Page 142 of Burning Bridges Duet

“Well, it doesn’t have to be Bali, but I think driving on the sand would be pretty spectacular,” she answers.

The waiter passes us, and I ask for the check before turning back to Liv.

“Then let’s do it,” I say, and she smiles.

“Oh, you think we can just leave everything for a few days and fly to Bali?” she asks.

“Nice idea, but no,” I say, “Let’s just head down to the beach and ride the bike.”

“Is that even allowed here?” she whispers while leaning in, as if we’re discussing something illegal.

“It is, as long as we don’t put anyone in danger,” I say, and her face lights up with a smile.

“Chase, you’re the fucking best.”

I can’t help but laugh. It feels good to make her happy, and the thought of cruising down the beach on my bike with her behind me fills me with excitement.

I pay our bill and lead Liv out of the restaurant. As we get to the bike, I hand her her helmet, and she grins at me as she puts it on. We climb on the bike, and I rev the engine, feeling the power of the machine between my legs. We pull out onto the street, and I can feel the wind rush by as we speed toward the beach.

We get down to the shore, my heart racing. The sand is rough beneath the tires, but I steer the bike with confidence, feeling alive and free. I can hear Liv whooping with excitement behind me, so I glance back at her, seeing her with both arms stretched over her head, eyes closed, her hair whipping in the wind under the helmet, and I can’t help but fall for her even more.

We continue to drive down the beach, the wind rushing by and the sound of the waves crashing nearby. It’s a moment of pure joy, and I know I’ll remember this forever.

I come to a stop on a section of the beach where I can lean the bike against a post of a walkway, and Liv jumps off, her eyes sparkling.

“That was amazing!” she exclaims, grinning from ear to ear, and I can’t help but smile back at her.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. I had a great time too,” I say.

With the bike leaning there securely, I sit down in the sand next to it, and Liv does too, putting her helmet in the sand, her finger tracing circles in the grainy surface. I take a deep breath, wanting to ask about her earlier comment.

“You mentioned before that part of my birthday present was you getting some gear. What’s the other part?” I ask, wanting to show interest after my earlier fuckup.

“Oh, it was nothing really,” she says, shrugging. “Just a silly idea, something funny. Don’t worry about it.”

“Now you’ve got me curious. What is it?” I ask.

Liv hesitates for a moment before reaching into her leather jacket and pulling out a small box.

“Okay, but it’s not a big deal. I got you a custom-made keychain for your bike keys,” she says, biting her lip as she hands me the box.

I eagerly open it and find a silver keychain with a rectangle charm that reads ‘Drive home safe to me.’ I’m touched by her thoughtfulness.

“Liv, that’s awesome. Thank you so much,” I say, leaning in to give her a kiss, but she stops me, her eyes shining with amusement.

“Flip it over,” she says.

When I turn the charm, I can’t believe what I see. The contours of the picture I took of Liv’s cleavage a few weeks ago are engraved into the silver, and it looks incredibly sexy. I burst out laughing, and Liv joins in too.

“Consider it a little reminder to drive safely because of what waits for you at home,” she says, blushing.

“You’re incredible, you know that?” I ask, cupping her cheek. She meets my gaze, her expression tender.

“You’re pretty amazing too,” she replies, and I stroke my thumb over her bottom lip.

“Were those all of my presents?” I ask, my voice low and husky. Liv laughs, her eyes dancing.

“Yes, do you want something else?” she asks, and I pull her close, feeling the heat of her body against mine.