Chapter 4
Ishika
This day feels never-ending. I am sitting inside my car on the deserted road with a flat tire.
Fuck My Luck!
My head rests on the steering wheel as I scream curses into the dark.
I am so close to tears. I forgot to charge my phone again this morning, so I have no way to call for help.
My father will love to tell me, I told you so.
He has asked me a million times to keep a spare tire and a jack for emergency purposes but I thought I knew better.
Keeping the engine on and the gear in neutral, I walk up to the tire and caress it fondly. Then I whisper, “My baby, home is six blocks away. Let’s try this one more time. Please. One last time listen to your girl and we’ll be friends forever.”
Then I use all my strength and push on the vehicle, hoping it will move forward. The four wheel bitch doesn’t budge, not even an inch.
“You good for nothing useless piece of shit,” I yell, kicking on the punctured tire but end up hurting my foot instead.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch!” I hop on one foot, holding the other in my hands.
Great, now I have to limp home in my four-inch heels. Limping over to the driver’s seat, I switch off the engine and lock my car, a BMW X6. A graduation present from my dad. Then I begin my slow, torturous walk home.
I miss Dad. He would have taken care of this fiasco, but he is out of town with Mama.
I was going to order pizza and watch a movie, but now I have to figure out how to fix my car.
I can’t leave it on the roadside for the night.
I will head home and call Sadie for help.
My father takes care of the insurance, I am not sure if I have roadside assistance in my plan.
I have been distracted all day. My thoughts are preoccupied by a tall, hot, arrogant, dimpled, tattooed asshole, who told me he is not for sale.
Owen apologized profusely for his brother’s rude behavior this morning, I told him not to worry about it.
When Owen asked me if I knew Ryan before today, I lied.
I refused to tell him I was the girl who got his brother arrested all those years ago.
My whole day has been a shit show after that man’s rejection. Who the hell does he think he is to reject me?
Concentration is the key in my line of work, things can go wrong in a second. Responsibility and accountability are immense when others place their teeth in your hands.
I work as a trainee dental assistant at the local dentistry. I am trying to gather as much work experience as I can before heading back to dental school. Dr. Bull, my boss, was impressed by my skills up until yesterday.
But after my encounter with Ryan Harper, it feels like he jinxed me and bad luck has been following me everywhere since.
Dr. Bull gave me a written warning today.
I mean I gave him the wrong mold for a crown replacement and the faulty suction device during a tooth extraction was my fault too.
I should have checked and replaced that.
Then I poked on the abscessed tooth a little roughly and the man screamed in horror, jumping off the chair.
He sounded like I had a gun in my hands instead of an air and water syringe.
I felt so terrible for my mistake and I went to apologize to the patient.
I know dental work can be stressful and painful for the patient and I should have been more careful.
But as I approached him, he leapt in the air and literary ran in the opposite direction begging me to stay away from him.
Dr. Bull ordered me to remain in the staff break room until his procedure was over.
I doubt Dr. Bull is going to give me a recommendation letter at this rate. I had to lie to him that I had a bad migraine today. I like this job; I have only been here for a couple of months but I have learned so much.
I can’t let thoughts of Ryan Harper get in the way of my life goals.
A shiver runs down my spine when I remember his big, muscular, hard body. That’s it, from here on I am not letting myself think about his eyes, his lips, his muscles, and tattoos.
Oh my God, his dimple…Nope, not thinking about that anymore.
I forbid myself to remember his hard jaw, his wide chest, and the packing in his pants.
I forbid, I forbid. I forbid.
Trudging down a dimly lit road, I hum a tune to distract my brain from going back to the prohibited territory, when the rumble of a motorcycle engine cuts through the air. I am tempted to ask for a lift but my mom’s voice rings in my head.
“What if he is a serial killer?”
I don’t lift my hand and watch as the Harley Davidson passes me like a flash of lightning and rides down the hill.
I sigh, deciding to take off my shoes and walk barefoot.
