by Parks, AL
“Yeah, I think you’re right. It will only be a temporary bump in sales, and once people forget who Brad Beckett was, sales will slow back down.” She reached into her bag, and pulled out a thumb drive. Her eyes lit up when she glanced over at him again. “Which is why I think it’s imperative we get a proper ad campaign under way. And I have just the shots to get all those obscenely rich men in here for one of your hot bikes. Wanna see what I have been working on all morning?”
“Sure.” Well, at least he knew why he hadn’t heard from her. Working on pictures from the photo shoot had not been one of the options he had considered. No, that was too positive for where his mind had been. He was convinced she was pissed at him for staying, or pissed at him for leaving.
She walked around the corner of the desk. “Can I use your computer? You have a nice big screen. The photos will look amazing on it.”
He pushed away from the desk as she leaned across to insert the thumb drive into the port. God, she smelled amazing. Clean, natural, with just a hint of something sweet. He suppressed the urge to moan as heat swirled through his stomach, and settled south of his belt. How could he have spent the entire night with this woman, her body nestled against his, and not once considered all the dirty, erotic things his little head was trying to convince his big head to do to her now?
He felt like the exact opposite of her bogeyman - upstanding by day, and a monster by night. Apparently, when the lights went out, Griff became a knight in shining armor, but by day was a horny little devil who was willing to take whatever he could get.
As they waited for the program to boot up, she glanced over at him. “So, how bad did I ruin my take-no-shit-I-can-handle-anything rep with my little freak out last night?”
He chuckled. “Your rep is still intact, as far as I’m concerned, Rissa.”
“Well, thank you for coming over in the torrential rainstorm to check on me. And for staying. That was above and beyond the call of duty.”
“I sort of owed you for the way I treated you earlier in the day. I was out of line, and I apologize. You took care of Gram when I couldn’t get there. So, thank you.”
“Call it even?”
“Deal.”
That quirky little smile that he was falling in love with hit her face and her eyebrows squished together. “You called me Rissa.” It came out as a statement, but felt more like an inquisition.
“Yeah, well, your name is a pain in the ass, and it doesn’t fit you.” He tried to act perturbed, but a smile hit his lips before he could stop it. She was still staring at him, but her smile had grown. “What?”
“Nothing.” She shrugged. “I like it.”
“Well, that’s good, I guess. Not sure you have a say in it.”
She bumped his shoulder with hers and shook her head. Damn, she’s cute when she blushes.
The program finally opened and the first picture filled the computer screen. It took a moment for Griff to realize what part of the bike he was looking it. It was all sleek lines of red and shiny chrome.
“Is that the gas tank?”
“Yeah,” she said, leaning across him again. She ran her finger over the top of the picture, following the red line. “That’s the gas tank, and this is the very top of the engine. Just enough to show the contrast between the smooth slope of the tank, and the more hard lines of the engine.”
“Wow, it’s hard to believe that’s just one small section of my bike. Hell, it’s hard to believe that’s any part of my bike.”
She clicked on the arrow and advanced to the next shot. It was a close up of the rim of the tire, but was larger than life.
“How did you get that shot without getting you or the camera in it?” He shook his head, but continued to just stare at the screen. It was amazing. What she was able to see, to hone in on, was nothing short of incredible.
“Yeah, that was tricky. This is probably shot number twelve. I was finally able to find a spot where I’m too small, and distorted enough in the spikes, to be recognizable. This is one of my favorites shots because it was such a challenge to get.”
They ran through the remainder of the photos, and Griff shook his head, mouth gaping in amazement with each one. She had captured it - the essence of the bike. The beauty he had put into every single detail. It was as if she had looked straight into his soul and pulled what made his heart soar when he built it.
“By the way,” she said, turning to lean against his desk and face him. “I found your heart.”
He tilted his head to the side.
“Your heart. The one you have hidden on the bike? I found it.”
His heart. The silver heart medallion his grandfather had given to his grandmother for their anniversary. She had given it to Griff when he went into rehab. It was a symbol of all the love from her and his grandfather, and it was all for him. He should never doubt for one minute that they loved him and wanted him to succeed at everything he did.
“Gram’s heart.” His head was lowered, his voice soft. He shifted in his chair and looked into her eyes. “Did you know she was the first investor in this business?” Rissa shook her head. “She was. She loaned me a thousand dollars to buy a beat up old bike, and some scrap parts. That’s where this bike started. From scrap. From stuff people threw away. But I could see what I wanted it to become. And Gram believed in me enough to give me the money.”
