See the drool? The look like I’ve fallen completely and stupidly in love? I like the bike, but no, I won’t get on a bike for my own mum, so why would I do so for a woman I’ve only fucked?

“I’m sorry. I can’t.” My back bumps into a wall, leaving me stuck.

“You can, and you will.” Paige grabs my hand, pulling the jacket on and forcing it up and over my shoulders.

Can I yell rape?

Because I think that’s what I can claim. She’s forcing me to do something I don’t want—

Ah, hell, I’m screwed.

“It will be fun.” She flashes me a less Wednesday Addams creepy smile. “It’s time to get over those fears and embrace who you are again.”

How the fuck does she know what I fear?

Puffing my chest, I grab the goddamn helmet and slam it on my head.

“I’m not scared.” The snarl isn’t convincing to my ears, possibly because it is one or two octaves higher than my normal voice.

“Sure, whatever you say.” Laughing, she leaves me and walks over to one of the bikes.

Yes, you guessed it; the one I was drooling over. She straddles it and then pats the seat of the MV Augusta F4 right next to her. It’s blood red, and I melt a little in the almost too tight pants.

Have I told you red is my favorite color?

No? Well, it is. Why do you think I like her lips so much?

Suddenly, my resolve fades into the distance like a bad rash. My issue with ever riding a bike against seems petty now that I look at the glorious bike she’s offering to let me ride. Jax overcame the difficulties from the wreck I had a hand in causing and is living life to the fullest now. He’s told me he wants to race again, and he is still part of the racing world. He also doesn’t hold anything against me for the accident.

Licking the corner of my mouth, I decide my fate. My bare hands grasp the smooth throttle and handlebars of the bike firmly as I sling my leg over to sink into the comfortable seat. It used to be difficult for me to find bikes I could ride due to my size, but there is no worry with this one. It fits me almost too perfectly. Bringing the bike to life, I let the purring vibrations between my thighs into my body and soul.

“See?” Looking up from the F4, Paige’s cheeks are round with a smile before she starts her own bike and we take off. I follow her along the curves and turns of her long driveway and wait by her side while the gates to her house open to unleash us.

The only thing I have to bitch about is riding in Parker’s pants. They are far too tight around my thighs. Other than that, the ride is a beaut and so is the woman riding next to me. We venture back into Salt Lake City, and she leads me to a community by Hogle Zoo.

We pull to the curb in front of a nice house with a golf course behind it.

“Wait here.” Paige gets off her bike and pulls a smaller helmet out of one of the saddle bags. “I’ll be right back.” As she jogs up the short path to the front door, I admire the sway of her arse in the tight fabric stretched over it. The front door whips open before she even gets a chance to knock.

Taylor is jumping into Paige’s arms before an adult can make it to the door. I watch the hard shell of Paige’s exterior soften in the presence of the little girl. She must truly care about the girl.

In no time, the two of them are walking hand in hand back to me and the bikes.

“Hi, Axle.” Taylor giggles as she climbs onto the back of Paige’s bike and waits for her to help with the helmet.

“Nice to see you again, Taylor.” The smile on both of their faces is infectious, and I find myself wearing one as well.

Taylor’s smile grows when she turns her helmet clad head in my direction. “Where are we going?” I know the question isn’t for me because I have no fucking clue what Paige has planned for us. I just plan on enjoying it.

“Bike park,” Paige answers, straddling the bike once more. Both bikes roar to life and Taylor throws both fists into the air and lets loose a scream of joy. We weave through the streets of the city until we reach a bike park. Paige quickly gets Taylor a bike and unleashes her on the ramps while we sit back with bottles of water to watch her tear up the course.

“I didn’t know this place was here.” Falling back on the bench, I put my arm around the back of it and around Paige. She stiffens briefly and scoots up a fraction.

How strange.

“I discovered while riding around one day. When Park and I were kids, we basically lived at a park like this one. We were either watching the older, more experienced kids or bruising ourselves attempting to be like them.” The fond smile she is wearing slips in the slightest like something from the past grips her. “Believe it or not, a couple of years ago, this business was going under when I came to check it out.”

“They look like they are doing well now.” Kids are everywhere in the park; some on bikes, others either skateboarding or roller blading.

I didn’t think anyone wore blades anymore.

“This was Park’s and my first investment after we made it big.” She rubs her arms. “We sponsor programs here for kids who need a place to escape their home life. More kids would stay out of trouble and out of gangs if they had a positive place to go. Park and I will keep sponsoring the park as long as they don’t turn kids in need away and work with them.”

“That’s pretty awesome of you two.”

She only shrugs it off as if it’s no big deal. “It’s the least we could do.”

A comfortable silence settles between us as we watch Taylor ride and laugh with the other kids her age. She helps little kids who are struggling and even receives help from older ones. Taylor seems like a pretty happy girl. She lives in a nice home in a good neighborhood, and from what I saw of her mum, she has good parents as well.

You’re catching on, aren’t you?

I’m wondering why a girl like Taylor would be in the adoptive siblings program.

“Why is Taylor in the program?” For a few minutes, I feel as though my question has fallen on deaf ears, and that pisses me off. I really can’t stand it when I’m ignored like this.

“She’s in foster care, Oz.” She doesn’t look at me, just rests her elbows on her knees. “She had a rough start to life and was put into the system. She’s been with her foster family since she was two months old. Her foster dad is a mechanic for us, and I went from there. I’m not really her big sister through any program. I just took her under my wing is all.”

