“Climb on,” I said.
Chloe shifted on the cobbles. She’d already put my spare helmet on, staring deep into my eyes as I tightened the strap under her chin. I wasn’t sure if she was nervous or trying to tell me something.
I’d given her a brief. “Don’t lean into the corners. I’ll do the work. Just follow my lead.” At my instructions, she nodded, but merde. Why did those words sound more delicious than they should’ve?
Now, straddling the bike, I braced the muscles in my legs, waiting for her to slip onto the seat behind me. She did—hesitant at first—but when her hands threaded around my waist, the warmth of her settled against my back. Her touch was light, her fingers tugging on the fabric of my T-shirt, just enough to make me clamp my teeth hard and pray that my body would behave.
When she stilled, I flipped the fuel tap and eased out the choke. With a “hold on to me,” I tipped the bike, just enough to allow me free range to give the kick start a healthy shove. WhenI did, the bike grumbled, spit once, then fired up with a throaty, uneven growl—like it resented being woken.
“You okay?” I called over my shoulder, raising my voice over the rumble of the engine. But I didn’t look back. I didn’t need to. The shape of her pressed close, and the subtle vibration as she nodded were enough to tell me she was still with me. And to remind me of the lack of space between us.
I returned her nod and set off through the rabbit warren of Furze’s back streets. Once we climbed out of the village, the tightly packed houses hugging the cliff thinned, and the road opened up, winding along the coast with rock rising on one side and sparkling blue water stretching out on the other.
At the sight, I drew a breath. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
As we took a tight corner, Chloe’s arms cinched around my middle. They barely met at my front, but there was no hesitation in the way she held on. Like she’d done this before.When I shifted to lean into the turn,she didn’t fight me. She trusted my movement, her hands clamped around my ribs. At the thought of her so close, I smiled.
“Want to go faster?” I shouted, turning my head just enough. The wind must’ve carried my voice, because her arms tightened around me again and she pressed in closer, as if bracing for speed.
I opened up the throttle on the next straight. Even over the roar of the engine, a high-pitched squeal reached my ears, and I gripped my hands on the handlebars. Was Chloe scared?
But when she let out a full-throated yell—not a scream of fear, but the same “whoop” I’d heard in the kitchen last night—I loosened my grip. She was loving it as much as I was. With a grin, I cranked the throttle even harder.
When we hit the whitewashed outskirts of Nice, we turned around, heading back to Furze. But by now, I’d become used toChloe behind me. Her warmth. Her heartbeat at my back. I wanted to linger. To keep her close for a little longer.
As we approached the next bend, I remembered a turnoff—just wide enough to pull in and park above the cliffs. When it came into view, I eased the bike off the road, rolled to the edge, and killed the engine.
“What’s this?” Chloe asked, already climbing off the bike.
“I thought maybe you needed a break.”
With a line between her brows, she pulled off her helmet, shaking out her all but demolished braid. The amber of her hair caught in the afternoon sun.
“Just look,” I said, pulling off my own helmet and climbing from the bike. She gave me a wary glance, but let me take hers, too. I set them on the saddle, and she turned to face the sea.
Her mouth gaped. “Oh, my god. It’s beautiful. But I have to ask.” She peered over the cliff again at the drop. “Do you bring all your nannies here?”
I lifted my eyebrows. “Only the brave ones. Or maybe the certifiably crazy.”
Her lips split into a grin. “I’ll take the compliment. And your bike…” She turned back to my machine, face alive. “I’ve ridden before, but nothing with such an enormous engine. The fastest I ever went was in Rome. I had a whim to be Audrey Hepburn for the day and hired a moped.”
I chuckled, imagining Chloe on a Vespa, little black sunglasses on her nose and a pink helmet wedged over her curls.
She looked out over the water, walking to the cliff’s edge. “Honestly, though, I could dothisevery day.”
My stomach twisted. Why did the idea sound so good?
With a sigh, I joined her at the edge, looking down at the turquoise cove below.Gulls circled in the breeze and waves pounded the rocks, sending the salty smell of the sea into the air. Their noise echoed against the boulders behind us.
Chloe glanced at me. “I can see why you do it.”
“Why I do what?”
She looked at me like I was missing something obvious. “Fish. Spend time on the water. It’s beautiful.” A beat passed. “I have to ask though, don’t you get tired? You’re up early every single day. Don’t you crave a lie-in now and again?”
I pulled my brows together. “The water calms me. It gives me time to think. It’s peaceful.”
She looked at me like I was mad. “But aren’t you… killing animals? Doesn’t seem all that peaceful to me.”
