Twister sat with one boot stretched out in front of him, looking every bit the president of the club even in the middle of a sunny afternoon.
Tempi occupied the chair beside him with one leg tucked beneath her.
Swift leaned back in another chair, arms crossed over his chest, as Britta sat beside him with her feet propped on the empty chair next to her.
They all looked up as the motorcycles rolled to a stop.
Engines shut off one by one until the block fell strangely quiet.
Wheels climbed off first.He pulled off his helmet before turning toward me.Without saying a word, he held out his hand.
I smiled.“You know I’ve managed to get off by myself every other time.”
“I know.”
“But you’re still offering?”
“Yep.”
I slipped my hand into his.His fingers wrapped around mine, warm and firm.He steadied me as I swung my leg over the bike, and once both boots hit the pavement, he didn’t let go.
Neither did I.
For one brief second, we simply stood there.
Neither of us seemed in much of a hurry.
Finally, his thumb brushed lightly across the back of my hand before he let go.He looked down at me.“You okay?”
A laugh escaped before I could stop it.“You already asked me that.”
“I know.”
His eyes met mine.“And now I’d like you to answer it without lying.”
I rolled my eyes toward the sky.“You don’t ask for much, do you?”
“Nope.”
I sighed.“I’m as good as someone can be having some psycho group of power-hungry assholes trying to kill her.”
He chuckled.“So...”
I shrugged.“Peachy.”
The smile never completely left his face.“I’ve seen peachier.”
“I’d hope so.”
His expression softened just a little.“You’ve got us now.”Four simple words.No promises he couldn’t keep.No speeches.Just certainty.“We’ll figure out what they’re after.”
I searched his face.
He actually believed that.Not because he was naïve, but because he trusted the people standing twenty feet away.
I nodded.“I hope you’re right.”
“I usually am.”
