Ride Hard (Raven Riders 1)

Because that rushed some serious protectiveness through his veins. And not a little masculine satisfaction. Annnd throw in some self-loathing, too. This was the list of a young person, bright and shiny and new. And he was a moody, hard-edged, guilt-ridden biker with demons too numerous to count and responsibilities that ought to be getting his attention.

He raked a hand through his hair as his eyes continued to devour the list. She clearly wanted to see the world (Go to the beach, See the Pacific, See a Broadway play, See the sun rise over the Atlantic) and have new experiences (Go to a dance, Go skinny dipping, Get a tattoo, Ride a horse, Go to a concert). For a split second, Dare’s brain started making plans, thinking of how easily he could make some of these come true for her.

“What are you doing, Dare?” he said to the empty room.

Because just last night he’d decided to put the brakes on anything else happening between him and Haven, and that wasn’t very likely if he was going to spend a bunch of time with her making her dreams come true. For fuck’s sake. Not to mention, despite the way reading this had softened his anger—and softened it when little else had, which hadn’t escaped his notice—he was still angry. And disappointed that she’d felt she couldn’t trust him with the information about the reward. And worried about his people.

He skimmed to the end of the list, and the last item punched him in the stomach: Belong to someone, in a good way.

He couldn’t help but wonder when she’d written that. Or hope that she’d been thinking about him when she had. Fucking ridiculous, all things considered, but that didn’t make it any less true.

Damn, this woman had him tied in knots. He hadn’t felt this out of control in decades, and never before over a female. Not to mention, the first people he’d ever truly, deeply cared about had died, which meant he needed to keep his shit in check, because he wasn’t going through that hurt again. Ever.

A motorcycle’s engine revved right out front. Dare stepped to the window, hoping his brothers were starting to arrive. Instead, he found Jeb sitting on his bike, his body turned toward Haven and Cora, who were both laughing and talking animatedly. Haven grasped a helmet Jeb offered her and settled it over her long hair, braided down her back.

Ride a motorcycle

Aw, hell the fuck no.

Dare shot out of the room, nearly forgetting to put the notebook back where he found it. And then he was hauling ass through the clubhouse. The roar of Jeb’s bike told Dare he wasn’t moving fast enough, and sure enough, he made it out the front door in time to see Jeb and Haven shoot across the lot and toward the winding road that cut across Raven Riders land toward the racetrack.

As he straddled his bike and started the engine, he gave Cora a nod. “Cora.”

“Hi Dare,” she said, looking at him like he had three heads. Awesome.

He tore out after Jeb and Haven, across the lot, down the wooded driveway, and out onto the roadway that curved down the mountain to the track. Dare pushed the bike hard, leaning into the curves aggressively. It didn’t take him long to catch up to Jeb, who clearly was riding easy so he didn’t scare Haven.

Dare shot in front of them on a straightaway and skidded to a stop.

Jeb slowed to a roll and put his boots out to brace the bike. “What’s wrong?”

“I need Haven,” Dare said, not meaning the words the way he’d said them. Or maybe he had. Shit. “I’ll take her from here.” Over Jeb’s shoulder, Haven peered at him through the flip-down shield of the black helmet, and Jesus if she wasn’t sexy as fuck straddling a bike in a pair of jeans and that pale-blue T-shirt he’d seen her wear before.

“Uh, okay. Sure.” Jeb reached a hand around and helped Haven off. She lifted the helmet off, but Jeb shook his head. “Keep it. I’ll see ya back at the clubhouse later. Or you can just leave it on the bar.”

“Okay, thanks,” she said, tucking it under her arm.

Jeb looked between Dare and Haven like he wasn’t sure what was going on. Well, hell. Make that two of them. Dare nailed the prospect with a pointed stare, and the guy finally got the hint, pulled a U-ey, and headed back the way they’d come.

Which left Dare sitting on his idling bike and Haven standing there like a deer in the headlights.

“What’s the matter?” she asked. Sunlight spilled through the trees hanging over the road, and golden light made her hair and face even prettier. He wouldn’t have thought that possible.

Dare should’ve said what needed saying right there. He knew he should’ve. But that feeling from back in her room still had its claws in his brain. It was stupid and maybe even reckless (Live Dangerously!), but he wanted to give her something from that list. Giving her a ride? That was easy. And if she was going to have that particular experience, it was going to be with him.