by Tamie Dearen
“Too bad you won’t be here July Fourth. We’re having a motorcycle rally. It’s going to be great.” Jeff shook his head, rubbing his beard. “As long as Andrea doesn’t stop us.”
“Who’s Andrea?” Katie guessed it might be the man’s wife.
“Tropical Storm Andrea,” said Jeff. “Well actually, she’s a hurricane now. First one of the season. Looks like she’s not coming our direction, but you never know.”
“I hope she stays away,” Gary said. “Zoe, over at Indigo Bay Resorts, was telling me you had hurricane damage last year. It would be awful to get hit two years in a row.”
“Fingers crossed Andrea peters out in the middle of the ocean,” said Jeff. “What can I do for you, today?”
“We’d like to rent a motorcycle and two helmets for an hour,” said Gary.
Katie’s stomach jumped right up her throat. “Make that one helmet, because I’m not getting on one of those things.”
Jeff laughed, and Gary had the audacity to chuckle along with him.
“It’s not funny. Do you know that driving a motorcycle is twenty-seven times more dangerous than driving a car?” She repeated the words her father had said a multitude of times. Joseph had had a similar view of motorcycles, one of many reasons her father had approved of him as her spouse. When Joseph finally called off the engagement, her father didn’t speak to her for a month.
Gary’s smile went away, but not without an obvious fight. “Jeff, can you help me out here?”
“I’ll do my best,” said Jeff, as he turned toward her with a serious expression. “Katie, I can tell you a few things that should put your mind at ease.”
“You can try.” Katie folded her arms.
“Well, the fact is a third of all the motorcycle fatalities involve a speeding motorcycle. And a third of all the accidents involve a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You know Gary’s going to be sober and drive carefully.”
“Yes, but even if he’s careful, we could get hit by a car.”
“True, but the majority of times when that happens, it’s a car turning left at an intersection and failing to yield the right of way. I’m going to send you down a low traffic road. You’ll have hardly any intersections. Just miles and miles of smooth roads with no sharp turns. And you’ll both be wearing helmets, which decreases fatalities by fifty percent.”
“I’ve never had a wreck, and I promise to be extra careful,” said Gary, whose pleading expression rivaled that of puppy begging for a treat. “I really think you’ll love it, if you give it a try.”
“I’ll tell you what,” said Jeff. “Why don’t you let Gary take you for a short spin just to try it out?”
“That’s a great idea.” Gary grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “Just ten minutes. If you don’t like it, I’ll bring you right back.”
Katie’s stomach churned. She knew it was dangerous, but for some crazy reason, she wanted to try it.
I’m losing my mind.
“Five minutes,” she bargained.
Gary grinned. “Five minutes, after we get out of town.”
Her mouth was so dry, her voice came out as a rasp. “Okay.”
Gary had always loved riding a motorcycle… the power, the speed, the feel of the road. But somehow he knew sharing that with Katie would make it twice as exhilarating. Jeff had suggested they rent leathers for her, since she was wearing shorts and a sleeveless shirt, and Gary agreed. Not that he expected them to need the protection in a fall, but to give her a further sense of safety. Adorable in the oversized black pants, cinched around her waist, and lightweight jacket, she’d strapped on her helmet, sporting a determined expression.
As they rode down Seaside Boulevard, he could feel her soft form trembling against his back, her arms around his chest in a death grip. Intent on protecting his precious cargo, he’d never driven so cautiously in his life. Once they made it out of Indigo Bay, he followed Jeff’s directions, turning onto Coco Beach Road. As Jeff predicted, the road was practically deserted, as it lacked a mile of being completed, to make it a throughway.
On his own, Gary might’ve been tempted to exceed the speed limit, but instead, he stayed under by five miles per hour. Just as he felt her arms loosen their grip, the five minutes were up. True to his word, he stopped on the side of the road to let her make a choice. He killed the motor, so he could hear her speak, twisting to face her.
“Well? What do you think? Do you want me to take you back or do you want to ride a little farther? I promise I won’t be upset.”
