Chapter 3

Shane

Randall’s shop was my refuge. There wasn’t anything wrong with my house per se, but home was a long way away, and there was nowhere else in this town where I felt comfortable. It took me up to an hour to drive out to my mom’s little trailer in the sticks, depending on traffic, and once I was out there I was stuck. Nothing to do, nothing to see. Randall’s was the perfect in-between—a place where I could be myself in peace without having to stare at an old as dirt TV set until it was time to go to sleep.

The money helped too, of course. And it was a place I could go to and fix up my bike whenever I needed to, which was a lot. My ’85 Honda Rebel was a good runner, but it was old. Old things fall apart. Having a garage I could putter in at my leisure was the best part of the job. Well, almost the best part.

I was crouched over a drop sheet of tools when Dallas’s sexy figure strode through the shop doors. She didn’t spend a lot of time here, but I saw her now and then. It was always a treat when she stopped in, even if I only got to see a flash of her hair as she walked past the double doors and to her dad’s office.

She looked particularly tasty today, her hair tied up in a high ponytail, wearing a pair of tight blue jeans and a plaid shirt buttoned just below her neck. The outfit would have looked plain on anybody else, but Dallas wore it almost sinfully. Her legs were long and lean, but her hips were full, and her ass was round. Since she’d first turned from a skinny kid into a luscious woman, she’d been my preferred body type.

“Hey Shane,” she said, smiling lightly. “Have you seen my dad?”

I hadn’t talked to Dallas since the day I nearly asked her to prom, and I didn’t have any intentions of trying again. It backfired in my face, and I knew when to step back. She was too good for me, always would be.

I answered her question as succinctly as possible.

“He went out about an hour ago.”

Dallas’s face fell, and she drew her bottom lip into her mouth to chew on it. I couldn’t help but stare, cock hardening uncomfortably in my pants. How badly I wanted to nibble on those cherry pink lips.

“Do you know when he’s going to be back?” she asked, stepping further into the room.

I wiped my hands on my pants and stood up, shaking my head. “He didn’t say where he was going.” Noticing the obvious distress on her face, I asked, “Is there something I can help you with?”

“Uh...” Dallas scratched her head and gave me a sheepish smile. “Do you know anything about pedal bikes?”

“Pedal bikes?” I cocked a brow.

“Yeah.”

“I know lots about pedal bikes. Is there any specific piece of knowledge you’re looking for, or should I start just rattling off facts?”

Dallas laughed and stepped closer, running her hand absently over the top of the workbench. “My chain came off. I think it might be broken so I was hoping to get my dad to come have a look at it for me.”

She hit me with the full force of those baby blues, and I knew she could ask the world of me and I’d find a way to give it to her. A loose bike chain? Hell, I could do that for her with both my eyes shut and my hands behind my back.

“Sure, I’ll have a look,” I said. “Direct me to the patient.”

Dallas chuckled, and I followed her outside, where she’d leaned her bike up against the side of the building. As she said, the chain was hanging loose. As expected, it would be an easy fix.

“You really don’t know anything about bikes, huh?” I asked, squatting down to start fiddling with it.

Dallas squatted down beside me and watched my hands. “I don’t. I’m totally useless.”

“That’s surprising. I would’ve thought your dad would be all about teaching you the family business.”

She snorted. “Family business my ass. I’ve got no desire to learn anything about the shop. Poor Dad. Should’ve had a boy.”

I put the chain back into place and had a check around to make sure there weren’t any other problems. Satisfied, I sat back and waved toward the bike.

“All done.”

“Awesome!” Dallas beamed, her face splitting open with sunbeams. “You’re a top rate mechanic.”

“I don’t know about that,” I said with a wry grin. “This was an easy fix. A very easy fix. Not that I mind or anything, but I can’t take any credit.”

She bit her lip and winced comically. “Yikes. It looks like I’m even worse on two wheels than I am on two feet.”

I laughed, and we started heading back into the building. “Are you going to get a bike?” I asked. “A proper one, I mean.”

