Wilde Ride
Wilde Ride
A novel by
Maegan Lynn Moores
.
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2012 Maegan Lynn Moores
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.
An embarrassing run-in leaves her wanting more.
Ella Scott, ready for a change and the chance to escape family tragedy, heads to familiar Del Mar, California, after her college graduation.
No one could prepare her for what she’d find.
After starting her new job as a high school teacher, a scary encounter with some local thugs and a co-worker’s unwanted advances and attention send Ella into the arms of local bar owner Ryder Wilde. But Ryder comes with his own complications. As president of his motorcycle club, Mayhem, Ryder must choose between his biker family’s plans and whatever chance of a future he has with Ella.
Table of Contents
Chapter 17 - Double Ds and Text Messages
Chapter 18 - Night on the Town
Chapter 19 - Party at Wilde Ride
Chapter 21 - Victoria’s Secret
Chapter 22 - Wanna go for a Ride?
Graduation
After four years, it is finally my last day at Northeastern University. I’m graduating with a teaching degree and will soon be leaving Boston, Massachusetts, and be on my way to beautiful Del Mar, California, where I accepted a position as a literature teacher at Del Mar Regional High School.
Every summer when I was a child, my mother and father would take me and my younger brother to the town of Del Mar for two weeks. I loved it there, and it was all I looked forward to throughout the school year.
It all ended the summer before my senior year of high school, when my family and I were in a serious car accident that changed my life forever. Everyone said that I was lucky, even though I was the sole survivor. I don’t know how lucky I feel, considering my family’s dead and my lower torso is now covered with scars from the accident.
My best friend Payton and her family took me in for my senior year of high school. They loved me as much as I loved them. Most teenagers would’ve loved to be living with their best friend, but for me it was a constant reminder that I had no actual family left.
Payton Clare’s family, were wonderful. Her mother and stepfather helped me get into University and arranged my living situation and tuition, with help from my parent’s estate. Even though they lived in the same town, Payton’s mom Karen wanted me to experience a ‘true’ college experience.
Now it’s my graduation day, and I am valedictorian of my class. In just a short while, I will be giving my valedictorian speech. The only thing that could make me happier is to have everyone that mattered to me be here to share this special moment.
“I am so proud of you Ella, and I know your mother, father and brother would’ve been too,” Karen says, interrupting my thoughts.
“I know, I just wish they could be here with me,” I confide, tears threatening to form in my eyes.
“They are here, Ella. They are always here with you no matter what you do or where you go and I can assure you that they would be so proud of you for all that you’ve accomplished. I’ve always thought you take after your mother. You are a beautiful, smart, strong and independent woman. She is living within you and will for as long as you live,” she says, tucking loose hairs behind my ears.
“I wish you and Payton were going with me to California.”
“We’re going for a few days to help you move. After that, we are only a phone call away sweetie.”
She has a way of making me feel as if I was her own child. Which really, I guess, I became over the last few years.
“Hey Ella, This is so exciting!!!!” Payton squeals, running up to us.
“I know! I am freaking out. I don’t think I can do this. I hate speaking in front of people.”
“Yes, you can. What are you going to do when you’re in front of a class room full of teenagers?” Karen asks.
“It is completely different, I am the adult there and it will be my job. Totally different situation than making a speech,” I say, pointing out the obvious.
“Just pretend everyone’s naked,” Payton says, gesturing to the crowd, grinning. “Especially, that guy,” she purrs, pointing at some random guy while winking at me at the same time.
“Um. I think that would make me even more nervous,” I shoot back, taking in all the people in the room, especially the guy Payton is pointing out.
Oh Great! I’m probably going to picture him naked now. Thanks a lot, Payton!
“The only thing people will be thinking is ‘I wish I could be as beautiful and smart as her,’” Payton says.
I wish it was that easy. She didn’t grow up being the one always hidden behind the beautiful, popular girls in high school and University. I mean, I’m not unattractive or anything, but I’m not a drop to your knees knockout either. My wavy hair is a dark chestnut and falls just past my shoulders. I have alabaster skin and chocolate brown eyes. I don’t wear very revealing clothes because of my scars, but if it wasn’t for them, I suppose I would have a rocking body.
“I’m sure that’s what they’ll be thinking, Payton,” I snort.
“God, you have no confidence in yourself. Where’s Matt? Maybe, he can talk some sense into you,” Payton says, rolling her eyes.
“He’s around here, somewhere,” I answer. Matt’s my boyfriend and fellow graduate. “But, I don’t think there’s anything he could say either, that would make me any less nervous about getting up on that stage,” I sigh.
Suddenly, the officials announce the Valedictorian’s name and invite her to the stage for her presentation. Oh Shit! That’s me. How was I going to get through this?
I step up onto the stage, lean against the podium and grip the edge so hard that my knuckles turn white
. You can do this Ella. Stay strong
, I think to myself. Taking a deep breath, I look out at the audience, avoiding the guy that Payton pointed out to me, and begin my speech.
Midway through I make eye contact with three people: Payton, Karen and Matt. My girls are looking at me with expressions of pride and joy. When I meet Matt’s gaze, he winks and shouts out, “That’s my girl. You’re doing awesome, Ella!” I instantly blush and look away, continuing on with my speech.
Before I know it, I’m coming to the conclusion of my speech. To be honest, I was so nervous up there, I could have said anything. It couldn’t have been that bad because everyone applauds. I sit back down with my fellow graduates and wait to have our names called to accept our diplomas.
While I wait for my name to be called, I watch as Matt accepts his diploma and my thoughts drift to my past and present love life, if you can call it that. I have only ever had two boyfriends.
When the accident occurred, I was dating the quarterback of our high school’s football team. Jason broke up with me a couple of weeks after I was released from the hospital, claiming he couldn’t deal with the doom and gloom of the situation. Nice, huh? I’m glad I didn’t give my virginity away to that idiot.
I met my current boyfriend, Matthew Hoffe, during my second year of studies. He kind of has that whole ‘boy next door’ kind of look going on. He’s got short dark brown hair, brown eyes, perfect smile and is fairly well built, without looking like a total meathead. I mean he’s gorgeous and all, but I kind of like the whole bad boy look, if you know what I mean.
Although we were in the same class that first year, we never actually met until the following year. I was in the library studying one evening, when Matt strolled in and laid his books on the table and asked if he could join me. Most of the girls in school found him absolutely gorgeous and would die to get the chance to go out with him, but that night he chose to ask
me
out on a date for that coming weekend. Beginning that first date, we became inseparable, never left each other’s sides. If you saw Matt, I was close behind or vice versa.
Unfortunately, things haven’t been quite the same in the past year. We only see each other once or twice a week, outside of classes. The initial excitement that was in our relationship doesn’t seem to exist anymore.
I don’t really know what is going to happen over the summer, when I leave for California. Matt has taken a position at a private school in New York City. I love Matt, but not in the way that I should. I do know that I will not miss our relationship, but I will miss him when we part ways. Whatever happens, I hope that we can remain friends.
Even as close as we were, Matt and I haven’t had sex. I am still a twenty-two-year-old virgin. I know, you’re thinking, how pathetic, right? I was afraid that once he saw the scarred freak that I am, he’d never want anything to do with me.
Or maybe, the real reason was that Matt isn’t
the one
. The one person who could get me so worked up with desire that I would totally forget about what my body looks like and surrender to passion. I didn’t think that I would ever find
the one
for me, until I went to Del Mar for a week last summer.