by Liv Brywood
“Me too, but please, calm down.”
Fine. Her bear huffed but settled down.
A few seconds later, the rumble of Dusty’s Harley signaled his arrival. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a second and tried to conjure whatever confidence still lived inside her. She wasn’t sure why she was so nervous. They’d dated before for several years, but this just felt different somehow.
“Okay, showtime.”
Turning on her heels, she marched out of the bedroom and toward the front door. She hesitated for a slight moment, her hand resting on the handle. She took another deep breath before stepping outside.
Dusty was already on her porch, leaning against one of the wooden pillars. He’d trimmed his stubble, which gave him a more refined but still rugged look. A black dress shirt peeked out from underneath his leather jacket. His boots were the same pair he’d always worn, but he’d polished them to a shine. A pair of brand-new jeans completed his sexy outlaw look.
He smelled like heaven. She wasn’t sure if it was his spicy cologne or if her bear was simply going crazy because she scented her mate. It didn’t really matter. Either way, she planned on inhaling his scent all night long.
He held a helmet in his hands. Another rested on his bike.
“I thought you’d be bringing the car,” she said.
“I thought the Harley would be more fun.”
“I won’t argue with that.”
Although she was still nervous about getting into cars, she hadn’t been on a bike in years. From what she could remember, they were seriously fun. Over the last few years, she could have used more fun in her life. She’d been too focused on work to think about anything else. Now it was time to let loose.
Putting on the helmet was going to ruin her hairstyle, but she didn’t mind. It was a small sacrifice to make. Besides, she doubted he’d even noticed all the extra effort she’d made to get it just right.
As she took the helmet from his hands, her fingers brushed against his. A bolt of electricity raced up her spine. His touch was exhilarating. It had always been that way between them. A part of her wanted to skip the pretense of going on a date. She wanted to pull him into the house and drag him straight to bed.
Of course, she’d never do that. Her wild teenage years were a distant memory. Besides, she didn’t want to make the situation a thousand times more complicated than it already was. She would take things slow, like a responsible adult.
Her bear rolled her eyes. She suppressed a laugh.
“Shall we?” Dusty asked.
She nodded.
As she followed him toward the Harley, she took a good look at the man who’d ripped her heart to shreds all those years ago. If anything, he was even sexier than she’d remembered. He wasn’t a boy anymore; he was all man. He was sexy as hell, a walking temptation, and he had the potential to break her heart all over again.
She was willing to take the risk. She had to know if they could rekindle what they’d shared so many years ago. If there was even a small shot at a second chance, she wanted it.
When they reached the bike, he turned to face her. He slipped out of his leather jacket.
“Take this.”
“No, I don’t need—”
“Don’t be silly. It’s cold and you don’t have a jacket.”
“I could go inside and get one.”
“I’m running hot tonight.” He grinned. “Take it.”
She couldn’t argue when he was grinning like that. She let him slide it over her shoulders. The scent of him enveloped her in a sensual embrace. She pressed her nose into the collar. She didn’t know if she’d ever be able to give it back to him.
He straddled the bike.
“Hold tight,” he warned as she sat behind him.
She wrapped her arms around his midsection. When she laced her fingers over his abdomen, he sucked in a breath. Apparently, he was just as wound up as she was. Interesting.
Her fingers skimmed the perfect outline of his muscular abs. She wanted to slide her hands under his shirt but decided against behaving like a lust-driven teenager.
Dusty brought the bike to life. It roared and rumbled between her thighs. A few minutes later, they were zooming down main street. Dusty hadn’t told her were they were going. He’d insisted that it was a surprise. She’d decided to simply go with the flow. She was up for an adventure.
Instead of stopping in town, Dusty took a winding road into the mountains. It was a cramped stretch of asphalt that snaked its way toward the peak. Flanked by tall pine trees and dense vegetation, Laurie’s bear finally calmed down. It absolutely loved nature.
Even though she wasn’t running through the woods on all fours, her bear was happier when they were outside. Their surroundings were a comfortable reminder of who she really was inside. She let her bear out to run as often as possible, but it wasn’t enough. The beast always wanted more.
Wind whipped past her helmet as Dusty sped up. The roar of the Harley’s engine was loud enough to drown Laurie’s thoughts. She huddled against him as nervous energy fluttered in her belly. She kept reminding herself that they were perfectly safe. They weren’t going to crash. Dusty would never do anything to hurt her, but she didn’t like the feeling of being at someone else’s mercy.
“We’re close,” he yelled.
She gave him a quick squeeze to let him know she’d heard him.
Not even a minute later, he started to slow down as they reached a clearing. He pulled into a small parking lot.
After killing the engine, he pulled his helmet off. She stood and pulled hers off too. He took her hand. They climbed a set of stone stairs. A two-story stone building with a glass roof sat atop the small hill. A balcony wrapped around the upper floor. Tables were scattered throughout a huge patio, which over looked the valley below.
“I hope you like pasta.” He held open the door for her.
