Page 55 of Always Salty

Where my brothers rode Harleys, Dima’s motorcycle was black, sleek, and fast.

Not saying that my brothers’ couldn’t haul ass as well, but Dima’s looked and sounded like it would go faster than the speed of light.

I idly wondered how many cops he’d outrun on that vehicle.

“Have a good day,” Melody called out as she started walking in the opposite direction.

I waved at her, not replying.

She smiled and scooted off down the street, and I stopped on the curb and looked both ways before crossing the street.

When I got to the alley in which Dima was parked, I walked right up to him and threaded my arms around his neck—which, might I add, he allowed by bending down for me.

“Ready to ride, doll face?” he asked.

I grinned.

“Killer earlier, and doll face now,” I teased. “Those two don’t even go together.”

He shrugged, his eyes dark and unfathomable. “I call it like I see it.”

I turned toward his bike and said, “I’ve been on my brothers’ bikes a bunch of times. But I have yet to be on one of these. Where do I put my feet to get on?”

He mounted the bike, then held out his hand before telling me where to place my feet.

The bike was quite a bit less comfortable to be on the back of, but I figured the trade out of being pressed completely against Dima’s back might make up for it.

And let me tell you something, the thought of being pressed up against him, and being actually pressed up against him, were two completely different things.

The moment my body pressed against his, and he started his bike, my entire being just went…calm.

Like I was exactly where I was always meant to be.

I knew without a doubt that this man would protect me with his life. I knew that he’d take on the world for me. I knew that he was it for me.

That’s when my unhealthy obsession began.

Or maybe, joined his.

Whatever happened, as he drove me the six blocks to my car, I knew that my life would never be the same.

I felt like I was losing my soul’s connection when I got off his bike.

“Are you going to come to CE after this?” I asked hopefully.

Castanon Enterprises was my least favorite place in the world, and the thought of having Dima there felt like a balm on my antsy heart.

“I’ll be there.” He paused. “Do you want me to come in with you?”

I smiled then. “Yes.”

“If I come in with you, I can’t be a ghost to spy, though,” he pointed out.

I opened my mouth to say “I don’t care” but closed it.

Copper might need a ghost…

“Um…” I hesitated. “I guess just head to the conference room, and I’ll introduce you to Copper. Then we can see if he might want to use you there.”

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