Luke wanted to demand that she be called off the track, stat. He folded his arms, feeling the tightness pinch around his eyes and mouth. Acid churned in his stomach. He’d been watching the speeding riders with reasonable detachment, congratulating himself for managing that degree of calm. The accident which had killed his cousin had been years ago. Past time for him to let go his visceral antipathy to motorcycles.
But now…
Now he knew it was Terri on the track, he felt sick.
And angry.
Angrier by the minute.
Two circuits later, she slowed and pulled into the pit area. Oblivious to his glowering presence, she stopped to chat briefly to a couple of the mechanics further along the lane. Her long legs braced on either side of the machine. With a quick nod, she rode forward slowly. The machine’s throaty growl sounded a protest at the restrained speed as she turned into the empty garage.
Luke stalked across the tarmac, driven by the desire to give her a verbal blast. He turned into the wide door. Terri stood beside the bike, stripping off her gloves.
The skin-tight red leather suit moulded to her lithe body.
His gaze was drawn irresistibly down over each feminine curve.
Breast, waist, hip, thigh.
At the knee, the bright supple covering disappeared into long black boots.
Luke swallowed, his steps slowing as an unexpected shudder shook him.
His eyes made the return trip.
She was gorgeous, sensual.
Dangerous to his sanity.
As he watched, she unclipped her helmet and shook out waves of long dark hair.
Perfection.
And she would risk it all for a thrill, a momentary pleasure.
His daughter had made a confidante of this reckless creature. Allie wouldn’t be able to cope with another flood of grief in her young life. Terri needed to consider that when she indulged her whim for danger.
Bubbling anger dimmed a tiny internal alarm that sounded in his brain.
His entire system twitched with the need for an argument, even relished the prospect in a perverse way.
His feet moved purposefully until he was only a few feet from her. She turned. The radiant smile on her lips tilted higher. He could see the high of exhilaration was still pumping through her system.
‘Hi, Luke.’ Her buoyant greeting was the last straw.
‘I suppose you’re proud of that display out there,’ he said softly.
She tipped her head slightly to one side. ‘The riding?’
‘Yes, the riding,’ he grated.
‘Oh, yes. I suppose I am a bit. Did you see?’ She still hadn’t realised his dangerous state of mind. Enthusiasm shone through her voice. She stuffed her gloves into the hollow of the helmet and then stood with it dangling from one hand.
‘I saw,’ he said grimly. ‘What sort of example do you think you’re setting?’
‘Example? Well…a good one, I hope. I was in absolute control of the bike at all times,’ she said, her voice confused.
‘All it takes is a loss of concentration for a split second.’ He ground his teeth together. The muscle tension in his jaw was painful. ‘People rely on you. Patients up at the hospital. My family. My daughter.’
‘You have a responsibility to this community.’ He sounded foolish but, even realising that, he was powerless to stop himself.
‘Luke, I-’
‘What if something happened to you?’
She gave him a long, searching look. Her expression melted into a look of profound compassion. ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. This is about Kevin, isn’t it? How insensitive of me. I know it was hard for you, the way he died, but you can’t hold onto that grief, Luke. For your sake and for Allie’s, it’s time to let it go.’
He swore a brief, earthy oath. ‘You think this is about Kevin?’
‘Well, yes.’ Her beautiful face was uncertain and he could see her trying to read his mood. ‘Isn’t it?’
‘No. God damn it. This is about
She took a step back, retreating from the fierceness he knew he was radiating.
‘I-I think you need to calm down and then maybe we can talk about this. Perhaps later.’ She pivoted and started to walk past him. ‘For now, I-’
Without thinking, he reached out, snagging her elbow. The force of her momentum spun her around and landed her hard on his chest, one hand braced at his waist. His fingers flexed around her upper arms where he’d reached out to steady her. Her well-worn leathers felt warm and soft, oddly intimate against his palms.
He gulped in a lungful of air, starting the move to set her back on her feet.
Then she lifted her head. Her lips trembled only inches from his and all his good intentions evaporated.
‘Terri.’ His voice, so ragged, sounded shockingly needy, desperate.
‘Luke.’ His name was little more than a whisper.
Dark, nearly black eyes held his for a long moment before slipping, heavy-lidded, to his mouth. Instead of freeing her, he pulled her closer, tilted his head, slanted his lips over the fullness of hers.
No awkwardness, no hesitation. The delight of unexpected familiarity mingled with the wonder and excitement of discovery. She made a small humming sound, almost a moan.
The hand at his waist relaxed, then tightened again before creeping around his back as she pressed into him. The pressure of each fingertip burned through the thin fabric of his shirt. He revelled in the touch, wanted more, wanted it on his skin.
All his anger with her carelessness, his fear for her safety, everything, drained away. Her lips parted in a sweet moist caress, so soft and mobile. Delicious.
A thrill streaked through him, blotting out coherent thought, reducing his world to the sensation of her body pressed to his. She made him want to give more-take more-than was sensible.
A single resonating crunch ripped through the moment. Terri’s head jerked back, her torso arching away from his. She stared up at him, eyes wide and stunned. As he watched, the dazed expression cleared from her eyes. Her hands, which had been clasped across his back, now flattened on his chest as she shoved herself away from him.
He swallowed. His system was revved, heart pumping, muscles ready to take on dragons.
The only thing he wasn’t ready for was Terri. She looked utterly shattered. Her breasts rose and fell shakily with each shallow, rapid breath.
The helmet, the source of the noise, rocked back and forth on the floor beside them.
Terri started to raise her hand to her face and he saw the tremor in her fingers. As though she suddenly realised what she was doing, her fingers closed in a fist that was pulled sharply back to her side.
‘What did you do that for?’
‘I’m sorry.’ His voice was hoarse, the words meaningless. He wasn’t sorry. Not at all. Given the option this moment, he’d take up where they’d left off.
‘You’re s-sorry?’ Her voice rose and she looked momentarily as shocked as he was by the note of hysteria. She glowered at him. Then her face slowly crumpled.
‘Oh, God. What have you done? I was okay when I though it was just m…’ she trailed off, her expression appalled.
‘Just you?’ His heart bumped. She felt the same way he did.
She stiffened, pulling herself together before his eyes. ‘Just…This thing…Us…We can’t…’ She touched her forehead with her fingers, rubbing hard at the skin. ‘Oh, what am I saying? There is no us. We’re colleagues. Nothing more. Do you hear me?’ She looked up at him then, the expression in her eyes desperate, daring him to disagree.
