Page 20 of Beautiful Envy

It was weird living with roommates since I’d been on my own for the past few years. But it wasn’t completely awful. Especially when they made me food.

Once I was ready for the day, I headed into the kitchen, finding all three men sitting around the bar. It made me wonder if they ever used the actual dining room.

Grayson spotted me first, whistling as I neared. “You’re going to cause a few heart attacks today, sweet stuff.”

I wrinkled my nose, shaking my head at his latest nickname. I glanced down, not understanding what he meant, though. It was just a dress.

“Should I change?” I asked.

“No,” all three guys said quickly in unison, then shuffled uncomfortably on their stools. Smiling to myself, I filled my plate with pancakes and bacon, taking the stool between Brooks and Grayson. They both seemed to stop what they were doing, watching me as I took a bite.

“Oh man, that’s good,” I said around a mouthful of pancakes.

“Thanks,” Brooks said, his lips turning up at the corner.

I focused back on my plate, the others finally returning to theirs. It was quiet in the kitchen as we all ate; the only sound was the forks scraping against the plates.

“Let’s go,” Bubba said into the quiet, making me jump.

I quickly shoved the last of my pancake into my mouth and grabbed my bacon to go. Grayson was giving Bubba a look I couldn’t decipher, but I ignored it, used to the gruffness of his words toward me.

That was alright, though. He was about to be hit with the Darcie special.

I leaned over and kissed Brooks on the cheek, taking my plate to the sink and waving over my shoulder. I could hear Grayson saying something to Brooks, whining about the kiss, making me chuckle the whole way to the garage.

Bubba was already straddling a bike, a smirk on his face. I didn’t know if it was because he thought I’d be intimated or impressed. I walked around the motorcycle, taking in all the upgrades he’d done to it.

“Nice bike. Though, I probably would’ve gone with a V Twin engine instead. I like the sound they make.”

Bubba’s smile dropped, his cheeks turning red as he shoved a helmet toward me. Taking it, I pulled my hair back first, then placed it on. I easily climbed on the back of the bike, tucking my dress in and tying it so it wouldn’t fly up.

I didn’t know what he expected, but I was apparently doing the opposite. I’d told him about my father being the president of the Mavericks. But I guess, like most men, he expected me to know little to nothing about bikes.

The joke was on him. I knew more about motorcycles than the truck I’d driven the day before. I wondered how confident he would’ve been if he’d known that. Chuckling to myself, I wrapped my arms around him, laying my head against his back.

His muscles tensed at the touch, and I felt him take a deep breath. I smiled, hoping it meant I was getting to him.

Ideas of how I could push his buttons filled my mind as he started the engine, the familiar feeling vibrating through me.

It had been so long since I’d been on a bike that I’d almost forgotten how alive it made me feel.

My legs shook as he drove, and I took a deep breath as we rode through the streets. With each turn and tilt, I got back a piece of myself I’d long forgotten—a part I hadn’t realized I’d been missing until it smacked me in the face.

When we slowed, I was overwhelmed with joy from that simple ride. I could only imagine what a proper one would do to me.

Bubba parked, kicking out the kickstand. The engine shut off, allowing the world to return around us. Everything felt more. More vibrant, more intoxicating, more seductive.

He pulled off his helmet and stood from the bike, looking back at me. I didn’t know what he expected to find, but it seemed it wasn’t what he saw on my face.

“Are you okay? I’m sorry if I scared you. I should’ve taken the truck.”

Holding up a hand to stop him, I pulled off the helmet, touching my cheeks in the process. I hadn’t even known I’d been crying.

“I needed that more than I realized. Thank you.”

Bubba swallowed, his eyes searching my face. I shook out my hair, tilting my face up toward the sun. My grin widened, and I spread my arms wide as a laugh bubbled out of me.

“God, I’ve missed the open road. Please tell me you have an extra bike? I need to be on two wheels. It’s where I belong.”

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