Dallas closed the door behind her and scowled. “Hey, don’t talk shit about my bike. That bitch and I have been through some shit together.”

“Okay, okay.” I smiled and held the door to the auto shop open for her. She walked past with her head high and her chin stuck out. I had the sudden urge to bend her over my knee and give her a good spanking. There was nothing better than a good girl who craved a little punishment, and I had the feeling Dallas would be the type if I ever got the chance to find out. Not that I would. Pity.

“Your bike is an exceptional example of modern class and engineering,” I continued. “I would be so lucky to mount her.”

Dallas faltered a step as she walked over to the bench. I could only assume it was due to the visual I’d just placed in her head, one that slipped out unintentionally but that I was glad of now. What else did she imagine me mounting? Maybe I did have a chance after all.

I decided to give her a break. I didn’t want to send her into a total tailspin.

“So?” I pushed. “Are you?”

Dallas turned to face me, leaning back against the bench and letting her hair fall forward. I could only assume she was trying to hide her now crimson cheeks. Fuck, she was gorgeous. So innocent and sweet. I would do anything for her, be anything for her if she’d let me.

“I don’t think so,” she replied. “They’re scary.”

“Scary?” I quirked a brow. “You don’t like the taste of danger on your tongue, princess?”

I couldn’t resist. The way her lips parted in response was worth it. I was getting hard just from looking at her, and I knew I was teasing myself more than anything else.

“I like rollercoasters as much as the next person,” Dallas said. “But something about being on a bike seems much more dangerous without even offering the same thrill. I’ve only been on one once, but I was too scared to look up the whole time.” She shrugged. “It’s just not for me, I guess.”

“Well, everyone to their own, I suppose.”

There was a commotion down the hallway, the sound of approaching footsteps. A second later Randall came through the shop doors, already talking to me. “Shane, have you seen my—“

Randall stopped when he saw his daughter and furrowed his brow. “Hey, pumpkin. Wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

Dallas became visibly flustered, shooting forward from her spot on the bench. “Yeah, I came because I was hoping you’d have a look at my bike for me. The chain came off.” She looked over at me, licking a lip nervously. “Uh, Shane fixed it for me though. Apparently, it wasn’t a problem.”

“Did he now?” Randall looked over at me, and I thought for sure there would be disapproval in his gaze. There wasn’t. In fact, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was pleased.

“What were you looking for, Mr. Keane?” I asked.

Randall’s eyes flashed, and he returned to the flustered state he was in when he entered.

“Right! Thank you! My glasses. I cannot find them for the life of me.”

“Last I saw they were on your desk,” I replied.

Randall immediately turned on his heel and marched back out the doors.

“He’s so forgetful,” Dallas said, sounding more concerned than I would have expected her to. She seemed troubled all of a sudden, but by what? Surely it couldn’t be because Randall couldn’t find his glasses.

I never wanted to see this girl worried. I never wanted to see her in pain. An idea came to me, and I let it out without thinking.

“Can I take you out for a ride?”

Dallas blinked in surprise. “Like, on your bike?”

How badly I wanted to reply with something cheeky. Instead, I just nodded.

“Yeah. Show you that it’s not as scary as you think.”

Dallas glanced toward the door. “I should ask my dad.”

At that moment, Randall burst back into the room, glasses atop his head. “Found them,” he announced.

Dallas looked like she was figuring out the best way to broach the question to her father. I just went ahead and asked.

“Mr. Keane, would it be okay if I took your daughter out for a ride?”

Randall looked between the two of us, first stern-faced and then with a small turn of his lips.

“I don’t see why not,” he said. “Don’t be too late though. And no riding like you’re Evil Knievel.”

“Sure thing.” I grinned, elation bubbling in my chest. I couldn’t believe that after all this time, I was getting to spend some legitimate quality time with Dallas. I wanted to go somewhere where there would be no distractions. No Wes. No anything.

Just me, my perfect girl, and the woods.