Page 56 of Jack

We pass a pasture with horses and cows. I extend my right arm and slowly move my fingers, letting the wind flow through them. It’s the feeling you get as a child when watching the clouds and pretending to reach up to touch them. Instead of clouds, it’s horses, cows, and trees today. I’m a city girl in the middle of farm country, hiding inside a motorcycle club. My life is so comical.

I’ll never be the same after this ride. Freedom feels wonderful, and I hope it never ends. I know it can. It’s happened so many times before. Rather than slipping into the corners I was shamefully pushed into, I’ll fight to hold onto this. This ride has opened a floodgate of emotions, all good and exciting. Hopefully, more good things will follow this.

I lean closer to Jack and rest my helmet against his back. As beautiful and thoughtful as this gift is, I wish it wasn’t here, and his leather cut was gone. His shirt could go, too. Does he have tattoos on his back? I sneak peeks at the ones on his arms when he’s not watching me. I sigh happily and tighten my arms around his waist. He laughs but doesn’t speak. This moment is perfect without words.

He places his right hand on my knee and rubs up and down my calf. More emotions and fireworks explode. I wouldn’t have believed riding could be intimate until now. It’s a whole new level of intimacy. Is this why biker couples have a bond the rest of the world doesn’t understand?

We pull into the bakery’s parking lot, and Jack kills the engine. The ride to town is way too short today. A strange feeling of loss overtakes me. How’s that possible? It was just a ride. Only it wasn’t. It was something more. I cling tighter to Jack’s back,not wanting this to end. Who needs cupcakes and donuts today? We should go for another ride.

“You okay back there, angel?” His hand moves up and down my calf again.

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“Time to go to work.” He taps my hand just above my knee. “Put your left foot down and swing this leg over.”

I don’t want to, but I do as he asks when he leans the bike slightly to the left. I unsnap the chin strap and slide the helmet off. He gets off, removes his helmet, and sets it on the seat.

I offer him mine back. “Thank you for this. It’s beautiful.”

“That’s yours. Keep it. You’ll need it for the ride home.”

“Thank you.” I’ll put it in the breakroom with my bag. I’m using the backpack Nina gave me as a purse. “And thank you for the ride.” I bounce on my toes like a kid. “Can we do it again without having to go to work?”

He pulls his phone out and glances at the screen before shoving it back into his pocket. He doesn’t smile. Hopefully, that message wasn’t bad news.

“Absolutely, angel.” He tosses an arm over my shoulders and turns us toward the front door. “I knew you’d love it.”

“I did. So much. I wish the ride to town were longer.”

He laughs and opens the door. “We’ll take the long way home today.”

Great. Now, today’s going to drag by. If taking the long way home means getting lost with him for a few hours, I’m all for it.

The bakery has its normal stream of customers today. Emily’s at the register, taking an order. Ava and Melody are filling boxes with the pastries and breads customers point to in the display cases. My job is in the back. It’s fine. I have no desire to be on the frontline here. I’m great at meeting people in the hospital, but I’m no saleswoman.

Jack walks me to the opening in the counter next to the wall. The weight of his arm around my shoulders has me leaning into his side. I feel safe and protected under his arm. The rare hugs I got from Joel never felt like this. As much as I want to put my arm around Jack’s waist, I keep mine locked around my helmet.

When we reach the counter, I turn to tell him goodbye like I always do. Only this time, I don’t want him to leave. After the ride we just shared, I feel like I’m losing a part of me, even though he’ll be just a couple of blocks away. I lose all train of thought when his palm cups my cheek. A different day indeed. A much better day.

“Have a good day, angel. I gotta go. Jay needs help with a tow.”

“You have a good day, too. And be careful.”

His cocky grin returns. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Jack!” Emily waves from the front register.

“Good morning, Emily.” He walks toward her as I do the same on the backside of the counter.

“Did you send these to Lily?”

Her question has us both hurrying to the register. A long, narrow gold box with three long-stemmed red roses with a matching bow sits on the counter. He sent me roses. Oh, my goodness. That’s so sweet. I reach to touch the satin fabric they lay on.

Jack’s hand quickly covers the box, stopping me. “Don’t touch it.” Every ounce of happiness drains from his face. He turns to Emily. “Where did you get these?”

Wait. He didn’t send them? Happiness and my newfound freedom are sucked from my body. I stumble backward until I feel the wall behind me.

“They were delivered an hour ago,” Emily replies.

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