I crossed my arms over my chest and stared at him. ‘Sure do.’
‘I don’t think you should be riding it.’
I tilted my head. ‘That’s funny, I don’t remember needing, or asking, for your permission.’
‘You’ve been through a lot today,’ he said. ‘You’re most likely still processing it.’
‘I haven’t been through anything. It’s Casey you should be worried about.’
‘Imeantthat you might still have some residual shock. Coming across a situation like you did today and handling it the way you did.’
‘I didn’t handle anything,’ I pointed out. ‘I just called 911.You’rethe one who scaled a cliff like some…’ I fumbled for the words ‘…some ridiculously buff…Spider-Man.’
His frown morphed into an amused grin. ‘You think I’m buff?’
‘What? Maybe, I don’t know,’ I stammered, feeling my cheeks flush under his gaze. It was that damn hug that had brought this on. The stupid bloody delicious smell of him. ‘The point is,I’m fine, and you don’t get to tell me when I can or can’t ride my bike. Got it?’
He held his hands up, palms facing outwards in a conciliatory gesture. ‘Got it.’
‘Good.’
‘But for the record, I wasn’t trying to say you shouldn’t ride the bike in general, although I do have a view on that. I was merely worried that you might be more affected by today than you realize.’
My eyes narrowed as I considered his words. They had struck home in a way he could never have anticipated. ‘You’re worried I might be impaired?’
He shrugged. ‘Shock affects people differently. And sometimes those effects can be delayed.’
‘What about you?’
‘I’ve had a lot of training. And experience. This isn’t even in the top ten of worst injuries I’ve seen.’
I mulled over his words, then fished my keys out of my pocket and held them out towards him. ‘Fine. You can ride it then.’
His eyebrows shot up. ‘That’s not what I meant.’
‘Well I’m not leaving it here, if that’s what you’re suggesting.’
‘Sorry to interrupt, guys,’ Dion said, approaching. ‘But I really do need to get back to work. My apprentice called in sick again today and I’m really under the pump to finish the job.’
I lifted my chin, my eyes challenging Jack. ‘Your call,’ I said.
‘Fine.’ He took the keys from me. ‘You go with Dion, and I’ll take your bike back to town.’
I shook my head. ‘That’s not going to work for me either. You can take control; I’ll ride pillion.’
‘But we only have one helmet,’ he pointed out, his tone triumphant as if he believed he had won one over me.
‘I’ve got my dirt bike gear in the back of the truck,’ Dion said helpfully. ‘You can borrow my helmet, Jack.’
Jack glared at him. ‘Aren’t you helpful.’
Dion shrugged, his grin suggesting he knew full well what he was doing. ‘I try to be.’
‘That’s settled then.’ I zipped my jacket up while he fetched the helmet. ‘Unless you’re scared.’
‘Scared?’ Jack scoffed, taking the helmet from Dion. ‘I’m not scared.’
‘Good. Let’s go then.’ I gave Dion a little wave. ‘Thanks for the pep talk earlier,’ I told him. ‘It really helped.’
