Page 79 of Timeless

She nodded.

“Then don’t do anything that would send me there.” I kissed her hand again, and then I pulled on her hand. “Now get out.”

She pouted. “We aren’t a couple.”

“You are and always will be mine.”

“You don’t understand. It isn’t about me anymore. It’s about Jack. And if he thinks for a second that his parents are back together, he won’t ever let us part. He won’t understand that you and I are like moths to a flame. We are attracted to each other, start a relationship, and then it dies. Literally bursts in flames.”

She had really put some thought into that. I smiled. “You aren’t a moth, Amber.”

She gave me a drop-dead look. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Fine. We will take it slow and not in front of Jack?”

“Nope.”

“Fine. You just stay away from other men and give me time to charm you back.” I winked at her.

The corners of her lips twitched up. “You always think too much of yourself, Johnston.”

“What can I say? I just know how you really feel.” I did know her. Well, I used to. Maybe small things had changed over the years but I would quickly be skilled at reading her and knowing her better than herself. “Come on out of the car.”

“Jax, it is freezing and I’m not exactly in the right outfit to get on the bike.” She groaned but got out. I was quick to wrap my arm around her and closed the door.

“Not getting on the bike, sweetheart. It’s a fucking piece of scrap metal now.”

“What?” She looked alarmed. “Not your good bike, right? We aren’t talking about your bike?” She was slightly panicked. I always knew she loved that bike, even though she called it a death trap.

“It got me to you. That’s all that matters.” I kissed her forehead, taking a deep breath, having her in my arms finally.

“What do you mean it’s scrap metal?” Amber pulled out of my arms slightly to look up at me. “What happened to it?”

I sighed. “I pushed it past its limits, to get to you.” Didn’t regret doing it either. “It’s just a bike.”

She groaned and put her head in her hands. “I cost you your bike!”

“Amber, stop.”

“No, I won’t stop! That bike was a classic. It was worth more than my house! It was your dad’s bike, the only thing he ever gave you! And because of me, it is now scrap metal!”

“God, you are more upset about it than me.” I grinned at her. I always loved my bike. Only ever loved two things, my bike and Amber. But Amber always came first. My bike was my first love. But Amber was the love of my life. My bike got me to her tonight, and that was all I needed from it.

“I want to see it. Maybe it can be fixed.” She was always stubborn. “Tyler is great at fixing things.”

I laughed. She wasn’t giving up on it. “Amber, it is dead. I burned the motor out, and then when I jumped off it, I heard the frame bend as it crashed into your car.”

She ran her hands through her hair in frustration. “I’m buying you a new bike then.”

I rolled my eyes. “It isn’t you fault.”

“It is my fault. And I’m buying you one just as expensive as that one! Don’t argue with me on it, Jax. I am replacing it.”

My bike couldn’t be replaced. It was literally a one of a kind classic. Custom built.

Her face lit up and she pointed a finger at me. “The bike shop that built it could build another.”

I shook my head at her. God, she wasn’t seeing the full picture. “Amber, it’s just a bike.” Plus, I knew how much Dad got stung roughly for that bike. He sold one of his houses for it. I was surprised he gave it to me. I always thought he loved that bike more than me. “You know, there is a way you can make it up to me.”

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