There is no way I can walk six blocks with these on.
I take off one shoe and that’s when I hear the rumble of the same Harley again, only this time it’s coming toward me at full speed. The headlight blinds me momentarily.
I yelp as the bike comes to a halt in front of me. The front wheel is an inch away from my legs. The driver is dressed in black. Black pants, black boots, black leather jacket, black helmet. Only his hands are bare.
Even in this dim lit night, my body knows who he is. A thrill of anticipation highlights my senses. My heart beats harder as he takes off his helmet, his hair disheveled, his eyes angry, his scowl in place. “What the fuck are you doing here alone?”
Deep breaths. Ignore him.
Taking off my second shoe, I adjust the strap of my purse on my shoulder and sidestep his bike. I am about to walk past him when his hand grips my arm.
Warm skin, calloused fingers, rough on my wrist, tender on my flesh, send sparks shooting in the right places of my body.
Get a grip, Ishika.
“I asked you a question, Princess,” he roars.
“I choose not to answer,” I say in an annoyingly sweet tone.
“Why do you have to be a pain in the ass every time we meet?”
When I don’t reply, he takes a deep breath. “I’m trying to help. Is that your car that’s broken down? You shouldn’t be walking alone on this road. Let me have a look at your car and see if I can fix it.”
The area where his hand grabs my skin tingles and burns, making my temperature rise.
I try to pull out my arm from his grip, but he doesn’t let go. We stare at each other for a full minute.
“I can stay here all night, if that’s what it takes,” he warns me impatiently.
“It’s a flat tire. I don’t have a spare. I’m gonna walk home and then get someone to tow it. I don’t think I can get it repaired at this hour,” I grind out, hating that I have no other options right now.
“All right. Hop on, I’ll drop you home.”
“I’ll manage,” I say petulantly, even though I really want to take up his offer.
“Of course, you will. Now get on the bike.”
“No.”
“Ishika!” he growls low with a warning.
My name on his lips feels like sin.
I like it.
Even though a part of me knows I should not feel like this, I allow myself this indulgence. With a jerk on my arm, Ryan pulls me closer. Picking up his helmet, he places it over my head. His fingers brush my neck as he adjusts and locks the chin strap in place.
He waits for me to climb on his beast of a motorcycle. “Anytime today, Princess.”
“My daddy will hunt you down and kill you if I’m hurt. Do you understand?” I say.
The corner of his mouth ticks up, even in this dim light and all that scruff on his jaw, I can see the dimple on his cheek. It makes him even more smoldering hot.
“Understood. Whenever you’re ready, mount the noble steed, Princess.”
Inhale, exhale.
Swish my pride in three…two…one. Now chant—I pick my battles tactfully.
I throw him a look that says, “You are so fortunate that I am going to grace my ass on your seat and agree to ride on your dangerous motorcycle.”
I put back on my shoes and climb his Harley. I slide my butt far away on the leather seat so I don’t have any bodily contact with this man.
“You’ll need to hold me.”
“What?”
Ryan reaches behind his back, grabbing both my hands, he locks them over his slim waist. My butt slides closer to his body as he tugs my arms. Even though he is fully clothed, my fingers can feel the hard muscles on his abdomen.
“No thank you. I’m perfectly fine right here,” I protest, pulling my hands back to myself and moving my ass back to the edge of his seat.
“Suit yourself.” He grunts and revs up his engine.
The bike starts and ten seconds later I am screaming at the top of my lungs and gripping him too tight as he chases the wind.
My face hides into his neck, my eyes are shut because I am scared to see the speed at which the world is passing by.
The savage beast relishes in my misfortune, throaty chuckles erupt from his chest as he zigzags his bike, swaying us a lot more than necessary, all the way until we reach the gates of my house.
“See, you survived. It wasn’t so bad now, was it?” his voice soothes.
I am so shaken up by the whole ride, the feel of my thighs pressing his, my chest pushing against his back, his warm body drawing me in, and his heart beating under my palm where I am still holding him.
