Page 7

He cradles my face tenderly, and my eyes sting. He is always so gentle. A hand at my waist, a brush of his finger against my cheek. Any excuse to touch me but not inappropriately. Things a friend would do.

A close friend.

"Tell me what's going on, Vi, or I will make it my mission to find out."

"It's nothing," I say, forcing myself to meet and hold his gaze.

I got myself into the mess I'm in, and the last thing I want is for Sully or anyone else to think they have to come to my rescue. Jasmine did that the first time around, even though as the big sister, I should've been the one watching out for her. If not for me, we'd have our food trucks funded several times over. That's why I've been burning the candle at both ends, working two and three jobs to try to save up enough to pay back what I owe as well as carry my part of the business. Of the expansion.

I refuse to be the charity project of the family. Or to Sully. "Take me back."

The shadows reveal the ticking muscle in his locked jaw, but other than a deep inhalation and a slight jerk of his chin, as though reining in the words he wants to say but won't allow, he doesn't respond with anything other than a curt nod.

We head back to the bike. "Sully?"

"Yeah."

"Drive faster."

Chapter 4

Sully

* * *

Drive faster.

Violet doesn't need to say more. With two simple words, she tells me everything she isn't otherwise saying. Whatever has sent her spiraling into that shadowy, locked-down place is big, and it's eating at her until she's desperate to escape.

I want her to talk to me. I want to demand she open up and tell me what's going on. Tell me who was on the phone. Why she's so spooked. But pushing her will only shut her down more, and I'm not a stupid man. I have to be patient. Wait her out. Hope she comes to the realization on her own that she can trust me. I'll protect her with my life.

She plunks the helmet on her head and fumbles with the straps. I take over, latching them beneath her chin and lingering over the contact, swiping a finger over her impossibly soft skin.

Her gaze flicks up to mine, and I see the battle raging behind her eyes. We share a chemistry, and I know she feels it. But like that phone call, she's locked down all but the heat I see in her dark blue eyes before she looks away. She does that a lot. She looks away when things get tense. More proof that my girl is struggling with her feelings about whatever is happening between us.

Friendship, sure, even though I think it's more. But I don't want to be that creepy guy who reads into things, so I'm letting her set the pace, however fast or slow.

I helmet up and climb on, enjoying the feel of her hand on my shoulder far too much as she positions herself behind me. She places her hands in my jacket pockets again, and I feel the tension in her grip despite the material between us.

I start the bike, and we head down the darkened road toward Ft. Fisher. Despite her urging to drive fast, I don't. Not here where deer and coyotes and the occasional alligator crossings make it dangerous in the dark. When I see the lights of Carolina Cove ahead of us, I kick up our speed, loving the way her hands and thighs grip me more tightly. I love the smile that forms, her expression reflected in my mirrors as the wind carries her worries away, at least for a few seconds before I have to slow again to deal with the red lights.

I debate between taking her back to the bar to get her car or home. Either way, I'll follow and make sure she makes it safe. I decide on taking her home myself, because she's too lost in her thoughts to be behind the wheel.

I weave through the side streets until I get to her parents' house. Violet and Jasmine both live and care for their childhood home while their parents travel via RV and enjoy retirement. Betty the Burger Bus is a well-known sight parked at the end of the driveway every night.

I roll to a stop and kick the stand, cutting the engine.

"Thanks," she says, using my shoulder to scramble off the back. "Jas can drop me off at the bar to get my car tomorrow after work."

I frown at her words. "You should take it easy. You can't keep burning the candle at both ends. It's not healthy."

She yanks at the clasp beneath her chin and tugs the helmet off.

"I'm fine," she says tightly. "Night, Sully."

Just like that, she turns on her heel and hurries toward the front door. I watch her key the code to unlock the door, but once she opens it, she pauses and glances over her shoulder at me. I haven't moved.

"You going to sit there all night?"