17
Chapter 17
Fia
Zolt kept suspiciously quiet. The only instructions he gave me were to wear something comfortable. When I’d come out of the bathroom in a dress, he sent me back in, chucking my leggings after me.
I pouted at myself in the bathroom mirror. I knew how much he enjoyed my summer dresses. He had never asked me to cover up.
Maybe his control was slipping.
But, other than that, he was abuzz with energy. When he didn’t think I was looking, he was grinning from ear to ear. Every time I asked what we were up to, his smile softened, and he shook his head. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
We drove through Serbia, past the city we’d stayed in, and into the countryside, where he pulled into a storage facility.
I thought he’d make me wait. Instead, he ran around to my side and took my hand. He watched me closely as the garage door creaked open. I just hoped my reaction lived upto… whatever this was.
The lights turned on inside once the door lifted past my knee and showed a bike set-up even my dad would be jealous of.
Against the walls hung multiple leathers — the blue and white ones from when he was in MotoBike, varying in their design throughout the years he’d ridden for them. The helmets shone on the highest shelf, but what took me back a step was the rows and rows of bikes.
Oh, my dad would be frothing at the mouth.
I walked up one of the aisles, fingers skimming the handles and the engines as my pace picked up. “Dirt bikes?”
He nodded, leaning against the wall, letting me wander. “Pick your favourite.”
My eyes met his, and I wanted to leap across the room into his arms. “Favourite?”
“I can give you some pointers,” he offered and started walking towards me. “For example—”
“What’s the purpose?” I asked. “Are we going long distance? What terrain? Are we…” A wicked smile took over my entire face. “Racing?”
His grin matched mine. “Yes.”
He walked the perimeter of the garage, grabbing things as he went, and I searched across the shop-worth of bikes.
“Be prepared for any terrain. It’s going to be a dry day.”
I loved him.
And, for the first time, the words didn’t fill me with dread or worry. They accompanied the excitement buzzing in my veins. They settled into my chest where they’d always belonged and where they would stay, whether welcome or not.
I patted the engine of the sky- blue bike behind me. “I’m aKTM kind of girl.”
He laughed and dropped to his knees at my feet. He undid my trainers and slid my feet into some leather bike boots.“Where—”
“Stefan brought these over this morning.”He strapped my ankles in tight.“I’m all for a race, but a safe one. Especially when you’re involved.”
My inner woo-girl was screaming at the top of her lungs.
Then he placed the helmet over my head, tying the strap tight and asking if it was okay. I nodded, but wished the helmet wasn’t between us.
“Do you want me to get it out for you or—”
“Just try and keep me off this bike.”
He chuckled, and I settled into the seat as he went to the wall to grab the keys. He chucked them at me, I revved the engine, and waited for him outside.
