Page 17 of Things Good Girls Don't Do (Rock Canyon, Idaho 1)

“So do we start now or . . .” Chase started.

“No!” she said loudly. Clearing her throat, she added, “I just mean I’m not ready yet. I would like to get to know you a little better before we . . .”

“You do know that casual works better when we don’t know each other, right?” he said.

“I know, but I just can’t hop into bed with some strange guy, okay? I have to at least know a little bit about you,” she said.

“I hate peas, don’t enjoy long walks on the beach, eat my burgers with mayo, and I wear boxers, not briefs,” he said, grinning.

Great, now I’m picturing him in nothing but a pair of boxers. “That’s not what I meant . . .” Taking a deep breath for strength, she said, “Look, can you just take me back to my car? I think I’m sober enough to drive and I have a lot to do tomorrow. Plus, I need a night to process.”

“Whatever you say, Firecracker,” Chase said, walking toward the door with a slow amble that would have done John Wayne proud.

Still in shock over what she had agreed to, Katie followed him out the door and down the ste

ps to the dreaded beast of metal and mechanisms. He climbed on first and she swung up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist again as if her life depended on it. Squeezing her fingers, he started up the motorcycle and headed back toward town. She liked the feel of his muscles bunching under his T-shirt and caught herself rubbing her cheek against his back, shivering. Whether it was from the wind as they sped down the street or Chase’s proximity, she wasn’t sure.

It took only a few minutes to make the trip back to her car, and she was surprised by the depth of her disappointment when they arrived. He parked the motorcycle across from her 4Runner and she climbed off a bit more gracefully than the last time. This ride hadn’t been as terrifying, although she still didn’t like the feeling of vulnerability she experienced with nothing between her and rough, deadly asphalt.

Walking across the street, she unlocked the 4Runner and was just about to escape inside when she heard his heavy boots behind her.

“Wow, that eager to get away from me, huh?”

She turned to him and smiled nervously. “No, it’s just, it’s getting late, and I have a lot to do tomorrow, so I just figured we’d start our little . . . experiment . . . tomorrow.”

He put his hand against the side of her car and leaned over to kiss her, teasing her lips with his. “I think whatever you have going can wait a few more minutes. And who says we can’t start our little experiment tonight?”

Trying not to lean into him, to stand firm when her body wanted desperately to melt into his kisses, she said, “Because if I’d wanted to do anything more than sleep, I could have asked you to stay at my place. Remember the rules: sex on my terms.”

Chuckling, he said, “But you didn’t say we couldn’t do other things. And at my place, no one would see your car, whereas everyone has probably already seen and heard my baby.”

“Seriously? You’re one of those guys who gives his toys pet names like baby?” she said, groaning with disgust. Were all guys the same?

Without warning, he kissed her again until her eyes crossed and she leaned back against the car for support. “Again, you are trivializing my motorcycle, but it’s okay. By the time I’m done with you, you will be one hot motorcycle loving woman and if you’re really sweet to me, maybe I’ll even let you drive it.” He slid his leg between hers and rocked against her as he nibbled his way across her throat. She sucked in her breath and tried to control the urge to press down on his hard thigh to ease her throbbing arousal.

She realized her jeans were still unbuttoned when he moved his other hand down her body and slipped one finger down along the opening, leaving blazes of heat where his skin touched hers. Struggling to keep her eyes open, she lost the battle when he laid his palm against her lower stomach and started to slip down, a breathy moan escaping her at the sensation.

“Believe me, once you get that kind of power between your legs, you’ll crave it.”

Holy cow, what am I doing? She was leaning against the side of her car, letting a man stick his hands down her pants and basically just saying take me now.

This wasn’t what she’d signed on for. Casual fling, yes. Destroying her reputation? No. Before she lost her resolve, she reached down and grabbed his wrist.

Chase pulled back, his breathing coming a little faster and his eyes looking dark in the fading light. She tried to soften the rebuke. “Like I said, you have a high opinion of yourself and your skills.”

He shrugged. “Never had any complaints before.”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything,” she shot back, feeling a little more in control of her body, although the heat of his leg between hers was still distracting.

Chase’s eyes widened and he shook his head with a grin. “There might be hope for you yet, Firecracker.” He kissed her hard once more, then stepped back with a little salute. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As he sauntered back to his chopper, she stayed propped up by her 4Runner until he climbed on and tossed her that same smug grin before taking off.

Arrogant, obnoxious, egotistical, high-handed . . .

She ran her fingers over her swollen lips and smiled. He might be a hundred different negative adjectives, but if his kisses were any indication, his skill probably wasn’t exaggerated.

At least she hoped not. Because she was starting to really look forward to finding out if Chase Trepasso could walk the walk.

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