“This is so cool! Are you sure the owner won’t mind?”
Zack helps me position the helmet over my hair. I had it up in a ponytail which I have to take down to get the helmet to fit.
“I’m sure she won’t mind because I called and asked her. Usually I would take it up the street and back but I wanted to really take you for a ride.”
I give him a saucy look. “Are we still talking about motorcycles?”
“I am but I’ve learned not to underestimate your imagination, Miss Harlow.”
The low timbre of his voice combined with the soft touches of his fingers against my chin as we finally get the helmet in place set my stomach tingling again. But I’m very aware that we’re not alone.
Jim has come out from under the car he was working on. He’s brought his customer to the back to show him something under the hood. He only glances our way briefly but the man sees everything, always has. And Reed is pretending to be looking for something in his toolbox but every time I look over there, he’s watching us.
Now I feel completely self-conscious, sure that everyone around me can read my feelings for him as surely as if they’re written all over my face.
“Everyone is staring.”
Zack snorts. “No, they’re not.”
“This is weird. I feel like I’m suddenly seeing spies on every corner when any other day I would have come back here to talk to you without even thinking about it.”
Zack hits a button and the automatic door for our bay opens. He climbs on the bike and then gestures for me to get on behind him. He shows me where to put my feet.
“They’re only staring because we’re not fighting for once.”
“We don’t fight that much, do we?”
“All the time. You gave me hell.”
“You deserved it.”
We laugh together. This flirting thing is way more fun than arguing ever was.
“Besides,” Zack continues. “He’s just jealous that he doesn’t have Jessica Rabbit snuggled up to him.”
“Jessica Rabbit was a redhead,” I point out.
“Was she?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll take your word for it. Believe me, I wasn’t looking at her hair.”
“Oh, I know what you were looking at.”
I laugh and then squeal when he starts the engine. I grab him around the waist. I would have never thought this would be a sensual experience but between the hard press of Zack’s back and the rumble between my thighs, I have an entirely new understanding of why people like motorcycles.
“Are you ready?”
I tap his stomach twice to let him know I’m okay. He pulls out and the wind swallows my scream.
†
Over the next week, we embark on a series of adventures with me taking pictures along the way. Some are thrilling, some are silly but every single one is more fun than I’ve had in ages.
After our afternoon of motorcycle riding, the next day we went to a carnival and rode the Ferris wheel and lost money playing all those obviously rigged games. Then he took me to a gym in the neighboring city of New Haven that has a rock wall. We spent the afternoon racing to see who could climb to the top the fastest. He won every time.
I know what he’s doing. He’s making sure I’m comfortable and that I won’t regret anything. He’s being so sweet and patient. With every one of our adventure dates, I’m more sure than ever that my heart knew what it was doing when it decided on Zack Marshall.