Page 30 of Cocky Secrets

“Where are you going, Sage?” Atlas asked.

“To Viola’s shop.”

“Why?”

Mom answered for me. “To get paint supplies, why else?”

“Just checking,” he said.

“It’s around lunchtime so I’ll probably stay a while and have lunch with her,” I lied, giving my absence a viable reason for extension. “She’s there by herself with the kids at school. And business has been slow.”

Atlas picked up on this. “We should all go and buy something.”

“No!” I squawked, before adjusting my cracking voice. “Go another time. I want to ride my new Harley on my own.”

He cocked a suspicious eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because I’m a grown woman and I’m tired of you treating me like a damn child!” I barked, making The Ciphers laugh. We were in the main living room, with almost everyone present.

Dad grunted, “Leave her be.”

Mom expanded on it. “Your father got her the bike so she’d have some freedom, since you two said her bicycle was off limits for being too slow!”

Luke glanced over, included in the scolding. Mom was still mad I got the bike, enough to let me ride alone to prove it’s their fault I have one in the first place.

A win for me.

“Bye. Don’t follow me.”

“Now I want to!” Atlas called after me.

Dad growled, “I said, leave her be!”

It was because of that anger I knew Mom had been privately chiding him pretty hard for his generous decision, and he was sick of it.

The landscape shifts from quaint shops to lush greenery, the beauty of nature becoming a peaceful backdrop to the electric tension brewing between us. Now that we’re out of the town’s watchful eyes, I lay my head on Bear’s back, wishing this helmet wasn’t between us. I can almost feel his heartbeat against my chest, imagine it steady and strong. “I still want to paint you,” I say over the luxurious wind.

“I still want you to.”

“I’m not sure how we can!”

“We’ll find a way, my beautiful woman.”

My eyes widen at the compliment, and a grin of happiness spreads from within as we race up a fairly steep incline, slowing only for curves which he deftly masters. At the top, wind whips against my face and I open my arms like I’m flying, letting out a laugh, exhilarated by being with him, my newfound freedom and the thrill of the ride.

We pull over at a scenic overlook, the view sprawling out before us—a sea of emerald and jade under the vast, cloudless, azure sky. I rise on the foot rests, use the steadiness of Bear’s shoulders to dismount, throw a leg over and plant myself where asphalt meets a dirt and gravel shoulder. Bear dismounts next, removes his helmet, eyes piercing. I remove mine, send my red hair flying. We set them on the seat. Safe up here. Such a small town. No one would take them if anyone drives by. And even if they did, we’d ride back without them. I’d kind of prefer it.

“I didn’t think you’d actually buy the bike,” he says, a playful gold glint in his eyes.

“Liar,” I reply, my voice teasing. “I didn’t think I’d want to ride it with you.”

He smirks, “Who’s the liar now?” stepping closer, and I can feel heat radiating off of our chemistry. “You’re not just in it for the bike, are you?”

I shake my head. “Not at all.”

The air between us thickens, charged with unspoken need to bridge the gap, to feel the warmth of his lips against mine for the first time.

“Good,” he murmurs, closing the distance with zero hesitancy, his gaze intense. “Because I want more than just a business transaction, Sage.”

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