He waited, hoping she wasn’t terrified into speechlessness, unable to read her expression through the darkened visor expression.
“Could we try another five minutes?”
At least she didn’t hate it.
“Why don’t we just ride out until you’re ready to turn around and go home? All you have to do is tap me on the chest.”
“Okay.” This time, instead of sounding petrified, there was a hint of excitement in her tone. Her arms slid back around him, giving him her complete trust, and he swelled with pride.
He started the bike and drove a few more miles with no chest-tapping from his passenger. Then she adjusted her grip, maneuvering her head where she could see around him. Five more miles, and they came to their first curve. As he leaned the bike into it, she tensed up behind him. Still, she didn’t tap on his chest. When they went around the next curve, she responded with a quick squeeze, which he interpreted as elation.
On they went, passing two oncoming cars, and she never signaled to turn back. Her grip was more relaxed, and once, he thought he heard her laughing. As they went over a tall hill, she let go with one hand to point to the gorgeous view of the beach. Twenty minutes out, they reached the end of the road, and he pulled to a stop in the turn-around area.
“How do you like it?” he asked, as he put down the kickstand and helped her step off the bike,
She lifted her helmet off, revealing her face, flushed and smiling. “It’s so much fun, even though it’s dangerous.”
“It’s a rush, isn’t it?” He took her helmet and set it on the seat, beside his.
Her grin went crooked. “I feel like a teenager doing something sneaky behind my father’s back.”
“I guess that makes me the bad boy your parents forbid you to date,” he teased, as he smoothed a lock of hair behind her right ear.
“I’ve always liked reading books about bad boys.” She leaned her face into his hand, her eyes closing halfway. “But this is the first time I’ve ever been with one.”
“Then you’re in for a treat.” He drew her against him, so she had to tilt her head up to look at him. “We bad boys have a lot of hidden talents, besides the usual motorcycle riding and tattoos.”
Her eyes went as round as saucers. “You have a tattoo?”
As he lowered his lips to her ear, he whispered, “Wouldn’t you like to know?” He was rewarded with a shiver and a soft sigh.
“Gary, are you sure this is a good idea?”
“Riding a motorcycle?” he asked, innocently.
“Not that.” A furrow appeared between her brows. “I’m talking about—”
He smothered her words with his lips, surprised at the fervor of her response. She answered his kiss with passion, as if someone had opened floodgates that had been closed tight her entire life. Heart racing, he tightened his embrace, relishing the way she felt in his arms. When he finally tore his mouth away, he was as winded as if he’d run a marathon. Still holding her close, he breathed in the fresh scent of her hair.
What was it about her that made him lose control? The physical attraction was strong, more intense than he’d felt with any woman. But there was more… something that made him reconsider his vow to remain single. Something that made him wonder, after two serious relationships had failed, if he could make it work with Katie.
He had no doubt she felt the same magnetic physical attraction. Yet she was as committed to remaining single as he was, perhaps even m
ore. As far as he knew, she hadn’t dated at all since Joseph called off the engagement. Gary was flattered that she even agreed to their vacation fling. But he still wondered if she wasn’t secretly attracted to Steven, comparing every other man to him. If so, Gary didn’t stand a chance. He could only offer uncertainty, when what she needed was security.
As his hands roamed up and down her back, she melted into him, nuzzling against his chest. Something warm flowed through every vein in his body. Unable to stop himself, he kissed her again, his blood pulsing so hard he could hear it in his ears. He deepened the kiss, and she answered with a hunger as forceful as his own.
Mine. She’s mine. The thought resounded inside his head.
He was more confused than ever. Only one thing was certain… he didn’t want their relationship to end when they flew home from Indigo Bay on Saturday.
14
Friday morning, Katie was up before dawn, making overseas calls to arrange Steven’s meeting. By eleven o’clock, she’d arranged for the hotel and meeting room and acquired verbal confirmation from all but three of the parties involved. As she pressed send on the last email, Nicole called on her cell phone. After a great deal of wheedling, Katie recounted her entire afternoon with Gary, though she was careful to leave out any mention of those decadent kisses.
