Page 74 of A Taste of Whiskey
“Is that bad?”
“No. I think I needed to go through it all to become who I am now. And being here with you feels like a second chance.” He brushed a kiss to her lips. “You brought out something visceral in me back then. I wanted to protect you, but I also wanted tohaveyou. And now you’re the only person who brings that rebellious kid out in me.”
“Are you saying I turn you into a troublemaker?”
“No, Bo Peep. You make me feel young and rebellious and want to take risks. But in a good way. What about you? How does it feel to be here?”
“I feel fifteen years old again, sneaking off to this field. Only it’s more exciting this time, because I knew I’d be meeting you here.”
“You caught my attention when we were kids, all gorgeous and innocent eyed. But now?” He whistled. “I’ve got half a mind to toss you in the back of your truck and make up for lost time.”
“I’ve got half a mind to let you,” she said sassily. “But I’ve been thinking about warming your back all morning, so that’ll have to wait.” She pressed a kiss to the center of his chest. “Play your cards right, and maybe you’ll get to christen the bed of my truckafterour motorcycle ride.”
“That’s so much better than you running off scared, Bo Peep.” He lowered his lips to hers. “I’ve been waiting years for this moment. Let’s get you on the back of my bike.”
She grabbed her helmet from her truck, and he helped her climb onto his bike. He took a moment to drink her in. “Mm-mm.Now, that’s a sight worth waiting for.” He straddled the bike in front of her, and she draped herself over him like a second skin, resting her cheek on the back of his shoulder, and sighed. That sigh was so full of relief and contentment, his chest constricted. She felt so good, so fuckingright, he didn’t want to start the bike, much less put on their helmets and drive away.
“You’ve waited years,” she said softly. “But I feel like I’ve waited a lifetime for this. Can we just sit here for a minute?”
She was undoing him, one sweet sigh and one mirrored sentiment at a time. He knew he’d never forget this moment, but he pulled out his phone and took a picture of them from the side, wanting to cherish the memory. Her eyes were closed, her lips curved into a smile as contented and lovestruck as his own.
Chapter Nineteen
SASHA WASN’T NEW to riding on the back of a motorcycle. But riding with friends and siblings was completely different from riding with Ezra. She’d dreamed about riding with him ever since he’d started riding a motorcycle. But no dream could come close to the thrill of feeling his muscles flexing beneath her hands and against her chest, his body heat burning between them as they drove along back roads, and the warm wind whipping over her arms. She didn’t eventrynot to get carried away by how good it felt to be together out in the open. The minute she’d seen him drive up to the field, straddling his shiny black bike, all sexy and badass, in his black leather vest and biker boots, she’d known it would be a futile effort. Everything about him was different today, too. From the way he looked at her to the way he carried himself.
Like a man who had nothing to hide.
They stopped for a late lunch at an out-of-the-way dive far from Hope Valley. Ezra helped her off the bike and drew her into his arms, kissing her right there in the parking lot, bringing a whole new type of thrill. They sat in a corner booth in the back, eating burgers, sharing fries, chatting, and kissing like a real couple. Just when she didn’t think she could fall any harder for him, he took pictures of them with his arm around her, with her head resting on his shoulder, and even of them kissing. This less-guarded version of Ezra was utterly intoxicating.
Later that afternoon, they were cruising along back roads. She didn’t know where they were or where they were headed, and she’d never been happier in her life. He turned onto a winding mountain road and eventually onto a steep, narrow dirt road. When they reached the crest of the hill, the land leveled out, and the road came to an end. Ezra cut the engine and pulled off his helmet as he climbed off the bike, running a hand through his thick, dark hair.
Sasha took off her helmet and shook out her hair. “Where are we?”
He helped her off the bike. “Someplace we can be alone and enjoy the views.”
He took her hand, leading her through the trees and brush to the top of a hill overlooking meadows and mountains as far as the eye could see. “This is beautiful. How did you find this place?”
“When I found out Tina was pregnant, I got on my bike and went for a ride to try to clear my head. This is where I ended up. I’ve been here quite a few times since.” They sat on the grass, and Ezra put his arm around her, pulling her closer.
“It’s your thinking spot.”
“I guess you could call it that.”
She leaned against him. “Why are we here now? What are you thinking about?”
“That I’m not ready to go back to pretending yet.” He looked at her. “Is that okay?”
“It’s more than okay. I’m not ready either. Thank you for making time for us, but I hope you know you never have to give up time with Gus for me.”
“I know, and I love that about you.” He kissed her. “He and Pep have a big day of fishing and ice cream planned.”
“Sounds like fun. It really bugs me that Tina didn’t take him again. Can I ask you something about her?”
“Go ahead.”
“I know she was pregnant when you got married, but were you in love with her? I keep trying to reconcile who she is with who you are, and even what I knew about her back then, and it just doesn’t make sense to me.”
The muscle in his jaw bunched, and he held her a little tighter. “When we were dating, we had fun. She was a great distraction from school and work and…other things I couldn’t deal with at the time. We’d never even talked about having a long-term relationship, much less having kids. I got married hoping to give Gus a stable family life, and I figured I’d learn to love her. But it never happened. Once she started to show, she did everything she could to hide the pregnancy. That should have tipped me off about where her mind was, but I was so focused on the idea of giving our baby, and myself, a family, that I ignored all the signs. I told myself it was hard for her to lose her figure, and when Gus was an infant and she went out partying, I told myself she needed the freedom because being a full-time mom was stressful. But the truth is, I was chasing a dream that couldn’t have existed with her.”
