Chapter one
Jace
I’d recognize those broad shoulders anywhere—I committed them to memory when I first saw them last month in Katah Vista—and since then, I’ve been dreaming about what they’d look like under the shirt that hugs them. Add the light brown hair with a hint of curl at the ends? God, how I wanted to plunge my hands into it and feel the silky strands glide between my fingers.
My heart still races when I think about the way he looked at me that day; lips slightly parted, steely gaze full of desire. What I’d give to feel that again…
I wanted him right then and there, but years of masking my emotions kept my expression in check, and my body frozen in place. He was similarly guarded, and frankly, his gaze was the only hint of him being affected by my presence at all. But it was enough.
I’m not sure which of us broke the stare first, though I do remember shooting glances at each other for the rest of the afternoon. And when I rubbed my shoulder, sore from hoisting the camera around, he suggested a massage. To everyone else it was an offhand comment, a friendly offer. I knew better. It was an invitation to explore this thingbetween us. One I planned to take him up on, until our sponsors disrupted the schedule.
They sent us to Moab to film with some other riders, a task we barely completed since my best friend and star rider, Axel, had his mind stuck on his man, Lennon. They weren’t official at the time, but Axel wanted him, and he went back to Katah Vista to claim him. I thought about going too, trying to find my sexy masseuse, Blake. But aside from that brief encounter at the bar, we didn’t have any other contact, and I didn’t want to come off as a stalker. So, Axel went to Katah Vista, and I went to Arizona to get ready for the first competition of the season.
I don’t usually regret moving from one place to the next—traveling the world to film dirt bike videos and competitions with my best friend is a great life—but leaving without being able to act on the moment I shared with Blake made me feel sort of hollow. Like I was missing out on something that could’ve been great. Yeah, that’s a weird thought to have after a simple look. Doesn’t change the fact that I asked “what if” a few times.
Now, I might finally get my chance.
I’m not usually one to believe in something as cliché as fate, but seeing as how my sexy stranger is sitting across the bar in this pub miles away from Katah Vista, what else could it be? It can't be a coincidence. Unfinished business, maybe? Regardless, I won’t waste my chance to explore whatever this is between us. Not again.
Standing over his shoulder, I speak just loud enough for him to hear me over the commotion of the busy restaurant. “Is this seat taken?”
He stiffens at the sound of my voice, turning slowly, as if he’s unsure what he might find. Finally, I’m staring into the face I thought I might never see again, and somehow the angles and planes are even more stunning than I remembered.
Although I suspect we’re close in age, Blake looks older. More man than boy, like he has to shave daily instead of once a week. It gives him a ruggedly handsome look compared to my boyishly attractive one.
His hazel eyes blink rapidly as he takes me in, confusion etched in his features. “You’re…”
“Jace.” I give him my hand.
“Blake.” He takes it, thick, strong fingers brushing against the back of my hand. The contact makes me shiver, and I swear I feel him do the same.
“I remember. May I?” I point to the barstool next to him. He nods, jaw shifting subtly as he fights a smile.Does that mean he’s happy to see me?
The bartender sets a coaster in front of me before I can say anything else. “What can I get you?” he asks.
“What’d you get?” I ask Blake.
“A burger. And a pale ale.” He lifts his glass, signaling that he’d like another.
“I’ll have the same,” I tell the bartender, who drifts off to place my order as I turn my focus back to the man beside me, whose broad shoulders are so close to my own the air between us seems to vibrate. His hazel eyes regard me with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation from underneath his softly rumpled hair. “What brings you to Utah? Vacation?” I ask.
“Work actually.” He licks his lips before taking a sip of his beer, and I have to tear my eyes away before my mind can wander toward what else I’d like to see him do with his tongue.
“For the spa?”
“My other job. Or at least I think it will be.”
I catch his eyes wandering down my body, and it makes my stomach flutter.Damn, how long has it been since a look made me do that?Iswallow, trying to regain my focus. I vaguely remember him talking about teaching kids how to mountain bike. “The bike clinics?”
“You remember that?” The corner of his lip pulls up as he fights another smile. Without an audience he has to play a role for, he seems flattered, almost bashful. It’s fucking adorable. I’m suddenly glad our first real opportunity to talk is here, away from people I suspect don’t know this side of him.
“I remember.”
“It’s related to the bike clinics, yeah.”
The bartender sets a beer in front of me, and I take a sip to wet my dry mouth. “So, you have two full-time jobs?”
“Most everyone in the valley does. There aren’t many salaried positions available and one hourly job doesn’t pay the bills.” A hint of red creeps into his cheeks. I hope he doesn’t think I care about what kinds of jobs he has, or worse, his education. If I hadn’t grown up riding with Axel, filming him along the way and establishing ourselves as sort of a package deal, I’m not sure where I’d be today.
