Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 46525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 233(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
“Yeah, whenever he’s in over his head at the on-site auto shop, he calls The Pit, and one of us comes over to lend a hand.”
When I first moved to Crossbend, I would’ve been surprised by bikers helping out at the local high school. But with everything Levi and Rain had shared with me about the Redline Kings, I knew how involved they were with the community. “That’s really nice of you.”
“Helps us, too,” he pointed out. “Some of our best mechanics came outta this school.”
“Uh-huh, I’m sure that’s the only reason you help out,” I teased.
“Got plans tonight?”
“Grading,” I replied with a reluctant sigh. “I have a stack of essays due back tomorrow.”
He nodded, squeezing my hand. “Then I’ll get you home early after dinner. You can grade. I’ll stay out of your way…mostly.”
I was thrilled that he wanted to have dinner with me again. We’d already gone to the steakhouse his club owned on Sunday night and the pizza place across the street from the bookstore yesterday. I’d assumed lunch was the only time I’d see him today, and I couldn’t be happier about being wrong. “Mostly?”
His smirk was pure trouble. “Can’t promise I won’t steal a few kisses while you work.”
We finished eating, and he helped me clean up the containers before I walked him out to the visitor parking lot. As soon as we stepped outside, his arm slid around my waist, and he pulled me close against his side.
When we got to his motorcycle, he turned me to face him, one hand coming up to cup my jaw while the other stayed on my lower back. Pressing me closer, he captured my mouth in a deep kiss that made my knees weak and left me wanting so much more.
He finally pulled back, and his eyes burned with a passion I wanted him to unleash on me. “I’ll see you tonight, Saylor.”
I watched him ride away, already counting the hours.
The rest of the week passed in a delicious blur. Levi brought me lunch again on Friday, took me to dinner twice, and I even stopped by The Pit one afternoon after school just to watch him work. Every day brought another thoughtful gesture, additional kisses that left me aching for more, and a growing certainty that I was falling for this man faster than I could keep up with.
By the time Saturday evening rolled around, I buzzed with nervous excitement for our night at Redline Speedway.
I stood in front of my bedroom mirror, turning side to side as I smoothed my hands down the soft black leather pants Rain talked me into buying earlier today. They were nothing like my usual teacher wardrobe, hugging my hips and legs like a second skin.
My phone was on speaker on the dresser. Rain’s voice filled the room. “Stop worrying. Those pants are lethal. Century’s not going to know what hit him.”
I tugged at the hem of my fitted black tank top. It was simple but clung in all the right places. “You’re sure? I feel a little extra. We’re going to the races on his bike, and I wanted to look like I belong there. Plus, I’m hoping it drives him a little wild, like he does to me every time I see him.”
“I was there when you tried them on in the store, so I know I’m right when I say he’s going to lose his mind.” Rain cackled. “You look hot. Own it.”
“Good. I swear I almost forgot how to speak when I saw him working on a bike,” I admitted, smiling as I slipped on my boots.
“Sounds like it’s mutual.”
We chatted a minute longer about the races before I finally hung up, grateful for all of her help today. As I tucked my phone into a small crossbody bag, a flicker of unease tried to creep in. I hadn’t heard a single word from Sutton all week. No surprise visits or texts. Nothing.
Part of me still braced for her chaos, but the silence was starting to feel like a gift. Maybe it really had been a coincidence, and she hadn’t been in Crossbend to find me. I could only hope she’d quickly moved on after getting kicked out of The Burnout.
Forcing her out of my thoughts, I took one last look in the mirror, nerves and excitement twisting together when the doorbell rang.
Ready or not, Levi was here.
5
CENTURY
By the time I rolled up to Saylor’s apartment Saturday night, I’d spent the entire ride telling myself to keep my hands under control. It was the kind of conversation a man had with himself when he already knew damn well he was going to lose.
The past week had turned me into a walking contradiction, half satisfied because she kept letting me closer and half feral because every kiss ended with me forcing myself to stop before I hauled her onto my lap and taught her exactly how serious I was when I said she was mine.