It may not have been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it sure as hell wasn’t easy walking away from Rain after that kiss. I’ll admit, when I saw her at the track I thought she was just a really hot piece of ass, and I believed that after all the shit I’d been through in the past six months, I deserved a good fuck with no strings attached. Given a choice, she’s who I would’ve chosen.

But in the short time I’d known her, I no longer saw the hard candy shell. She was more than sex on a stick, with her bleached-blond hair, beautiful face, inch-long fingernails, and body that just wouldn’t quit. I’d caught a glimpse of her softer side. The girl sitting outside alone the night of her party, crying quietly under the trees, had seemed innocent and vulnerable. And the few times I’d seen her since, at Blondie’s or at Wally’s, I’d caught her watching me like she really was concerned about my health or something.

It made me want to get to know her, not just nail her, although I sure as hell wouldn’t be averse to that either.

We’d finished up working on the car early Thursday, and the crew and I headed to Blondie’s. I hadn’t eaten, so a burger and some of Irena’s homemade pierogis washed down with a couple Heinekens was just what I needed. I couldn’t get over how good the food was for such a little hole in the wall.

I was about to settle up with Lynette and head home when Rain and Preston walked in. I sat back down and ordered another beer. Other than that night at the track, I’d never seen the two of them together, and I was curious what it was about him that kept her hanging on, especially if there were even a remote chance that he was two-timing her.

It didn’t take long for me to wonder if she was a glutton for punishment, because from where I sat, he was a first-class jerk. They’d taken two stools near the door, directly across from us. Rain saw Wally and waved, but I was partially blocked by the display of bottles in the center of the bar. Either she didn’t see me, or she was ignoring me. I fancied that she was thinking about kissing me. I was probably kidding myself, but the kiss we’d shared had gotten me through some lonely nights.

She seemed unusually subdued, and it was clear after only a minute or two that her boyfriend had been drinking. He was loud and boisterous, and although I couldn’t hear what she ordered, I heard him insist on pouring his own. Lynette handed Rain a glass of club soda with a twist of lime, then set a shot glass and a bottle of Jameson in front of him. Even though the spelling was different, it wouldn’t have surprised me to learn some distant relative of his owned the distillery.

He whispered something to Rain and nuzzled her neck. I had to look away. I had no right to feel anything, let alone jealousy. But for as much as I tried to remain focused on Wally’s discussion of the merits of Hoosiers over Goodyears, I couldn’t help zeroing in on what was going on across from me.

Rain seemed tense and irritable and growing more so. Preston kept grabbing her. At one point, he held her around the waist and stuck his shot glass into her cleavage. When he reached for the bottle of whiskey, she pulled it out and slammed it on the bar.

“C’mon, babe.” He picked it up and tried to put it back.

Fish and one of his buddies started egging her on.

“Go ahead, Rain! I bet that’s not the only place he sticks his face.”

Fish burst out laughing while the drunk beside him clapped him on the back, then yelled, “If he’s no good, I’m an excellent linguist.”

He stuck his tongue out like he was Gene Simmons. I wanted to yank it right the fuck out of his head.

Rain usually had a snappy comeback, but not tonight. Tonight she seemed defeated. Preston pulled her out of her chair, stood her in front of him, and slipped the glass between her breasts again. She seemed miserable, but for some reason, she appeared willing to let the jackass have his boob shot. At least until she looked away. When her eyes met mine, I could feel her embarrassment from across the bar.

“No!” She yanked the glass away. “I said I don’t want to. Isn’t that good enough?”

“Aw, c’mon, babe. What’s got into you?” He made like he was going to bury his face in her cleavage, glass or no, but she pushed him away. “What the fuck is your problem?”

Fish let out a wild catcall. Rain shot him a threatening look.

“Just stop,” she said to Preston, trying to keep her voice low.

“C’mon, please?” He raised the glass above his head, and though he spoke to her, he did it for the benefit of everyone in the barroom. “Let me do a boob shot, and I’ll buy a round for the house.”

The place erupted in cheers.

Rain snatched her purse off the bar. “Fuck you, Preston! You want to do boob shots, bring your girlfriend in and put her on display.”

She spun toward the door.

He called after her. “Your tits are nicer!” When the door slammed shut behind her, he added loudly, “Fuck you. You can walk home.”

“I’ll fuck her,” Fish yelled, and the place erupted with more cheers, especially when Preston lifted his filled shot glass and toasted the bastard before throwing it back.

The only person who wasn’t enjoying the show, besides me, was Wally. He gripped my shoulder.

“You look like you’re ready to kill somebody.” He spoke low enough so that only I could hear him. “He’s drunk. I’ve never seen him like this before.”

I shook my head. “I gotta go, or I’m gonna end up kicking the shit out of him.”

Wally gave my back a couple pats. “Good idea.”

Preston was in no hurry to go after Rain. Although he hadn’t gotten his way, he ordered a round for the bar anyway. He was everybody’s fucking hero.

I picked up my helmet and threw a twenty on the bar.

Preston was talking to Lynette as I passed. “She can wait until I’m good and ready, or she can walk her ass home.”

I was almost to the door when he reached out and grabbed my arm. He was stockier than me, but I had several inches on him, plus I was fast. I also wasn’t drunk.

“Where you going?” His speech was slurred. “I’m buyin’, motorhead, dincha hear?”

“Yeah, I heard. No, thanks.” I yanked my arm from his grasp.

“Eh, fuck you too,” I heard as the door closed behind me.

