Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [89]
"Kate McKenna," he offered, his expression a bit grim, his voice a little harsh as he said her name.
She frowned. "Why do you suddenly sound angry?"
He stared back at her. "Sorry. Are you coming, Kate?"
Making a quick decision, she reached into a drawer and pulled out her purse. "Let's go." She turned off the lights, changed the sign to closed, and locked the door behind them. That's when the wind almost knocked her off her feet. "Where did that come from?" she asked with a shiver.
"The weather turned about an hour ago. You hadn't noticed?"
"I've been inside."
"I'll keep you warm," he said, putting his arm around her shoulders.
That's exactly what she was afraid of.
"Hold on tight," Sean yelled as the wind caught his words and threw them back at her. "This hill will be one hell of a ride."
"It's too steep," Ashley protested, tightening her arms around Sean's waist as he stopped at the top of Sorenson's Hill. So far he'd driven his motorcycle with caution, taking care not to alarm her. Apparently, that was about to change.
"I won't let anything happen to you, Ash," he said. "You can trust me."
She wanted to believe him. She wanted to let it all go, the worries, the fears. She wanted to be that girl again who could soar down a hill with her hair flying out behind her. But he was asking too much of her. Wasn't it enough that they'd spent the last two days together, that they'd explored some of their favorite haunts and gorged themselves on fish and chips? Wasn't it enough that she'd actually agreed to get on the motorcycle with him today? Did she really have to agree to this, too?
He flipped up the visor on his helmet as he glanced back at her. "Remember what you used to say to me?" he asked her, his eyes warm with understanding. "When we used to ride our bikes down this hill?"
She shook her head.
"Just take your foot off the brake. That's all you have to do."
When she was a kid, she'd lived for speed, but no more. "I really wish I had a brake right now. I'd stop you from doing this."
"I won't do it, if you really don't want me to. But I think there's a part of you that wants a fast ride. Come on, Ash."
"All right. Do it before I change my mind," she said, squeezing her eyes shut.
She heard him laugh, then he revved up the motor, and they were off.
She hugged herself to Sean's body, tightening her legs around the bike, praying they wouldn't lose their balance or hit a big bump. But there was no more time to think. The speed, the wind, the motion of the bike were all terrifying and exhilarating. She felt like she was flying, sailing, racing into the wind on a glorious day.
Within a minute they reached the bottom of the hill, back on even ground, the bike slowing faster than her heart. She opened her eyes to see that the world was still upright. The sun was still shining. Life was good. And she felt better than she had in a long time.
Sean stopped the bike on the side of the deserted road. He got off, threw his helmet onto the ground, and said, "Wasn't that fantastic?"
She took off her helmet with shaky fingers. She wasn't sure she could actually get off the bike. Her legs were shaking. Sean must have read her mind, because he helped her off the bike, put his arms around her, and spun her around in a dizzying hug.
When he finally put her feet back down on the ground, his grin went from ear to ear. She couldn't help but smile back. His joy was contagious.
"Tell me you loved it as much as I did. Tell me."
"I liked it."
"You loved it."
"I was scared out of my mind at first, but then it was like before, better than before. I felt like myself again," she confessed. "I didn't know it was possible to have courage again. It's been so long." Her eyes filled with tears. "You gave it back to me, Sean. I don't know how you did it, but --"
He cut off her words with a kiss, a demanding, hard kiss that was as impatient and reckless as he was -- and just the way she wanted to be.
He was in the mood