Page 19 of Please, Stay

She turnedthe corner and heard the first rumble of a motorcycle from across the street. Her stomach dropped. A ride? On a motorcycle? It came back to her. Her dad’s accusation that Grayson rode one.

He turned into the alley, stopping right in front of her and holding up his helmet.

“I, uh, wow.” She ran a hand through her hair, the end of it still a little damp from her shower. “I’ve never ridden on one of these. I thought you flew into Atlanta?”

“I did. I bought one while I was there.”

Of course, he did.

He patted the seat behind him as he held the helmet closer to her. “Put this on, climb up and hold on.”

Hold on? Her stomach rolled again. “I don’t think I can do this.”

He relaxed in the seat, looking every bit a cover model or someone fromSons of Anarchy. Did men on motorcycles always look this sexy or just Grayson?

Grayson. Nothing could make Chester hot.

“You told me you wouldn’t go to dinner because of your dad. He’s not here. We’ll head out of town and be back in forty-five minutes. Promise.” He waved the helmet at her. “Unless you have another reason for not wanting to go with me.”

That was a strong statement. She wanted to go with him. She had about a dozen reasons why it wasn’t a good idea, but none of them amounted to not wanting to go. She took the helmet, and a wide grin shot across his face like he’d won.

After a moment fumbling with the latch under her chin, he grabbed a belt loop on the front of her jeans and tugged her closer. Not even the warmth of the motorcycle could prevent the same tingles from yesterday from racing across her skin when his fingers brushed the curve of her neck.

The strap clicked closed. What in the world had she gotten herself into?

She straddled the seat, close enough that she smelled the cologne she remembered from the elevator. The motorcycle purred. She adjusted her grip, not wanting to hold on too tight like a weirdo. Until it jumped forward.

She wrapped her arms around him to keep from falling off. The helmet kept her from snuggling as close as she wanted to, but once he shot out of town, she plastered her body to his back the best she could.

Insane.

The wind whipped past her. She learned how to lean with him on turns, mimicking his body movement. This wasn’t real. Some other small-town girl had ended up on the back of Grayson Moore’s motorcycle. She’d pinch herself, but that would mean letting go of him and flying off the back. Not worth it. She’d live out her dream until she awoke.

Too soon, their ride ended. He pulled into the ally back behind the row of businesses that included the coffee shop and diner. The motorcycle came to a stop. She didn’t move.

Their bodies fit together. Grayson turned off the engine and rested a hand on each one of her knees. “I don’t want you to be late,” he said. She sucked in a breath at his touch. The brief taste of freedom she’d experienced lingered. He squeezed behind her knees and then a little higher, causing her stomach to swoop. “Please say you’ll figure out a way to go out with me.” His voice was soft but firm.

“I can’t risk it,” she whispered. Time to wake up. Peeling her arms away, she dismounted with surprising ease and several regrets. His touch lingered on her hip as she unclipped the helmet. His hand skimmed the outside of her thigh, down to her knee before dropping to his leg. Did he realize how much it affected her?

“Do I have to wait until tomorrow morning to see you again?”

“Probably.” If he stuck around.

His eyes darkened. “Is this what you want for the rest of your life, Juliana? Fearing your dad?”

The warmth that’d been rolling through her body before disappeared. “I didn’t realize you were offering me the rest of my life.”

His lips set in a tight line, and he looked away. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Then try to remember that my life goes on once you move on to the next girl that catches your eye. I’m sure we’re a dime a dozen.” She turned, agitated at his lack of understanding. Such a beautiful morning shot to hell in a matter of a few words. How did that always happen?

She had her sister to consider. And niece, Carrie. She didn’t have the luxury of throwing it all away for a fun few days with Grayson.

His fingers caught her flannel shirt and tugged. She stumbled back and into him.

His hands gripped her hips, steadying her as she bumped back into his chest. His breath caressed her neck when he moved her hair out of the way. “I’ve never followed another woman across the country before, Jules, but I followed you.”

Her eyes closed, memorizing the feel of his muscles pressed along the length of her body. He smelled faintly like the beach again. She wanted to believe him. It was ridiculous that a major movie star had anything but a passing interest in her, but she might let herself believe the lie while he was here.

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