I inwardly groaned. Of course it was abike. And, the truth was that my resolve was wavering. I was beginning to sweatjust standing there and the thought of my journey home taking ten minutes asopposed to an hour sounded pretty enticing.
“It’s only a ride I swear,” he saidearnestly, taking his sunglasses off so I could see his eyes. It was a gesture thatI found to be surprisingly thoughtful. “And all these guys are witness to youleaving with me,” he grinned, pointing to the bustling mechanic shop.
“Yeah, because they’re all suchupstanding citizens,” I muttered, making him laugh.
He got a sudden twinkle in his eye andpulled out his phone. He dialed and held it to his ear all while smiling downat me.
“Hank? Yah, isEttiearound?” he asked while I stared at him in confusion. “I just need her to do mea quick favor,” he explained. “Etts? Hey, I’mstandin’ here outside Manny’s garage trying to convincethis absolutely gorgeous girl to let me give her a ride home.”
My mouth opened in shock as he winkedat me.
“But she seems to think that she mightnot be one hundred percent safe with me. I was hoping that woman to woman, youmight be able to vouch for me.” He listened for a moment and chuckled, theattractive sound shooting right through to my already galloping heart. “Yah? Okthanks,” he said as he handed the phone over to me. “Name’s Cole by the way,phone’s for you.” He winked again. I didn’t know whether to be annoyed orthoroughly charmed.
I took the phone and held it to myear. “Hello?” I asked cautiously.
“Hi, this isEttie.Who’s this?” a friendly sounding female voice chirped from the other end.
“Scarlet,” I replied, watching Cole’sreaction to hearing my name. His eyebrows rose and I thought I detectedpleasure in his expression.
“Well Scarlet, I know we’ve never met,but I’ve known Cole for over five years. He and my old man are good friends,” sheexplained while I looked everywhere but at the gorgeous blue eyes twinklingdown at me. “You couldn’t be safer than with him,” she continued. “He’s areally safe driver and I swear he’s not a serial killer,” she said as she giggled.“He must really like you if he’s so determined to give you a ride,” she mused.
“Um, ok thanks,” I replied, cuttingher off. I didn’t want to think too hard as to why he wanted so badly to giveme a ride home.
“Have fun!” she said, and then laughedbefore hanging up.
I handed the phone to him and he tookit back looking as though he was going to continue to dial.
“What are you doing?” I asked inconfusion.
“Continuing my reference check,” hereplied, completely serious.
I couldn’t helpit,I let out a deep belly laugh. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed sofreely with a complete stranger, but it felt good. There was something abouthim that I trusted despite all my best efforts not to. “It’s okay. I think onereference is sufficient, along with our esteemed witnesses over there,” Ireplied gesturing back to the mechanic shop.
“Glad to hear it,” he grinned.
I followed him back to his gorgeousHarley. Despite my aversion to bikers, I loved bikes and it had been far toolong since I’d been on the back of one.
“Have you ridden a bike before?” heasked throwing on his leather jacket, the patch on the sleeve confirming whatI’d known right away, that he belonged to a Motorcycle Club.
“A time or two,” I admitted, forcingmyself to keep a straight face. He eyed me speculatively for a moment while heclasped his helmet beneath his chin. God he was gorgeous, it was so unfair.
He handed me a spare helmet. The samehelmet that I’m sure he gave to every woman who rode on the back of his bike. Ithrew a leg over the bike, as the engine roared to life, and hopped up behindhim. I sighed with the familiarity of it all—it was like being back home.
“Where am Igoin'?”he asked loudly over the noise of the bike.
“Do you know where the high schoolis?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Take a left at the school and I’llguide you from there,” I told him.
“Okay, hang ondarlin',”he replied with a grin.
I rolled my eyes but obliged bywrapping my arms around his leather clad torso, secretly loving the feel of hisbody in front of mine as we took off out of the parking lot. I couldn’t fightmy grin as we roared through town. I absolutely loved every second of the ride,and having my arms around such a gorgeous guy wasn’t half bad either. My innerthighs rested snugly against him, and I had to force my mind off of the tinglesthat shot through me from the intimate contact. I was surprised that I feltsafe enough to direct him to my apartment instead of to a few houses down. I wasenjoying the ride so much that it felt like we were pulling up to the curb inwhat felt like seconds. He turned off the bike as I swung off and unfastenedthe helmet.
“Thanks for the ride,” I saidsincerely, raking my fingers through my now very tousled hair.
He watched my fingers for a momentbefore meeting my eyes. “You’re welcome,” he replied, accepting the helmet Ihanded back to him.