There was no sign of Rain near the apple-green Corvette I assumed was Preston’s. I was climbing onto my bike, when I caught sight of someone walking about half a block away. When she passed under a streetlight, that white-blond hair lit up like a beacon.

“Jesus Christ,” I muttered. I had to give her credit. She had to live at least five miles from here, yet damn if she wasn’t determined to walk home.

I started up my bike and rode until I could pull up in front of her. I cut the engine and slipped off my helmet.

“You planning to walk all the way home?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want a ride?”

She stopped walking to consider my offer. “I guess.”

I handed her the helmet. “Here, put this on.”

“What are you going to wear?”

“I’m from Pennsylvania. No helmet laws. I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, but this is New Jersey.” The helmet was too big for her, but it was better than nothing.

“I’ll go slow, I promise. If I get pulled over, it’s only a twenty-five-dollar fine. I’ll take my chances.”

She climbed on and put her arms around my waist. I had to remind myself to focus.

“Am I holding you too tight?” she asked.

I smiled over my shoulder. “Just tight enough.”

She loosened her grip, but as soon as I took off, she squeezed harder. Despite my promise to take it slow, if she held me tighter when I went faster, I might just have to do that.

At the first stop sign, I asked if she wanted to go for a ride or straight home.

“I’d love a ride, but not if you don’t have a helmet.”

“No problem.” I leaned into the turn and headed up Cedar Hill Road. I had a spare helmet back at my apartment.

“You want to come in or wait here?” I asked after pulling into my driveway.

She made a face. “I need to use the bathroom, if that’s okay.”

“C’mon.”

I was waiting in the living room when she came out. It gave me a crazy little thrill seeing her in my apartment.

“This is nice,” she said, surveying the place. “A little sparse, but nice. You’re very neat. Either that or you don’t have enough stuff to make a mess.”

“Both, actually. When I moved, I left everything with my ex.”

“Oh. The rabbit.”

“Scuse me?”

She grimaced and shook her head. “Nothing. Sorry.”

“Better I found out before the wedding than after.”

She didn’t ask, but I could see she wanted to. So despite preferring to stick needles in my eyes rather than talk about what Jennifer had done to me, I voluntarily told her.

“I caught her cheating.”

“You’re kidding.” She seemed honestly surprised. It was still painful, but her expression was comical. “I mean, I can’t imagine someone cheating on you. You’re just so . . . nice. And you’re really attractive too. I mean really attractive.”

“Well, thanks, but that didn’t seem to matter—to her or my best friend.”

“Ouch.”

I shrugged. “It is what it is.”

I could feel her discomfort as she walked around the room, looking at pictures of my nephew, my CDs. It was like she was trying to avoid me and tell me something at the same time.

Eventually, she decided to talk.

“You probably don’t have too much respect for me, then.”

“I don’t follow.”

“Me and Preston. He’s got another girlfriend, you know. At least I think he does. Who knows anymore?”

I nodded. “You’re too good for him.”

She laughed. “Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious. I don’t really know you, but from what I do know, he doesn’t deserve you. You deserve someone who sees in here.” I tapped my chest maybe a little too hard, but I was feeling it. “You’re a beautiful woman on the outside. Stunning. But you’re also beautiful on the inside.”

She bit her lower lip, and I went weak in the knees. I needed to change the subject. Here I had her to myself, and the last thing I wanted was to talk about was her jackass boyfriend.

I handed her the helmet. “Where do you want to go?”

She looked a bit bewildered. “I have no idea. Surprise me.”

“Okay. How far?”

She laughed—musical notes again. “I don’t know.”

“How about this: what time do you have to be home?”

“I don’t.”

I grinned. “Ever?” At that moment, I was okay with that.

“Well, Izzy, my daughter, is away for the week with her father’s parents, and I took tomorrow off to get caught up on some things I’ve been putting off. So technically, I don’t need to be back until Sunday at three to fill in for Lynette. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have to be back until Sunday night for Izzy.” She gave me a triumphant smile.

“Well, my schedule isn’t quite as open as yours, but if you’re game, I have an idea.”

“What?”

“You’re psychic, you tell me.”

“Funny.” She made a face. “Is this like the last time?”

I shrugged. “Was kissing me really so bad?”

When she smiled, that carnival game went off inside me again. “No. It wasn’t bad at all.”

I eyed her sleeveless blue-and-white polka-dotted sundress, admiring how it curled snugly around her waist before flaring into a full skirt. I pulled a leather jacket from my closet and handed it to her.

“Where are we going? Canada?”

“It might get cool later, and you’re not exactly dressed for riding. You’ll thank me later. Unless you want to go back to your place and change.” I hesitated to suggest it. I was afraid that once we got to her place, she might change her mind, but I also didn’t want her to be uncomfortable on the ride.

She gave me a determined shake of her head.

“This is fine. I’m afraid Preston might go there once he realizes I’m not waiting obediently beside his car, and I don’t feel like dealing with him anymore tonight.”

“Okay, then. You’re all mine.” I buckled my helmet into place and then helped her with hers. “For a little while, at least.”

After she settled onto the back of the bike, I could feel her hands rooting around underneath me. And damn if my dick didn’t sit up and take notice.

I swiveled toward her.

“I suggest you hold onto my waist, not my ass.”

“I’m tucking my dress under you so it doesn’t blow up around me and I give everyone a free show.”

I lifted up so she could finish.

“Good idea. We don’t want to cause any accidents on the parkway.”

“The parkway?” she cried as I revved the engine. “Where are we going?”

“Hang on!” I called over my shoulder and gunned it out of my driveway.

She wrapped her arms around my waist and pressed her body against my back.

I was ready to ride all night.