CHAPTER 14
She couldn’t get out of the firehouse fast enough. How would she ever live this down? Worse, how could she ever look Parker in the eye again? She’d completely lost it last night. And then begged him for a pity fuck. Completely selfish of her. Not to mention pathetic.
And what had he done?
Fucked her brains out beautifully. Magically. And told her he loved her. It was all more than she could handle right now. Christ, what a fucked-up mess. Why couldn’t she manage a simple relationship?
Giving herself a shake, she hopped on her bike and rode the two blocks to Main Street where the truck was set up in front of the park.
“Where’s your helmet young lady?” her mother called out as she stepped out of the truck.
Cassie rolled her eyes as she parked the bike. “Calm down, ma, it was only two blocks.”
“I don’t care how far it is,” she said sharply, her voice laced with concern. “Your head would still lose a battle with the pavement. Or a car.”
“Fine. I’ll wear it next time. I always wear it on the road.”
Dottie’s face softened, and she wrapped Cassie in a hug. In spite of her mother’s overbearing nature, she was the best hugger. Plump and squishy. Strong arms offering a soft place to land. Cassie settled into her mother’s embrace. This was why she’d come home. Her mother couldn’t make anything better, but her hugs helped. As did her food. “Can I have a special breakfast?”
“Of course, Sweetie-Pie. Jamey’s making it this morning. Bacon breakfast hash with green chile and a fried egg.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Dottie stepped back, giving her a hard look. “You have a hard night last night?”
Heat crawled up the back of Cassie’s neck, and her chest suddenly felt tight. “Just tired, Ma. Yesterday was a long day.”
Her mother’s eyes crinkled. “Sure was. Make sure you get some rest okay? You’re dad’s out in the south pasture mending fences today. Take him lunch when you join him?”
So like her mom. She’d never rest until everyone had a full belly. She nodded and took a seat in one of the camp chairs set up behind the truck. A few minutes later, Dottie brought her a plate.
Cassie ate quickly. Shift change was over, and Parker would be heading back to the Hansen ranch to put in a full day’s work over there. According to her mother, he stopped by the food truck most mornings. She couldn’t face him until she’d had some time to process last night. And get a grip on her nightmares. Last night’s had been particularly bad. Probably because of the stress of the Fourth. But what if it wasn’t? What if she was slowly going crazy?
She crumpled her plate and tossed it in the garbage. She’d come back for her dad’s lunch after a nice long ride. Needed the concentration riding demanded and the thrill of the rushing wind. She needed it today like she needed oxygen.
Giving her mother a wave once she’d tucked her hair into her helmet, she fired up her bike and slowly rolled out of town. As soon as she’d passed the city limits, she ducked down and rolled the throttle, letting the bike open up. Something deep in her gut hooked into place as she zoomed ahead, brown hills flying by in a blur. Right now, there was only her and the winding road in front of her. It was early enough in the day, her favorite route would be empty except for the occasional local truck, but she could easily zip around them.
The only thing better would be flying. But she’d be back in the cockpit in two more weeks for a weekend of training missions. She liked her new team. The crew chief was the only one besides her who’d done time in the sandbox, and they’d quickly meshed. Her co-pilot was on her first assignment out of Ft. Rucker. Green, but smart. And Cassie was thrilled to have another woman on board.
She downshifted and leaned into a sharp turn, knee almost scraping the asphalt. God, she loved how this bike handled. For the sheer joy of it, she popped a wheelie and increased her speed, roaring down the road. Speed didn’t matter on these rides, although she was probably going twice the posted speed limit. When she’d ridden to the point where her mind calmed, she slowed and pulled off on the shoulder. Normally, she didn’t stop, but it was a beautiful morning, and still relatively early. Not too hot or humid, and she just wanted a moment to breathe and listen to the birds.
Cassie pulled off her helmet and turned her face into the sun. The breeze kissed her cheeks. Definitely no more than five knots. Perfect conditions for flying. Takeoff would be effortless on a morning like this. Shutting her eyes, she let her head fall back and breathed deeply. God, what she’d give to be on the flight line this morning.
The air was soft.
So gentle, a feather could float suspended, flitting and curlicuing its way to earth where it would land with the lightness of a sigh.
In air like this, there was no rush. No marking of time. Only this moment, silent and beautiful. Peace stole over Cassie, settling on her like a gossamer cloak.
She had no idea how long she stood there, completely at ease, drinking in the air. Her reverie shattered when a passing truck backfired. And just like that, she fell back to earth, weighted down by all that had transpired overnight. Tucking her hair inside her helmet, she hopped on her bike again. Turning and giving the little area a final look, she fired up Sally and with a wheelie, sped off back toward Prairie.
The bike chewed up the miles as the sun rose higher, heating her under her leathers. Sweat began to pool at the back of her neck. A bead of sweat erupted at her temple and ran into her eye. In the span of time it took to shake the drop away, all hell broke loose.
Cassie came careening around a bend, then opened up as she always did on the straightaway. Only this time, a large truck and trailer blocked the road a short distance in front of her.
“Fuuuuuck,” she hissed as she checklisted her options in very quick succession. None of them good. Everything slowed.
She didn’t have enough time to bring the bike to a stop.
No ramp to use to jump over the obstacle.
There might be a small patch of road in front of the truck, but the dirt was soft, she’d flip the bike.
The trailer and truck were too low to the ground to attempt a slide under.
That left one thing.
Ditching the bike.
She was fucked.
All senses clicking into hyper focus, she quickly assessed the right side of the road had more vegetation to break her fall. If she shed most of the speed before she ditched it, maybe the bike wouldn’t be too beat up. And if she aimed for the trailer she might survive through the crash into thin metal so the driver could chew her only one new asshole instead of three for hitting something more substantial.
She glanced down. 7,000rpms. This would be a hard landing. Sorry, Sally. Offering a silent prayer as she hit the back brake and pulled the clutch, starting the skid. As she barreled closer to the trailer, she turned the wheel hard, dropped the clutch and throttled back, drifting the bike and dropping it. As the bike lay down she pushed with all she had, leaping away and toward the ditch, curling into a ball and tucking her shoulder, she braced for impact.
The landing knocked the wind out of her, and she rolled, once, twice, three times. At the same time, she registered the scrape of metal against asphalt and the crash of impact.
“Crap.”
Cassie shut her eyes, head falling back, and she quickly scanned her body, starting first by wiggling her fingers and toes. Check. No spinal injury. She would be in a world of hurt tomorrow, though. Her ears rang, and her blood pounded in her head.
Maybe she should lie here a minute before she tried to get up. Bring her heart rate back to normal. She circled her wrists and ankles, then moved her elbows. Still okay. Bracing a hand on the ground, she pulled herself to sitting.
Her body scan came to an abrupt halt when a man, presumably the owner of the truck, crouched over her, shouting. “Cassidy? What. The. Ever. Loving. FUCK?”
Staring down at her with a murderous expression, was none other than Travis Kincaid.