“I love it. I’ve never been here before. I didn’t even know there was a restaurant up here.”
“It’s called Angelo’s. It’s the best Italian restaurant in the whole state. Not many people know about it since it’s hidden in the mountains, but I guess that’s the whole point. Based on what I read online, it’s fancy, but there’s no dress code.”
“Oh.” She ran her hands over her jeans.
“You look amazing.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her inside.
An attendant in his mid-forties stood at a large oak podium. He was dressed in a dark suit, which only served to increase her discomfort. She would have worn something fancier had she known.
“Do you have a reservation, sir?” The man studied Dusty through a pair of designer glasses.
“Yes.”
After locating Dusty’s name on the reservation list, he collected Laurie’s jacket and their helmets. A second attendant, a girl on her early twenties, led them toward the upper floor. She directed them toward one of the tables on the balcony. It had a perfect view of the valley.
The sun had already started to set. As it dipped below the horizon, it bathed the mountains in a warm, orange glow. She’d never seen such a stunning view before. From up here, the town looked like a tiny speck.
Dusty pulled out her chair. After she’d settled into it, he sat across from her. The attendant handed him a wine list.
“Fresh garlic bread will be here shortly,” she said before leaving.
“This place is amazing,” Laurie said.
“Wait ‘til you try the food. The restaurant had over three hundred five-star reviews.”
“That’s impressive. I can’t wait. Bring on the garlic bread!”
A grin spread across his face. Her heart did a little flip.
“I would’ve cooked for you, but unless you’re a connoisseur of ramen noodles I thought this place might be better.”
“I can’t say that I am. I vowed never to open another one of those little packets after I graduated college.” She laughed and held his gaze for a couple of seconds. She loved s
eeing joy in his eyes. He seemed more like the guy she’d loved all those years ago. Her gaze dropped to the menu. “How did you hear about this place?”
“Pure luck. I was poking around and found a review from a few years ago. It was on the list of the mountain’s best kept secrets.”
“It’s certainly hard to find.”
“Only if you don’t know what you’re looking for.”
She wonders what he was looking for tonight but reminded herself that she was trying to take things slow.
He leaned across the table and whispered, “I don’t know a damn thing about wine. I never drink so…”
“If you’d rather I didn’t…”
“No, no. Don’t mind me. I hear their Italian sodas are amazing.”
“I’ve never had one.” She set the wine list aside. “Let’s try one of those.”
Although she really, really wanted a glass of red wine, she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. She’d never dream of doing anything to ruin his sobriety.
When the waitress returned, Laurie ordered a dish of bone-in veal shank accompanied by grilled asparagus and smashed red potatoes. Her bear roared her approval. Dusty chose the same dish.
As they waited for their food, silence stretched between them. Dusty seemed content to look out over the valley. She liked that about him. He didn’t feel the need to talk all the time. He was content to just sit and take in the view.
“You should’ve brought me here sooner,” she teased.
“I know. I hope it’s not too late.” The sincerity in his voice broke her heart. He’d lost so much because of the accident. She wanted to reawaken his joy and zest for life. She had no idea how she was going to do it, but she’d find a way.
“It’s not too late.” She shook her head and placed her hand over his. She wasn’t just talking about the restaurant. She hoped he could see that.
“I’ve missed this. I’ve missed being with you.” His voice caught.
“I never stopped thinking about you. I had no idea where you were. I didn’t know if you were safe. I wish you would have called. I couldn’t stop worrying about you.”
“I’m sorry. I was selfish. I should’ve been there for you. It was my job to worry, not yours.”
“There’s nothing to worry about.” She smiled. “You’re back now, and it’s not too late.”
Dinner arrived just in time. The tension between them broke as they dug into their food. Laurie took a bite and moaned.
“This is amazing. I can’t believe no one told me about this place.”
“I’m glad it’s ours,” he said.
She smiled. Ours. She liked the sound of that.
After finishing their entrees, Dusty insisted on ordering dessert. She thought she might burst at the seams, but she couldn’t resist a molten chocolate brownie sundae. He knew her weak spot.
“This makes me feel like a kid again,” she said as she dug into the melting tower of vanilla bean ice cream.
“Remember that time I snuck out your bedroom window?” she asked.
“How could I forget? I was sure you’d get caught.”
“Women are cunning, Dusty.” She stole the cherry from the sundae and popped it into her mouth. “You should know that by now.”
“You little thief!” He pretended to lunge for her. She laughed until her sides ached. “You always knew how to sneak out. You never got caught, not even once.”
“You weren’t so bad yourself. If I’m remembering correctly, you had to hide in my closet more than once. Can you imagine what my dad would have done had he caught you?”
“I can’t even imagine. I was such a bad boy.”
“You were.” A grin spread across her face. “So, so bad.”
As memories of hot steamy nights came flooding back, her pulse shot up. Although they’d never gone all the way, they’d gotten about as close as you could get. Looking back, it seemed ridiculous that they’d waited. They’d planned on making love for the first time the night of the accident. And then everything had changed.
