Page 113 of Total Shutdown

Everything hurts—and not because Sawyer was inside me all night, testing every position possible. The past week has been a baptism of fire. I thought I’d worked hard at Smooth Running. It was nothing compared to the workload Ed gets through in the café.

Despite my aching muscles, I enjoy it. It’s not working with Harleys, but it is nice to have a boss who treats me right. Customers are generally kind, and in the past few days, I’ve developed an appreciation for British baked goods—something Jack likes to torment my American ass with each time he pops in. Which is basically daily.

How he gets his scone habit past his nutritionist, I have zero idea. I have threatened to rat him out though if he starts telling everyone I prefer a cherry scone to a brownie.

“Nah, you’re good,” Ed says as I begin unlooping my apron. “Take the full hour, but don’t worry if you’re a little late back. I don’t expect it to be a heavy afternoon since it’s not payday.”

Ed finishes his sentence just as the bell above the door chimes, and I spin around to serve one last customer for him.

“Hey. How can I …” I trail off when I find Sawyer standing in front of me, a bunch of pink roses wrapped in black paper in one hand.

Ugh, he looks better than the cakes in this place. Black jeans and a matching winter coat, his dark gray beanie pulled low. He hasn’t shaved since I saw him this morning either, the scruff along his jawline making him handsomer than usual.

He keeps his sparkling eyes on me when he speaks to Ed. “If it’s okay with you, sir, I’d like to borrow my girlfriend for a while. Though it might be for longer than an hour.”

From my peripheral vision—since my attention is locked on Sawyer—I see Ed wave a hand in front of him.

“Ah, what the hell? Take the rest of the day. I’ll pay you in full since you’re my hardest worker.”

“Thank you. Much appreciated,” Sawyer replies as I side hug Ed on the way over to my boyfriend.

“I know I said it already this morning”—Sawyer’s eyes flick over to Ed as he heads into the kitchen—“but happy birthday, Baby Girl.”

He sets a kiss on my lips and hands me the roses. “Can you take a drive with me somewhere?”

I inhale the floral scent and smile when I see the black gems set in the center of each rose. “I have the rest of the day, so if you want to make another stop at Lustful Luxuries, I won’t complain.”

Sawyer chuckles and takes my hand, leading me out into the freezing January air after I grab my coat and scarf from the stand by the door.

“Don’t be disappointed,” he says, opening the passenger door on his Lamborghini. “But we aren’t heading back there today.” He shuts the door when I get in and rounds the hood quickly.

I’ll never look at this car in the same way. Memories of that night in the parking lot live rent-free in my brain.

Sawyer pulls his driver’s door open and climbs inside, immediately starting the engine. “Where we are heading is way more exciting.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Be specific, Bryce.”

He shakes his head, delighted his secret has me bothered. “Nope. It’s only a ten-minute drive.” I clip in my belt, and he does the same. “And only a couple of blocks from your place, soooo … once we’re done, I can take you back home and spend an hour or two making you scream before Ezra finishes school.”

As he pulls away from the sidewalk and drives toward my part of town, my thoughts drift from wherever he’s taking me to the accident. Jesus, he was so lucky that day. Lucky the lady backing out of that space hit the brakes when she did. Sure, she still clipped Carter’s bike, but any faster, and they would’ve been thrown rather than knocked off.

On the doctor’s advice, Ezra took the week off school and has been driving Dom and Alyssa crazy with his new model-making addiction. I internally chuckle at the message I got from Alyssa last night, telling me she’s calling the shots on her grandson’s next gift since each time we do, he develops an addiction. Although this time, I’m sure she’s relieved it doesn’t result in Ezra being glued to the TV every chance he gets.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Sawyer reaches across the center section, taking my hand in his.

I smile and shrug—old habits die hard. “I think it would be a good idea if I started taking Ezra out for rides with me a little more often.”

Sawyer throws me an inquisitive side-eye, waiting for me to continue.

“Some of the best and most experienced riders start out their journeys as pillion passengers. They spend a lot of time studying the road and observing how best to deal with situations. My dad used to take me out on his bike a lot, and that’s how I learned best practices. Plus, if he’s out with me, he’ll be less tempted to seek rides with other people.”

Sawyer squeezes my hand. “You never mentioned your dad was a rider.”

Rolling my lips together, I allow some of the memories to come back. Rides with my dad were some of the best. I was a similar age to Ezra too.

“He did, but I never appreciated them enough. Sometimes, you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. We have to make the most of the time we have with those we love while they’re still here with us.”

He smiles knowingly and takes a left, then an immediate right before we’re back in my part of town. But when he takes another left at the end of Fuller Street, my curiosity is piqued. There isn’t much down here other than a few previously abandoned buildings that were being restored back to …

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