Page 4 of Riding Home

I huffed in frustration.“Fine.It won’t start, and I have no idea why.”

“Want me to take a look?”he offered.

I hesitated.Accepting help from him seemed like admitting defeat, but I was running out of options.“If you can fix it quickly.”

He dismounted and approached the car, peering under the hood.After a moment, he shook his head.“Probably the spark plugs.”

“Great,” I muttered.“Just what I need.”

“I can give you a ride.”

“I’m smarter than to go off with some random biker,” I retorted.

He sighed, a hint of frustration crossing his features.“I ain’t asking you to ‘go off’ with me.Just thought I’d offer a friendly ride, seeing as we’re headed in the same direction.”

I narrowed my eyes.“Oh, now you’re going to Brevard, too?”

“Yeah.Why would I lie about that?”he countered.

“Maybe because you...planned to follow me?”I suggested, crossing my arms.

He laughed outright at that.“Believe it or not, I don’t have to follow a woman to get what I want.”

I bristled.“Excuse me?”Was he saying he wanted me?

He held up his hands in mock surrender.“Look, Brevard’s my hometown.Land of waterfalls, white squirrels, and those blue ghost fireflies.”

I blinked in surprise.“You know about the white squirrels?”No one I ever met outside my hometown had ever heard about them.

“Of course.They’ve got their own festival and everything,” he said confidently.“And nothing beats hiking up to Triple Falls this time of year.Ever gone?”

“Yes, actually.Many times.”

“Then you know how special it is,” he breathed.

I studied him for a moment, suspicion fading.Maybe he was telling the truth.“Fine.So, you’re from Brevard as well.”

“Born and raised,” he confirmed.“Though mom doesn’t live in the same house, I grew up in anymore.It was a real shit hole.”

Maybe I’d misjudged him.“You’re heading home for Thanksgiving too,” I said, reminding myself of our friendly conversation last night.

He nodded.“That’s right.Look, I can’t blame a girl like you for not getting on the back of a Harley with a guy she just met but let me offer you a ride across the highway to the airport.You can sort out another rental there.”

I chewed on my lip, considering.Waiting for an Uber would take ages since it’s Thanksgiving, and I was already behind schedule.But getting on a motorcycle with him?I wasn’t sure that was a good idea.

“Come on,” he coaxed.“I promise I don’t bite.”

I met his gaze, searching for any sign of ill intent.Instead, I found sincerity—and maybe a hint of concern.“Just to the airport?”

“You have my word,” he said.

I exhaled heavily.“Alright.But no funny business.”

He grinned.“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

He gave me a helmet.I put it on, adjusting the strap under my chin.Climbing onto the back of his Harley, I held my breath.

“Hold on tight,” he advised.

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