“She’s an amazing woman. And she raised a pretty outstanding guy, too.”
Griff snorted and dropped his eyes to his hands fidgeting in his lap. He didn’t do well with compliments. “Well, I don’t know about that, but I always want to make her proud of me.”
“It’s kind of hard not to be. I haven’t known you for long - or even that well - but from what I do know, I’m proud of you. I can only imagine how your Gram feels.”
An uncomfortable silence permeated the small space. Rissa finally turned back to the computer screen.
“Okay, so do you kind of see where I was going with the shots? Each piggy-backing on the other - building sexual tension. The anticipation until you get to the final picture of the bike, which is the complete package. Men with the kind of money to buy these bikes want sex and control. And that’s what we give them by making the bike the object they desire. It is sex. She is beauty, perfection. They mount her - ride her - she is completely under their control.”
She glanced over at him, her eyes smoldering. “No half-naked woman needed.”
He scrubbed at the light beard on his face, staring at the photos and then up at her. “You’re wrong, Rissa.” She pulled back, her eyes wide. “You understand more about this business than you think.”
Her smile tipped up the corners of her mouth. She dropped her head down and laughed. “So, I guess the only thing left to do is get these off to the ad guy, and let him work some word-smithing magic around them.”
“Let’s do it.” He watched her as she pulled the thumb drive from the computer and returned to her seat. So much had changed between them over the past week. The disgust he felt towards her had dissipated. There was more to her than he had given her credit for when they first met. He hadn’t been willing to recognize the defensive wall she had put up. He was so quick to believe she was just another rich kid who only cared about herself and her millions.
He was wrong. In fact, the more time he spent with her, the more he was coming to realize that she was the last person she cared about. He was willing to bet that most of her actions where the result of putting others before herself. At what cost to herself, Griff could only imagine.
But he was suddenly desperate to learn everything he could about this woman who made him feel things he had never in his life experienced. He wanted more. He wanted her. Every last crazy, broken part of her.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“So, have you ever actually been on a bike?”
Griff leaned back in the chair across from the desk. Rissa was using his computer to send the files off to the advertising company she had hired. She looked up
at him. He watched her chest move up and down with more exaggerated breathing. She bit on her lower lip.
“Are you all done here?” He pointed towards the computer, and she slowly nodded her head.
He stood and walked around the desk, extending his hand to her. “Well, then let’s go.” There was no movement, except for her eyes that were trained on his outstretched hand. “Come on. You’re part owner of a bike shop. You need to experience what it is you’re selling.”
When she remained glued to the seat, he leaned over. “Trust me. I’d never let anything happen to you.”
Her hand slid into his and he pulled her up so that she stood next him. Without releasing it, he guided her into the shop and towards the large garage doors on the opposite side of the wide open space. He hit the button and the door on the end moved up along the track. A black bike with orange flames licking along the gas tank was just inside the open doorway. Griff lifted the bike where it leaned into the kickstand, and threw his leg over the seat. Directly behind him was a smaller seat, set up a bit higher than his.
He reached back and lowered the foot pegs on either side. “Left foot here,” he pointed to the peg, “then swing your leg over the seat and put your right foot on the other one. And don’t kick me in the process.” He glanced up at her and smiled.
“Don’t tempt me,” she answered, but that quirky smiled played across her lips. She grabbed a hold of his shirt as she positioned herself on the bike. Once he had it started, she moved her hands down to the waistband of his jeans, and gripped the side belt loops.
He pulled out onto the road, and accelerated slowly. Now was not the time to show off. She needed to be eased into it, and he had to reinforce the trust she had placed in him. They took the bridge across the harbor to Jamestown. Griff pulled into a parking lot, and turned in his seat as much as possible to look back at her. He had watched her in the side mirrors. It had taken her a few minutes to get the feel of the bike beneath her, and become comfortable with its fluid movements. After that, she seemed to relax, if the smile on her face was any indication.
“So, anything in particular you’d like to do on our way back?” Griff asked.
“Lunch. Please. I’m starving.”
He chuckled. “Bishop’s okay?”
“Oh, God. It’s like you’re reading my mind.”
He shook his head. “Hold on tight. We’re going to see if we can chase the wind a bit on the way back.”
