again. He’s started to become the only bright spot in my boring days.
Maybe that’s why when we walked outside and I saw his bike, all I could think about was asking him to take me somewhere.
I didn’t want to go back to my house. I don’t want to keep being stuck in this routine of going to work and then going home. I’m bored.
I think dealing with that bitter man in the diner woke me up.
I didn’t want to be like that in a few years.
I’m young, and I should be out having fun.
I can still focus on saving money and figuring out what I want to do with my life, but every once in a while, I should get out and actually have a life.
Ransom scoots closer to me until his thigh touches mine. I try to ignore the way that contact has tingles racing up and down my spine. I want to squeeze my thighs together to try to ease the ache there, but that would mean moving away from him so I resist the urge.
I want him. Badly. What would be the harm in having a little fun with him?
I never thought I was the fling or one-night stand type, but I’ve also never been as attracted to anyone as I am to Ransom.
I’m tired. I’m tired of being bored. I’m tired of fighting my feelings for Ransom and feeling this longing ache deep inside me. Maybe a night with the grumpy biker will be enough to fix the hole that feels like it’s growing inside of me.
“No girlfriends then?” I ask him, picking back up on our conversation.
“No, I was always too busy. I was working when I was younger and always more interested in motorcycles than girls. What about you?” He asks.
I hesitate. I usually hate talking about my mom and childhood, but I find myself wanting to open up to Ransom.
“No, watching my mom go from man to man my whole life kind of put me off dating or guys.”
“What about your dad?” He asks me.
“Never met him. I’m not even sure that my mom knows who he is.”
“That sucks, Ruby. I’m sorry.”
I nod.
“She wanted me to be like her,” I admit, and he frowns.
“You’re not.”
“I know. I swore that I would never be a gold digger like her. I would never jump from one guy to the next. I worked hard to be happy being alone.”
“You don’t have to be alone to not be like her,” he says softly, and I nod.
We sit in silence for a few moments, just taking in the view, and I fight a smile when he wraps his arm around me, resting it on the back of the bench. This place really is beautiful. The town looks so small and it makes me realize that maybe my problems aren’t so big.
Thunder rumbles, and I glance up at the sky. Clouds are starting to roll in, and I know it’s going to storm soon. It feels right because there’s a storm brewing inside of me, too.
“Thanks for bringing me up here,” I tell him, and he smiles.
“Anytime. I like having you on the back of my bike,” he says with a grin.
“Surprisingly, I liked it too.”
“Well, let me know when you want another ride.”
His blue eyes sparkle down at me, and I feel some foreign emotion bubbling up in my chest.
Do it. Take a chance. For once, my subconscious whispers, and I swallow.
“How about right now?” I ask him, and his eyebrows rise. “We should probably get out of here before it starts raining.”
“You want me to take you home already?” He asks, looking bummed.
“No… I want you to take me back to your place.”
I was hoping that the words would come out more seductive or bolder, but I sound timid, even to my own ears.
“Are you sure, Ruby?” He asks, and I nod.
“I’m sure,” I tell him, sounding more confident. “I want you. Even if it’s just for one night.”
“It will be for a lot longer than one night,” he tells me, and I force a smile.
No, it won’t, I want to tell him, but I bite my tongue.
There’s no point in starting an argument. I’m sure Ransom will be happy when I sneak out tomorrow morning and head home.
“Let’s go, Rubes,” he says as he stands and offers me his hand.
I smile as I slide my hand into his. A jolt of lust courses through me as we both climb back onto his bike, and I feel tingly as I wrap my arms around his waist and hold on for the ride back to his place.