I want to be defiant, maintain my impulse control, but it would appear I have none because I am relenting in moments, walking toward him with my bottom lip pinched between my teeth.

“If you try to kill me on this thing, I promise I will take you with me.”

As I drape my leg over the back of the seat, I feel the low chuckle of his laughter with my body pressed up against his back. Suddenly, he snatches my leg in his hand and grips the flesh of my thigh. I gasp, unable to exhale the breath I’m holding as his grip gets tighter.

He turns his face back toward me, his beard brushing the skin of my cheeks. “Watch the exhaust pipe. It’ll burn the shit out of you.” He motions downward with his eyes where my bare leg is only an inch away from the bright silver metal.

I’m still unable to fully breathe when it takes him a moment too long to let me go. “Thank you,” I say in a stuttering breath.

In return, he winks and drops my leg so that my flesh doesn’t touch the burning pipe toward the back.

Then, the bike lurches forward and I have to grasp onto Murph’s back to keep from flying off the seat. Once he picks up speed, I find myself relaxing. Instead of holding onto his shoulders, I let my arms rest against his sides. The cool breeze from the summer morning on the beach feels good after a hot, humid week.

When we come to a stop at a busy intersection, I feel people looking at me on the back of Murph’s motorcycle. He has a tight-fitting T-shirt on, my hands running against the cords of muscle underneath. I wonder if these people think that we are a couple. That this brutish man is mine. The thought entices me.

After a few more minutes on the bike, we come to a stop in front of his shop. I hadn’t stepped foot near his place of work since I showed up out of the blue and basically jumped him. Even now, a blush rises to my cheeks just seeing it.

“Thanks for the ride,” I mumble as I climb off.

“Taking the day off?” he asks, still trying to pry into my business as if it’s his.

“Not that you need to know, but I’m going to spend some time outside today, try to soak up some of this sunshine.”

“Good,” he says, leaning a little too close.

“Morning,” a voice from farther down the boardwalk interrupts our conversation. A pretty young blonde girl steps out onto the boardwalk and waves at Murph like she knows him.

Curiosity instantly piques as I watch her, eager to see the way he reacts.

“Morning, Sierra,” he answers with an easy smile.

When his eyes land back on my face, I make sure my teasing expression is anything but subtle. It's his turn to roll his eyes.