She shook away the darker images from that night and focused on the love they’d shared. She never should have made him wait. She should have surrendered to her mate. From the moment they first met, she’d known he was hers and she was his. They were destined to be together, which made the night of the accident so much worse. It made his rejection so much worse.
“Are you all right?” he asked softly.
“I was just thinking.”
“About?”
“A lot of things. I never thought I’d get to be with you again. I thought you were out of my life for good and that I’d never see you again.”
“That’s a depressing thought.”
“It is.”
“But I’m here now.”
“But for how long?” She couldn’t stop herself from asking. She didn’t give him enough time to reply. “It’s getting late. I should go home.”
“Okay.” He frowned slightly. “You’re okay though, right?”
She nodded, not trusting herself to respond without bursting into tears. They’d lost so much. Could they ever get it back?
After Dusty paid the bill, they retrieved their helmets and his jacket. He stood close to her as he slid it around her shoulders. She zipped the jacket closed. When she looked up, he’d moved even closer.
She sucked in a breath as he cupped her face. His gaze searched hers. He licked his bottom lip and something inside her broke wide open. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him to her.
Their lips met in a fiery duel of repressed passion. A wave of scorching heat crash through her as their lips parted. Their tongues fused together in an erotic dance hot enough to burn every last thought away, unleashing pure desire and longing.
This is it, her bear whispered. Now go home... with him.
“Take me home,” she whispered against his mouth. “Take me to bed.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
She nodded.
He dropped the keys and fumbled with his helmet. Once they were on the bike, she wrapped her body around his. By the time he pulled into her driveway, the rumble of the bike had awakened every nerve ending in her body. She wanted this. She wanted him. And it was finally going to happen.
10
Dusty killed the engine as he stopped in front of Laurie’s house. After they’d climbed off the bike, she took his hand. Her fingers brushed against his palm, and his heart clenched. When he’d asked her out, he’d never expected that the night would go so well. Dinner had been perfect. Now, he was looking forward to spending more time with her, even if it meant nothing more than a warm cup of tea.
Not just tea, his bear stomped.
Dusty wanted laugh at his bear’s impatience, but he shared the same sentiment. He ached for her. He longed to hold her in his arms. He wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip through his fingers. Not tonight. All she had to do was make the first move.
Although she was still wearing his jacket, she shivered and wrapped her arms across her chest. “Aren’t you cold?”
“Nah, my bear keeps me warm.”
“I wish mine would.”
“I could keep you warm.” He smiled slyly.
“I’m sure you could.” She laughed as she unlocked the door. “Come in.”
As he followed her into the house, a wave of anxiety crashed over him. He tried to keep calm, but the incessant pacing of his bear had him on the edge. The beast really needed to calm down so that he didn’t screw this up. This might be his only chance to show her how he really felt.
“Tea, right?” she asked.
“That would be great.”
He sat on the small couch in the living room while she rummaged through the kitchen cabinets. He watched as she poured water into the kettle and turned it on. Her gaze met his. She flushed and dipped her head. Several tendrils of hair fell loose to frame her face. She was so gorgeous he couldn’t look away.
A few minutes later, the kettle whistled. She deposite
d tea bags into tiny porcelain cups before setting them on a tray. She poured steaming water into the cups and then carried the tray into the living room.
“Here you go.” She sat on the sofa beside him.
“Thank you.”
When he picked up his cup, his fingers trembled. She sat so close that her thigh was pressed against his. The current between them sizzled with tension. Each time she sipped her tea, her arm brushed against his. Every movement she made, no matter how small, made his heart beat faster.
He drank his tea quickly. As scalding water seared his tongue, he barely registered the pain. On the drive over, he’d been so confident. Now, he wasn’t sure where he stood. Should he talk to her? Kiss her? He’d been hoping to take her lead, but she hadn’t said or done anything to indicate that she wanted to do anything more than share some tea.
“It’s good.” He laid the cup aside.
“It’s organic. It’s supposed to taste better, but I can’t tell the difference.” She shifted enough to make space between their thighs. She looked at him and smiled but didn’t say anything. She seemed just as lost as he was.
“Maybe I should—”
“Do you want to—”
They both laughed nervously.
“You first,” he said.
“I thought this would be easier.”
“What?” he whispered.
“I don’t know how to say it.”
“Just say it.” He already knew deep down what she was about to say, but he needed to hear it. He needed to be sure.
“I don’t want to waste any more time.” She leaned closer and pulled his hands into the warmth of her lap. “I regret making you wait until prom night. I wish—”
He didn’t let her finished. He silenced her regret with a soul-melting kiss. As she tilted her head slightly, he sealed his lips to hers. He captured her face in his hands and devoured her with all of the stolen kisses he should have given her over the years. He could never make up for lost time, but he was sure as hell willing to try.
Holding her head gently, he parted her lips with his tongue. She moaned as their tongues glided across each other. He released her cheeks and slid his hands down to her waist.
