She drove around and around, not sure what to do next. No, that wasn’t right. She knew exactly what she wanted to do. Who she wanted to see. She was just too chickenshit. If there was one person who’d be sympathetic, it was Ryan. His family didn’t understand him, either.
Fuck it.
A few minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot of DeMarco Property Management, then stormed into the office. Of the three people who looked up in surprise as she burst through the doors, she only had eyes for one.
Ryan stood behind the reception desk, a stack of files in hand. The smile that crossed his face and lit up his beautiful brown eyes was the best thing she’d seen in a week.
forty
do you want to get out of here?
Ryan’s heart leaped as Elissa burst in, disheveled as if she’d taken on a dust devil and lost. She had an extra button undone, showing off her cleavage, not that he was complaining. Her unruly hair made him want to muss it even more. He hadn’t seen her since her last visit to the office, and she was the most beautiful thing to walk into his life. Today and every day.
Red-rimmed eyes stared wildly around the office until they found him.
“Elissa, what’s wrong?” He dropped the files on his desk.
Trinity and Alex were silent, their mouths open in surprise and their gazes like laser pointers on his back. But he didn’t care one rat fuck about what they thought or who they might tell. The only person who mattered right now was standing in front of him with a tear-streaked face, looking nothing like herself. Why had she come here? Oh God, was her mom’s cancer back?
“Do you want to get out of here?” Her voice was rough, but she kept her eyes on him. Those beautiful, lake-blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears. He was a complete goner. “I-I need to get out of here.”
Elissa needed him, needed an escape, needed freedom. Fuck, and he needed her, needed escape and freedom, too. A wicked smile lit his face, and he loosened his tie. He balled it up and let it fall on top of the files he’d been holding a minute ago. She was offering him freedom, and he was taking it, taking her. It was his dream come true.
“Let’s go!”
He grabbed his helmet from where it sat under the desk. In a few quick steps, he stood in front of her. She wobbled back and forth on her feet, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, spinning her around gently. Elissa leaned into his side and allowed him to steer her to the door.
“What am I going to tell your father?” Trinity called.
“I don’t care. Tell my father whatever you want,” he said over his shoulder.
“I’ll handle it,” Alex said.
The door shut between them, finalizing the conversation. Whatever the consequences of this action, he would have it no other way. His girl needed him, and he wasn’t going to put some ridiculous job above her. Hell, he’d been thinking of quitting since he took the position.
Ryan led Elissa to his motorcycle, sitting under the shaded parking area. With every step, his mind lightened. This was the right call. Everything about this woman screamed it deep in his soul. He was hers, and god willing, she’d be his.
It was fucking hot for mid-March, so he rolled up his sleeves and handed her the helmet.
“Put it on.”
“What about you?” She took it from him with a crease between her brows.
“You’ll be with me. I’m not taking any risks. We’ll stop at my place for an extra.”
Elissa put on the helmet and mounted the motorcycle behind him. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her body into his. He tried not to think about how it felt. He’d need those brain cells to drive them safely to his apartment. As they drove out of the parking lot, his brother stood outside the door, watching them. The smallest of smiles crossed Alex’s face.
Ryan pulled into a parking spot at his apartment complex. As soon as he killed the engine, her grip loosened, and she slid off the bike. She took off the helmet and handed it over.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Ryan grabbed her hand, pulling her close. She buried her face into his shirt and shook her head. “Okay. We won’t talk about it. Lemme grab a couple things and we’ll get the fuck out of town. Does that sound good?”
She nodded and stepped back. He didn’t let go of her hand, though, and tugged her along after him. He’d make this quick.
First settling her on the couch with a glass of ice water, Ryan went to his room and changed into riding gear. Digging in his closet, he found the spare helmet, a spare leather jacket, and a set of saddlebags, already packed with a simple toiletry kit and a change of clothes. Ryan grabbed an extra toothbrush from his bathroom and tossed it in.
He strode into the living room and handed Elissa the jacket. Ryan resisted the urge to ask her why again, afraid of breaking the spell. He liked this side of her, wild and ready to fly.
“Where to, gorgeous?” he asked instead.
