Page 71 of The Rogue and His Flower

“Hi Elijah,” I reply.

“And that’s Risk,” Dalton says, pointing to the track as another one of his friends whizzes past at high speed, his red motorbike a blur of colour against the grey asphalt.

“Risk?” I ask, my eyes following him as he races off into the distance. I’m momentarily stunned by how close he leans to the ground as he rounds a corner, his knee hovering over the asphalt.

“It’s his nickname because he has zero fear, and likes to scare the shit out of all of us with his moves around the track,” Banks explains.

“Ah, I see,” I say.

“Hey, I’m Tory,” a woman with long multicoloured, braided hair says, stepping between Banks and Milo and holding her hand out to me. She’s dressed in full leathers that match her rainbow hair.

“I love your outfit,” I say, taking her hand and shaking it.

“Thanks. Gotta brighten up this place a little, right?” She smiles, the tiny lines around her eyes creasing.

“Right,” I agree, instantly liking her.

“And I’m Swift,” the other, younger woman says.

She gives me a once over, her cool blue eyes assessing me before she flicks her gaze to Dalton, then turns on her heel and strides off towards a stunning, sleek black motorbike, her long brown hair fluttering in the breeze behind her.

“Don’t mind my daughter, she’s a little cranky with newcomers,” Tory explains.

“Your daughter? You don’t look old enough to have a daughter,” I say, surprise widening my eyes.

“Swift is twenty. I had her when I was seventeen. Been bringing her to the track with me since she was a kid,” Tory replies with a shrug. “So you’ve come to race?”

“Oh no, not me,” I admit, shaking my head vigorously. “I’m here to watch, Dalton.”

“Well, enjoy. We’re just having a practice run today,” Milo chimes in, patting Dalton on the shoulder. “You better bring your A-game if you want to beat me.”

“Always,” Dalton replies with a chuckle, exchanging a confident look with his friend.

As the group disperses to prepare for the practice run, Dalton takes my hand and guides me towards the sidelines of the track. The rumble of several motorbikes starting up intensifies, sending goosebumps erupting across my skin as I watch Risk zoom towards us at an incredible speed.

Dalton leans in close, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engines. “Impressive, isn’t it?”

“How fast was he going exactly?” I ask, watching the others pull on their helmets and manoeuvre their bikes onto the track just as Risk pulls up, waving in our direction.

“Pretty damn fast,” Dalton replies, before resting his hand over mine. “Do you mind if I go and join them?”

“Of course not, you’re here to race,” I reply, frowning as I drop my gaze to his outfit. “You’re not wearing that are you? I mean, don’t you have leathers or something to put on?”

“Are you afraid I’m going to hurt myself?” he asks me, but before I’m able to respond he adds, “I’ve got my things here. Don’t worry, Daisy, I know what I’m doing.”

“Come on Dalton, we’re waiting!” Elijah calls, revving his engine.

“I gotta go,” Dalton grins, releasing my hand, but I reach for him, my fingertips brushing his arm.

“Be careful, okay?”

He gives me a disarming smile. “I always am,” he retorts with confidence, and then, almost reflexively, he presses a quick kiss against my cheek.

A rash of heat floods my face, and even though it was just a chaste kiss with no heat behind it, the disarming smile that he throws over his shoulder at me as he jogs away has my stomach fluttering with butterflies.

I quickly look away in an effort to hide my reaction, and a few minutes later he comes back out, head-to-toe in fitted black leather.

“Bloody hell,” I murmur, unable to deny how good he looks. But it isn’t just the fact he looks incredibly sexy in his leathers, there’s an ease about him as he jokes and laughs with his friends, and it’s something that I’ve never seen before. He seems really at home here, and it feels like I’m witnessing a whole different person as he pulls on his helmet and swings himself onto the seat of a beautiful silver motorbike, the engine purring beneath him as he revs it.

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