“Thanks.” He secured the cycle quickly. “You going to let me drive this time?” When she dug the keys out of her pocket and jiggled them, he went into his pitch. “Come on, Libby, there’s no one around.”

“Be that as it may, you never showed me a driver’s license.”

“If we’re talking technicalities, I don’t think it would apply. Libby, if I can pilot that—” he jerked his thumb in the direction of the ship “—I sure as hell can drive this. I want to see what it’s like.”

She tossed him the keys. “Just remember, this vehicle stays on the ground.”

“Got it.” As pleased as a kid with a new toy, he settled behind the wheel. “It works with gears, right?”

“I believe so.”

“Fascinating. This pedal here?”

“The clutch,” she said, and wondered if she’d just taken her life in her hands.

“The clutch, right. That’s what disengages the system so that you can change gears. Higher gears for higher speeds. That’s the idea, isn’t it?”

“The other pedal? The one beside it? That’s the brake. Pay attention to the brake, Hornblower. Pay very close attention.”

“Don’t worry about a thing.” He sent her a cocky grin, then turned the key. “See?” They went in reverse for two fast feet before they came to a jarring stop. “Just a minute. I think I’ve got it now.”

“You’ve got to put it in off-road.”

“Off what?”

Though her palms were slightly damp, she showed him. “Take it easy, will you? And try to go forward.”

“No problem.” The Land Rover bucked the first few feet, causing Libby to grip the dash with both hands and pray. Cal was having the time of his life, and he was a little disappointed when the ride smoothed out. “Nothing to it.” He sent her a cocky grin.

“Just watch where you’re going. Oh, God!” She tossed her hands in front of her face so that she wouldn’t see the tree they were about to ram.

“Are you always a nervous passenger?” he asked conversationally as he maneuvered around the tree.

“I could grow to hate you. I’m sure of it.”

“Loosen up, babe. Let’s take a little detour.”

“Cal, we should—”

“Run for the gusto,” he finished. “Isn’t that the phrase?”

“I think it’s ‘Go for the gusto,’ but this isn’t a beer commercial.” She bit her lip and clung to her safety belt. “Anyway, you can keep it. I think I’d rather live a long, dull life.”

He plunged down a rocky slope, driving as if he’d been born behind the wheel. “This is the next best thing to flying.” He shot her a look. “Well, maybe not the next best, but it’s close.”