“Then he took me on a motorcycle ride,” said Katie.
“Who are you and what have you done with my roommate?” Nicole’s tinkling laughter filtered through the phone.
“He was very careful, and it was fun,” Katie said, as if that explained everything. “And afterwards, we went to an art place called High Tide Gallery and spent about an hour there. I didn’t realize how much I like art.”
“You’re falling for him, aren’t you?” As usual, Nicole didn’t wait for an answer. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy you’re finally dating again. But I don’t think you should have to change to please a man, and it seems like you are.”
Just like that, Nicole went right to the heart of the problem.
“I know I’m not acting like myself. But I can’t tell how much of that is me trying to please Gary and how much is me finally escaping from my parents’ control.”
“If Gary’s helping you think for yourself, I’m all in favor. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m worried you’re exchanging your father’s thumb for Gary’s. Isn’t that sort of what happened with Joseph?”
Her heart dropped into her stomach with a thud. Just when she’d been considering pursuing a real relationship with Gary, the cold hard truth stared her in the face. She was still too broken. She was letting Gary make decisions for her, just like Joseph had, and her father before him. Moving away from home to New York had been a step in the right direction, but she still wasn’t healed. Gary wasn’t the type who wanted to date a dishrag. He needed a strong, independent woman who could stand up to whatever the future might bring.
“I guess you’re right,” Katie said. “But it’s a moot point. Tomorrow, we fly back, and our vacation fling will be over.”
“I wasn’t saying you should give up on this relationship,” Nicole said. “I think Gary’s been really good for you. All I’m saying is to be sure you’re not changing just to suit Gary. Your dad taught you to sacrifice yourself to keep your mother happy, and now you do that all that time for everyone. It’s good that you’re unselfish, but it’s an impossible goal. You can’t be responsible for other people’s happiness.”
“I know that in my head, but I’ve been like this for so long, I can’t even tell you what I want. All I can say is yesterday on that motorcycle, I was having fun. I quit worrying about the danger. If he asked me to go again, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
“What if someone else wanted to take you on a motorcycle ride? Would you still want to go?”
Would she?
“I think I would, if it was someone I really trusted. In fact… if I had the chance, I’d learn to drive one, myself.”
“Oh! My! Gosh!” Nicole started laughing again. “Whatever happened to you at Indigo Bay, I hope it sticks, because that’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever said!”
Katie smiled. “Maybe there’s still hope for me.”
“Listen, girlfriend, don’t talk like that,” said Nicole. “I’ve known from day one how strong you are. After all those years of mental control, the fact that you even try to think for yourself proves you’re a woman of steel.”
“Like Superwoman?” Katie chuckled.
Maybe I’d be a good match for Superman, after all…
“Coming about!” Steven called as he tacked the catamaran, sailing toward shore against a strong wind.
Gary un-cleated the jib sail and ducked as the heavy boom swung from the port to the starboard side. He waited until the wind filled the sail and pulled the line tight into the cleat. Though it had been some time since he and Steven had sailed together, they worked seamlessly, tacking back and forth across the wind until they reached the beach, just up from Katie’s pink cottage. As they jumped off and hauled the boat onto the sand, he saw Katie coming toward them, a toddler in her arms and two young boys on her heels. Her long, white, lacy top revealed tiny bits of skin not covered by her swimsuit, just enough to drive him crazy.
“Is that your boat?” asked the oldest boy, a towheaded kid with a missing front tooth, his hair and swimsuit dripping water. The younger boy, with darker hair and the same blue eyes, ran in tight circles on the wet sand, like a soggy, excited puppy.
“We rented it,” Gary answered, lifting his eyebrows to Katie. “Did you pick up some strays?”
Katie rolled her eyes as she pointed to the first boy. “This is Dax. He’ll be nine years old tomorrow.”
“No, Sunday,” he corrected, with an impatient expression. “I wanted to go jet skiing for my birthday, but my aunt said no.”
