“No need to do that,” he says, wiping more blood off his lip with the back of his hand. “I’m fine.”

“Of course you would say that, tough guy.”

I step around behind him to peek at the ugly scrape on his back. Reaching up, I gently try to wipe off some grit and he flinches.

“You don’t look fine. I have bandages back at my place. I can fix you up there.”

He looks disappointed.

“You want me to take you home? You’re tired of me already?”

No way.

“I was thinking you could use some tender loving care. For your wounds.”

He grins down at me and interlaces his fingers through mine.

“Now that you mention it, I’m feeling pretty banged up. I think I need medical attention. Or any kind of attention. Let’s go.”

When we reach his bike, he hands me my helmet.

“I didn’t ask you before,” he says. “How fast do you like to ride?”

“That depends. How fast can this bike go?”

“Want to find out?” he challenges.

“You bet I do.”

“I knew it,” he says. “Hold on, darling.”

Chapter Fourteen

Sam

––––––––

Once we reach the open highway, I quickly ramp up the bike’s speed. Lila grips my waist tighter but doesn’t yell for me to slow down like other girls usually do.

“Are you okay back there?” I yell to her.

“I’m good. Is this the best you can do?”

I chuckle and squeeze her hand on my belt.

Where has this girl been all my life?

“There’s a long straight away in the road coming up. Hang on!”

I take a curve faster than I should with her on the back and then it’s nothing but us and an empty, open road as far as I can see. Pulling back on the throttle, I watch as the speedometer rapidly creeps up higher than I’ve ever driven on this road.

Somehow I instinctively know that Lila loves the thrill as much as I do. I’ve been chasing adrenaline all my life, and my guess is she has too in different ways.

We’re a match made in heaven.

Now all I need to do is make her see it.

When we reach the maximum speed I’m willing to go with her, I glance in my mirror and catch a glimpse of exhilaration on her face.

And I know without a doubt.

Whatever it takes, no matter how dirty I have to play, I’m keeping this woman by my side forever.

***

Lila unlocks the doorknob lock on her front door and then sticks the key in the deadbolt. The lock is stuck and won’t turn. I lean against the doorjamb, watching her struggle with it in amusement. She’s locking it instead of unlocking.