“Put this on.” He picked up the black helmet and slipped it on her head. He fitted the chinstrap, then pushed the visor down. He did the same with his helmet and straddled the sleek black bike. His jeans stretched to accommodate the position of his legs, accenting his strong, muscular thighs. He kicked back the stand and looked at Sterling.
Nervousness filled her stomach, but she heated up at the thought of being pressed up against his body as they rode the streets.
“Hop on, sweetheart.”
She approached the bike, lifted her leg, and swung it up and over the seat.
“Scooch in some more. Sit right against me and hold on tight.”
She positioned herself flush against his back. Her legs cradled his beautiful ass, and she wiggled in her seat, rubbing her body against him.
He turned his head. “If you keep doing that we’ll never make it through the first part of the night.”
“There’s a second part?”
“Patience, woman. All will be revealed in time.” He eased the bike back and straightened toward the road. “Lean into the turns, follow my body, and hold on tight.”
She tensed. Was she really going to go through with this?
“Sterling…not that tight.”
“Sorry.” She eased her grip, not having even noticed she’d tensed. But when she uncurled her fingers, she was thankful for the leather jacket protecting his skin from her nails.
The bike roared to life. She grabbed as much of his body as she could as they slowly eased out of the parking lot into the street. He took it slow as they navigated the city. The sensation of being in the open was exhilarating.
When they hit the highway, he went full throttle. They zipped down the open road faster than expected, faster than anything she had ever experienced.
He craned his neck. “Hold on.”
He gunned it. A scream escaped her lips. She clung for dear life, burying her head against his back, squeezing her eyes shut.
When she’d gotten her bearings, she peeked through one eye. The setting sun sparkled along Lake Ontario. She opened her other eye and loosened her grip, lifting her head from the safety of his body. She rested her chin on his shoulder.
She now understood what it was like to fly. The faster the bike went, the more excited she became. But she’d also never felt so vulnerable. He literally held her safety in his hands handling such a powerful and dangerous vehicle.
They merged north, traveling to the top of the city to the east. An area where she hadn’t spent much time. Although she missed the thrill of the open road, she was thankful when they veered off the highway and slowed.
She glanced around, a little uncomfortable with their surroundings. This wasn’t the best, or safest, section of the city. After a few minutes of weaving through the streets, he came to a stop in front of an industrial building.
He killed the engine and they slipped off the bike, taking their helmets with them.
Taking out a set of keys from his pocket, he walked up to the building and she followed behind. When he opened the double door, he ushered her in first, and when he flicked on the lights, she gasped. Although situated on an urban street corner, this building was far from industrial.
“This used to be a restaurant,” he said.
“This place is fantastic.” The room was set up like some sort of test kitchen. All white and stainless steel, the open ceilings bared the ductwork and pipelines. The floor was white tile. Five mini kitchens sat around the open space, each equipped with a counter, sink, stove, and cooktop—gas, of course. “What did you do here?”
“We gutted the restaurant and made it into the test site for the Cooking for the Future program,” he said as he closed the door behind them. “We need to get ready. The kids will be here any minute.” He walked to the front of the room, sat down his helmet, then slipped out of his leather jacket.
“Kids?”
“I’m teaching tonight. I’ve taken over the whole program since I’ve been back in town.”
“Oh…” This was the last thing she expected.
“I know it’s not the most romantic thing, but I didn’t want to skip one of our dates.”
She controlled a burst of excitement at his admittance. He wanted to spend time with her. And it also wasn’t lost on her that he would have canceled their date and put the children first.
“I’ve gotten attached to these kids since I’ve been back.”
The noise from the city streets wafted inside and she turned as a line of kids barreled into the building.
“Jack!” the second one in the door called. He smiled from ear to ear, his blond hair peeking out from underneath his baseball hat. His round, pudgy face was somewhat cute. “I made breakfast every day this week and finally I made an over easy-egg without breaking the yolk.”