Page 10 of Rider Forbidden
“It's OK, let’s hope that's the new girl humiliation over with.” I smile at him “I'm Robyn Brinley, nice to meet you.”
“So, what brings you to us? What will you be wanting from us? Your Dad said that you're here to protect his investment - do you know what that will entail exactly?” he asks
I glance at Jack. I don't want to say that I know absolutely nothing in front of him. They must hate me being here. They thought everything was hunky-dory and they can get on with their business and then I turn up. Shit. At least this Harry guy seems like he’s being nice.
“I just need to follow you guys around today I think, see how you do things on a day to day basis. I’ll need to study a little at home. I'm afraid I don't know much about your sport at the moment, my dad has a way of throwing people in at the deep end which is what he’s done to me today. So just pretend I'm not here today, I’ll get a feel of the place. I’ll be here around nine thirty until around two thirty every day, but if you race on the weekends I’ll be there.”
I see Jack study me out of the corner of my eye, but he doesn't say anything. I take a sip of my coffee.
“Well, we're just going to get the team rounded up and have a meeting. Then, as it’s a clear day today with no frost, Jacks gonna get out on the course and give the new bike a go as we've made a few tweaks.”
I nod and glance quickly at Jack, who is still just watching me. It's unnerving.
“Brilliant, thank you.” Jesus, I'm so mad at dad right now, dropping me in this situation with no armour. It's definitely payback. And he wonders why I moved away for years.
*****
I sit in on the meeting. Harry introduces me and I get a few wary glances, but at least everyone is polite. They don't know me, for all they know I am a stuck-up rich bitch that’s just playing at having a job. That’s fine - if they want to pre-judge someone before they even know them that’s up to them. One of the girls on the team, that deals with the scheduling and finance, seems nice. Her name is Sophie. She is really tall and slender with brown hair but the ends are bright blue, a love a girl that dares to be different. She is attractive and has a beautiful smile.
Once the meeting is over, she pulls me to one side. “Hi, I wanted to meet you one on one. Don't worry about these guys, their barks are worse than their bites.”
“Thank you, Sophie is it?” she nods
“Yes, I'm the one that gets to do all the boring stuff, while they’re out playing with the machinery to see who has the biggest dick.”
Wow. I like her. I laugh “That sums it up, does it?”
She shrugs “Pretty much. I hear your new in town?”
I nod “Yeah I grew up around here but moved away.”
“So you won't know anyone? My friends and I are willing to take in straddlers – the more the merrier - you'll have to hang out with us. Want to grab lunch together today? It’s nice to have another female around – definitely a testosterone zone around here.”
I nod, I can have half an hour break to eat I'm sure. I guess I make my own rules anyway as long as I report back to dad the information he wants. She seems friendly.
“That would be lovely, thank you. I’ve not had the best reception today, you have definitely been the nicest to me so far, and Harry has been lovely.”
“He's professional and a really good guy. Have you had trouble from anyone?”
I give a bitter laugh “Just Jack. Nothing important and nothing I can't handle.” I don't want to gossip; I don't know this girl after all.
“Oh, Mr hotshot himself. Well, don't take any notice of him. He can be an egotistical arsehole, with a huge chip on his shoulder.”
“Oh no, you don't like him then I take it?”
She smiles “Actually I'm quite fond of the bastard. The only reason I still speak to him is because I haven't shagged him. He goes through women like he goes through underwear - if he wears any that is - no way I’d go there. It’s never been like that for us, we're friends . . . thankfully, or we would have fallen out a long time ago.” She looks at me for a while, “Actually you'd better watch yourself, you're gorgeous and he doesn't like to be told he can't do something. He’ll have been told your off-limits you know. He'll take that as a challenge.”
“Oh no, absolutely no way in hell. We haven't got off to a great start and he’s already made it quite clear that he hates me being here. Not that I would look at him in that way anyway, but he sounds like he sleeps with pretty much all the female population with not so much as a backward glance, so think I would have given it a miss anyway.” He’s coming across as a total arsehole actually, not that I can say that out loud to Sophie. I may have noticed his blue eyes, being the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen, but that was on Saturday when I thought he was a decent guy. Also, his height . . . anyway, I'm getting off-topic here - what attractive tributes he may have, get washed away by his shitty personality . . . that makes him unattractive. A different girl might find his confidence and swagger sexy, but not this one. That’s the last type of guy I would be looking for . . . if I was looking.
“Are you not single?” she asks
“I am, but I'm definitely not looking. What about you?”
She shrugs, “Yeah, I'm single. If Mr Right is out there, he's hiding from me right now. Come on I’ll show you around and then take you to the track where they're trying out the new bike.”
She gives me a tour, it's so much bigger than I first thought. There isn't just Jack’s team here, a couple of teams have a base here. I’ll probably get lost but I'm sure I’ll get my bearings soon enough. I'm so grateful for Sophie right now, I feel like a big cloud has dissipated over me.
When we arrive at the pit, I see Jack stood outside with the bike. He has his leathers on, but the top part is off and hangs around his waist with just a white t-shirt on underneath. He’s carrying his helmet. My mouth goes dry. It can't be denied that he’s a good-looking guy. Tall, lean but well defined with broad shoulders, and the way his leathers fit around his legs make his thighs look thick. Why are his thighs doing something to me right now? Come on, I'm a woman . . . just because he’s an arse doesn't mean I can't appreciate what a fine specimen he is. His physique is perfect, he must have to be in top physical condition for the sport and he looks it. Then there’s his brown hair, kept short but just long enough to look messed up - like he's just gotten out of bed. Those blue eyes though, they're the colour of those seas that you see in pictures of tropical places, such a light inviting blue – I've never seen anything like them. He has stubble, which I'm presuming he has all the time because he had it on Saturday when I met him. He is a really good-looking guy. Too bad there’s nothing but attitude going on on the inside. I know it wasn't personal what he said this morning, but it still hurt. How can he judge someone so quickly that he’s never even met?
