“A ride?” she asked startled. “With you? On your bike?”
“Unless you want me to carry you. I mean, I can, but I think you’d have more fun on the bike.”
He was too good looking for his own good. And too smooth. Already her tired bones felt relief even though she hadn’t done anything to relieve them. The heaviness in her shoulders felt lifted as she stared back at his cheerful gleam. He looked like he didn’t have a care in the world and it was starting to feel like it might be contagious.
“Give me five minutes,” she said and walked away.
She was halfway up the steps when he yelled, “I’ll give you ten while I make this phone call.”
He moved deeper into the living room, standing by the window that had recently been repaired. “Yeah,” he said when Devlin answered. “We’re heading out for a ride.”
“You think that’s wise considering the circumstances?” Devlin asked.
“I think it’s necessary,” was Ben’s quick response. He couldn’t stay away from Victoria. And if they were in the house together they’d certainly find a very physical way to pass the time. But their thoughts would inevitably return to the obvious.
“Ace picked up a tail on her this evening. White mini-van parked four doors down.”
Ben frowned and moved closer so he could adjust the blinds and glance out the window. “Where are you?”
“I circled the block after Ace texted me. You were still sitting on her steps like a love-sick puppy. So I pulled up behind the bastard as he parked. Tags run back to a auto dealership owned by Pena. My bet there’s a rookie behind the wheel trying to earn his stripes. She’s his first job.”
“It’ll be his last.” Ben swore.
Dev agreed. “Go for your ride. I’ve got your back.”
“Where’s Ace?”
“I’ll tell him to stay on the house until you get back.”
Ben could see the white mini-van down the street. The windows weren’t tinted so the two men sitting in the front seats were clearly visible, definitely amateurs. They wore dark sunglasses and black baseball caps and a part of him hoped like hell they made a move on Victoria tonight. He hadn’t had a chance to get to the gym in the last couple of days so adrenaline buzzed along his system like an addict needing a fix. He’d beat the hell out of them with his bare hands there was absolutely no doubt in his mind.
“Where’s Trent?” he asked Dev.
“He’s following up on your earlier call to City Hall. If everything pans out we might have this situation under wraps before the trial starts on Monday.”
Ben nodded, one hand gripping the cell phone at his ear, the other clenching into a fist at his side. “That sounds good to me.”
“And if not—” Devlin replied, purposely letting his words drift into the silence.
“I’m ready,” Ben stated slowly, lethally.
“So am I,” Dev replied.
“You’re ready for what?” Victoria asked from behind him.
Ben disconnected the call, stuffing it back into his pocket. He turned to face her and had to swallow quickly before speaking. She wore jeans again, these as form-fitting as the others she’d had on last night. Her t-shirt was navy blue with tiny rhinestones edging the neckline. On her feet were black Timberland boots that looked way too sexy to be functional. Her head was tilted slightly as she arched an eyebrow in anticipation of his answer.
“I’m ready for our ride,” was his reply.
She was skeptical, he could tell, but she brushed it off. “Well, let’s get this over with. I’m starving.”
Moving closer he took her hand and led them to the door. “So, I’ll entertain you, and then I’ll feed you. Deal?”
Going through the door ahead of him she turned back, resignation clear on her face. “You’ve got a deal.”
The warm breeze felt like heaven against the bare skin of Victoria’s arms and cheeks. It had been years since she’d ridden on the back of a motorcycle, and truthfully the last ride was nothing to write home about. But this one, she’d known the second he’d suggested it, that this would be a memorable moment.
It was with Ben, after all.
