Page 28 of Ripper
I made my way inside, shutting the door behind me, kicking off my shoes and tucking them near the door after a long day.
“Hey, sweet pea.”
The sound of his voice was exactly what I needed right about now. I curled up on the couch, listening to him talk about his seemingly simple day.
“So, how was the shop?”
“Not too busy today actually. I made a new friend, but Charlotte seems to think that she’s bad news. How exactly am I supposed to tell the bad bikers from the good ones?” I asked, chuckling.
“Even the good ones get a little bad sometimes, Ronnie. Trust me, if you’re dealing with a bad one, you’ll definitely feel it in your gut,” he said.
I thought about the little stunt at the tattoo shop, how strange Anna’s behavior seemed, but I wasn’t sure it was enough for me to just leave her hanging. She reached out to me, gave me the chance to help Uncle Axle get a little extra cash to keep the shop afloat. I knew that had to count for something.
“You’re right.”
“Have you decided which one I am yet?”
“I think I’m going to have to spend a little more time with you before I can accurately make that decision,” I teased.
“How about we head out for another ride tomorrow? You down to take that bike for a spin again?”
“Definitely.”
“Great. I’ll see you at the Tavern at eight o’clock. It’s time you see how incredible it is to ride at night.”
“Is this a date, Ripper?” I asked, biting my lip in anticipation.
“Oh definitely, sweet pea.”
***
I tousled my dark hair, unplugged the curling iron, and set it down before painting my lips a dark red. I slipped my leather jacket over my shoulders, taking a good long look at my reflection in the mirror before heading out the door. I took a deep breath, starting up my bike engine, finally feeling like I was getting the hang of it. It was starting to feel like second nature whenever I was out on the long, winding roadways, especially whenever I was by Ripper’s side. My heart started pounding and the butterflies flitted around inside my stomach at the thought of what he had in store for me tonight.
I rode down to the Tavern, pulling up to see him placing some things in the integrated cargo area of his bike. He also had a duffel bag with him that looked like it was stuffed full. I wondered what it all could be for. He glanced up, brushing the palms of his hands on his light-wash jeans, and I caught sight of that beautiful grin of his. I could smell the scent of his musky cologne wafting through the air already and it lulled me.
“Look at you. Always a stunner, huh?”
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I teased.
“You ready for our little night ride?”
“That depends. What’s with all the stuff?” I asked, trying to distract myself. I felt my cheeks grow hotter by the second, and my hands were shaking nervously. I glanced up at him, watching that perfect smirk curl up on his face. He pulled me in close, tucking my hair behind my ear, leaning in to whisper.
“It’s a surprise. It’s time you see Mascid the way every local should,” he murmured.
I felt the heat rise between us and I lowered my eyes to his lips thinking he was going to kiss me, but he pulled away at the last second, leaving me wanting more.Oh, you tease.
“Come on, sweet pea. You’ve got a good grip of those wheels, but let’s see how you do when we start heading north. Roads can get a bit bumpy up there.”
“I can handle it.”
“Oh, I know you can,” he said, with a wink.
He got onto his bike, slipping his helmet over that perfect head of dark hair before starting up his engine. I followed his lead as we pulled out of the Tavern parking lot, and we were off. The roads were busy at this time of night, but it was no match for us. We weaved in and out of traffic, taking every swift turn expertly, and I began to loosen up my grip on my bike handles as I got a bit more comfortable.
I remembered the first time I did this sort of thing and how it absolutely terrified me. Now, I felt like I could do just about anything. Now that I had Ripper by my side, I felt unstoppable.
The city was starting to fade away now, and we were surrounded by thick greenery. A few miles down, I spotted a long stretch of sandy ground, perfectly tucked away from the road. We were near the edge of a deep and beautiful canyon. It was a secluded spot with absolutely no one around. We parked our bikes, and I pulled off my helmet, setting it down as I listened to the sound of the wind in the trees.
