AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The engine’s rhythm syncs with my heartbeat, each pulse a drumbeat to our escape. Streetlights flicker past, their glow dimming against the vast expanse of open road. My fingers tighten around Texas, a lifeline anchoring me to the present, even as my mind races ahead to the unknown possibilities stretching out before us.
“Where are we heading?”
“Wherever the road takes us,” he shouts back.
My smile is a private affair, shared only with the night as the town recedes into memory. And with every mile we conquer, the space between us diminishes, until the magnetic pull of our growing attraction is as palpable as the leather beneath my fingertips.
As the town disappears behind us, so do the chains of yesterday, and beneath the vast dome of the night sky, there’s nothing but the open road and the whisper of what might be.
CHAPTER 9
JANE
The morning light spills over the streets like warm honey, and I can’t help but feel its gentle touch. My fingers are interlocked with Texas’, his grip firm yet tender. His leather jacket creaks softly with each step we take our stroll through my sleepy town.
“Smell that?” he asks, tilting his head towards the wafts of freshly baked bread teasing the air.
“Hard not to.” My stomach answers with a playful growl. “Lead the way, cowboy.”
He chuckles, a low rumble from deep within his chest, and guides me toward the source—a quaint bakery nestled between a florist and an antique shop. The storefront is painted a faded pastel blue.
“Get ready to have your taste buds charmed off,” he teases as we step inside.
The bell above the door announces our arrival, and we’re greeted by the smell of buttery croissants, sweet cinnamon, and coffee.
“Choose your weapon.” Texas nods toward the glass display.
“Is it greedy to want one of everything?” My gaze dances across the rows of pastries, each more inviting than the last.
“Only if you don’t share.” He winks, and I feel a warmth in my chest that has nothing to do with the sunlit street outside.
“Alright, let’s split a chocolate éclair,” I decide. “And maybe a couple of those raspberry tarts.”
“Good choice,” he approves, and I can’t tell if he means the pastries or something more.
We find a small table by the window. Taking a bite of the éclair, the rich chocolate and creamy filling sends a shiver of pleasure down my spine. Texas watches me intently, amusement flickering in his eyes.
“Seems like the éclair passes muster.” His voice laced with laughter.
“Understatement of the year,” I reply, my words muffled by another indulgent mouthful.
“Here,” he offers, breaking off a piece of tart and holding it out to me. It’s such an intimate gesture, this sharing of food, and I’m reminded of family dinners long forgotten, of a time when tragedy hadn’t yet touched my life.
“Open up,” he prompts, and I oblige, letting him feed me the tart. The raspberries burst with tangy sweetness on my tongue, mingling with the flaky crust. It’s playful and domestic, this moment between us, and I realize that it’s been ages since I’ve felt this carefree.
“Thank you,” I murmur.
“Anytime, darlin’,” he replies, the endearment rolling off his tongue naturally, as though he’s been saying it to me for years.
We finish our shared breakfast slowly, savoring each other’s company as much as the food.
“Ready to hit the road again?” he asks eventually, his thumb brushing against the back of my hand.
“Always,” I say, standing and tossing our trash.
Stepping out onto the sidewalk I guide Tex toward a park I go to when I need a break from work.
“Check this out,” I say.
