She was starting to babble, which meant it was time to bring this embarrassing conversation to a close. Besides, it was getting late.
She’d tied her straw wrapper into a complicated knot with nervous fingers. Now she pushed it away and looked up at Jake again. His expression was neutral, which was oddly comforting. It would have been awful if it seemed like he was sorry for her, or something.
But looking into his blue eyes, she forgot whatever it was she’d been about to say. Her stomach muscles tensed and goose bumps swept across her skin.
She took a deep breath and looked away again, signaling to the waitress to bring their check. She had to be careful not to feel too much around Jake. She wanted to be his friend, but she could only do that if she protected herself. Jake had made it clear that a relationship was the last thing he wanted right now, and given the baggage he was carrying, she couldn’t blame him.
And that meant she had to keep her guard up.
“I’ve got an early day tomorrow,” she said as the waitress laid their bill on the table. “I should probably head home.”
“I should call it a night, too.” Jake’s voice was as neutral as his expression.
Erin wondered if he’d felt the same current she had, flowing between them when their eyes had locked.
But she knew she was better off not knowing the answer.
Chapter Seven
Jake’s respect for Erin, already high, had now officially shot through the roof.
He and Mark were sitting in front of their office computer, navigating the website Erin had designed for them. Erin was standing next to Jake, which meant he got a whiff of her perfume—violets, with a hint of spice underneath—every time she leaned forward to point something out on the computer screen. But even with that distraction, he was able to focus on the site she’d created.
He’d known she was good, but he hadn’t known she was this good. She’d taken the material they’d sent her and crafted it into something amazing.
There was a page showcasing the bikes he’d built. There was a page of client testimonials. There was a page that let you play around with designing your own bike, putting together chassis with different engines, gas tanks, exhaust systems, and other components. There was a page about the history of motorcycles and motorcycle design, a page describing the different kinds of motorcycles available today, and an interactive page she’d called The Anatomy Of A Motorcycle.
“This is incredible,” he said, turning to look at her.
Her cheeks turned pink. “I’m glad you like it.”
“There’s just one thing missing,” Mark said, leaning back in his chair when they were finally done trying out all the links and features.
“Missing? What’s missing?” Erin asked with a frown.
Mark grinned up at her. “The classic cheesecake shot. A girl in a bikini draped over one of Jake’s bikes, looking like something x-rated is going down any minute. Don’t you think we need one of those?”
Jake knew he was joking, and Erin probably did, too. But she answered seriously.
“I know a lot of sites have photos like that. But I don’t think you need one. It’s like the paint job Jake did on that last bike—with the muted colors and subtle design he used, the focus is all on the machine itself. No frills, no bells and whistles. Just leather and chrome and power. And I think that’s sexy enough on its own.”
Jake stared at her. She thought motorcycles were sexy?
“Okay, I’m sold,” Mark said after a moment. “No cheesecake for us. But Erin, I’ve got to say—for someone who seems to like motorcycles as much as you do, it’s a crime you’ve never actually ridden on one.”
“We could go for a ride right now,” Jake said, even though he knew it was probably a bad idea. Erin on the back of his bike, with her arms wrapped around his waist? Definitely a bad idea. But in his life at the moment there were two things that made him feel good: motorcycles and Erin. And the idea of having those two things together, just once, was mighty tempting.
“Fifteen minutes tops, and I promise not to go over forty miles an hour,” he added.
She smiled back, but shook her head. “Sorry. I love the way they look, but I have no interest in them as an actual mode of transportation. I guess I’ve heard too many stories about motorcycle accidents.”
“I’ve never been in an accident in my life,” Jake said. “Come on, Erin. You could miss out on a lot if you play it too safe.”
“Words to live by,” Mark muttered, and Jake shot him a dirty look.
“Thanks, but no,” she said firmly. “I’ll stick to four wheels for getting around, but I’m glad you like the site. We can go live whenever you’re ready to launch.”