“Oh, you won’t be out very late. This is an accounting project I’d like you to look at. I just ask that you don’t put your hair in a bun or wear orthopedic shoes.”
I laugh at his vision. “Fine. I guess I can work my numeric magic without the tools of my trade.”
“I’m sure you can,” he says absently. “In the meantime, however, you’ll need a ride to school, right?”
“Um, yeah.” I didn’t even think of that. These guys have really scrambled my brain. “I guess I will.”
“Give me ten minutes and I’ll be there to get you.”
My brain finally starts working and I begin to think like a rational person. If Cash takes me to school, I’ll have no way home unless I call a taxi, which will get expensive since I’ll have to take one to work and back all weekend until my car gets fixed.
“You know, I can skip school today. It’s not like I’m taking any really hard classes now anyway. That way I won’t have to impose on you anymore than I already have.”
“You’re not imposing on me. I don’t mind.”
“I’d really rather not bother you. Really. I’ll just see you tonight.”
“Get dressed. Be ready. I’ll be there in ten.”
With that, he hangs up, giving me no choice in the matter.
Almost exactly ten minutes later, I hear the deep rumble of Cash’s bike. I feel it in my stomach, like it breathed excitement into my body in a very physical way. Try as I might to keep my distance from him, it’s clear I’m getting into a bad place with Cash.
And the worst part of it is, I don’t think I want to stop.
I don’t wait for him to come to the door. Rather, I go out to meet him, carefully locking the door behind me.
Cash is straddling his glossy black-and-chrome bike. His jeans—blue for a change—are stretched tight across his thighs and his plain white tee is snug over his chest. His dark blond hair is disheveled, as always, making my fingers itch to run through it. But it’s his face that makes me catch my breath. More handsome than any guy I’ve ever seen in real life, there’s something about his eyes and his smile today that seem to sear the air between us, setting it on fire.
And even though I know the risk, I want to jump head first into the flames.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - Cash
Something about the look on her face makes me feel like a meal. And if I were, I’d be a happy meal, for sure. Although I’m still impatient, I’m relieved. I figured she’d come around eventually. I knew she wouldn’t be able to fight what’s between us for too long. It’s too strong.
And tempting.
“You keep looking at me like that and you’re gonna have a big surprise to deal with when you get on this bike,” I tell her.
“A big surprise?” she asks, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Nah, don’t you mean something more like a Tic Tac?”
I love her sense of humor. It’s a little shy, just like her, and it pokes it head out at the most unusual times.
I smile and hold out my hand to her. “Then come here and let me freshen your breath.”
She laughs. And, as always, I want to do something immediately to make her do it again. She thinks too much, worries too much. I don’t know about what, but I can see it nonetheless. It makes me want to brighten her mood and give her as many carefree minutes as I can.
Carefree and pleasurable.
I stifle a groan.
She puts her hand in mine and holds on to it as she straddles the seat behind me. Without turning around, I pass her the helmet. In the side view mirror, I watch her slip it onto her head. There’s something so sexy about seeing her in a helmet. Probably something about the way it makes me picture her in black, skin-tight leather, leaning forward on my bike with me behind her, my hands on her hips...
I grit my teeth. Damn her and that lush body of hers!
I reach back and curl my fingers behind each of her knees and pull her forward. I feel more than hear her gasp as her crotch snugs up against my hips and her chest flattens against my back.
I feel satisfied that now she’s probably as highly attuned to me as I am to her, but then she ups the ante. She winds her arms around my waist and lets her hands ride dangerously low on my stomach. They’re resting right above my buckle. Right above where she’ll soon feel my hard-on if she’s not careful. I take a deep breath before I put the bike into gear and accelerate away from the curb.
I can’t get her to school fast enough.
As we get close to campus, she points ahead to which roads and turns to take to get her near where she needs to be. When we arrive, I pull along the curb and stop, dropping my feet to the ground to stabilize the bike while she dismounts. She stands facing me to take off the helmet. When she does, she shakes her dark hair free. It looks like something a girl in a shampoo commercial might do. I have no doubt she doesn’t have a clue how sexy she is. But she is. Holy hell, is she ever!
She holds out the helmet to me, her eyes on mine. When I don’t take it, she glances down at it and back up to me in question. I stand, still straddling the bike, and brush the helmet away, instead running my hands through her long hair and pulling her mouth to mine.
Although she’s obviously surprised, she doesn’t hold back. She kisses me like she means it. Like she wants more. All she’d have to do is say the word and I’d drive her straight back home and we’d spend the day in bed. But when I pull away and look into her wide eyes, I know it’s still a little too soon for that. She’s close, but she’s not quite ready.
But I can wait. I’ll have to.
“When are you gonna say ‘yes’?”
She says nothing as she watches me with her deep emerald eyes. Her lips are red and puffy, and slightly parted as she breathes shallowly.
I smile. Oh yeah, it won’t be long.
“Call me when you’re ready for me to come get you,” I say, giving her a quick peck on the lips before I put on the helmet. She looks dazed, which makes me want to smile. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to say yes today. I’ll wait. You’ll be worth it.” Before I lower the shield over my face, I grin and wink at her. “And so will I.”
I pull off down the street. When I look into the side view mirror, I see that she’s still standing exactly where I left her, staring after me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - Olivia
It’s official. Cash is in my head. I may be present physically for all my classes, but it doesn’t do me one bit of good. The only thing I learn is that he kisses like a tornado that’s hell bent on ruining my life.