Prologue
Sage Jones stood with her hands on her hips as Bobby and Clay Greenway and a group of their buddies showed off their dirt bikes. They knew she knew how to ride. Hell, she was one of the few girls in town who dared to go that fast on a dirt bike and keep up with the boys, never mind surpass them. But these guys had been dodging the sheriff and his deputies for weeks now. People were complaining. If Wyatt Cantrell or Kenny Jones found out that she was hanging out with them and riding these bikes, they would be angry. Kenny would tell Lena and the others, and they would flip out. But she loved the adrenaline rush. She was twenty-two, finished up with the community college, working at The Main Street Inn & bed-and-breakfast and trying to put her past behind her. Lena couldn’t understand why Sage was so secretive. She loved her, but she just didn’t get it.
“You think you’re so bad, let’s see how fast you can go with one of the deputies on your ass?” The girls egged them on. Her friends chuckled as they looked the guys over with nothing but sex on their minds. Sage shook her head. Sex was the last thing on her mind. She was still a virgin and quite happy as one. Her past, the things that Triumph did to her, left scars on her body and constant reminders of a man’s power over a woman.
She was so afraid to become intimate with a man, she never dated, never fooled around, and pretty much tried to act like one of the guys. She also liked to live life dangerously. If there were a dare, a challenge of bravery, and even stupidity, she would accept it. This was her hidden side, as far as Lena, and her men were concerned. Her friends, some of them having their family issues, or just need to feel mature and invincible, did lots of crazy things. Just because they were college grads didn’t mean they were so smart. She smiled to herself. Lenny and Davie Mathews were practically geniuses, and last week they bungee jumped off of the bridge in Turbank in the dark. Yeah, definitely not the brightest of geniuses. Who am I to talk? I did it, too.
As the guys started talking about racing and heading closer to town to really egg on the deputies, she felt guilt hit her belly. The sheriff, Wyatt Cantrell, Deputy Kenny Jones, and the others were very se
rious about maintaining the peace around town, which included following the speed limits through town and on the outskirts. As the guys planned their route, they argued about who could beat Clay Greenway.
“You couldn’t beat me even if you had a Kawasaki Ninja 300. You’re so full of shit,” Clay stated.
“Bull crap. My Honda CBR 500 can leave your ass in the dust.”
Bill, Corey, Lenny, and Sage’s good friend, Davie started arguing with Bobby and Clay.
“Shit, I bet ya that Sage can beat all your asses on my Kawasaki. It’s the driver, not just the bike, you assholes.” Lenny egged them on now, and she wondered how she got pushed into this argument.
They started challenging more, placing monetary bets as Amanda wrapped an arm around Sage’s shoulders and whispered to her.
“You have got these guys so riled up. You can have your choice of any of them as boyfriends. They all have money, good looks, come from great families. You so need to stop your whole vow of chastity thing.”
Sage gave her a funny expression and told her to cut it out.
“They’re all just friends. You know how I feel about the whole guy-and-dating thing.”
“It has to do with your past. We get it. But you were like almost seventeen then, and now you’re twenty-two. Isn’t it time to say fuck it, and grab the world by the balls and take what you want?” Amanda asked.
Sage chuckled. “What are you some inspirational speaker suddenly? I sat in class with you. You froze the moment Professor Gordon asked you to recite the paragraph from the play we were analyzing.” The others chuckled.
“She’s just a horny little thing. Has her eyes set on Bobby and Clay,” her friend Mary whispered and they laughed.
All these guys were cute. Bobby, Clay, Bill, and Corey Jacobs, and Lenny and Davie Mathews, but they were around the same age as her and her friends, and she just wasn’t attracted to them.
Being on the streets hardened her. Being abused and nearly dying made her grow up fast and feel way older than she should feel. That was why speed and danger replaced that old feeling, with youthfulness and life.
“She won’t do it. She’s never driven a Kawasaki and won’t be able to keep up with us,” Bobby said as he eyed Sage over.
“I bet you a hundred bucks she not only will keep up with you, but she’ll beat your ass back here,” Corey challenged as he pulled out a hundred dollar bill. The guys and the girls started whistling and bets were on.