The drive curved and he slowed, which was good because the house wasright there. He hit the button on the garage door opener and pulled inside a ginormous garage. We were in the middle bay. On the right was a car under a tarp and on the left, I saw the hulking shape of his motorcycle. The chrome gleamed under the dim overhead light and I tried not to drool. I loved riding motorcycles. It had been a long time since I'd been on a bike, mostly because my college boyfriend got miffed when I told him I wanted to buy my own instead of always riding bitch.
Apparently, that wasn't very feminine of me. Yeah, I rolled my eyes pretty hard at that one. Considering I had a vagina, I thought anything I enjoyed doing qualified as feminine.
Needless to say, he didn't last much longer.
"You like to ride?" Ben asked.
Hmmm. This might be a nice way to see what he was made of.
"Yeah. I was thinking about getting a bike of my own."
Ben looked me over. "You're what? Five-two, five-three?"
"Five-three," I answered. "Why?"
"Finding a bike low enough to the ground for you might be an issue, but let me know when you decide you want one. I know a guy."
That was not the response I'd expected. I gaped at him as he turned his back to me and climbed out of the truck. I was still processing his words when he came around and opened my door.
"You okay?" he asked. "I can take you back to town if you're not sure about—"
"I'm good," I interrupted. "Just thinking about what color I want my bike to be."
I scooted to the edge of the seat and slid down. Why did trucks have to be so far off the ground?
Ben's hands slipped around my waist to steady me when I landed hard on my feet. His hands felt strong even as he gently squeezed my sides.
"All right?"
I nodded, holding my breath because his eyes were locked on my lips. I wanted him to kiss me but the thought had my heart thundering in my chest.
"Let's get inside and you can tell me more about this bike you want to buy."
I suppressed my disappointment when he released my waist and grabbed my hand. I followed him through the side door and into the mud room-slash-laundry room. Then I stopped short in the kitchen. White cabinets were topped with black granite countertops and a huge eight-burner gas stove squatted to my left. I was pretty sure that Cam would go into throes of ecstasy when she saw it.
"Nice kitchen," I said as Ben turned on the light. "Resale value?"
Ben chuckled and tossed his keys in a little wooden tray on the counter to my right. "Nope. I cook a few times a week and Brody brings both Jacks and J.J. over for barbeques by the pool in the summer. I need plenty of room to spread out here because those two guys are okay cooks but they get in my way constantly."
I could see him in this kitchen in his faded jeans and black tees, barefoot, as he made something delicious.
"You cook?" I asked.
Ben rolled his eyes. "Yes, I cook. You think having a dick means I don't make my own food?"
I shook my head. "Nope. I have a vagina but I couldn't cook to save my life. I once scorched one of Cam's pans because I forgot I was boiling instant brown rice. It was so bad that she had to throw it away."
He laughed. "How'd you forget you were cooking?"
"Well, it's been a while, so I can't really remember. I think I was watching TV."
Ben chuckled and walked over to a sleek stainless steel fridge and slid the bottom drawer out. He fished out a bottle of vodka and held it up. "Still want a drink?"
I nodded and moved over to the island to boost myself up onto it.
"Vodka and soda?"
"Yes, please." I swung my legs aimlessly and watched as he moved around the kitchen, making me a drink. I didn't even have to ask him for lime because he grabbed one out of a bowl of fruit next to my hip and started slicing it up.
