Page 22 of Rebel Heart
Sure. If you want to learn, I can show you.
Jules
Do you accept desserts and freshly baked goods as payment for lessons?
I was glad she offered.
Because if she hadn’t, I wouldn’t have given payment for lessons a second thought.
And I wondered if that said more about where I stood with Jules than I wanted to admit. So, before I slid my phone into my pocket and made my way to my car, I didn’t hesitate to send her a list of my favorite desserts to confirm that it would be purely transactional.
6
JULES
“I’m soglad you told me we were keeping it casual tonight.”
Being honest with myself, I was feeling just a touch out of sorts. My heart was hammering, because I was about to do something I hadn’t ever done before.
“You seem terrified.” Beau’s voice held an edge of genuine concern, like he was rethinking the plans he’d come up with for our date this evening.
“I think I might be.”
“You’ve never done this before?”
For the first time since I’d walked outside and realized what Beau had planned for us, I took my eyes away from what was in front of me and looked at him. “I’ve never done this before. Not once. But I would be lying if I said I haven’t always been intrigued or interested in trying it out.”
The worry in Beau’s features melted away, and aslow smile spread across his face. “I promise you’ll be safe, and I won’t do anything crazy.”
That was a good thing. Because he’d arrived to pick me up for our casual date, and he’d done it on a motorcycle. I wasn’t afraid, and I didn’t think he’d do anything too wild, but there was no question that a new experience like this was giving me pause.
“Alright. I’m trusting you to make sure I get back here in one piece tonight.”
“What? You think I’d run the risk of never getting a picture from you like I did this morning?” He grinned at me before he wrapped his arm around my back and squeezed my opposite shoulder. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”
I released a long breath. “Okay. I’m ready when you are.”
“Helmet first,” he ordered.
I took the helmet from Beau’s hand and pulled it down over my head. “Done.”
In a sweet move I hadn’t expected, he thoroughly inspected my work, confirming I had it on and fastened properly. “We’re not taking any chances with this pretty face and wild mind.”
“You make it sound like I’m crazy.”
He stared through the front of the helmet, his eyes locked on mine. “I think you are. Maybe just a little bit.”
Without giving me a chance to respond, he turned and swung his leg over the bike. And with just that simple move, all thoughts of a rebuttal evaporated. Why did I find it so sexy to see him astride the bike?
Beau looked at me and asked, “Are you going to hop on?”
It was at that moment it hit me. I was going to have my body pressed against Beau’s. I was going to have my arms wrapped around him, my hands touching him. A thrill of excitement rippled through me, and I didn’t waste another second.
I placed one hand on Beau’s shoulder, stepped on the footrest, and swung my leg over the bike just like he had. Once I was safely in the seat, I removed my hand from his shoulder and fidgeted. Beau reached back for both of my hands and wrapped them around his waist. I scooted closer and pressed my front against his back. “Hold on tight, okay?”
“Okay.”
Beau started the bike, the rumble and vibration of the engine moving through my body. And the next thing I knew, I was tightening my hold on Beau and pressing firmly against his strong, muscular back, because we had started moving.
