His eyes get warm again. It’s even more disarming, now that we’realone.
“Delilah, trust me when Isay…yes.”
With considerable effort, I ignore his comment. “Well, then you realize I can’t sit on a motorcycle in this. I’ll draw more attention than a parade float during St. Anthony’s Feast in theNorthEnd.”
“Good thing there’s no one out this time ofnight,then.”
“That’s not the point and youknowit—”
“No.” He takes a step, getting right up in my space, and the words evaporate on my tongue. We’re so close, his chest nearly brushes mine with each exhale. “The real point is, longer you stand here debating with me, lighter that sky gets, more people start waking up, looking out their windows…” He trails off, shrugging. “Your choice, babe. But I’m thinking, since the choices are either walk-of-shame the two hours back to the city in that getup of yours, or I drive us back in twenty on the side streets, fast enough so no one even gets a glimpse at you… I already know which one you’re gonna go with, intheend.”
I open my mouth to protest again — even though he’s right, much as it pains me to admit — but my words are cut off when he lifts the helmet and plunks it down on my head without bothering to ask for permission. It rattles around my ears, ridiculously big on me — I tell him soimmediately.
“If you’d just wait a damn minute, I’ll fix it.” With one lip trapped between his teeth in concentration, he grasps the adjustable strap and begins to pull it snug beneath my chin. I stand stock still, staring up at his mouth, trying not to wonder what it would taste like against mine. Pretending not to feel his callused fingertips moving by the hollow of my throat, where my pulse pounds a bittoofast.
Can hefeelit?
There’s so much power in those hands. Enough to knock a man unconscious, stone cold before his body hits the mats. Enough to crush a windpipe with minimaleffort.
A smarter girl would be afraid to have them so close to her throat, like some inane gazelle who lies down on the prairie and allows a cheetah to lick her. A smarter girl would saythanks but no thanks, I’ll wait foracab.
I suppose that makes me the stupidest girl alive, because I just stand there watching him with wide eyes, barely breathing, attempting to stave off a heartattack.
As with everything, Luca tackles this task with methodical precision, his large fingers nimble and unhurried as they make adjustments to the straps. I want to snap,hurry up, already, it’s painful to have you this close to me!But since that would further undermine my attempts to act aloof and unaffected, Irefrain.
After an eternity, he finally finishes fiddling with the helmet. He takes a step back to view his handiwork, a small crease appearing between his eyes as heexaminesme.
“How’sitfeel?”
With a martyred sigh, I shake my head to test the fit. The helmet still shifts a bit, but it’s much tighter thanbefore.
“Looks good.” Luca nods hisapproval.
I scoff. “I look like a bobble-head. Or DarthVader.”
He just blinksatme.
“What?”Isnap.
“Wouldn’t have pegged you for a Star Wars nerd,that’sall.”
“I’m not a nerd,” I insist, pausing a beat before adding. “You can be a fan of the intergalactic empire without beinganerd.”
His brows lift inamusement.
“Oh,shutup.”
“Didn’t sayanything.”
I scoff. “You, Luca Buchanan, say more with a single facial expression than most men ever sayoutloud.”
His eyes glitter with interest. “Been watchingme,babe?”
“Absolutelynot.”
“Sounds likeyouhave.”
“Can we just get on the damnbikenow?”