Salvation (Surrender 3)

His eyes squint and then turn suspicious. “You will. Now, can we close this shit down? Alex and I have plans tonight.”

“What are you hiding?”

“Nothing. Ready to get home. You aren’t the only one with a cute guy waiting for you.”

“What do you mean, waiting for me?”

“Shit.” He disappears in the dressing rooms. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”

“No!” I walk to him with my hands on my hips.

“Don’t ask me questions, Little Star.”

My eyes narrow at him. “Fine, but I’m leaving you to close by yourself if you don’t tell me.”

He nods, not meeting my glare, and I walk out back to my car. My phone dings with a text and there’s a flutter in my stomach when I see it’s Robbie.

Robbie: Doesn’t red wine go better with steak?

Me: Yes

Robbie: There are hundreds of reds- what do you like?

Me: Cabernet

Robbie: I’ll be at your house in an hour, and I’m bringing dinner.

As I drive home, my brain is full of all things Robbie. Times like this, I wish I had a set of close girlfriends to dissect and compartmentalize my feelings. I don’t know much abou

t him, but what I do know makes me feel safe. Without ever saying anything, he’s given me a small sense of confidence I’ve never felt before. Being around him is easy for me; nothing is forced or awkward.

Not that I have a lot of experience in dating at all. Cruz was right; I chose guys that had absolutely no chance of long-term potential, but I did it to prove to myself I could date again after Natalie tore my self-esteem to shreds over and over as I was growing up. Now, things are different. She’s not around to kill my hope with Robbie, so I find myself dreaming of a future with him.

When I walk through the door, I rush around, straightening a bit and changing quickly. Cruz and Alex come in a little later and give me a small wave before going into Cruz’s room.

A blur of black flashes across the front window, and I go to see what it is. My eyes grow wide and my heart lurches to my stomach as I watch Robbie climb off a shiny black and chrome motorcycle. He’s wearing worn jeans that mold to his hips and curve around his ass. When he pulls off the helmet, the longer hair on top is spiked and unruly until he runs his hands through it. If I didn’t already think he’s the sexiest man I’ve ever met, this sight would confirm it. Watching him ride up on a motorcycle, looking like he stepped off the pages of an ultra badass magazine, sets my body on fire.

He opens some sort of bags perched on the back wheel and starts pulling out plastic grocery bags.

“Are you just going to drool, or open the door and offer to help?” Cruz sneaks up behind me.

I give him an evil glare but rush to offer my assistance. Robbie’s already on the porch when I open the door, and his lazy grin sends a thrill up my spine. He comes in and stops long enough to kiss my cheek, then proceeds to the kitchen.

Cruz and Alex help him unload the groceries as I try to form a sentence. Inwardly, I want to cringe when my mouth blurts, “You have a bike.”

All three men look at me, and Robbie’s lips curl into an amused grin. “Yeah, seems so.”

Cruz mumbles something about me being ‘obviously observant’, and Alex pops him on the arm.

“Ember, come here.” Robbie holds one arm out, and like the day in the shop with his dad, my feet take me straight to him. He tugs me close and brushes a kiss across my lips, not caring that we have an audience.

I inhale the scent of him mixed with leather and spice. He looks at me tenderly and hugs me tight. “It’s been a long week. I’ve missed you.”

The safe feeling only he can give warms me. “I missed you, too,” I whisper.

“Right, we’re going to be in my room. You have about thirty minutes,” Cruz tells Robbie, who gives him a small nod.

“What happens in thirty minutes?”