do you know about it?”
“I’ve been riding for years, beautiful.” The look he gave her implied he was talking about more than just motorcycles.
The sexy bastard was trying to wear her down, and she was ashamed to admit it was working. “Is that so?” She folded her arms under her breasts. “That makes you an expert?”
He stepped closer, totally invading her personal space, while he backed her against the corner of the bar. “Yeah, I’d say that makes me an expert.”
“Why do you care so much what I do?”
He seemed to consider the question for a minute before he said, “No idea.”
At least he was being honest. “I really don’t mind riding the bike home,” she said, thinking it was worth one more shot before she caved.
“Yeah, well, I mind.” He grabbed the helmet from her, grinning to melt her resolve.
It was those damn dimples that finally did her in. If not for them, she would have told him where to shove that helmet. “Fine. I guess I can hitch a ride with my roommate in the morning.”
“You have a roommate?” he asked, threading his hand through hers as they walked to the door.
It was weird for her to feel safe and protected with a man. Probably because most of the guys she’d dated were only tough when they were packing, but Rowan’s hands were strong, skilled, and gentle all at the same time.
“Yeah, we work together at the kickboxing studio.”
“Male or female?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow at her before opening the door so she could precede him through it.
“Female. Why?”
“Just curious.”
“She works the front desk at the club,” she explained. “That’s how we met. She was dating my brother Walker for a while, but that didn’t work out. I warned her it wouldn’t. I love my brother, but he’s a real player.” She didn’t know why she was confiding in him. She only knew that she wanted to get to know him better, which meant letting him get to know her.
He opened the passenger door of his shiny black Hummer and waited until she had her seat belt fastened.
“Your mother raised you right,” she said, smiling. “I didn’t expect you to be such a gentleman.” Something flashed in his eyes, and she immediately wished she could retract those words. “Sorry.”
“No worries.” He tossed her helmet into the backseat. “My mother didn’t really raise me though. My dad did.”
“She wasn’t a deadbeat like my old man, was she?” His jaw tightened, and she realized she’d put her foot in her mouth again. Suddenly her size six shoe felt like a ten.
“No, she died.”
“I’m sorry, Rowan.” She touched his cheek, savoring the feel of his stubble against her palm. “I didn’t mean—”
He leaned in and grabbed the back of her head while sweeping his tongue inside her mouth. He didn’t hesitate or ask permission. He just saw what he wanted and went for it.
Definitely my kind of man.
Tenley wrapped her free arm around his neck, pulling him closer as she moaned into his mouth. Damn. If one kiss got her this hot, she’d been relying on her plastic partner for too long.
“Damn, girl,” he said, resting his forehead against hers while they both caught their breath. “One more kiss like that, and I’ll have to take you back to my place instead.”
She wouldn’t object either, which was exactly why she should hold out. She wasn’t looking for a relationship, but she wanted a little more than a pump-and-dump with this guy.
She patted his muscular chest, smiling. “Let’s save that for another night. Assuming there will be another night?”
“You better believe there will be, baby. You and me, we’re just getting started.”
***
After another scorching kiss and promise to call, Rowan left Tenley wanting more, which she was sure had been his intent. She wasn’t the type of girl to sit by the phone, wondering whether a guy would call, but she had turned the ringer up on her cell before she left the apartment. Just in