“I can’t spoil your little surprise. But I promise you won’t have to wait long.” She smiled, holding out a hand to help me down from the counter.
“But…” I looked back at her over my shoulder as she ushered me toward the door.
“No questions. Go get dressed.”
For what?My mind rattled through all the different places in town that Spencer might choose for a date. Unless we weren’t going to town at all. Did I need sneakers? “What am I supposed to wear?”
But Spencer’s answer only raised more questions. She smirked from the base of the stairs, watching me climb up. “Something you don’t mind ruining.”
16
KIERA
“I hopethis is what you had in mind…” I spun in a circle as I approached Spencer in the driveway, giving her a 360 view of the gray linen joggers, black crop top, and flannel I’d fished out of the bottom of my drawer.
It looked so schlubby compared to the dark wash jeans and black henley she’d thrown on under her leather jacket.I’m surprised that’s the outfit she’s willing to ruin…
But she just smiled wide at me, letting her eyes skim up and down my body unapologetically. “Sporty. I like it. But we’ve gotta talk about your lack of layers. You’re going to freeze to death.”
I shrugged as I sidled closer, grabbing the helmet she left out for me. “Hardly my fault. You gave me zero info on where we’re going. Guess you’ll just have to share your jacket with me.”
“I’ll do you one better,” she smirked, pulling out a spare jacket she’d been holding out of my view on the other side of the bike. It was a bit worn at the elbows, but in spectacular shape otherwise. A hand-me-down, I was guessing. “We should get you one of your own, but for now, this’ll keep you safe and warm on the bike.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, letting her ease it onto me. It was soft and warm, like a gentle hug.I’m not sure I will need one of my own, actually.
As she pulled on her own helmet and got settled, my eyes drifted over the bike between her legs. After all of these weeks of riding around on them, it still wasn’t lost on me how sexy the Suzuki looked. Even sexier with its owner on top of it.
My brow furrowed as I noticed a shiny new chain threaded over the back wheel’s gears. “Your bike busted again?”
“Huh?” Spencer tilted her head, following my chin as I nodded toward the chain. “Oh, yeah… Just some scheduled maintenance.”
“Mhm…” I crossed my arms, giving her a once over. “I’m sure Leo would concur.”
“How about you worry less about what Leo thinks and hop on so we can get going? Don’t you want to know what your surprise is?”
“You could just tell me,” I teased, placing a hand on her back as I swung my leg over the bike.
“But where’s the fun in that?”
The second I wrapped my arms around Spencer’s waist, she lifted the kickstand and let the engine roar to life, tearing down the driveway with reckless abandon.
The only comfort to be found in all of Spencer’s speed-demon tendencies was that if we crashed, at least it would go quickly. But even in all of my nerves, I knew that she was a skilled driver. And more than that, I was starting to trust that she wouldn’t put me into a situation she couldn’t get me out of.
As we rode, the route looked familiar. We were headed to Valemont, not the deep woods as I’d suspected.Fuck, I’m really underdressed, then.
But as I tried to imagine what seedy new part of town I would see tonight, I was surprised when we drove down mainstreet,past the diner and the tourist destinations, past the Glass Canon and the tattoo shop until we pulled up outside of…
“Lucky Strike?” I pulled off my helmet as soon as the bike came to a halt, narrowing my eyes at Spencer. “Please tell me we’re not doing another lesson…”
She smirked cheekily as she took off her helmet and helped me off of the bike. “Not a lesson per se…”
Before I could ask what the fuck that cryptic shit meant, there was a rustle from the alleyway — one that set even Spencer’s hackles up. She pulled me quickly behind her, shoulders tensing as she peered down the driveway. “What the fuck…?”
My hands clenched the back of her leather jacket as I peeked around her broad back. “Maybe we should?—?”
But before I could finish the sentence, there was a hollow metallic bang from inside the dumpster. A second bang, and the lid flew open, revealing a hulking black creature covered in garbage.
“Is that a fucking bear?!” Spencer grabbed my arm and tried to push me back onto the bike, but I stopped her with a palm to her chest.
