One Hot Secret by Sarah J. Brooks

Chapter 9

Grace

I’m dressed and ready for Jack when he sends me a message.

Hey you. I have a surprise for you. Dress warm. Pants. Boots. Jacket.

I look down at the dress I chose for the evening. It’s a burgundy off-shoulder mini dress paired with high heels, and now he wants me to swap it for pants. I let out a sound of frustration and stomp back into my room.

“He’d better have a good reason for this,” I mutter to myself as I remove the dress that I so carefully picked earlier. When I’m down to my bra and panties, I pad to the closet and peer in. I reach for my favorite pair of pants. White ankle pants. I pair them with a gingham checked shirt and a red blazer. I hunt around for my boots, and when I’m ready, I look at my reflection in the mirror.

Not bad. I return to the living room just as the doorbell rings. I grab my purse, make my way downstairs, look up and down the street, and don’t see my car.

“Are you looking for me?” a guy on a motorbike says to me.

“Jack?”

He slips off his helmet, and I see that it’s Jack. I shift my gaze from his grinning face to his obviously expensive bike.

“Is this yours?” I ask him.

“Yes, do you like it?” he says, holding the helmet against his chest.

I grin. “I’ve always wanted to ride a motorbike.” I caress the side of the sleek-looking motorbike.

I’ve always loved bikes, but I’ve never been brave enough to ride on one. I know a little bit about them too. Jack’s is a Harley Davidson and one of the most expensive bikes.

“It’s beautiful,” I tell him as I walk around it, admiring it from all the sides.

“Thank you,” Jack says. “Where are we going for dinner?”

“This Mexican restaurant on Oak Street,” I tell him.

He whips out his phone, and after a few minutes, he slips it back into his jacket pocket. “Got it.”

He removes a second helmet from the saddlebag. It’s a woman’s size.

“How many ladies have you taken for a ride on this bike?” I can’t believe I said that.

He closes the distance between us and pushes stray strands of hair away from my face. He meets my gaze. “No woman had ever been on this bike. You’ll be the first.”

All air leaves my lungs as Jack gently lowers the helmet over my head. He fusses with it until he’s satisfied with the fit.

“You’re so beautiful,” he says, staring at me.

I laugh. “You can’t see my face.”

“It’s seared into my memory,” Jack says. “I don’t need to see it.”

Something is different about him tonight. It’s as if all his defenses are down, and I feel as if our relationship has shifted. I’m just not sure in what way it has.

Jack slips on his helmet and then reaches out to zip up my jacket. His touch sends an electric current sizzling through me.

“So, a few pointers. Hang on to me as tightly as you can.” His eyes gleam wickedly.

“Should I hang on just as tightly when I ride with someone else?” I ask innocently.

“Hell no. That rule just applies to me,” he says gruffly. “I’m not good at sharing something that is mine.”

I tremble at the raw possessiveness of his words. I want to be his. Badly.

“Any more rules?” I ask him.

“Just one more. Lean with me when I take corners. Okay?”

“Got it,” I tell him, my heart still pounding from the intimacy between us this evening.

He climbs onto the bike and invites me to climb on as well. I swing my leg over, glad that he sent me a proper dress code. I shift about until I find a comfortable position and then inch closer. I slip my hands around his chest. My body molds against his perfectly.

“I’m ready,” I whisper into his ear, and moments later, the engine roars to life.

It’s as if we’re flying as the bike starts to move. Jack is a fast but careful rider, and before too long, we’re on Oak Street. He brings it to a stop right in front of the restaurant and kills the engine.

I slide out and take off my helmet. I laugh. “My hair must be a mess.” I shake it out.

“Not at all. It’s perfect,” Jack says and takes off his helmet.

He stores them away, takes my hand, and we walk into the restaurant together.

“How was the ride?” he says. “Did it live up to your expectations?”

“It exceeded my expectations. The only complaint I have is that it was too short.”

“Easily remedied. I’ll take you for a ride to the canyon after dinner. I know a good spot,” he says.

We are shown to a table on one end of the dining room. It’s a busy night, and we’re lucky to get a table. They don’t do reservations; it’s on a first-come, first-sit basis.

Jack’s glance darts around before settling back to me.

