Golden Lies - Barbara Freethy [96]
"So do what your grandfather said, take charge."
"And what do you think my mother will do, roll over and get out of the way?"
"You need to be as smart and ruthless as she is."
She sent him a doubtful look. "I'm not sure I have it in me."
"And that's the problem," he said with a knowing nod. "You have to believe in yourself before anyone else will."
"I'm trying."
"I have an idea," he said after a moment. "Are you free for a few hours?"
"Why? What do you have in mind?"
"Just answer the question."
"I guess. My father is resting. My mother has hired a private detective to look for the dragon. Alyssa has not returned my calls. And I'm not accomplishing anything here, so sure, I'm free."
"Good. I know just the thing for you. Come with me." He stood up, holding out his hand. She hesitated as anticipation raised the hairs on the back of her neck.
"Where are we going?"
"To my apartment."
His eyes dared her to say no, but she couldn't. There were a lot of things she wanted to do at his apartment, and they all involved saying yes.
* * *
"Bike riding?" Paige asked in surprise as they stood in the center of his small garage a few minutes later. "You want me to ride this bike somewhere?" She looked down at the mountain bike he'd pushed over to her.
Riley laughed at her look of dismay. "It's a good bike. There are fifteen speeds."
"I don't ride bikes that actually move."
"Then you've been missing out. This is a great city we live in. You should be out in it."
"I was just out in it -- in your warm, comfortable car. Besides, it's cloudy. It might even rain."
"And your point is? Come on, live a little. You might like it."
He walked his own bike out of the garage, pleased when she slowly followed. He handed her his extra helmet. His bike riding passion had grown so much over the years that he was always replacing his equipment with newer and better, which meant he had extras to share.
"Are we planning on crashing?" she asked.
"No, but Hathaways aren't the only ones who are prepared for every possibility. You need to wear the helmet."
"There's so much traffic in the city. Why don't we drive to a park and start there? Golden Gate Park is really nice."
"It's too flat." He adjusted his helmet and watched as she reluctantly put hers on.
"This isn't really my color," she said, referring to the bright orange helmet now covering her blond hair.
"But the cars will be able to see you." He was actually surprised she was such a good sport. Most debutantes probably would have bailed on him by now. He handed her a clip for her pant leg. "Put this on. It will keep your pants out of the chain area."
"You are prepared for everything." She clipped her pant legs and straddled the bike. "You couldn't have had a girl's bike, could you?"
"I think you can handle it."
"Okay, I'm ready, but I haven't ridden an actual bike since I was a kid, and I only did that about three times."
"You'll be fine. Just follow me, and yell if you have a problem." He got on his bike and began to pedal slowly down the street.
"Riley," she yelled.
He stopped immediately, turning his head in anticipation of seeing her sprawled on the ground, but she was still standing where he had left her. "What?" he asked with annoyance.
"Just testing to see if you'd really stop."
"Get on the bike, Paige."
"Okay, okay." She perched gingerly on the seat and began to pedal so slowly the bike was in serious danger of falling over.
"Faster," he encouraged. "It will be easier."
"So you say," she grumbled, increasing her speed until she passed by him.
He headed after her, pleased to see her gaining confidence as they moved down the block. The beginning of their ride was flat. He took her along the Embarcadero, past the magnificent Bay Bridge that connected San Francisco to Oakland, the ferry buildings where the cruise ships docked, and the