AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How much of this is gifts? One of the carry-ons?” It was none of his business, really, and he should’ve taken Heath up on it when he’d offered to let him borrow his ute. But it was too late for that now.
“Well…”
“Anything breakable in there?”
She shook her head. “Nothing fragile.”
“Good. Because this could get interesting.” The woman had packed as if civilization was on the other side of the globe. And to think his first impression was that she’d packed light!
“Interesting how?”
Lachlan didn’t reply. “Let’s go.” He grabbled the handles of her biggest suitcase and the next heaviest, and headed for the door, without even a backwards glance to make sure she was coming, all the while mapping out how exactly he was going to make this work.
She balked for the second time of the day, when they reached his parking spot.
“You brought a motorcycle? Unbelievable.” She was shaking her head as she pulled her phone out and immediately tapped into her Uber app.
“Don’t have a car.” It was true, but he could’ve easily borrowed Heath’s. The actual truth was that he’d though it would be exciting for Lena’s friend to get picked up on a motorcycle. And if she’d had an ordinary amount of luggage, it would’ve been no problem. As it stood, he was going to have to get creative. She barely looked up, too busy typing ‘Tamworth Regional Airport’ into the search bar of the app.
“Put that away. I’m giving you a ride.” He touched her forearm, and it ignited a ripple of sensation that went all through him. It had been the same damn thing when he’d taken her hand on the flight, when he’d put it on his thigh. It had been a good thing she’d gripped his leg so hard she’d left fingernail imprints in his skin, because the pain kept his mind where it was supposed to be.
“No way my luggage and I are all going to fit on that bike. Who brings a motorcycle to take someone home from the airport, anyway?”
“You have an exquisite eye roll.” She also had a fair point and judging from the look on her face, did not appreciate his compliment. He was not conceding. “I thought I told you.” He hooked a thumb at himself. “Diamond under pressure. I’ve got this.”
He’d done plenty of treks on his motorbike, carrying camping gear and luggage and food on his after-market luggage rack. The rack was why he’d felt confident he could give her a ride home on his motorcycle in the first place. He just had to figure out how he was going to fit everything else she’d brought and her, without resorting to making two trips.
Carissa heaved a sigh. “Fine. I’ll give you thirty minutes to make magic happen, and then I’m getting an Uber.”
“Before you set the timer, I don’t suppose you have boots in any of this luggage, do you?” Her trainers would be fine in a pinch, but sturdy leather was better on a motorcycle. Safety first, and all that.
She pointed to her purple roller bag. “My riding stuff is all in there.”
“Very good. Why don’t you dig your boots out and put them on while I strap on the rest?”
“‘Strap on’? Really? We’re not good enough friends yet for that level of innuendo.”
“You really don’t let anything slide, do you?” The words were out and she was staring at him with the world’s most put-upon express before he realised what he’d said. “Oh, god. I apologise. I swear it’s unintentional—” His cheeks were blazing, and he supposed that’s what save him from her wrath, because she guffawed.
It was the least ladylike sound he’d ever heard, and he loved it.
Carissa poked his biceps. “I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt this time, Big Nick, but when you show up with that kind of joke on your shirt, it’s a little hard to cut you slack for your double entendre game.”
“I promise, I didn’t—”
“You know your time is already ticking away, don’t you?” She flashed her phone screen at him. He’d already lost four minutes. No chance he was going to let her call an Uber.
Within a minute, he’d fished the tie-down straps and ratchets he always carried out of his handlebar bag and in another he’d secured her largest suitcase to the rack behind the seat and over the rear wheel. He stashed her purse in the bag the tie-downs had come out of.
Carissa would have to wear her backpack, but her carry-ons both fit on the side racks he’d had installed. It would be tight, but there was just enough roomfor her to squeeze on the seat behind him. Satisfied, he threw his hands up in the air. “Time!”
“Not fair!” She gave a mock pout. At least he hoped it was mock. “Seriously. How was I supposed to know you had tie-downs in your pack?”
“Ye of little faith. I was prepared for you. I’m a little hurt you have such low expectations of me.” He’d meant to tease her, but judging from her reaction, his statement hit a mark he didn’t know he’d been aiming at.
“I expect the worst, hope for the best, and am pleasantly surprised less often than you might think.” It sounded like a practised line. “But you’ve more than pleasantly surprised me so far today, Big Nick.”
Big Nick. The more she called him that, the more he regretted his shirt choice. “Maybe instead of having chronically low expectations, you should just ask more questions. I would’ve told you I was ready for at least some of your luggage.” He gave her what he hoped was a mischievous smirk. Then he unlocked the helmets and jackets from the bike frame. He pulled his on and slung his leg over the saddle of his motorcycle. He was going to have to drive more carefully than he’d wanted, with all the added weight, but he could handle that.
