His voice dropped low, the tone sounding dark and severe. His purposeful expression wrapped around her, convincing her he wasn't going to give up. How could she resist those gorgeous eyes and oh so kissable lips? The uneasy feeling in her belly grew to epic proportions. There would be no second chance for this. If she walked away now, regret would be her constant companion. Those familiar goosebumps that had begun at the airport once again skated the surface of her skin. If she gave into doubt, they might never come again. His eyes begged while his tongue traced his bottom lip. Suddenly she wanted to kiss away his unsettled expression.
"I promise, you have nothing to lose by going out with me and maybe everything to gain. Take a chance, Sky. You might just find that we have more in common than you think."
Chapter 12
The drive home did little to clear her head. Though completely sobered after her conversation with Dash, there was still much to think about. As she inserted the key into the lock of her red-painted front door, Skylar promised herself she would do as Dash had asked and give his offer serious consideration. There was much to contemplate.
As she crossed the threshold of her house, the top hinge made a tiny creaking sound. Strange how the minute she closed the door behind her, she immediately felt better. The little townhouse in Fells Point was her safe space. At least there she could unravel her thoughts. The prickly needle ones she'd experienced on the way home had been less than helpful.
She wondered if things were as complicated as her fear made them out to be. Sky kicked off her shoes, set her keys on the small table nearby, shucked her jacket. Rolling her shoulders she felt the stiffness melt away. A few more stretches ensued before she crossed the room and plopped on the sofa. She pulled a neatly folded throw from the back of it, fluffed it out, and draped it over her body, sinking into the comfort provided by both. She told Alexa to dim the lights. It was so much easier to think at home than when she’d been staring into eyes that seemed to see into her soul.
As she watched through the window a flash of lightning cut the dark clouds. As the brightness faded a crack of thunder followed. Skylar always loved the sound of thunder splitting a silent sky and, although it was typically her nature to relax and enjoy a good thunderstorm, she couldn’t shake a pang of guilt. She regretted making Dash feel bad. That had never been her intent. Caution seemed to rule during their conversation. She wished she could have just said yes to his offer. After all, it was only one date. Though she could tell he was disappointed, she was equally disappointed with herself, if not more so. A life like the one Dash led could be exciting but could also swallow her whole. When had she lost her adventurous spirit? More importantly, had she ever possessed such a trait?
The wind blew the rain sideways, pelting it against the windows and door. Skylar closed her eyes, and a deep breath steadied the beat of her skipping heart. There was something soothing about the sound of rain. Though some detested a downpour, she felt the opposite. Stormy weather was when she was the most creative. She'd plotted many stories beneath a turbulent sky. Her house was across the street from the water. Most days, the view from her Thames Street home featured boaters and water taxis transporting tourists from Fells Point to the Baltimore Harbor. Tonight, all she could hear were massive drops beating down on the street. As the water poured from the sky and hit the old cobblestone, the sounds lulled her into a deep state of relaxation. Still, Dash was the one who consumed her thoughts. Did she dare imagine what life would be like to date someone so visible?
The thought rattled her, and she flipped over to her side. A familiar weight settled on her thigh. She opened her eyes as her cat gracefully tiptoed to her hip, then jumped to the hollow curve between her stomach and breasts. The familiar, soothing purr started the moment Hemmingway curled up beside her. "Hi, Hemi." Skylar ran her fingers up and down the cat's back, and the sound stayed constant. "How's my sweet boy?"
The animal, aptly named Hemmingway for her favorite author, had incredible mousing skills. That trait came in handy when one lived in a house that was more than a hundred years old. An occasional field mouse could find the tiniest crack and make its way inside, looking for a warm, dry place. Hemi made sure they knew they weren't welcome.
As he positioned himself for a belly rub, she splayed her fingers and ran her hand through his soft, downy fur. The display of mutual affection was their routine. Every night she petted Hemi, and every night she fell asleep to his purr.
