I turned to look over my shoulder, and she was closer than I expected.
“Don’t go, please.”
Caroline
IWAS TORN BETWEEN terror and mortification, because I wanted a date with him, but I’d just embarrassed him, and drawn attention to him, and I didn’t want people to think badly of him.
“I… I want to try,” I whispered as Harley turned to face me, holding a hand out to me, palm up. I placed mine against his and he squeezed it gently.
“How about this?” He turned and faced the direction of his bike shop. “Why don’t we head back to the shop, and I can teach you how to buff that little scratch out of the paintwork? It just needs a little loving care.” How did he always know the best way to calm me down? I was nodding before I even managed to put words to my response.
He grinned, turning to check the table we were leaving, grabbing my helmet, and something else I couldn’t see.
“Your phone,” he said, leaning over to pass it to me, while I shoved it in my pocket and turned to check the table again. My usual paranoia for leaving something behind had been forgotten in my haste to stop him from leaving. Nothing else remained, so I let Harley lead me to my bike, and he held my helmet as I zipped my phone pocket, and climbed astride my ‘beast’.
“You go steady, and I’ll see you there, okay?”
It’s just down the road, but I felt that warm sense of being protected once more, and it was definitely something I could get used to.
I took my helmet from him, and giggled as he insisted on helping me do it up. I didn’t need the help, but it was sweet of him, another sweet gesture that I appreciated.
“Race you there!” I yelled, turning the ignition as he put his hand over mine and shook his head at me.
“Behave,” he mouthed, backing up to let me pull away from him. Then you know what? He turned and ran in the direction of his shop. Damn him. I couldn’t let him win!
Of course I got there first, but by the time I’d parked up, rested my bike, and removed my helmet, he was standing by the door of his shop, pretending to look at the non-existent watch on his wrist, tapping a boot on the ground. How adorably cheeky.
I was laughing as I reached him, and I was relieved to see humour on his face now, instead of the gutted horror of earlier, when he accidentally triggered me. The weirdest part is,although the idea of sex or any form of intimacy was terrifying for me, I felt like if there was ever a man I’d want to try with, it’d be him.
He led me inside the shop, and I waved nervously at the big guy in the spray area, who lifted a mask off his face as he returned the gesture.
“Took your time, man. I’m desperate for a piss.”
Harley grimaced, and waved him off.
“As always, Rocket, way too much freaking information. I’m going to bring your ride into the bay, Caroline. We’ll get that scratch sorted.”
Rocket paused on his way to the small bathroom, one hand on the door frame as he turned to frown at us.
“Scratch? Isn’t that my domain, man? I’ll take a look for ya.”
I sucked in a sharp breath as he turned and started in my direction, but Harley’s palm landed on his chest, stopping him in his tracks.
“I’ve got this. Go take that leak, yeah?”
Rocket looked between the two of us. “I mean, spraying’s literally what I’m here for. I could do you up a nice jazzy spray job, love.”
I didn’t need to speak, even though that sounded mildly intriguing, because Harley nudged Rocket back a step, following him toward the bathroom.
“As I said, we’re just buffing out a surface scratch, so we’ve got this for now. If Caroline decides she wants a custom spray job, she knows you’re here.”
His tone was getting firmer and firmer, and I saw the moment that Rocket either finally got the hint, or just decided to give up and move on.
“I’mma take that leak now. You gonna take your hand off me, or are you offering to hold it?”
Harley laughed, backing away with his hands lifted.
“Can’t think of anything I’d be less likely to offer, man. Okay, Caroline, wait for me in the bay, and I’ll bring your ride inside.” He reached out for my key and I passed it over without argument. At least Rocket had closed the door, and was on the other side of it, even if that meant he might have his… well, be doing what he said he was going to. I practically scurried into the repair bay to wait for Harley.
