We stop at a light, and I glance back and rub her thigh. “You good?”
“Yes.”
“Well, what do you think? You like riding?”
“I love it. This is amazing.” Her smile lights up her face, and the sight of it fills me with happiness.
I take her on a long ride out of town and up into the mountains. I pull over at a spot with a good view of the town below. Shutting the bike down, I climb off and take Luisa’s helmet, hanging it on the handlebars with mine.
“Let’s sit over here,” I say, leading her to some boulders.
“It’s so pretty. I’ve never been up in the mountains.”
“Never?”
“No.”
I grin. “I guess you’ve never done a lot of things until me, huh?”
She blushes, and I like that.
“So, do you like riding enough that you’d go for another ride with me sometime?”
“Maybe.”
She’s still pissed and not ready to get over it yet.
I stare out over the horizon. “I know I told you not to get serious, that this was just fun we were having, but…” God, why do the words stick in my throat.
“But, what?”
“I was wrong. Guess I didn’t plan for this to get serious, but it has. You’re not just some piece of ass, Luisa.”
“Wow, way to make a girl feel special.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” I drag a hand across the back of my neck. “Guess I’m not good at this.”
“Just say it.”
“You’re different, Luisa. Not like any girl I’ve met. You’re sweet and beautiful, but you’re also smart and you don’t take my crap. I like that.”
She huffs a laugh. “You sure?”
“It’s true. In this life, guys like me need a strong woman, one who’s going to call us on our bullshit.” I search her eyes. “I hurt you the other day. I’m sorry. All that stuff I’ve been planning…it was all before you came along, before you came to mean something to me.”
“And what do I mean to you, Blue?”
“Everything,” I say with no hesitation. “You’re right when you said I don’t put just any girl on the back of my bike. Only special ones. Only the ones who mean something to me. What I’m trying to say is you’re important to me, and I’m not just playin’. Not for me. I’m in this now.” When she doesn’t reply, I swallow. “You on the same page?”
She giggles. “Yes, Blue. I’m on the same page.”
“Told you I wasn’t very good at this.” I cup her face. “I’m better at this.” Then I kiss her. She responds and leans closer, her arms sliding up my leather cut.
She glances at her hands covering my patches. “What about the club? Your president? My father?”
“They’ll just have to deal with it.”
“You say that like you’re so sure of it.”