This woman has so many more layers than I ever thought she did when I first saw her two weeks ago. I admire Paige and the way she interacts with Taylor for the rest of the afternoon. Once we have fed her and returned her home, Paige follows me back to my flat. When I pull up to the curb next to my truck, I’m at a loss for words.

Do I rattle my keys and invite her in, hoping for something more like a complete chick I seem to be with her?

Hell to the no.

“I’ve got to get going. I have some business to take care of tonight.” There is no peck on the cheek; she doesn’t even get off her bike. “You can keep the bike here; I’ll come for it later.”

“Are you sure?” The disappointment in my voice is obvious.

“Yeah, go for another ride tomorrow. It will do you some good. Plus, it looks good on you.” Nodding, she starts her bike again and pulls away before I can say another thing. She makes her way out of the complex and out of my weekend.

Why do I have the sudden feeling I was ditched?

Rubbing my chest, I dismount and push the bike up to the awning of our tiny arse porch. I don’t want anything to happen to this beaut. I barely get the chance to close the door and let my depressing thoughts consume me for the rest of the day when my phone begins to ring. Pulling it out of the leather jacket I also didn’t have a chance to return to Paige, I find my sister’s smiling face while also sticking her tongue out at me flash on the screen.

“What’s happenin’, buggalugs?”

“Axle, I am twenty-five years old; you can’t keep using that nickname.” She huffs, and I know this is going to be a great convo.

“Sure, I can. I’m still older, aren’t I?”

“Prick.”

“Brat.”

“Mayo shooting hotdog gun.”

I gasp. “Why, Prim Priscilla, did you just call your brother a dick?”

“I sure fucking did. What are you going to do about it, arsehole?”

We both fall into a fit of laughter, her snort at the usual way we start any conversation. This one is PG to say the least.

“How have you been, Cilla?”

She sighs. Fucking sighs. My sister has never been one to do something like that. And then I recall the pecker she’s been dating. “Life has been wonderful for the most part, big bother.”

“What did that arsehole do to you?” He’d better not have knocked her up.

“Noth—”

“Because I will make sure I get my arse back home and kick his into the ocean.”

“Axle, he hasn’t done anything bad.” She giggles and then sobers. “It’s Mum, Ax.” If I thought the prick my sister is dating set me on fire, nothing compares to the rage that boils with the mention of my mum.

A little backstory … my mum takes care of all of us—very well, might I add. She always made sure us kids made it to our appointments and had everything we needed to be healthy. She did the same with my dad.

Yet the woman can’t seem to take care of herself; she’s slowed down over the years. She doesn’t eat often, and when she does, it isn’t the healthiest choices. She constitutes her nightly work as exercise to get her by. In other words, my mum is unhealthy and overweight. My dad is liable to outlive her, and he has messed up lungs. It’s sad.

Priscilla and I have tried to convince her to change her ways, but she just thinks we are being mean. It doesn’t help that my dad refuses to say a word. The woman can be terrifying if she wants to be. Last time I talked to her, I demanded she get a checkup.

“Did she go see the doctor finally?” My teeth grind. Storming to my room, I lock myself in. I don’t need Jax to see me with tears in my eyes. It’s bad enough the bike is outside; I don’t need him to tease me for caring about my mum.

“She did.” The sadness through the phone is horrible.

“And?”

“Look, Axle I didn’t call to tell you about Mum. I have happy news, and I’d much rather have her tell you what the doctor said. Okay?”

“Priscilla Barbara, tell me now. You’re the one who brought it up.”

“No, call Mum after I tell you my news, dickhead!”

“Damn you, woman.” Pinching my brow, I try to calm down. I need to get off the phone to call Mum. I don’t like being kept in the dark about anything when it comes to her, my dad, or Priscilla.

“Thank you.” The victory in her voice makes me want to put worms in her shampoo again. “I have some good news. Great news, actually.”

“Oh, joy and what would that be?”

“Quit being a prick,” she snaps. “You will need to come home in a year.”

“I’m not coming home, Cilla. You know I’m happy here.”

“Not to stay, fucker. America can keep you.”

I feel so loved right now.

“I’m getting married.”

“What?” My foot slams to the floor, rattling the random shit I have on my dresser. “The fuck you are. You barely know the guy.”

“We’ve been together for a year now, Axle.” I can see her glare now. Her button nose scrunched up in anger, her smoky gray eyes pinched, and the tip of her tiny ears burning red. “He asked Dad first, just so you know, and I said yes. I’m getting married, so deal with it.”

“I will.”

“Don’t sound so convincing.”

“Fine.”

“Promise me.”

Rolling my eyes, I give in to her. “I promise.” I cross my fingers. If she thinks I’m okay with my baby sister marrying a guy I haven’t even met, she has another thing coming. I plan on scaring the shit out of this man, so he and his dick will stay away from her. “What are his digits?”

“Why?” The joy in her voice instantly vanishes. “Axle—”

“Relax; I just want to get to know my future brother-in-law.” I’ve been doing this to her for so long that I know it won’t work. Her bullshit detector is too strong for what I sling.

“I’ve got to go now.” See? She ignores me. “I’ll leave you to call Mum. Good luck with the woman.”

“Thanks for the reminder. Bye, Cilla.”

“Bye, Ax. I love you and I miss you.”

“Love and miss you, too.” We hang up, and I drop to the bed. I need to grab a beer before I call my mum.