Page 54 of The Price of Love

I’m so lost in my thoughts, I take a moment to realize Shadow has slowed. I let off my throttle and fall back.

“What’s wrong?” I yell over the sound of my pipes.

“She’s overheating,” she yells back.

By now, our speed is down to thirty, so it’s easier to hear her. “How far to your house?”

“At least fifteen minutes.” She slows further and pulls to the side of the road just as her bike spurts and stalls.

I pull my bike onto the shoulder several yards in front of her and dismount. When I turn, I see her helmet bouncing in the ditch where she’s just thrown it. She slumps against her bike. At first, I think she’s fallen, but when she leans back and puts her head in her hands, I realize she hasn’t.

I approach with caution, unsure what to say. Even in this state, with her tight black jeans and white sneakers, she’s adorable.

Focus. She doesn’t need me ogling her. What she needs is my help. I kneel in front of her, being careful not to touch her. Even though I want to wrap my arms around her.

“Hey, it’s okay,” I say in my softest voice.

“No, it’s not.” She’s still wearing her glasses, but by the quiver in her voice, I suspect she’s crying. “They’ll already be scared riding all that way with a stranger, but if I’m not home… Fuck! They don’t deserve this.”

“I’ll get you home.”

She glances at her watch and then at me. “How? They’ll be there in half an hour.”

I point to my bike. “I can take you on my ride.”

“God. You must think I’m a drama queen.” She runs her hand through her hair, pushing it off her face.

“No. I think you’re a mom in distress who isn’t thinking clearly.”

She graces me with a smile. “Thanks. But what’ll we do with my bike?”

“Give me a second.” I stand and pull my phone out of my jacket pocket.

Dimples answers on the first ring. “Everything okay?”

“Kinda. Shadow’s bike overheated again. We’re stopped along the side of the road, and I need to get her home. Have one of the girls at the clubhouse grab a trailer to pick up her bike. Get Prospect One to come wait with Shadow’s bike until they get here.”

“Where should we take it?” Dimples asks.

I glance down at Shadow, realizing she’ll not know what I’m saying. “You know.”

Dimples chuckles. “Black Briar? You gonna fix it up for her?”

“That’s the plan.”

“But you aren’t telling her.” There was no question in Dimples’ words.

“Exactly.”

“And you’re about to have her thighs wrapped around your waist and her body pushed against yours.”

My face heats, and I glance at Shadow. The thought of her riding behind me is both bliss and torture. “Just do it. We need to get going.”

Dimples laughs. “Dude, you’ve got it bad.”

“Yeah, whatever. Just make sure they take care of her bike.” I rattle off directions where they can find it and end the call before Dimples can harass me further.

I reach my hand toward Shadow. She’s taken off her gloves, so I feel the softness of her skin when she takes my hand. I pull her to her feet, but I don’t let go of her hand.