The Biker's Fate Chapter 142

Darien

SUNDAY, I TRIED not to stress (too much) about the fact that I was going on my first date with Mack. However, the fact I was doing it on the back of his bike was something I was more nervous about. My New Year's resolution had been to try new things and get out of my comfort zone, but that didn't change the fact I was the biggest chicken on the planet. And, let's be honest, motorcycles were dangerous.

Pauley was still asleep, par for the course on the nights she worked past midnight, so I got ready as quietly as I could. I was pulling my leather jacket out of the coat closet when a quiet knock came on my front door. After checking the peephole, I opened the door and put my finger to my lips. "Pauley's still asleep," I whispered.

Mack nodded, but he still pulled me close for a mind-blowing, albeit silent kiss. "Hi." He took a sweeping glance over my body. "You look beautiful."

I grinned. "Thank you. So do you."

And he did. Dark jeans sat low on his hips, a tight, black long-sleeved T-shirt, tucked into the front of jeans, clear of his belt buckle. Black motorcycle boots that looked well worn, but no less hot, matched the black leather jacket he wore over his clothing.

I wore almost what he wore, only brown leather boots and brown leather jacket, plus a lacy, creamy pink off the shoulder sweater (more cream than pink because my redhead complexion just couldn't handle too much pink) that enhanced what the good Lord gave me.

"Can I bring a purse?"

"Yeah, babe," he said. "Where's your dog?"

"I put him in with Pauley." I grabbed my purse, left a note for Pauley, and followed Mack out of the apartment. After locking up, he took my hand and led me downstairs to the back of my building.

I must have started dragging because he squeezed my hand and faced me. "You okay?"

"Yep," I said, but I was shaking my head. He raised an eyebrow. "Nope. I'm scared to death of motorcycles."

He smiled, dropping my hand and cupping my face. "I'm good, Darien. I will keep you safe."

"I'm not concerned about your ability, honey. I'm concerned about the morons on the road. You do know Oregon drivers are the worst! There's rain, ew. There's sunshine, ew. There's traffic, ew." Every time I said "ew," I used jazz hands to drive home the drama, and admittedly, I was now rambling. However, Mack was laughing. I scowled. "Oh, suck it."

This just made him laugh harder, but he leaned down and kissed me gently, a smile still on his lips. "Trust me to avoid the crazies, yeah?"

I nodded. "Okay. Do you have a helmet?"

"Yeah, I have a helmet."

"For me, Logan."

"I know what you were asking."

I took a deep breath. "Right. Okay."

"You ready now?"

I nodded again and he led me to his gorgeous Harley Fatboy. It was all black and chrome and suited him to a tee. He took my purse and secured it in one of his lockable side luggage thingies and then handed me a very serious looking helmet. I pulled it on kissing my somewhat carefully styled hair goodbye and he helped me secure the chinstrap. He stationed me next to the bike, climbed on, and then guided me on behind him. "Hands around my waist, tight, lean when I lean."

I nodded and he pulled his helmet on, started the bike, and raised the kickstand. I slid my arms around him, but he pulled them closer, and then we were off.

And I hated it. Every second of it. By the time we pulled over, I was sure I'd fused my body to his. I didn't know where we were. I just knew I was so glad we'd stopped, I thought I might cry happy, sobby tears right then and there.

With me still clinging to him, he turned off the bike, pulled off his helmet, and lowered the kickstand. Reaching behind me, he helped me off the bike and onto my wholly unstable legs. He didn't release me as he also climbed off, and then (with one hand) he released my chin strap. "Can you take this off?"

I nodded and pushed the helmet off my head. "Are we here?"

He shook his head. "We're at my place."

"Oh," I said, and glanced around. "Is this our date?"

"No."

"You're really lacking in the information department, Logan."

Mack smiled. "Honey, you were shakin' so bad, I thought you'd cause enough turbulence to crash us."

I gasped. "Is that possible? Turbulence, I mean?"

"No, Darien. But you freakin' out and crashin' us? That is possible... if I weren't a better rider."

"Ohmigod, I'm so sorry." I swallowed and dropped my head.

He lifted my chin and gave me a gentle smile. "Hey, it's okay," he said, and wrapped his arms around me.

I fell against him, both embarrassed and mortified... oh, and totally humiliated. I pushed away from him and crossed my arms. "I'm okay," I breathed out. "We can try again."

Mack shook his head. "I'm gonna put my bike away and we're gonna take my car."

"I'm so sorry, Logan." I bit my lip. "I've ruined everything."

"Darien," he said with a chuckle. "You haven't ruined anything. We're just making a little change." He stepped to the garage and entered a code into the panel on the frame. The door groaned as it opened, and he walked his bike inside. He set his helmet on the seat and mine on a shelf in the garage and then grabbed my purse from the locked side thingy. "Do you want a tour or go?"

"I'd love to see your home."

He reached out his hand and I closed the distance between us, taking my purse and then linking my fingers with his. Mack guided me into the spacious kitchen and dropped his keys on the granite island before turning off the alarm.