Page 23 of Drive Me Wilde

Zander nods. "We will." He winks at Rio. "Now get off, squirt. I need to kickstart the bike. And no selfies. You've got to hang on the whole time."

"I'm already regretting this," Jameson says. "I'm not kidding. Slow," he reminds Zander.

"Oh my gosh, is that Colin and Ronan in the arena?" Kinsley says with fake surprise since she already knew they'd be at the ranch. She pushes her hat low on her head like a cowboy and heads off in that direction.

The dirt bike rattles to life. It's loud enough to cause Rio to move closer to her dad. He stoops down and tells her she doesn't have to ride this time. It's hard not to think how adorable he is as the doting, protective dad. It's never a role I would have imagined him in. Rio nods confidently and steps forward for Zander to put on the helmet.

"I think this was Nate's back when he was still a little squirt like you," Zander says.

"In other words, it no longer comes even close to today's safety regulations," Jameson points out.

Zander smiles at me. "Can you believe this?" He motions with his head toward his brother.

"If I weren't witnessing it firsthand, I would never believe it."

Jameson shoots a sly look my direction and then double checks the fit of the helmet. "Slow," he says pointedly to Zander.

"Yeah, yeah, slow. You should get the other bike started, and the two of us can race. Some of our old track is still visible under the weeds and grass," Zander says.

Rio climbs on behind Zander and attaches herself like one of those cute hugging creatures we used to put on our pencils.

"Hang on, squirt." Zander takes off at a nice, reasonable rate but picks up speed as they pass the barn area. Dust kicks up behind them, and Rio's squeals of delight roll back toward us.

"Guess there's plenty of worry that comes with being a parent," I say. I've decided to leave the morning's harsh conversation behind and start again.

"You never stop. Sometimes, I wake up with a start in the middle of the night, and I race to her room to check on her. Did it the other night and stubbed my toe so friggin' hard on her bed that I had to slap my hand over my mouth to stop the cuss words from pouring out. I hopped out of the room on one foot. Had to put ice on my toe."

"I know the man delivering this cute story is Jameson Wilde. Doesn't make it any easier to believe." I'm teasing, but my words strike the wrong note.

Dark lashes cover his eyes as his face drops. "That's cuz you think you know me, Jones." He turns and heads into the shed.

I'm reluctant to follow, but I'm so tired of this back and forth between us. I march in behind him. "Can't you take a joke?"

"Sure as hell can. But that wasn't a joke. Your mind is settled on the Jameson Wilde you think you know, but you don't know me at all." He yanks a dirt bike out from the corner.

"Oh, I don't know you? Is that what you think? Sorry, but you're not all that complicated. You like to pretend you're deep and mysterious, but you forget I was there for most of your fuck ups." I wave at the bike. "Like the Founders' Day Parade. There was no reason for you guys to ride through that parade like Hells Angels with your hair on fire. You destroyed that day."

Jameson finally looks up from the bike. I'm not expecting the clash of his harsh blue gaze, and it catches me off guard. "You've just proved my point. You think we blew through there just towreck the day. Well, Jones, you don't know shit. Maybe we had a good reason."

The derisive laugh shoots out before I can stop it. "I sprained my ankle jumping off that float."

He refocuses on the bike. The muscles in his arms and shoulders are bunched tight. "Then you got off easy."

"Sure didn't feel that way. It seemed like you guys were just pissed that the town was celebrating something. You guys always hated any kind of community spirit or get togethers because you didn't fit in."

"Never said we wanted to fit in." He rolls the bike out, and I have to back up to get out of the way.

"And that's fine, but why ruin it for everyone else?"

He lifts his face, and the coldness of his gaze causes pain somewhere deep inside. How did this happen again? How did this spiral out of control so fast? "I guess the school jewel didn't get to have her big day on top of the parade float. Sorry to have ruined it for ya,princess."

"And you don't know me at all, asshole," I say and turn on my heels.

"That's just it, Jones. I know you. That's why I said it. Struck a nerve, eh?" he calls to my back as I hurry out of the shed.

Kinsley is hanging over the pipe railing on the riding arena. A dust storm practically hides her as the twins race around on horseback. I'm so upset by the time I reach her, I can barely talk.

She sees my face and hops down. "Uh oh." She spots Zander and Rio out riding in a field. "I left you alone with him. My bad. Stay out here with us. The twins are such great riders."

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