“I like the way you treat every new place like a novelty,” I tell him with a laugh. “You’re like a kid with a new toy.”

He laughs. “Does my novelty show?”

I roll my eyes at him. Jack is one of those people who have a natural zest for life. He eyes the world with a kid’s eyes. That must be one of the greatest gifts to have.

The waiter brings over a wine list, and we both agree on a bottle of red.

“Have you spoken to your parents today?” Jack says when the waiter leaves.

“Yes, three times. Dad is a horrible patient. He’s testing Mom’s patience with his whining. She says he’s become a little boy.”

We both laugh.

“Men generally make terrible patients,” Jack says, staring straight at me as he speaks.

That’s something else I love about Jack. If he’s with you, he gives you a hundred percent attention. He’s one of the few remaining men who don’t constantly check their cell phones. I’m sure the majority of the time, Jack forgets that he owns one.

The waiter returns with the menu.

For an appetizer, Jack and I agree to share a small guacamole dish with a side of blue corn chips. Everything looks so good. I always promise myself to be adventurous, but I always default to tacos.

Jack goes for grilled fish.

“I like this restaurant,” he says. “Do you eat out a lot?”

“Isla and I make a point of going out for dinner every other weekend or so,” I tell him.

“Your friend at the fire station,” Jack says, and when I nod, he continues, “you two are very close?”

“We are. Of course, it helps that we’re the only two females at the station, but I think we would still be close. She’s an awesome person.”

We talk about work and our colleagues. Being under my wing, Jack has not had a chance to bond with many of the guys.

The waiter brings the wine we ordered and proceeds to uncork it and pour it into the glasses. “Your food will be ready shortly.” He gives a little bow and leaves.

I pick up my glass and take a sip. When I look up, Jack is staring at me.

“Do I have something on my mouth?”

“No, I was just thinking how much I’d love to kiss you right now,” he says.

I laugh, flattered that he finds me so attractive and is not shy about showing it. He makes me feel like the sexiest woman in the room.

“I wouldn’t say no,” I respond.

He picks up his glass and takes a sip of his wine. I like how his lips wrap around the glass, making me wish he was doing that with my mouth. He frowns as he puts down his glass.

“Something wrong?” I ask.

“Not the best wine.”

I throw my head back to laugh, and then I look at Jack to see if he’s serious. He is. “Are you like an expert on wine?”

“Let’s just say that I’ve had an opportunity to sample a lot of different wines. Wine doesn’t have to be expensive to be good.”

His words are a stark reminder of how little I really know him. I remember Isla’s words of warning, and my blood goes cold. Is Jack someone I can trust? Why does he keep so much of himself hidden away? So many things about him don’t make sense. Like his bike. I know when someone is passionate about something, they can spend a lot of money. But a Harley Davidson?

And what about our relationship? A week and a few days have already gone by. He doesn’t talk about us and what will happen after he leaves the station. I know it’s too soon.

“Hey, you look like you have the world’s problems on your shoulders,” Jack says, drawing me back to the present. “What were you thinking about?”

“Us and what will happen when your three weeks are over,” I say.

He reaches across the table and covers my hand with his. Heat whips through me at the contact. I marvel at how easily my body responds to him. I’ve never had that with any other man.

“Don’t overthink it. Things will work out. You’ll see. All I know is that I’m not letting you out of my life,” Jack says.

Emotion grabs me by the throat. Relief floods me as his words wrap around me like a warm blanket. “I’m not going anywhere either.”

“Is that a promise?” he asks in a playful tone.

I nod. “You bet.”

The waiter brings our dinner and the rest of the evening is fun, magical, and the perfect date. Jack is charming and funny. He also has a gift of imitating people perfectly. He does one of the chief, and I laugh so hard that tears fall down my cheeks.

“You’re really gifted, you know.” I wipe off the tears from my cheeks. “You’re wasting your talent at the fire station. You should be on stage.”

Dinner was my invitation and treat, but Jack won’t let me pay for it. Afterward, we leave the restaurant, and I remind Jack about his promise to take me to the canyon for a night ride.

“I was hoping you’d forgotten,” he mumbles as he slips the helmet over my head.

I laugh at the tone of his voice. “Home will still be there after the ride.”

“If you say so.”