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Shocked, I stare down, surprised my pants aren’t on fire from the contact. Jesus, his hands are big. My not-at-all tiny thigh almost looks itty-bitty under his massive hand.
As if my skin burns through the layers of denim and leather between us, he yanks his hand away.
“Takes time to get used to riding,” he says.
“I feel safe with you,” I blurt out. “I mean, motorcycles always seemed like two-wheeled death traps. But you make the ride seem effortless.” Heat sears my cheeks. What the hell am I babbling about?
“Thanks.”
I back up so he can get off the bike but stand there, staring at him like he’s a juicy prime rib I can’t wait to shove in my mouth.
What’s wrong with me? Hot men don’t usually render me stupid.
My boycott on dating must be clouding my manners.
I turn and march up the sidewalk to the low front porch and pull out my keys.
“Good locks.” Dex’s low, rumbling voice right behind me sends a shiver of pleasure down my spine.
“Oh.” Nervous laughter bubbles past my lips. “Funny, Grayson said the same thing when Serena was staying with us. Are you all security experts or something?”
“I’m not surprised.” Dex huffs a frustrated laugh. “Nothing goes unnoticed by the old man.”
“You’ve known him a long time?” I ask, setting my purse on the entrance table. He follows behind me, his large frame making my foyer feel small. I nod to his vest. “Through your club?”
“I was only a prospect when he went to prison but he was an early influence.”
I’m not sure what to make of that.
“We kept in touch and I tried to visit him over the years,” he adds.
Dex’s loyalty to a man he didn’t seem to know all that well impresses me. “That must’ve been hard.”
He shrugs. “He’s a good man. Didn’t deserve to be there.”
Serena said something similar when she first told me about Grayson, and I had questions about him being recently paroled. It’s nice to hear it from someone who isn’t smitten with him.
Dex remains by the front door, his back toward the solid wood as if he’s going to try to slip out when I’m not looking. “Are you a vampire?” I tease. “Do I need to officially invite you inside?”
“What?” He raises his eyebrows, then glances behind him. “No. I just can’t stay long.”
“Oh. Sure.” How do I ask to see him again without seeming desperate? What if he says no?
Don’t let fear rule your life.
Isn’t that what I’m always preaching to the people I care about the most?
“Dex, would you like to come over for dinner?” I force the words out quickly before I lose my nerve. I can’t believe I’m breaking my number-one rule and asking a guy on a date.
No. Not a date. I’m inviting him over for dinner. To thank him for helping me out. That’s all.
But offering to cook for a man I barely know breaks another one of my rules. What is it about Dex that makes me want to shred my rule book into confetti?
He stares at me for a few beats before finally answering, “I can’t.”
Oh. Wow.I hadn’t even suggested a day or time. But it’s an immediate “no” from him. “Uh. Okay. I just wanted to thank you for today and all the lawn mowing and…”
Shut up, Emily.
