herself.
~~~
As she fumbled with the useless lock, she heard a low whistle and turned to see Jake looking up at her from the bottom of the three flights of cement stairs. The look on his face made her self-consciously press the flared skirt of her dress next to her thighs, certain he could see up her dress. When he gave her a knowing grin that made her gut clench, she almost reconsidered. She still could say no. Go back in her room and lock the door. But that was before she allowed herself to focus on the man ambling up the steps toward her.
Gone was the ACU camouflage. In its place he wore tight black jeans and a grey t-shirt. His tan combat boots with the rubber soles had been replaced by black ankle boots with enough chains and metal studs to put hers to shame. She couldn’t contain her gasp. She’d known he was an impressive man, handsome, overwhelming. But the casual jeans and t shirt showed off a body she’d only guessed at in his regulation dress. His t-shirt revealed impossibly broad shoulders and bulging biceps. Tucked in his belted jeans the shirt emphasized his tapered waistline and hard abs. His muscular thighs tightened as he took the steps three at a time.
When he turned the corner at the second landing, she managed to speak.
“No, wait. You don’t have to come up. I…I’m ready.”
He stopped at the landing and leaned back against the railing.
Grinning that disarming grin that made her stomach clench, he whistled again.
“Yeah, darlin’, you sure as hell are.”
She refused his hand and walked by him with her head in the air. His low chuckle raised the hairs on the back of her neck and she clutched the railing for support. In seconds, he was beside her, his big hand circling her arm. The skin on the place he stroked flamed at his touch.
His voice was a low rumble.
“Steady, now, darlin’. We don’t want you to break your neck or your ankles in those shoes.” He huffed. “I never have figured out how women wear those high heels.” He added with a chuckle, “I’m just glad they do.”
Lexie forced herself to take a deep breath and then another, but it didn’t do any good. She was a bundle of shrieking nerves. Furious at herself for agreeing to go out with this man, she whirled to face him. The tirade bubbling up in her chest hovered in her throat at the look in his eyes. His stormy blue eyes were dark with concern.
He reached out and stroked her cheek, the way you would an overwrought child poised on the edge of a tantrum. She was horrified that he read her so easily.
“Alexis, relax.”
His voice was quiet, authoritative. He squinted down at her. His expression was almost stern.
“Listen up. You and I are going to go out and have a nice dinner. You’re going to tell me all about that beast of a car you drive. I’m going to smother you with my southern charm. And if that was a tell-tale growl that I just heard from your stomach, you’re going to eat the first food you’ve had today or maybe in a couple of days. You got that?”
She hesitated, then mumbled, “I had a banana this morning.”
He shook his head with a dismissive nod.
“Good, then you’ll have lots of room for the food I intend to tempt you with. Hell, I might even force you to drink one of the best margaritas you’ve ever tasted just to see if I can loosen you up a bit.”
She tipped up her chin. “I…I don’t drink much.”
His eyes twinkled. “Good. A girl after my own heart.” He added, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Just what I like, a cheap drunk.”
Ignoring her startled frown, he smiled at her and bowed low. He swept his arm toward the dusty gravel parking lot.
“My lady, your chariot awaits.”
Lexie looked up in surprise at the gleaming black and silver motorcycle discreetly parked under the only tree in the pock-marked lot. She didn’t know much about motorcycles, but given what she did know, this was one impressive bike. It screamed power and money. Damn, she wouldn’t be surprised if Jake had dropped as much on this baby as she had in three years restoring her Camaro.
He laughed. “My one indulgence.”
She sniffed. “I’ll bet. But just so you know, I’m not much of a motorcycle person. How about we take my car instead?”
Jake stumbled back in mock horror. “And not travel down the open road with the wind in your hair and the sun in your eyes, driving every guy in his Buick sedan green with envy?”
Lexie hesitated, then blurted out. “They scare me. And…and I’ve never ridden on the back of one before. I don’t know how.”
Jake regarded her solemnly for a moment, then took hold of her arm and inched toward the machine glinting in the dappled sunlight shining through the
“Somehow I find that hard to believe from a girl whose car is every guy’s wet dream. But I’ll take you at your word. That’s why your first ride needs to be with a guy who knows how to handle a girl on the back of a bike.”
Lexie felt her cheeks heat at the double entendre, but shook off her embarrassment, determined not to let him see that she was afraid.
He reached for the helmet strapped to the back of the bike and put it on her head, twisting her soft curls in his hand when he snapped the strap.
“Up you go,” He said lifting her up and over the padded seat.
Lexie was shocked at how easily he lifted her. Before she could stop him, he hiked her dress above her knees and with a wink tucked it up against the seat.
“These aren’t the most modest rides you’ll ever take but I promise you it will be one of the most exciting.” Seeming to see her fear, he added, “Alexis, all you have to do is hang on tight. I’ve been riding these crotch rockets since I was fourteen years old and have never had so much as a scrape on me or on the bike.’
With that, he swung his leg up over the seat and parked his tight ass about four inches in front of her. She mentally groaned as he unhooked his helmet and strapped it on his head. He hitched up in his seat and twisted toward her. With a quick snap, he lowered the protective visor over her eyes, then glanced at her fingers clutching the leather armrests.
He studied her for a moment, then gave one of those knowing nods that she knew would be followed by some down home wisdom. He didn’t disappoint.
“Alexis, riding on the back of a motorcycle is a lesson in cooperation. Now, yes, you can sit back in this comfortable seat stiff as a board and let the wind and the dirt pummel you as we tear down the road at sixty miles an hour. Or you can lean forward and hang on to me. Hell, you can even rest against me and let me take the worst of the wind. And then… then if you are as daring as I think you are, you’ll give into the joy of the ride.”
He chucked her under her chin. “Cooperate with me, sugar, or go it alone. It’s your choice, darlin’.”
Not waiting for her answer, he snapped down his visor and kicked the bike into gear. Turning in a tight circle, he headed out of the lot to the open road ahead. At the break in the traffic, he throttled down and with an impressive roar they sped onto the highway.
Sheer terror forced Lexie to throw her arms around Jake’s waist and hang on tight. It took her a full moment clinging to him to begin to let the roar of the bike enter her bloodstream. A thrilling flash of power inundated her. She’d come close to this feeling speeding down the highway in her Camaro, but this was different, raw, explosive. The wind whipping her hair in shiny streaks of gold against her visor and the sun beating down on her bare legs were exhilarating. She clung to Jake’s muscled back and breathed in the subtle mix of expensive cologne and strong man. It was a heady combination. The hum of the engine throbbed between her legs. A potent rush of sensation flooded her. She gathered her strength and squashed down the torrent of doubts and ugly visions from the past. With a supreme effort, she let go of her fears and took Jake’s advice. She gave in to the joy of the ride.