She shifted the toddler to her hip. “This is Joel. He’s two. And this wild-child is Cade,” she said as she grabbed the younger boy’s hand, spinning him to a stop.
“Cade is a baby,” said Dax.
“No, I’m not. I’m five.” Cade stuck out his lower lip and pointed to the child who was wiggling out of Katie’s grasp. “Joel is the baby.”
As Joel slid to the ground, escaping Katie but for a wad of his shirt in her hand, Gary swooped under him and lifted him squealing with delight, into the air. The boy was solid as a brick, a lot heavier than he expected.
“Do me! Do me!” cried Cade.
A tall woman arrived out of breath, her brown hair accented by streaks of pink and purple, a kid-sized beach hat in her hand. Her grin was so broad it looked painful, as she focused her eyes on Steven.
“Hi, I’m Carla, the one who did Katie’s hair. I’m so excited to meet you, Mr. Gherring! Katie didn’t mention who you were until today,” she gushed as she stuck her hand out toward him. “Thank you so much for the big tip. Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I’m meeting you. I would’ve worn something nicer if I’d known.”
Steven shook the hand she offered, gracing her with a warm smile. “Katie’s hair looks so nice, Carla. I believe you more than earned your tip.”
Carla took advantage of Joel’s captivity in Gary’s arms to tie the beach hat over the child’s almost bald head, much to Joel’s dismay. Only a double knot kept him from yanking it off.
“Thanks for holding Joel. You must be Gary.” The smile Carla gave him was pleasant, but nothing like the adoring one she’d worn when addressing Steven.
“Nice to meet you,” said Gary, relinquishing Joel to her. He wondered what Katie had said about him.
“Can I go out on the sailboat?” Dax whined. “For my birthday? Since I didn’t get to go jet skiing?”
“I’m sorry, Dax, but you don’t have a lifejacket.” Carla’s grin faltered, her brows twisting with anxiety.
“But I’m a good swimmer. I don’t need a lifejacket.” Dax’s chin jutted forward.
“I’m sorry, but that’s the rule, Dax,” she said. “Besides, it’s not polite to ask.
”
“You never let me do anything!” Dax yelled. “I hate you!”
He turned and ran, racing across the sand to the large beach blanket, where he plopped down and sat with his arms crisscrossed, like his legs. Meanwhile, Cade escaped Katie’s grasp, once again running dizzying loops in the sand, accompanied by a high-pitched squeal that might’ve been an attempt at singing.
“I’d better go talk to him.” Carla sighed, her eyes showing her fatigue. “Dax is really a sweet kid. Katie can explain.”
She trudged back toward the blanket like she was on her way to get a root canal, Cade wailing and frolicking beside her.
Steven let out a long, low whistle. “Looks like she’s got her hands full.”
Gary moved to stand awkwardly beside Katie, unsure whether she would let him hold her hand with Steven there. He got his answer when she wrapped her arms around her waist.
“What’s the story with Dax?” Gary asked.
Katie glanced toward the blanket, where Carla was attempting to talk to the boy, who had his face turned in the opposite direction.
“Two months ago, Carla lost her sister and brother-in-law in a car accident,” said Katie. “Carla got custody of all three boys. Evidently, Dax is angry, and he’s taking it out on Carla.”
“Poor kid.” Steven shook his head as he sat on the hull of the boat.
“Poor Carla,” said Gary. “How do you discipline a kid who’s hurting like that?”
“I don’t know,” said Katie. “I was hoping today would be good for Dax. I feel so bad this happened.”
She worried her lower lip between her teeth, which, unfortunately, made Gary think about kissing her. And once the thought had crossed his mind, he couldn’t make it go away. Since she wasn’t even inclined to hold his hand, a kiss was probably out of the question.
“Sorry we made the situation worse,” Gary said. “It really wouldn’t be safe for him without a life vest. But if they wanted to rent one, I wouldn’t be opposed to taking Dax out. What do you think, Steven?”