“I’ll make it safe,” he promised.
And I knew he would.
****
“Are you sure?” I asked Em for the tenth time that evening as she and Riley sat at the kitchen table painting their nails with Gunner looking on from the couch.
“Mommy. It’s fine.” Riley sighed in exasperation, sounding more like a teenager than a five-year-old.
Gunner chuckled from where he sat watching football. He’d volunteered to keep an eye on things, and something told me it was an excuse to spend time with Emmie.
Emmie smothered a grin at Riley’s response. “We’re good, Layla. I’ve been looking forward to it,” she assured me just as the rumble of a motorcycle sounded from down the street.
My heart pounded in anticipation, not only to ride a motorcycle for the first time, but the promise of Cash always seemed to do that to me.
“Go have fun. You look hot. Cash is gonna lose his tongue.” She winked.
I’d been unsure what to wear but had settled on my black jeans, calf-length boots, and a purple blouse I’d been told was flattering. I slid on the black leather jacket Emmie had brought for me to borrow just as Cash let himself in.
He paused by the door, appearing frozen as he took in my appearance, swallowing visibly. Any doubt left me as his gaze flared with lust.
“Da-Cash!” Riley squealed, squirming in her chair.
Had she just been about to call him Daddy?I wasn’t sure if he’d caught it, but Emmie shot me a warm look indicating she had.
“Your nails are wet, honey,” she reminded Riley, holding her gently in place.
Cash tore his gaze from me, shooting Riley a heart-stopping grin as he strode in her direction. “Looks good, baby,” he murmured, dropping a kiss to the top of her head.
She beamed at him, adoration shining in her eyes.
He turned back to me, and I swore his voice was deeper when he spoke. “You ready to go?”
I nodded. “Riley, be good, okay? Listen to Emmie.”
“I will, Mama.” She nodded.
“Thanks again, Emmie.” I waved gratefully. “And Gunner,” I added.
“See you later, bean,” Cash added before turning his gaze to Gunner. They had some sort of nonverbal exchange before Cash lifted his chin in parting.
“Let’s go, chief.” He slid his palm under my jacket to the small of my back, his skin warm on mine as he guided me through the door. “Where’d you get the jacket?”
“Em,” I replied, eyeing his bike at the curb a bit warily.
“Might make you wear that for me later with nothing else,” he rumbled in my ear. “You look amazing.” I blushed as he handed me the spare helmet on his seat. “Just wrap yourself around me, baby. I’ll take care of the rest.” He grinned as he clipped the helmet under my chin.
I couldn’t believe this was our first ride together, but with always having Riley it hadn’t been possible until now.
He swung a leg over his bike, the motor revving to life a moment later. I put my hands on his shoulders, lifting up behind him, feeling a bit uncoordinated.
But once we shot off from the curb, my arms around him and feet squarely on the pegs beneath me, I felt exhilarated and incredibly alive.
The way he handled the powerful machine with such confidence was a huge turn-on. That, coupled with the motor revving between my legs and his muscular body in my arms, meant I could think of little else than getting him home later.
I was smiling so wide my face hurt as we barreled through town. I hadn’t even asked where we were going. I didn’t particularly care.
When we pulled up to a steakhouse Grace had mentioned as being the best in town, I wondered if my legs would work when I got off the bike. He cut the engine. “Stay put, baby,” he instructed as he swung off the bike and unclipped his helmet, hanging it from the handlebars. “Up you go,” he coaxed, reaching a hand out and helping me off the bike.