Sky readjusted, settling in to get more comfortable. She pulled the cover up over her shoulder until the edge kissed her throat. As she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep, her last thought had nothing to do with stories or edits or a deadline. Tonight, only one consumed her dreams, and his eyes were hypnotizing.
Her bare feet padded against the hardwood floors. Sunlight crept through the curtains. Skylar picked up her phone to look at the time. Early morning. She needed coffee.
The hardwood floors stopped at the kitchen where the tile began. At least they weren't cold. When she’d had the stone installed, she made the wise decision to have them heated. Though it would always be an ongoing project, her little home now bore her personal stamp. One by one, the renovations had turned the small, cut-up row house into an open and inviting area. Though her friends had thought her crazy, she’d known when she’d looked at the house that the countless projects necessary to make it a home would be well worth it. The property had sat empty for nearly five years. It had needed many repairs—almost a complete overhaul—but Sky had been up to the challenge. Instead of feeling cramped and overcrowded, the new concept welcomed visitors. She'd upgraded all the appliances to the consumer’s equivalent of a chef's kitchen. The house was listed on the historical registry and would bring her a tidy profit should she ever sell—but she wouldn't. Her home was her safe space, the place where she could think without distraction.
Though it was morning, she reached into the cabinet to get a mug and poured herself a smooth bourbon for a Kentucky Coffee. After last night, she needed a drink, and there was certainly more than a shot in there. Had Dash Barrows really asked her out, and she’d hesitated?
She mixed together the rest of the ingredients, shaking her head in disbelief as she brought the cup to her mouth. The mild burn of the alcohol against her lips coated her tongue and throat as it went down. She released a breath, exhaling the heat. What had she done last night? She wouldn't be surprised if Dash called her today and reneged on his invitation. If he did, she couldn't blame him.
A long sigh escaped her as she closed her eyes and stretched her neck from side to side. She should have been like every other female and jumped at the chance, but she couldn't. It wasn't in her nature. How she envied those women. She’d never been a girl to throw caution to the wind. Consequences, good or bad, were always weighed carefully before she made a decision. Her grandmother had called her an "old soul," and that's exactly how she felt: ancient.
She tossed back the drink. Her eyes pinched and nose scrunched at such an early hour assault. Hopefully, she could loosen some of her stuffy thinking with the help of the drink. Her quirky DNA required that she have checks and balances in all things, and she wanted to do the right thing. Last night was a beautiful memory, and though her tired mind had been assaulted by the adrenaline rushes, she’d promised herself the decision would be made today. No more skirting the issue. After all, it was just one date.
As Sky finished off the drink, she thought of the last thing Dash had said to her before they parted ways, that he was a regular guy who hoped she would give him a chance.
Dash knew about as much of her background as she knew of his, which was nothing. He didn't know the circumstances that had made her so cautious. Countless doctors, wearing their best poker faces, had let promising words fall from their lips when her father had been diagnosed with cancer. "We're hoping for the best outcome" was the most used phrase. Her dad had hung onto the word "hope," and all it implied. One more day, then one more hour, until the final, last minute
. When his human body could take no more, she told him how much he was loved. In the aftermath, she’d clung to what was left of her faith. It hadn’t eased the sting. Not one thing the doctors had promised came to pass. The experience had jaded everything in her world, and she had become very cautious in every aspect of her life. People were careless with promises. Was Dash one of them?
She stared up at the ceiling. "C'mon, Dad. I need a little help here. I don't know what to do." Neither lengthy nor wordy, she sent up the plea. If there was any way her father could help clear her mind from wherever he was, he would. When he’d been alive, their meaningful conversations always ended with an "aha" moment. The minute when confusion became clarity. She needed one of those now.
