Page 56 of The Way You Are

Jake lifted the tail of my braid, pressing it softly between his fingers. “That’s not the way I saw it.”

“Oh?” All the available air rushed out of me with that one word.

“I don’t think we spent enough time together. I didn’t want to leave you this morning.”

My head bobbed in agreement. “Oh, yeah, that’s what you said in the note.”

“I want a do-over,” he said with such intensity, I swallowed hard.

When I got my voice back, I said huskily, “I think things went pretty well.”

Before I could protest, he’d pulled the band from around my hair and tucked it into his pocket. “I want another chance to wake up next to you. How does that sound?”

My head was nodding yes before my brain caught up. I mindlessly threaded my fingers through the sections of the hair, unraveling them, then combing it as best I could.

“You should wear your hair down more often.”

“Yeah?” I asked, my body subconsciously leaning toward him.

He ran his hand over my hair as if testing its softness. “You want to ride with me, or should I follow you home?”

His words felt like a caress over my skin. “You brought your motorcycle?”

“I didn’t go home yet. I showered here this morning.”

My eyes widened. “So, you did leave to go to work?”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “I’m a lot of things, but one thing I’m not is a liar.”

I swallowed at the conviction in his voice. Whatever had happened in his past had blown his trust in other people. “I can appreciate that.”

“I didn’t want to leave you.” He dipped his head so that his breath ghosted over my ear. “I wanted to wake you with my tongue.”

I closed my eyes at the sheer need in his tone, goose bumps erupting over my skin. Swaying into him, I said, “I’d like that.”

His hand cupped the side of my face as my eyelids fluttered open. “I want more of you.”

My knees almost buckled. No one had ever talked to me like this before. His voice was pure seduction, and his eyes held a dark promise of what was to come.

I wasn’t sure what his reaction would be to me stopping by this evening, but I didn’t think he’d come on this strong. I thought he’d be backtracking, scrambling for a way out.

But this was so much better.

“So, what do you say, want to ride with me?”

“I’d like that.” This felt a lot like when the hot guy in school—not the popular one who played on the football team, but the one who skipped class occasionally and smoked under the bleachers—asked you out. My entire body tingled with awareness.

“I didn’t think I’d get you on my bike.” Then he moved around the room, closing the large bay doors, turning off the lights, and grabbing his keys and phone.

When he met me at the doorway, I asked, “Why not?”

His palm lifted and touched my cheek. “You seem like a good girl. One who doesn’t take risks.”

“I am.” There was no denying that me standing here, contemplating a second night with Jake, was a huge risk. I was chancing my heart, my emotional well-being, and my future since he was the one restoring Berta and helping me with my grandfather’s car.

Something sparked in his eyes at my declaration. “Let’s go.”

His hand drifted down my shoulder and arm, his fingers finally interlacing with mine as he led me through the waiting room and outside. As I stood behind him, my heart picked up speed. I’d never been on a bike. Was he a good driver? Responsible? Or was I putting my life in his hands?

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