She pressed against his back, her fingers finding the loops at the front of his waistband. Griff accelerated, passing a couple of cars as they begin the steep incline. The breeze coming off the bay hit his face, the smell of the sea air swirling around his head. He looked into his mirror. Rissa’s hair was flowing in the wind. Her face was bright and alive, and if he listened closely, he could hear her squeals as they picked up speed. He had never seen her grin like that, letting go of all the stress, fear, and whatever pain riddled her body and soul on a daily basis. Griff loved riding for that very reason. It was probably why he always rode alone.
Now, he was sharing it with Rissa, and the joy he could see in her face was mirrored in his own heart. She was chipping away at the stone that encased his heart, making him feel things. Making him want to ale her feels things for him.
It had never occurred to him to share this with anyone. Riding was something he did to get away, to clear his head. To be alone. The thought of taking someone along for a ride had not been an option he considered. The idea of taking Rissa on a ride popped into his head, and he hadn’t hesitated at all. He didn’t just want to share this with her. He needed to. It was a part of him, part of who he was and what he loved. And it was suddenly important that she experience it - and enjoy it as much as he did. Even if it was just this one time.
When they got back over the bridge, they were stopped by a traffic light.
“That was awesome,” she said close to his ear. “I loved going fast over the bridge like that.” She rested her chin on his shoulder and grinned at him in the side mirror.
“Yeah, me, too. I’m glad I didn’t freak you out.” His hands went over the top of hers, rubbing them gently.
“Not a chance. I think you’ve created a monster. I’m going to insist you drive me everywhere on your bike now.”
“I can do that.” The light changed, and he shifted into gear and headed for the diner that sat just outside the gates of the Naval Station. The place was usually packed with customers, but they were able to find a couple of seats at the counter. They had a relaxed conversation about favorite winter activities, both deciding that sledding in inner tubes was the most fun to be had.
“So, what are your immediate plans?” he asked, taking a large bite of his burger.
Rissa dunked a french fry into the glob of ketchup on her plate, swirling it around. “What do you mean? Like today, tomorrow?” She popped the fry into her mouth and gazed over at him.
“No, like how long are you staying? Or have you decided to move back here since you have so many business commitments here now?” Griff wasn’t sure why he was asking this question. It was certainly easier for him if she left and they maintained a long distance professional relationship. As more and more time passed, and he got to know her better, the less he wanted her to go. He was starting to look forward to seeing her everyday.
“I will never live in Newport. Ever.” Her tone could not have been more definitive. It felt like a stab to his heart. She took a bite of her burger, and slowly chewed it.
“Going back to England, then?” He didn’t look at her. He couldn’t. He didn’t want to see the resolute look in her eyes. Didn’t want her to see the disappointment in his. When had this happened? How had one night of keeping her nightmares at bay made him want to slay all her dragons, keep her safe? Make her his girl?
She took a drink of her iced tea, and broke the awkward silence between them.“What about you? Ever think of leaving Newport? Exploring the world outside Rhode Island?”
“Yeah, I’d like to travel some day. Set out on my bike, see the country. Maybe venture up into Canada. Never really thought too much about going overseas. Not sure I could give up control over a vehicle for that amount of time…and over water.”
Rissa snickered next to him. “So, you’re a control freak?”
“Only when it comes to driving. I understand how engines work - how they sound, how they feel. I trust my intuition when it comes to driving, and so I have a hard time letting go.”
She nodded. “Well, as someone who has ridden on the back of a motorcycle with you, and can totally attest to your expertise in that area. I wasn’t scared for one second.”
“Thanks.” He smiled, grabbed a fry off her plate and dunked it in the ketchup.
“Okay, so you are okay traveling around the U.S., but what about moving somewhere else?” She sat back in her seat and rubbed her belly.
He thought for a moment. Leave Newport? He had grown up there. He was comfortable, had his business. “Never really considered it. I mean, Gram is here - I could never leave her. The business is here. I mean, I guess I would consider it, if there was a good enough reason.”
She stared at him for a minute, then smiled and nodded her head. “I’m so full. I hope I don’t drift off into nap land on our way back to the shop.”
There was a subtle shift in their relationship within the last twenty-four hours. The things he had learned about Rissa that had not come from conversation where as intriguing to him as the things she had said. He could see her strength in a new light without having to know the specifics about the pain that forced her to become that strong. He saw her undeniable beauty in the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her family, and even in the hurt that always seemed to linger just on the periphery. Her dedication to photography, a career she truly loved but didn’t need with the millions she had in the bank.