Chapter Four
At six thirty, she checked her appearance. Smart but casual. At one minute past the appointed hour, she admitted to nerves as she wiped sweaty palms on her jeans. Manu had laid out the truth. He wanted friendship and nothing more. According to Emma, Hone attracted women like a magnet on steroids. He loved women and they loved him in return. Both men were sexy and had that bad-boy vibe going for them.
That was what she needed. A holiday fling. It wasn’t something she’d done in the past, but that was because of a lack of opportunity.
A slow grin worked across her lips. Fun and a research opportunity for her song writing. Win-win. But then, the good-girl part of her—the sector of personality inherited from her mother—spoke up. She’d get hurt. She didn’t do casual sex because she needed an emotional connection to function.
A vehicle pulled up outside and a knock sounded. She grabbed her bag and opened the door.
“I like a woman who doesn’t keep me waiting.”
Cassie’s brows rose, and she pushed her glasses up her nose.
He flashed her another of his panty-wetting grins. “Don’t get me wrong. Unhurried and slow is good for some things, but for dinner at the family home. Not so much.”
Her mind trotting right along where he led it—like a well-trained pet lamb. “Did you just mention sex and your parents in the same sentence?”
“A woman with a quick mind. Nice.” He kissed her cheek. “It’s a mild night. I brought my bike.”
Her mouth opened. Bad timing. A bug took this as an invitation and flew right on in. She coughed, spluttered and turned to her right to spit into a pot full of red petunias.
Manu took a giant step back, watching her act with interest. “A new mating dance?”
“A bug flew in my mouth.” She shoved her fingers inside and managed to extract the very dead insect. “Yuck.”
He held out his hand. “I brought a spare helmet for you.”
Aware she’d already behaved with her usual gaucheness, she locked the door of her motel unit, took his hand and followed along.
That pet lamb thing again. Something about this man brought out her clumsy in a big way.
“You ridden on a bike before? Here, I’ll take your bag.” He packed it in a compartment as he waited for her reply.
“No.”
“You’ll like it.” He studied her hair. “It might be easier if you loosen your hair. You can fix it again when we get to the farm.”
“Will my glasses be okay?”
“Depends if you want to see.” The corner of his mouth twitched, that bad-boy smoothness making a reappearance.
Heck. A challenge. With trembling fingers, she tugged off her scrunchie. The glasses would stay. Song-writing opportunity, so she needed color and details during the ride to their destination.
“You have pretty hair. Is the color natural?”
“Yes.” She saved the wigs and other artifices to improve her appearance for the stage. Katie-Jo’s territory.
“Hard to tell these days,” he said. “This is your helmet. Put it on, and I’ll fasten the chin strap for you.”
Bemused, she followed his instructions. Somehow, she guessed this man liked and cherished women. He also said what he thought, so she didn’t have to second guess every nuance of their conversation. This idea pleased her.
He straddled the bike. “Get on behind and put your arms around my waist. Your feet go here.” He indicated the spot for her feet. “When I lean into a corner, you lean the same way as me. Got all that?”
“Yes.” She flung her leg over the back of the bike, did an awkward hop in between, muttered under her breath, but finally got her butt on the seat.
“Closer,” Manu shouted. “I don’t bite. Much.”
She snorted. Even though she hadn’t known Manu for long, sheknewhim. Charming flirt, yet his core of honesty made her comfortable, made her laugh. She inched closer and placed her arms around his waist. Warmth greeted her touch. He reached behind and yanked her nearer until her breasts flattened against his back.
