Page 9

“Do you want to go and take a ride on my bike?” he asked.

“Your bike?”

He winked at her. “Yeah, my bike.”

The last time she’d been on his bike, it had felt like she was clawing at him as it was similar to that of a death machine. She gripped her hands together, a little nervous at the prospect of riding. At the same time, she saw that glint in his eyes that said he was excited.

“Yeah, I’d like to.” She wanted to try it when all the crap she’d been through was at the forefront of her mind.

They called out to Martha to let her know they were going riding. They found her aunt in the sitting room, legs curled beneath her, glasses perched on her nose, and her head in a book. She wished them a good night, and Betty saw her aunt lift her thumbs up in the air, and she couldn’t help but shake her head.

Once outside, it was cold, and she pulled on her jacket, zipping it right up to her neck. She shivered, and Grim pulled on his leather cut.

She watched as he straddled the machine, and when it stood on its own, it looked huge. Now, with Grim on it, it didn’t look quite so scary or intimidating.

She breathed onto her hands, and her stomach was in knots as the nerves were slowly eating away at her. It made her feel a little sick, but she was not going to back down. Not even as Grim turned over the ignition and the beast of a machine came purring to life. Even with the loud noise, Grim was still in complete control. It amazed her.

He held onto the machine and for a second Betty realized she’d been staring at him, like a fool. Quickly, she moved into position behind him and climbed on. This required her to touch him.

This, she could do.

****

Grim sensed her nervousness as she got settled onto the back of his bike. She hadn’t moved her hands from his waist to wrap them around him.

He felt how tight she got, like she didn’t want to hold him, but then she relaxed against him. He gave her a little time to get accustomed to the feel of him, wanting to alleviate her nerves. Once she had done so, he then made his move, pulling out of the driveway and taking them to the end of the street.

Most of the kids were already inside, which was such a dramatic change from a few months ago. He got them out of Rivermont Ridge and took them onto the open road. He didn’t go too fast or too slow. His intention was to make her relaxed. He still felt the tension within her body, so he drove, knowing the roads better than anyone. He’d ridden them for many years. His bike was his world.

Finally, after a good hour, he brought the bike to a stop, and they found a little café that was still open.

“You want a drink?” he asked.

“Yes, I could use one.”

She sounded breathless, and Grim had no choice but to help her off the bike. She nearly took a tumble, but he was able to capture her in his arms. She laughed, and he held onto her as they stepped inside the café.

It wasn’t overly busy, but then it was closer to ten, and he saw they closed around midnight. They took a small booth near the window, and he ordered a hot chocolate. Betty did the same. Neither of them wanted any food. Betty was the best damn cook he’d known, and he didn’t know how he was going to eat anything else.

“That was incredible,” she said, and he noticed her eyes glowed.

“You enjoyed it?”

“Hell, yeah, that was honestly the best, most amazing feeling.” She giggled. “I can see why you love it so much.”

“There is nothing like it, and all of your troubles just fade away.”

“It’s because they can’t catch you, not really. That’s why you’re able to forget everything else and just focus on the here and now. I totally get it.”

He couldn’t stop looking at her.

The waitress brought them over two hot chocolates, and he saw Betty was not impressed. There was no substance to the hot chocolate. It was thin, and even the cream seemed to have caved into the center, as if it didn’t know where to go.

“Uh, thank you,” Betty said.

Grim was hesitant to even try it.

“I bet this sucks for you,” he said, whispering so only she could hear him.