Page 19 of Cocky Secrets

He laughs, and off we go. But when we drive through and past our home of South Vacherie, heading into North Vacherie, I ask over the rushing wind, “Where are we going? Do you need to look at an address?”

“I know this place like the back of my hand, Sage. Memorized the address. Wasn’t tough. Been driving these streets since long before you were born!”

I smile to myself, feeling silly for even questioning him. “Sorry, Dad.”

“I’m smarter than I look.”

“You’re very smart!” I give his waist a squeeze, and shout over the roar, “Just quiet.”

“I say what needs to be said.”

He turns onto a street with a name I recognize, one I read over and over, and traced with my fingertips into the wee hours of the night. My heart starts pounding in shock as I read the numbers painted on sidewalks, counting down like a ticking time bomb. I nearly jump off the seat as Dad slows, then stops, in front of the address Ialsohave memorized. Out of an open garage, the one with a beautiful burgundy Harley Davidsonwaiting inside it, comes the owner, wearing a grease-striped white T-shirt and jeans that fit him like they love him.

Friendly eyes bronzed by sunlight suddenly cloud over as Bear recognizes the girl on the back of the bike.

The one who never showed up. The one who left him high and dry, waiting for a day of painting he’d probably been looking forward to, but which never happened. The girl who made him buy two canvases, who acted all flirty and cocky but then, like she never existed, vanished.

This girl.

Me.

I shake my head, silently pleading,Please, please, please, don’t say you know me!

NINE

Sage

The morning sun casts a warm glow over Bear’s driveway as I stand beside my dad, who’s practically vibrating with excitement. A burgundy Harley Davidson looms in front of us, gleaming like a beast ready to be unleashed. It looks almost new. What’s most promising is that it’s not nearly as big as Dad’s so it might be perfect for me. I blink from it to Bear, terrified about what is going to happen next.

We take off our helmets. “Look at this beauty,” Dad says, happy eyes shining with anticipation.

“Yeah,” I answer, “It’s pretty,” but my heart races for an entirely different reason. Bear is here, right in front of me! How could it be he who has the bike Dad planned to see?! I am a tightly wound ball of unspoken tension Dad doesn’t sense yet. Bear is doing a great job of appearing casual, calm, disinterested in me. The Ciphers are ridiculously skilled at detecting odd behavior. I have to be extremely careful. And if Bear gives me away, I’m dead.Please, Dad, please have your Cipher instincts off!

Dad greets our host with a comfortable, “Hey Bear,” shaking hands as if they’re old friends. “It’s just like you said it was.”

“Good to see you again. I’m sorry, I’m not sure I caught it right earlier. Did you say your name was Honey Badger?”

“Yeah.” Dad doesn’t explain that he was nicknamed after the most unpredictable and fearless creature that exists, for a reason. Instead he motions to me. “This is my daughter, Sage,” and circles the motorcycle, bending to inspect it, carefully looking for flaws.

With Dad distracted, Bear nods, and reaches out. “Nice to meet you, Sage.”

I force a smile, “Hi,” shaking his warm hand, my voice sounding natural as if he’s a stranger I just met, “Very nice to meet you.” I can’t keep my curiosity abated. I must know how this came to pass. Licking my lips, throat drying up, I ask, “Did Dad see an ad for your Harley somewhere or…”

There’s amusement in Bear’s eyes, like he’s enjoying my discomfort. “Your father came into town this morning when I was at the diner. He was asking around about Harleys.”

“Ah,” is all I can manage, thinking about it and realizing Dad had to have gone into town before I awoke. Maybe he was so excited he couldn’t wait around the plantation anymore. Did Mom see him leave? I didn’t hear him leave from my room. Must have been sound asleep. Not that I would’ve noticed even if I was awake. When they leave for missions, everyone knows. But when there isn’t one, when it’s just day-to-day life at home, The Ciphers come and go all they want. It’s me who’s caged.

“Let’s see how this baby rides!” Dad exclaims, walking up and clapping Bear on the shoulder. Hard. My father is strong, but our host is, too, and the impact doesn’t jar him in the slightest save for catching his attention. “Thanks for letting me take it out for a spin.”

“Anytime, Honey Badger,” Bear replies, his voice steady. But when he glances to me, there’s a flicker of something in his eyes that vanishes just as quickly as it arrived. He offers me a friendlysmile that feels more like a mask than genuine warmth. “You excited to see your dad ride?”

“Sure,” I smile, “But he’s no stranger to it,” trying to keep my tone light, even though my heart is doing flips. Being this close to Bear is doing a number on my cellular structure. He’s so sexy, and I totally blew it. Every look he gives me says he’s not going to let me forget I stood him up. I can’t let my dad know I’m overwhelmingly attracted to this man. It would cause absolute chaos.

“Let’s do this!” Dad says, mounting the burgundy Harley, helmet left behind. He lights up the ignition, revs the engine, and a deep rumble purrs from the beast. We step aside to make room for him to ride it out of the garage.

Bear says, “Don’t you want your helmet?”

“Not for this short ride.”

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