The Rogue (The Moorehouse Legacy #4)(19)

He looked over his shoulder, yellow eyes gleaming. “You’re wearing it. Just hold on to me, okay?”

She put her hands on his tight waist, right above his leathers. Oh…boy. His body was hard all over. Warm, too.

“Where are we going?” she shouted.

“Anywhere. Nowhere. Away. That all right?”

“Yes…yes, it is.”

He cranked one of the grips on the handlebars, the engine let out a growl and they were off. The bike was a living thing beneath them, the throbbing and the noise and the power humming through her body. With the warm air coming at her, and the moonlit road out in front, she felt like she must be dreaming.

Because real life just didn’t come in this many shades of perfect.

Spike handled the Harley beautifully, shifting gears with smooth coordination, never going too fast or stopping too quickly. Before she knew it, she had relaxed against him and ended up with her hands all the way around his waist and her torso curved around his back. As she smelled fresh oil and his spicy aftershave and the lush summer night, she would have been quite content to keep going forever.

Eventually he pulled over on a secluded stretch of road and turned the bike off. Letting go of him was a tough one, but she did it quickly so he wouldn’t think she was clinging. Kicking her leg up and out, she dismounted and took off the helmet, shaking loose her hair.

In the woods on either side of the road, crickets chimed and fireflies danced among the trees. Now that they weren’t moving, the air was as soft as a sigh.

Spike snapped out the kickstand, but stayed on the bike, plugging his hands into his thighs, eyeing her steadily. “Sean told me how to find you, and as I said, I should have called. If you want me to go, I understand, but I wanted to at least show up and prove I was willing to make the drive even if you turned me away.”

She craned her neck back and looked up at the stars. Then she focused on him. “I’d like you to stay.”

“Good.” His lips tilted up on one side. “So that means I’m your boy for this weekend. I’ll do anything for you. You need me to freak your half brother out? Scare that butler again? Wash the dog? You just let me know.”

How about kissing me, she thought, eyeing the thrust of his jaw and his jet-black hair and those wide shoulders.

Except that was ridiculous. He’d only showed up because he felt guilty. And because Sean had undoubtedly bullied him into it. He certainly hadn’t come because he was interested in her. Spike had never shown one indication that he was attracted to her. The two of them were friends.

Yup. Story of her life. Friends.

But at least he came.

“We don’t have a dog,” she said.

“Cat?”

“Richard doesn’t like animals.”

“Figures.”

“You know, you don’t have to do this just because you feel badly about what you said.” Shoot, why was she giving him an out?

“That’s not the only reason why I’m here.”

Her breath got tight. “Oh?”

An evil little light showed up in his yellow eyes and he smiled more broadly. “I’m dying to get to know your half brother better.”

She laughed, thinking she probably shouldn’t like it that he seemed to want to stand up for her. “I’m glad you came. I appreciate it.”

“Then put ’er there.” He offered her his hand. “We’re a team this weekend, you and me.”

She leaned forward and grasped his palm carefully. The contact was electric, a hot sizzle bolting up her arm and nailing her in the chest. And yet as she struggled to keep calm, he didn’t linger or show any kind of reaction at all. He just gave her a solid shake and let go.

“So, partner,” he said. “What else do you have on deck tonight? Anything?”

“Well, I usually swim after dinner.”

“I brought my trunks.”

“Then let’s go back.”

“Ah, yes, and the terrace is going to want to see us. So we shouldn’t keep it up worrying about our safe return.”

She laughed and then thought of Richard’s party logistics. “Actually, maybe we should drive around a little longer. That way we can miss the whole aprés dinner thing.”

“Hot damn.” Spike clapped his hands together. “See, this is what I’m talking about. You and I are going to make a great pair. We already think alike.”

He fired up the bike and looked at her with expectation.

Staring back at him hurt. He was so relaxed and easy. Because obviously being around her was uncomplicated.

Friends. Just…friends.

She mounted the Harley and put the helmet on, but Spike didn’t set them in motion until he was sure she had the chin strap clipped together. She waited until they were going at quite a clip before sneaking her hands across his stomach and linking them together. It was pathetic, but the only reason she didn’t lay her cheek on his shoulder was the bulky helmet.

Well, that and the fact they were…friends.





Chapter Five




By the time they got back to the house, the cars in front had all left and most of the lights were off. Mad hated letting go of Spike, but as he flipped out the kickstand and cut the Harley’s engine, she lost the socially acceptable excuse to drape herself over him like a tarp.