He smells so delicious. I can’t tell what his cologne is but it feels like speed, dare, and sin combined.
A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of that.
“Hey, are you okay?” he asks softly, turning his face to me.
I am trying to calm my racing heart before I get off this bike.
I feel his thumb stroke the back of my palm that is clutching on to his chest. His touch feels like a jolt of electricity.
I sit up straight and remove my arms from around his body.
“Thanks for the ride,” I say hurriedly, getting off the bike.
“Give me your car keys.”
“Eh?”
“I’ll get the tire replaced, give me the keys,” he says.
“I’ll figure it out tomorrow. It’s late, I don’t want to bother you.”
“You got insurance?”
“What?”
“If you decide to leave a luxury car at the side of the road for the rest of the night, then consider it stolen.”
I gasp loud. “You think someone will steal my car?”
“Mrs. Mathew’s car was stolen last week. She had a spark plug problem. Only left it unattended for half a day. When she returned there was no car. The case is still under investigation. My guess is the car is probably dismantled and sold off for parts on the black market.”
“Shit. I can’t lose that car. I have all my old textbooks in there.
I have two note books worth of my detailed clinical notes from Dr. Bull’s root canal sessions and Dr Fisher’s bone grafting procedure.
Those are very important. Plus my grandmamma paid for the custom monogrammed leather seats with her retirement money.
It’s a sentimental thing for me. Where can I get a tow truck at this hour? ” I am totally panicking.
“Tell you what. You feed me dinner and I’ll fix your car. I’m the best you got. You should use me before I change my mind,” he says, one side of his lip curling in a half smile. His dimple winks at me.
Why does it feel like dirty talk?
Did he say use me? I need him to elaborate please.
He snaps his fingers in front of my eyes. “Do you want me to handle your car or not?”
I blame it on the dimple because seconds later, I take my car keys out of my purse and hand them to him.
“Go inside. I’ll call you when I am done.”
“But you don’t have my number.”
“I have your number. See you in an hour.” He flicks his hand in the direction of my entrance and waits until I get inside my house and lock the door. I sigh as I hear the roar of his engine fill the empty lanes.
The magnitude of what just happened only hits me when I’m alone again.
Ryan Harper gave me a ride home. I was holding on to him like my life depended on him because that was exactly what it was.
But more than that, it felt like he cared.
He cared enough to not leave me alone, stranded on a dark street, because he thought it was unsafe. He also volunteered to help fix my car.
I smile, stupidly remembering his touch. His calloused hands felt so good on my skin. I wonder what his tongue would feel like? Rough and raw, invoking desire, stoking hunger… I freeze as these thoughts cross my mind.
For the first time since our interaction this morning, I pause behaving like a loopy headcase and question what this is. This makes no sense. I don’t even know Ryan personally. Why am I having these thoughts about him?
I can’t be attracted to Ryan when I have Brent.
Brent is good for me. He is already in dental school.
Our parents are close friends, our relationship will be perfect because he understands my career goals.
I even journaled what life with Brent would look like in the next ten years.
Four years in dental school. Then a lavish wedding in the Bahamas.
Two years of a great sex life and then two beautiful babies.
Vasectomy for Brent. While our mothers cared for our kids, Brent and I will make lots of money, involve ourselves in various charities, and research work to invest in the future of dentistry.
And someday when I am older and wiser, I will write my memoir detailing my ambitious mindset.
How to strive for a successful future from a young age by making informed choices.
I knew I would be a dentist by age six. Teeth are my passion.
Ryan has very shiny, perfectly aligned teeth.
Damn it! Why am I thinking about him again?
My plan for my future is set in stone. I have never deterred from my objective in the past. I won’t let Ryan barge in with his chiseled jaw and dimpled cheek and stir up new cravings that are going to derail me from my goals.
This is a mistake. I need to put a stop to this distraction immediately.