Page 46 of London, Love, & A Little Something Irish

She crosses her arms, shifting onto one hip. “So you’ve come to cash in, huh?”

“I have.” I flash my widest grin. “What time will you be finished?”

“It’s basically over. People are just chatting now.” She hesitates. “I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little nervous about getting on.”

She bites herlip.

I groan inwardly. That lip. Focus. I school my face. Stay cool. Don’t give away the fact that she’s just made this about ten times harder to be patient.

Instead, I grab the leather jacket. “Here. It’ll keep you warmer. And safer.”

She takes it, slipping it on. It’s the perfect fit for her. Looks better than it ever did sitting in my wardrobe.

I hand her the helmet. She begins to put it on, and the visor is up so I can still see her eyes. She fumbles with the strap.

I step closer. “Here, let me.”

Her breath catches. Her eyes flick to mine, heat pooling there.

For a second, I forget what I’m doing. Forget the helmet, the bike, the road ahead. I just want to close the distance.

But then the strap clicks into place, locking her in.

If she wasn’t wearing this helmet, I don’t know if I’d be able to stop myself from kissing her right here.

I clear my throat. Step back. “Okay. Put your address in my phone.” I hand her my phone. “I’m gonna get on first, and then I’ll show you where to put your feet.”

She nods, but her fingers tighten slightly around the helmet.

“You trust me, don’t you?” I say, softer now.

She exhales. “I do.”

“Then let’s go.”

I swing onto the bike, planting my boots firmly. I turn slightly, looking back at her.

“You’ll step here,” I say, motioning to the peg. “Swing your leg over and keep both feet on the pegs. Then—” I smirk, locking eyes with her, “—you’re gonna have to hold on tight.” There will be times she won’tneedto hang onto me but I’m not about to tell her that now.

She exhales slowly, nodding.

She swallows. She takes a steadying breath first. Then, she moves. She puts her foot on the peg and swings her leg over the bike.

I feel her weight shift onto the bike behind me.

Feel her hesitate.

I start the bike and start to feel the engine rumbling beneath us.

And then, her arms wrap around my waist. She scoots closer to me. She grips my jacket tighter than necessary. I can feel the tension in her. I look back at her.

“You ready?”

She nods.

Here we go.

20

---