his heart and pray she still had an ounce of caring in her soul for him. She'd loved him once. Maybe he could show her how to love him again.
He stopped next to his motorcycle. “Let's take a ride. If you tuck your skirt up, you won't get it dirty. Promise."
"You haven't changed a bit.” Megan reached out but pulled her hand away from the bike. “I'll bet you still race these when you get the chance."
"You'd be surprised how much I've changed. I don't get to race the bikes much anymore. I wish I had the resources. I'd love to get back on the motocross circuit for a couple of races here and there.” Tucker eased her hand onto the handlebar. “It won't bite. Do you still trust me?"
"You want the truth? I'll tell you the truth.” With her right hand still under his, Megan fiddled with the buttons on his shirt and smoothed out wrinkles with her left hand. “Do I trust you with my life? Yes. With my heart? Not a chance in hell."
"You've wounded me, but I deserve it.” He plunked his helmet onto her head. “Take a chance and come with me. Please?"
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Chapter Four
* * * *
Megan hesitated another moment before she climbed onto the back of the cycle. Being so close to Tucker probably wasn't her smartest move, but, then again, anything dealing with him seemed to lead to heartbreak.
Tucker grinned. “Give me a sec.” He rummaged through the pack on the back of the bike and withdrew a wrinkled windbreaker. “Arms.” He wrapped the jacket around her and nodded once. “Don't want you to freeze."
"Thank you."
"You'll have to put your arms around me."
"Duh."
He reached forwards then paused. “I've missed you and your smart mouth."
Megan averted her gaze, afraid he'd see the true lust and desire she hid. He lived to cause trouble then leave before the shit hit the fan. She'd stay guarded this time. Had to.
"Cat's got your tongue? I can work with that, too.” He climbed onto the cycle. “Hold on."
The bike jerked as he started the engine. Megan grasped his belt loops and gasped. The scent of gasoline and Tucker's cologne drifted to her. She closed her eyes. He'd asked her to trust him. Fine. Time away would be great. The problems wouldn't fizzle, but the relaxation might do her some good.
Good? Tucker could be so much more than good. Hell, the man had got past the fortifications around her heart so many times she supposed he owned her soul.
But more than once he'd stomped on her heart with concrete shoes.
She opened her eyes. I won't surrender to him. I won't allow him to get to me. The trees and landscape blew by in blurs of greens, yellows and blues. Memories pummelled her brain. Times she'd driven around with Tucker all night. Making love on the hood of his first car. Seeing him win his first feature.
The night he said he didn't love her any longer.
Tears slipped down her cheeks. From the wind? Sure. She'd lie and tell him it was the wind, not her heart splintering all over again.
He came to a stop at a traffic light. “We're almost there.” He turned in his seat and flicked the bug guard up on the helmet. His shoulders slumped. “You're crying."
"Just drive.” If she said more, the second wave of tears she was holding at bay would rush down her cheeks.
Tucker sped down the two lane highway to a gravel road. Dust swirled in their wake as he peeled down the stony path. Pole lights towered over a dip in the landscape. Her breath wrenched from her throat as they came to a stop.
"The best place on earth to unwind and find yourself. Works for me every time.” Tucker stood and helped her off the bike. “Nice little rumble between your legs, too, wasn't it?"
"You would think about sex right now."
"Took the edge off, didn't it?” Mischief and something hotter burned in his eyes.
"It did.” Megan unfastened the buckle under her chin and dangled the helmet from one of the handlebars. “This is your roots."
She eased off the bike and walked towards the outer edge of the