Page 26 of Jacob

Unwilling to take her cheek from his shoulder, she waited for him to continue his thought.

“I did it. I got the money together.” Leaning forward, Jacob reached into his back pocket. “That’s my bike!” he announced proudly as he shoved the picture at her.

Straightening herself, she accepted the offered photo and immediately squinted in the low light. Turning, trying to use the concert’s lights, the strings of lights from the vendors, or any of the other lights from the rally, she studied the photo.

“It’s a 1990 Harley Davidson FLSTF Fatboy,” he declared.

Smiling, Sparrow nodded as she studied the silver bike. It’d seen better days. The rear tire was flat. She was pretty sure the leather seat was ripped and the headlight was cracked. If it had that many aesthetic problems, she couldn’t imagine what the engine was like. “It’s cool.” She offered it back to him. She knew better than to talk shit about a guy’s bike. Bikers were really sensitive about that shit.

He snorted a laugh, shrugging as he took it back. “Nah.” He shook his head as he stared at the picture in the dim light. “She looks like shit right now, but when I get her fixed up, she’ll be awesome.”

Putting her head on his shoulder again, she reached for the beer between them.

“One of the prospects is going to do this custom paint job,” he continued as he tucked the photo away back in his pocket. “And next year, I’m going to give you a ride.”

With the beer still to her lips and her mouth full of liquid, she perked. Her brows lofted and she pulled back to peer at him in surprise. Slowly, she lowered the can and gulped down the brew. “What?”

“I want to take you for a ride on my bike,” he repeated.

The rumble of the Harley motor coming down the street grew louder, pulling her from the memory. She’d never gotten that ride.

Turning her focus to the sound, the bright light from the headlamp blinded her. Squinting, she held her hand up, trying to shield her eyes. The engine cut while she blinked, attempting to bring the night back into focus.

“Hey,” he greeted.

She didn’t need to see to know. The leather of his jacket under his cut crunched as he took off his helmet and leaned over his handlebars. The darkness of his beard made his teeth seem whiter when he smiled.

“Hi,” she croaked as she tucked her unruly hair behind her ear.

How the fuck was she supposed to play this? What was she supposed to do?

Reaching into the pocket of her apron, she pulled out her last lollipop—well, the last one she’d brought with her. Unwrapping it, she quickly stuck the small grape ball in her mouth. No gum in this one. Just pure sugar.

Shifting on his bike, she watched him inhale. “Did you get them?”

“Yeah,” she said, nodding as she stuck her hands in her back pockets. “Just trying to figure it all out, you know? Like, why.”

“That’s a funny way to say thank you.”

She laughed and her head fell.He had a point. “Thank you,” she said, lifting her eyes to meet his glacial intensity staring into her soul.

Jesus. No one looked at her the way Jacob did.

“You working tomorrow?”

She shook her head. “No, but I have to study.”

He canted his head to the side. “You’re in school?”

“Not yet.”

Did his smile grow wider?

“The entrance exams are this weekend. And I really don’t want to be in any remedial classes.” The words fell out of her mouth without thought and her cheeks heated as the flush crept from her chest up into her face. “It’s just a waste of time. I mean.” She was talking too much.Slow down. Think. “Remedial classes means it will take longer to earn the degree. I’d rather just skip that, and go straight to stuff that counts. So, if I do well in the entrance exams…”

From the way his lips tightened but the corners turned upward, she could tell he bit back a laugh, which only made her cheeks blaze hotter.

“Dinner. Tomorrow.” She couldn’t tell if his words were a statement or a question. “You can study all day, and I’ll reward you with a nice meal.”

---