Rough Ride (3 page)

“Have you ever been on a motorcycle before?” He asked skeptically.

“No, this will be my first time.” She answered.

“Keep your feet on these pegs at all times.” He said kicking a pedal with his foot.

With that he kicked his leg over the bike and stood it up.  Unsure of how she could possibly sit on the seat behind him since her skirt was straight and the hem hit right at her knees, she stood there.

“You’ll have to pull your skirt up to get your leg over the seat and also to sit down.  Use my shoulders to balance yourself.” he said and then turned his head away from her and wiped his chin on the upper sleeve of his shirt.

Between his words and the heart-stopping grin that followed it, she could feel herself blush all the way down her neck.  She could do this. 
Oh God.

She approached close enough to the bike to step on the peg, hiked her skirt up to mid-thigh and held it there with one hand, while placing her other hand on his shoulder.  In one graceful move she stepped on the peg and slid one leg over the seat and finding the other peg quickly sat down.

The skirt was tight but did manage to at least cover her bottom, though an excessive amount of her legs were showing for all other motorists to see.  Scooting back in an effort to put some space between his back and her front she wiggled around until she was situated.

“Are you comfortable?” He asked glancing back at her with his dark eyes.

Was that amusement in his voice?
“Yes, thank you.  I do appreciate this.” She replied.

Bracing the bike between his powerful legs and ensuring it was steady he reached around behind himself and her and cupped her bottom with both hands, sliding her forward flush up against his back.

“What are you doing?” She asked in shock, before she could stop herself.

“Making sure you don’t fall off.” He replied.

With that he grasped her hands that she was trying in vain to find a place for and wrapped them around his powerful chest.

“Once I start the bike, lock your fingers together right here” He said

She had never been this close to any other man besides Darren.  Heat seemed to burn her each place that her front touched his back.  She could feel the muscles of his chest bunching as he moved.  This was entirely too intimate a position to be in with a stranger. 

She had seen other people doubled up on a motorcycle before and hadn’t realized how close the back passenger would be to the one in front.

As she struggled to control her racing heart and slow her breathing, she noticed that his heart beat fast under her hands.  Did he possibly feel this same heated sensation she did?

“Ready?” He asked.

“Yes” she nearly whispered.

With that he stood and kicked a lever on the side of the motorcycle and then jumped on the lever which started the motorcycle.  It was so loud she jumped at the noise.  He sat back down and she carefully positioned her hands around him as he had indicated and locked her fingers.

Suddenly they were moving and excitement furled in her stomach like she was on a roller coaster.  It was exhilarating and even with his broad back and shoulders blocking most of her view she could still see where they were going.  It felt like she was flying or riding downhill on her bicycle like she had done as a child. 
It was amazing!

Bobby had never been so captivated by a woman before.  He felt like he was a teenager all over again gawking at an older girl who was way out of his league.  As a grown man, women threw themselves at him, and sometimes were willing to wait their turn if necessary.  The woman clinging to his back wasn’t like the women he was used to.  She was dressed as though she was a high powered executive with a corner office downtown.

The grey business skirt hugged her curves like wrapping paper on a gift.  A white silk blouse was accented with a silk scarf around her neck.  Her hair was all pulled back from her face into a tight bun at the base of her neck.  When he had seen her earlier in the office sitting next to Gran he had thought he was being audited.  Then seeing those ridiculous looking sunglasses and his helmet that was too big for her head, he had barely kept himself from laughing out loud. 

She was a far cry from the women in tight tank tops, tight jeans or short skirts that he normally hooked up with.  Her light brown hair and startling blue eyes were a fascinating combination.  What he would’ve given to have a picture of this classy looking woman on the back of his bike. 

Something about her was sexy as hell.  She was quiet to the point of being timid, so unlike most of the loud and rowdy women he knew… and it was a huge turn on.  He snorted at the direction of his thoughts as he waited on his bike for her to come out of the local grocery store.  As if a roughneck like him would ever have a chance with a fine piece of tail like her.

Glancing over he saw her exit the store and turned his head and smiled into his arm for the second time since being in her presence.  She must have forgotten about the sunglasses and helmet and worn them in the store.  Even with the helmet and sunglasses, not a man in the parking lot could miss the sway of her hips in that skirt and those heels.  He could feel himself thicken as he watched the graceful way she moved as she approached.  Forcing his mind out of the gutter he stood as she approached and opened a saddle bag to put her grocery bag in.

“The people here are so nice; first your friend Dickie rescuing me from a long hike off the highway and Edna being so sweet and just now the lady at the register helped me quickly find what I needed.” She said smiling at him.

After tucking her purchases in the saddle bags he turned to her.  He noticed as soon as he looked her in the eye she quickly looked down and away. 
Was she shy?
  That was a refreshing thought.

“Strawberries and Wine?” He asked skeptically.

