mention whether he’d taken that ride alone or not. “I’m sure they were pretty.” She could only hope the sarcastic edge she’d given her words had been lost on him.
“They were. I’d have invited you to come along, but I know my bike makes you nervous. Didn’t think I should push my luck by asking you to do it again.”
Was that why he’d sent her home in a cab? He thought she was chicken? She was, but not for the reasons he thought.
“I think you might be surprised.”
One of his brows went up. The left one. Why had Chloe never noticed those permanent little lines above it that came from repeating the gesture over the years?
“So you’ve decided you like motorcycles now?”
Definitely not. But she’d felt safe tucked up against his back. Among other things. But that was something she was never going to admit.
“Let’s just say it was tolerable.”
“Just what every man wants to hear.”
The smile that had started to form on her lips slunk away. No, it probably wasn’t what men wanted to hear. Even if it was true.
She had to remind herself that Brad wasn’t Travis. “Sorry.”
“I think you’d like it better if we weren’t in traffic. Riding down an open highway is like nothing in this world.” He reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear, the way he’d done when she’d been a teenager—after he’d tugged it playfully, that was. Heat swept over her. Her body hadn’t forgotten the sensation, even if her mind had. His fingers scraped deliciously across her cheek as they withdrew, only to pause before retracing their steps.
He murmured, “I’ll have to take you some time.”
“Take me?” Chloe swallowed, her insides tightening in response to his touch.
“On my bike.”
Her face went red hot. Oh, Lord. Why was she suddenly ascribing all kinds of motives to his words?
Because she could still remember what it was like to have her arms around his waist, hear his low, gruff voice piped directly in her ear, feel the vibrations from the engine rumbling through her entire body...
Yeah, she’d be up for that again, despite all her lectures to herself to the contrary. “I’d like that.”
“Would you?” Was it her imagination or had his eyes darkened? “How about one day this weekend?”
“I work Saturday, but I’m off on Sunday.” She couldn’t believe she was actually considering going. A thought hit her. “You weren’t thinking of going home to Connecticut, were you?” That was the last place she wanted to be right now.
“No. I was thinking about heading upstate and spending the day.”
“At your parents’ house?” The last she’d heard, they’d moved away to somewhere in New York State. The relationship between him and his parents had always been strained, to say the least, but maybe that had changed over the years.
His hand dropped back to his side. “No.”
That one word told her the way nothing else could that she’d been wrong. Brad’s feelings towards them hadn’t changed. Although from what Jason had told her about them, she couldn’t blame him.
“So what’s upstate, then?”
“Nothing. It’s just not the city.” He paused for a minute. “It feels good to get away sometimes.”
That was surprising as well. Not that he needed to get away but that he wanted her to go with him. She was sure he had plenty of women clamoring for the chance to be his traveling companion. Yet he’d chosen her.
She gave an internal eye roll. This was getting ridiculous.
First you think he’s saying he wants to have sex with you on his bike—which is probably physically impossible. Then you delude yourself into thinking he wants to spend time with you in a romantic setting. Grow up, Chloe!
He was only offering to take her because he had to. He felt responsible for her, the way he had as a teenager when he’d made sure she’d got home safely. Just what she wanted. To be a burden.
She sighed. “You don’t have to take care of me, you know. I’ve lived a lot of years on my own.”
“And you shouldn’t have. Travis should have...” His voice trailed away. “Let’s just say I want to show you what you’ve been missing.”
Her mind took off running in another dangerous direction. What she’d been missing?
As if realizing how his words had come across, he clarified, “I was talking about New York.”
“Oh.” She seemed to deflate all at once. Of course he’d been talking about the state itself. What else would he have been talking about? Sex? Again?
She needed to realize once and for all that Brad didn’t see her that way. And it was unlikely that would ever change.
“I WANT YOU to be careful around Dr. Coleman.”
Reclining on a blanket in the park, half-asleep in the warmth of the sun, Chloe wasn’t sure she’d heard Brad correctly. She half sat up, resting her weight on her elbows. “I beg your pardon?”
“You talked about learning how to...flirt.” It seemed like he’d had to push that word out between clenched teeth. “He’s not the man to try that with.”
A quick flutter of something went through her, similar to the one she’d felt on the trip over. Brad had been right. Riding through the countryside on his motorcycle had been nothing like riding in city traffic. It had been exhilarating.
“And why is that?”
He lifted his wineglass to his lips and observed her for a second. “I don’t want to see you get hurt again. And I think he’s capable of doing just that.”
Chloe disagreed, but didn’t say anything. “So who would be a safer choice? You?”
“No.”
The abrupt word took her aback. “Really? Why not?” The words were out before she could stop them. Did she really want to know the answer?
“I don’t flirt.”
Wow. “Ever?”
“Not the harmless stuff you’re talking about. When I’m interested in a woman, she knows it. And she knows exactly where I want it to lead.”
A shiver went over her as she pictured those mirrors in his room. She assumed he wasn’t talking about marriage.
What would it
