I hesitate before I answer. “After work.”
A slow smile curves across her lips. “You wouldn’t see him again if you weren’t interested.”
Back home after my shift,I sift through my wardrobe with a growing sense of dread. I have no idea what to wear. He’ll be here any minute. My hands tremble slightly as I pull on my favorite light-blue jeans and a pale pink T-shirt.
I’ve straightened my long blond hair, and I’m wearing lip balm and light makeup. With each step down the stairs, my nervousness intensifies. My hands feel clammy. He’s probably used to being with confident, beautiful women, and I’m nothing like that. I peer down at what I’m wearing and wince. I hesitate and think about changing, but then I hear the familiar rumble of a motorcycle. This will have to do.
I bolt down the last few steps and outside, grateful that all my roommates are at college. As I walk out the door, Axle’s pulling his helmet off. I quicken my pace, and his eyes meet mine. He smiles, making me smile right back. Excitement and nerves collide within me while I head toward his bike. I should take others’ opinions lightly and decide for myself about him.
With his wicked trademark smile, he says, “Ready to go for a ride?”
“Sure,” I answer as I glance down at his bike, remembering how fun the last ride was. But then I whack him.
He rubs his arm, exaggerating the pain. “What was that for?”
“The burnout you did. Don’t do it—it’s dangerous. You could have been hurt.”
He stares at me a while before he says, “I’ve been doing tricks on bikes my whole life. I know what I’m doing.”
I shake my head, then jut out my chin. “It’s reckless and I don’t like it.”
He grants me a genuine smile. “I won’t do it around you. How’s that?”
“I’d prefer you not do it at all.” Why risk the chance of getting hurt?
“Hmmm... bossy. I like it.” He slips the helmet over my head and fastens the straps under my chin, then takes a step back as his eyes caress every inch of my body. “You’re sexy as fuck, babe.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. I felt underdressed before, but the hunger in his eyes makes me feel truly seen for the first time and strangely validated. “You look good too,” falls from my mouth.I’m so lame.
He chuckles. “Yeah, I do.” He’s oh so modest.
I climb onto the bike and shuffle closer to him. I lace my arms wrap around his torso. His body feels lean and athletic. It stirs a curiosity in me about what he might look like shirtless, a thought that starts a small thrill fluttering in my stomach. The sensation is both exciting and frightening, and I’m acutely aware of the danger he represents—in more ways than one.
“Hold on tight,” Axle says over the rumble of the bike. He pulls the motorcycle out onto the road.
The gust of air on my face and the road rushing beneath me have me smiling widely. With my cheek pressed against his back, I peer out as we pass by the beach and ride further along to the lake, where he parks in the closest parking spot.
When I get off the bike, my smile comes naturally. “That’s so much fun!”
After he gets off the bike, I pass him the helmet, and he hangs it over one handlebar. “You’re easy to please... No need to thank me.”
He pulls me into him, his arm around my shoulders, and we walk across the grass to the sand. As we stroll along, I gaze up at him. “Are you trying to woo me, sweep me off my feet with a walk along the water?” I tease.
His lip twitches. “Is it working?”
I press my lips together, not wanting to sound too eager. Since I’ve met him, it’s been a whirlwind of surprises. Walking along the lake was not what I expected we would be doing. Everyone was so wrong about him.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he says, grinning smugly.
I don’t argue the point. “What made you choose the lake?” I ask instead.
“I prefer not to be surrounded by civilians.” He chuckles as he peers down at the sand. “Dating is new to me, so I didn’t know where else to go.”
“Next time, it would be great to just hang out at home. Watch a few movies or something.”
“Next time?” he smirks. “Netflix and chill,” he adds in an overly sexual voice. He chuckles. That sounds like so much more than just watching Netflix.
“Well, yes... just hanging out watching TV.”
