Page 13 of Riding Rough

She straps her bag onto her back and kisses her father’s cheek. “I love you and I respect you, Daddy, but Kane is a good man who makes me happy.”

I hold back a smile as Amber continues her outburst on her way out the door. I should be worried for her. She’s said some things tonight she may never be able to take back. But the reality is, I’ve never been prouder.

That’s my girl. Wild, mouthy, and unafraid to stand on her own. Jed suppressed that about her for too long.

My throat closes and my fists clench. I want to be the guy who does what’s best, but I don’t have it in me to walk away from Amber. She’s mine, and I’m pretty sure‘the right thing to do’isn’t going to stop me from having her.

Chapter Nine

Amber

My father calls my phone half a dozen times, but I ignore every ring. I know this is going to get me into trouble later, but I don’t have it in me to listen to a lecture about an age-gap romance. I don’t care what my dad thinks. When I close my eyes, the only man I see is Kane. Though, I guess he doesn’t feel the same.

When I stormed out of the inn, I was expecting he’d follow me. Maybe it was too much to assume he wouldn’t take my father’s side. Then again, they have been best friends for the better part of thirty years. I can’t compete with that.

God, this was a mistake. Another stupid mistake in the symphony of errors that is my life.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and stare down at the picture of Kane I’ve held onto for the past year. Maybe we weren’t meant for each other. Maybe we were only ever destined for one night. One night that will antagonize my mind forever about how great something can be when it’s right.

I suck in a deep breath of fresh mountain air and skip over a puddle on the sidewalk as I make my way toward the street. I don’t care that it’s pitch-black outside and there’s no one else on the street at this ungodly hour. I don’t care that I have no food, no money, no clothes.

Maybe, if I’m lucky, that group of aliens everyone talks about from the ridge in Rugged Mountain will send down a beam and suck me up into their ship. I’m thinking life on another planet might be a lot easier. At least I’d get a fresh start. Maybe they could erase my brain while they’re at it. I wouldn’t have to remember how great tonight felt, or how perfect my head was under Kane’s arm.

A swarm of sadness envelopes my heart and my throat begins to close, before the engine of a bike howls in behind me. I close my eyes and stand in place for a second, gathering my thoughts. I’m sure it’s my father, and I’m sure he’s here to take me home. Truthfully, I don’t know how I look him in the eye after this. I shouldn’t have fallen for Kane. He should be off limits.

All of my father’s friends should be off limits. That’s a no brainer, but I didn’tchooseto fall for him. It just happened. The same way a wave crashes into the shore or a rock tumbles down a mountain. Whatever happened between Kane and I was natural. A force of nature. An intertwining of our souls together as one.

I let out a heavy breath of warm air into the cool night, watching the cloud of fog spill from my lips. I turn back, ready to take whatever my father is about to give.

“Kane?” My heart swells as he climbs off his bike, one heavy boot after another. “What are you doing here? I thought you were on Team Daddy?”

He smiles. “I’m always on your side, sweetheart, but we’re making an awful big mess. Now we have to deal with it.”

He pulls me into his arms and kisses my head. “Are you sure you’re ready for all that? Your dad’s a lit fucking cannon right now.”

I stare up at Kane, my heart in my throat as he brushes a hair from my vision. “I love you. I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember.” I sigh. “When you told me to go with my father, I felt sick.”

Kane squeezes me tighter. “It felt like the right thing to say at the time. Your dad is my best friend. This feels like some sort of betrayal toward him. But the way you were running your mouth, telling everyone you are leaving with or without me, I knew right then I’d make a liar out of myself.” He kisses the top of my head. “You’re mine. We determined that already.” His fingertip lands under my chin and he holds our gaze like our love is the answer to everything. “Say it, sweetheart. Tell me you’re mine.”

A tear streams down my cheek as I stare up at the leather clad giant in front of me. There’s no hesitation. No question. No doubt in my mind. “I’m yours,” I whisper. “But—”

“We’ll figure this out. You’ll stay with me in Rugged Mountain until your dad cools down. Okay?”

He doesn’t wait for me to respond. He takes my hand in his and guides me toward his bike, strapping my helmet into place. There’s safety and warmth in his touch. There always has been. And though my father doesn’t approve of what we’re doing, I know I belong with Kane.

I climb onto his bike and wrap my arms around his waist. The engine rumbles and vibrates straight up through me. I know I should be thinking of how I’ve betrayed my father or what repercussions await me, but the low thunder of Kane’s bike and my frame pressed against him make all that disappear.

Chapter Ten

Kane

The past three days have been spent cautiously aware of my surroundings. I could’ve run from Rugged Mountain. There are plenty of hunting cabins in Whiskey Falls to hide in, but I fucked up, and I’ll own this.

“You’re still out here?” Amber steps through the patio door. She’s wearing one of my Harley t-shirts and her golden hair is laying on her shoulders. It’s been torture not to bend her over every object in the house the last three days.

I toss a wrench into the toolbox and stand from the stool next to my bike. “I’ve got a good view of the road here. I can see if anyone’s coming before they see me.”

“If Daddy was coming, he’d have come by now.” She leans her thick hips against the back counter. “Maybe he’s coming to terms with everything. I mean, he hasn’t even called me. He usually calls me every day.”

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