Page 64 of Extreme Romancing in Idaho

He handed me a vibrant pink helmet with gloves and goggles tucked inside. “I hope these fit. I did my best.”

How much time had he spent at the store gathering all these things? When had he managed to find the time and still get everything done? He wasn’t kidding about the headlamp and midnight.

Putting on the gloves first, I slid the helmet over my ears, and where it would work, it wiggled when I shook my head side to side. I fumbled with the black straps and buckles, my gloves hampering my dexterity. Remi moved to help me.

“I’ve got it.” His fingers …touching my neck?Not if I could help it. I leaned away and swallowed.

“Stop being so stubborn and let me help.” This time, he didn’t allow me to push him away.

He tilted my chin up and drew one finger along the length of my neck, looping the tip of his index in the two metal rings on the left strap. I held my breath and bit my lip. A burning kindled in my core, and I closed my eyes, afraid to look at him. He took his time with the other strap too, his fingers lingering on my skin far longer than necessary.

Goosebumps engulfed me, my body warming more with each pass of the shuddering waves. The click of a snap resonated through the helmet.

“There. That wasn’t difficult, was it?” His voice was soft and husky.

He no longer touched me, yet the path of his fingers branded my skin. I lifted my lids, gathering the courage to look at him. He didn’t attempt to hide his desire … and he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

No. Uh-uh. No way.I would not be seduced by him. I stepped back and shoved my goggles into place, grateful for the layers protecting my lips from his. His smile grew wider, taking on a wicked tilt.

By refusing him, was I becoming his Everest? An irresistible challenge he couldn’t help but conquer. Well, this was one mountain he wouldn’t climb. I crossed my arms and angled my shoulders away from him. He turned his back to me and grabbed the rest of his safety equipment.

That’s right. Take the hint, Remi.Read my sign. No vacancy.

Placing his helmet under his arm, he moved the side of the smaller of the two bikes. “This is the one you’ll be riding.”

I ran my hand along the length of the seat, then looped my leg over it, my toes barely touching the ground. “Are you sure it’s not too big for me?”

“Nope. Fits fine.” Remi pressed a lever on the left of the bike. “This is your clutch, and this—” He fiddled with the chrome lever on the right. “—is your front brake. Your back one is the pedal by your right foot. If you’re ever in trouble, hit the clutch, and then the brake.”

The small engine rumbled below me, rattling my nerve endings, sending sparks of life to areas of my body long dead, killed off by extended grief and stress. Tinted yellow by the goggles, details in the world around me sharpened. Hummingbirds circled each other, dancing into the sky and parting ways fast as bullets. Butterflies and buttermoths moved from flower to flower, creating a moving tapestry for me to enjoy.

Was this why I persisted in dating Dan? Life surged inside me with each new adventure I contemplated.

“Remember, take it slow. It’s easier to go fast and much more difficult to control the bike at lower speeds.”

I gnawed on my bottom lip. I should have probably been listening to his instructions. It couldn’t be that much different than the four-wheeler. Mama and Papa spent years telling horror stories of accidents on ATVs and made me promise to be responsible. Anything motorized on two wheels had been straight-up banned, put in the same camp as rock climbing, skydiving, or any other extreme sport.

“Ready?”

I nodded once.

“Okay. Put up your kickstand and try a couple of loops in this clearing before we try the trail. Practice your starts and stops.” Remi’s voice was gentle yet patronizing.

The smirk on his face told me he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to treat me as I’d treated him when I’d taught him how to operate the tractor. Like a baby taking my first steps. Didn’t matter.I’ll show him just how capable I am.

Letting my breath ease out, I flipped the kickstand back and twisted the throttle. The bike wobbled and took off. Remi hollered something behind me. I ignored him. The inner daredevil in me took the reins, and I shifted into second, then third gear, increasing my speed on the straight away. Air rushed under the lip of my goggles, causing my eyes to tear.

Slowing in time to loop around in a semi-controlled manner, I turned back to Remi. I came to a quick stop next to him, skidding a bit on the gravelly soil. “How was that?”

Remi’s smile grew. “You don’t know how to start slow, do you?”

“Nope. Can we go now?”

I made a couple more loops while Remi suited up, in much less gear than I had on. He only wore a helmet and gloves. No elbow pads, chest plate, or knee pads. Did he think I was going to drive off a cliff?

Once again, I drove to Remi, now seated and ready. “You go first. I’ll follow you. Only go as fast as you’re comfortable.”

I nodded. My helmet shifted again, knocking my goggles more askew. Not bothering to fix them, I took off. The wind rushed under my protective layers, fluttering against my eyelashes.

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