Cheri got up to ready herself for work, feeling like she had risen from a dream, as if the night before was just a continuation of all her fantasies about Thomas. In that dream, he was the Adam to her Eve, tempting her with an apple. She was startled, considering that very lucid dream, that she awoke feeling as intensely content and rested as she had from her catnap before their date. All the insecurity and wondering about their past relationship was vanquished, and Thomas and she had managed to share a fantastic moment. There was nothing to be afraid of after all, and they really, truly shared with one another. That, in and of itself, was a dream all its own.
She glided through her morning, which seemed to be extraordinarily sunlit. Considering the recent bad weather, it was a wonderful respite. The second day in a row of movie-set perfect temperatures and humidity, without so much as one cloud in the D.C. sky. It was so perfect that she almost wished she had saved her call-off for that day instead of the day before; it seemed like such a waste to spend it indoors, in the office.
Cheri slipped into her skirt suit, then slid her feet into her trusty Converse for her walk to work. She got as far as the edge of her walkway before she heard the unmistakable growl, the rumbling of that Harley Davidson that she knew carried the world’s sexiest biker. “Good morning,” she said, shaking her head and grinning. She slumped with pretend frustration but inside she was doing cartwheels, completely thrilled to see him. There was no contest: Thomas was always the greatest of surprises.
“Good morning yourself,” he said with a smile, slowly rolling to a stop. “It’s a gorgeous day. Call in sick and come ride with me.”
“Did you forget I was off yesterday?” she said, arching a brow at him, but she already knew it would only be a matter of time before he talked her into it.
“I didn’t forget. I just don’t care. It’s awesome out, and we’ve wasted too much time already. Ride with me atop my steel horse, milady,” he said. “Or…my friend.”
“I wish I could.”
“And your wish is my command. Besides, the way I see it, you kinda owe me,” he said mischievously.
“Explain yourself, Mr. Graham.”
“You wasted part of your day off yesterday with a handyman who’s not licensed, and considered giving him work you should be giving to me,” he replied. “If you had been reasonable and just let me do the work, we could have been riding yesterday.”
“What about your job?” she asked. “I can’t imagine you can possibly be offsite for so long. Who will be there to keep those whistling flagmen in check?”
“My guys think like I do, and they know what to do. Things will go fine for a couple hours while you and I seize the day,” he said.
“I can’t,” she said with genuine regret, as it almost killed her to turn him down. “I gotta be responsible, be a grownup, and I’ve got bills to pay.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” he said, pretending to pout. It was damn sexy. “You know we don’t get many chances like this. We won’t remember any random day on the clock, but I guarantee we’ll remember playing hooky and going for a bike ride.” He looked to the ground, his chromed glasses reflecting the scenery around them; somehow, even with those lenses shading his eyes, he managed to look disgruntled and sad. “Then again, you know me. I mind my own business,” he added.
Cheri burst out laughing. She had no idea whether he was trying to be funny or not, but she found what he said hysterical. She laughed so hard that she couldn’t even move for a good minute.
“What’s so funny?”
“You, Mr. Graham, never mind your own business,” she retorted, chuckling again.
Even though she was trying to make light of it, her words were more than he could take. “Fine. You win. I’ll go.”
Cheri didn’t have the nerve to turn him down, so she quickly let up and reversed her decision. She felt insecure about calling in, but she had a good enough reputation at work that she could not see catching too much heat for another day off. The only one who would have anything to say about it was that awful Marlene, and that woman was not her superior. Fortunately for her, the rain had caused massive devastation in parts of the city and surrounding areas, so it was not so unbelievable that she would have to call in one more day. “Ugh, okay,” she said. “I guess I can make up a lie for work, but I don’t feel really great about it. They’ve been good to me.”
He held up his pinky finger. “Pinky swear,” he said. “If anything happens at work because of this, I’ll cover you.”
Cheri did a double-take. “A pinky swear? Gee, how masculine of you,” she teased.
“You, of all people, can vouch for my virility,” he noted in his sexiest tone.
Her deep blush was her answer, but he was sure of himself already. Arousal was thick between them, and they could hardly move because of it.
Cheri was riding a high herself, but she knew she had to move; she couldn’t exactly mount his Harley in that business suit of hers. “Let me go change,” she said, coming to.
“Hey, are you gonna let me fix that leak of yours or what?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes. “Um, I’m not sure how we go from changing clothes to working for me, but no, Thomas,” she said. “I’ve already hired someone else. Let’s just focus on your bicycle built for two.”
“Can I kick that guy’s ass if he makes a mistake?” he asked.
She giggled. “No one is gonna kick anyone’s ass, Thomas. I’ll be right down.” She turned, then rushed inside to find some proper riding attire. Thomas caught her as she spun, and there was no resisting the physical reaction that surged through her body when he touched her. She wanted to warn him that he had to let her go or they would never leave her house, but she knew talking like that would only cause them worse trouble. “Excuse me,” she whispered.
“I’ll be outside, waiting,” he promised.