Chapter 13
Three weeks. It took her that long to muster up some bravery and agree to go out with him. For twenty-one whole days and nights, their relationship grew over the phone. Sky had to give it to Dash; he was persistent and patient. After each conversation she ran countless scenarios before she finally asked herself if dating Dash was worth the risk of having her privacy invaded, being judged by his adoring public, and, most importantly, the chance of heartbreak. Her conclusion? It wasn’t about him at all—but her. It was time that she stepped out of her comfort zone.
Throwing caution to the wind wasn't Skylar's forte, but today she was doing it bravely. Now she stood on the curb of her street staring at the object of her first test at trusting Dash. A monstrously large, black Harley Davidson. Surely, she was out of her mind.
"Ready?" A determined tone nearly masked the question that rumbled from Dash's chest.
She wasn't quite sure how in the hell he’d convinced her to get on a Harley. There’d been something about his confidence that made her feel at ease about the journey. Of course, that had been over the phone. She could be brave from a distance. But there she was, standing next to the big metal beast, ready to ride through the countryside. A growing sense of adventure warred with her common sense. She was both excited and terrified. Somewhere between the two feelings was her fragile line of acceptance. Trust was the most important thing she was giving to him, and today it would be sitting with her on the seat behind him.
Her fingers tightened on his shoulder. "What do I do?"
"Right foot on the peg. Right hand on my shoulder. Push yourself straight up, then slowly swing your left leg over the seat. Try to stay balanced. Once your leg is over, sit your ass down."
Her slight nod seemed to take forever as she tried to visualize his instructions. She could do it. His confident smile told her so.
Noting his firmly planted feet and steady grip on the handlebars, Sky stiffened her spine, inhaled a deep breath, and readied to mount. He tipped his chin to indicate he was ready—but she wasn't.
Dash seemed to sense her fear and turned his head toward her. When he let go of the throttle, the scream of the engine quieted down to a more mellow rumble. "What's the matter?"
Her gaze dropped to the black boots she'd purchased just for this trip. Though she struggled to put her feelings into words, hesitation sealed her lips. She found it hard to look at him.
He reached for her chin, lifted it, and checked the latch on her helmet. "Are you scared?"
His leather-clad fingers felt rough against her skin. Sheepishly, she nodded.
"You don't have to be embarrassed about it.”
She looked at him with an unsure gaze. "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that there are so many things that could go wrong, you know?" Her voice trailed off beneath the weight of her trepidation.
"I'm glad that you're cautious, but fear is never good for you or the driver. I'm as safe as I can be, Sky, and with you on the back, I'll be even more so. I can't control the other guy, but I never let my guard down when I'm on the bike."
She rolled her shoulders and shook the tension out of her arms and legs. "This is all strange to me. Trusting someone like this."
"I get it, but you have to relax and stop thinking like that. Instead, think like this: it's a beautiful day, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and we're going to enjoy the road less traveled. Concentrate on the here and now. I take the back roads, mostly, and there's not much traffic." He revved the throttle. "Let's go through this one more time. Foot here. Hand here. Swing your leg behind me. Sit your ass down. Got it?"
"I think so. It sounds like mounting a horse." She scrunched up her nose and pinched her eyes. "I'm not really good at that, just so you know."
"That's fine. Thanks for the warning," he laughed. "Just make sure you don't swing that leg like a gymnast. Just straight up and over slowly. If you tilt our center of gravity, you can make the bike go down."
Holy shit! No. That wasn't something she wanted to do. A wave of adrenaline hit, but she wasn't wimping out. She was determined to do this, even if all she did was prove to herself she could.
Her stomach did a little flip as she grabbed hold of his shoulder. She did exactly as he’d instructed, finishing the task with a perfectly balanced half-pirouette. He did as he’d promised, holding everything steady until she was seated.
He twisted the throttle again, breathing life into the nine-hundred-pound beast. "Ready?" He watched for her nod over his shoulder, his voice loud so she could hear him over the roar of the engine. "You can either hold on to my waist or my belt loops—but I'll let you guess which one I prefer." His brown eyes studied her as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
An unexpected ripple of excitement skated over her skin as she blew out a breath. "So, we're good to go?"