“It’s been a rough day for me and I always have a glass of wine and strawberries… it calms me.” She replied looking at the ground.  “I’d be happy to share when we get to my sister’s house.” She offered after several long seconds of silence.

“Do I look like a wine and strawberries kind of guy?” He asked, willing her to meet his gaze.

“I suppose not, but the offer still stands as a thank you for all your trouble.” She said quietly.

“Hop on the back, let’s ride.” He sighed.

He enjoyed his first laugh in quite a while as they took off out of the parking lot.  She gripped him tighter and he swore he heard a small squeal of excitement from her.  No attempts to look hot or get others to notice that she was on the back of Bobby Jackson’s bike for her… nope…just pure enjoyment… and from a high class chick. 
Go figure.

He knew the address she’d given him sounded familiar and was only two streets down from where he and Gran lived, but he hadn’t realized her sister was Sherri Simons.  Sherri wasn’t so bad but her friend Leah was obnoxious and the last party he’d been to at Sherri’s house, he’d had to
pry
the bitch off him.  As he pulled into the front yard, Sherri exited the house and stood on the porch with her arms crossed.

“Bobby Jackson, what are you doing with my sister on the back of your bike?” She asked.

“You two know each other?” Lilly asked as she stepped down off the bike.

“Yea” He replied.

“You want to come in for a drink or a bite to eat?” Sherri asked him.

“Nah, I got to get home and check on Gran.” He replied

“Well once you get her settled why don’t you come back and hang out for a while.” Sherri offered.

Ignoring Sherri he looked at Lilly and watched as she looked away.  He waited to see if she would look at him again and eventually she did.

“I’ll send Dickie to pick you up when your car’s repaired.” He said

“That would be so great, thank you for the ride.” She said as he stepped off the bike to unload her bags and her grocery items.

He handed her the bags and she quickly turned and started towards the porch where her sister stood watching them.  Then he was back on the bike and tearing off down the street.  He needed to get away from her, she distracted him to the point she was consuming every thought in his brain.  That made it time to go.

As he entered the kitchen he found Gran drinking iced tea at the table.  A plate of reheated dinner sat in the chair opposite her.  She must mean to convince him of something while he ate. 
Great
… he was tired and his thoughts were scattered thanks to
her
.

“Did Dickie get Miss Lilly’s car all fixed up?” Gran asked as he sat down to eat.

“No, the starters bad in it and with it being one of those sporty foreign jobs the auto parts store has to special order it in.” He replied between bites.

“Did you notice her accent, she’s from up North” Gran continued.

“Yep” He replied.  Maybe if he acted disinterested in it she would leave off the topic of
Miss Lilly
.

“She’s moving down here to stay with her sister for a while.” Gran said

Realizing that Gran was like a baby with a sucker and wasn’t going to let this go, he sighed “Is that right?”

“Yes and she must really know her way around an office because she made short work of getting that computer program fixed and organizing all the paperwork.” Gran said.

“Out with it old woman…” he said looking her in the eye and pushing his plate back.

“She said she didn’t have a job yet when I asked her and I appreciate the faith you have in me but I’m not a secretary or an office worker Bobby.  You need someone who knows what they’re doing to straighten things out.”

Oh hell no!
He couldn’t work around her on a daily basis… she was a distraction he didn’t need.

“I know where you’re going with this and it isn’t going to happen.  I’m pretty sure I can’t afford someone like her.” He replied going to retrieve a beer from the refrigerator.

“How do you know?  Did you ask her?” Gran said

“Of course not but she has wine with strawberries to ‘relax’.  I’m pretty sure she was shocked by the neighborhood when I dropped her off at her sister’s house a couple streets down.  I’m not even real sure they are related since they couldn’t be more different.” He responded.

“You know her sister?” Gran asked incredulously.

“Not like how you’re thinking but yea I’ve been over there before at a party.” He replied.

“Who’s her sister?” Gran asked.

“Sherri Simons, she lives over on Oak Street.  I’m tired and I’ve got to get back to the shop early tomorrow unless I want to work the
entire
weekend, so I’m turning in early tonight.” He said as he polished off the last of his beer, crinkled up the can and threw it in the recycling container and then left the kitchen.

Gran made her way to the phone and pulled her address book off the shelf next to it and dialed up a friend who happened to live on Oak Street and asked if she had a phone number for Sherri Simons.  After getting the information she was looking for she disconnected the call.  Before she could dial Sherri’s number, he stepped back into the kitchen.

“Do you hate working at the shop that much Gran?” He asked as he held on to the back of a chair.

“No of course not, but you need someone full time for a bit and she’s perfect for the job.  She needs a job, you have a job… it just makes sense so I don’t see what the problem is.” She said.

“Fine, I’ll run back over to Sherri’s and ask her.” He said as he rubbed his goatee.

“You wouldn’t lie to an old woman would you?” Gran asked shaking her finger at him.