Again, she nodded.
"Great. Let's do it!"
Dash took off, the sudden motion eliciting a yelp from her. The action shot her with a mix of fear and excitement that penetrated all the way to her insides. Instantly, she felt guilty. She wasn't as fine as she pretended. Though she’d said she was okay, she really wasn't good at all. Terrified would more accurately describe what she felt, but she covered it with a smile. Her mind was spinning like a wheel, with many emotions vying for the coveted top spot. She forced herself to stay in the moment, refusing to let her feelings rule her. Concentrate on the here and now. Wasn't that what he said?"
With her hands around his waist, she felt his muscles ripple and vibrate. She looked and saw the landscape whizzing by. Her eyes slammed shut. I'm okay. I'm fine. This is fine.
Relax.
Relax.
Relax.
As she repeated the mantra, her hands loosened their grip and she sucked in deep rushes of air. Dash had slowed the bike to a more leisurely, steady pace, and she inched her eyes open. Breathing became a little easier.
When he’d told her he loved to travel the back roads on his motorcycle, she never gave any thought to what that meant. She guessed it would feel like it did when taking a drive in the country. In a car. This was nothing like that. It was different. Distinct. Even behind the tinted lenses of sunglasses, colors were more vibrant. Where a few minutes ago, she’d locked her body tight, her shoulders were now relaxed. The tension that had held her back ramrod straight was now melting away as it trickled down her spine. Her hips loosened. Her legs fell open. She let go of his waist and sat a little further back, hooking her thumb, index, and middle fingers through the belt loops on his jeans.
How to phrase the rush of exhilaration she was riding? Words seemed to fail her writer’s imagination. To say it was a beautiful day seemed unjust. Everything about their surroundings overloaded her senses. Unchained and free from the usual modes of transportation, everything that caught her eye was fresh. Her terror calmed to wonder. Not surprisingly, words for a story swirled around in her mind as she cataloged the ever-changing scenery.
An early morning chill hung in the air as the sun broke its way through the night sky. The autumn landscape was covered by a blanket of morning dew. Skylar inhaled the fresh smell, thankful to witness this perfect time of day, when the world awakened. It was crazy how, when emancipated from her computer screen, her synapses fired
in a different direction. It was as if she were looking at nature for the first time. All the pigments of creation had stippled the landscape. Pinks were pinker. Blues were bluer. The view pulled at her heartstrings as the slightly chilled breeze chapped her face. While Dash focused on the road, she casually held on to his belt loops. He reached back and patted her leg.
"You like?"
"Yes." How could she not? The residual beauty from the morning soaked into her bones and saturated her soul. As the sweetened smell of oxygen bathed her lungs, her worry evaporated. Like sprites hitching a ride on a dandelion wish, her concerns floated away. In their place was tranquility. Fear no longer shackled her heart and mind.
Was this what it would be like to be with Dash? Every day would be an adventure? He was a mystery she wanted to unravel. She wouldn’t deny that she was attracted to him—an air of raw sexuality emanated from him—but there was so much of his personality buried beneath the surface. Seeing him play in concert was exciting, but this kind of day was more her style.
She toyed the edge of his leather belt with her thumb as she held on. Suddenly she felt like they were more kindred spirits than she’d originally thought. She lifted her eyes to take in the lush rolling hills and something inside of her clicked. Maybe today was the evidence she’d been waiting for all along. A sign that he was just a normal guy who enjoyed the quiet. Not that a Harley was quiet, but spending a day enjoying simple things like fields of budding flowers and a back road beside a creek spoke of his love for simplicity. Life was complicated enough without spending days constantly living up to the expectations of others. Even though their circumstances were different, the pressures to perform were the same. She felt none of that today and, from what she could see of Dash’s face in the side view mirror, neither did he. He was a study of serenity.
C-26 Page 8
