Tears of Tess Read Online Free PDF

building colleague, encouraged Brax to join the local motorcycle group. Brax
tried, and promptly said no, which I was super happy about, as driving without
doors and a roof freaked me out.
    Brax
rolled his eyes, tapping the signature bit of my contract. Sticking my tongue
out, I signed.
    The
concierge beamed and walked around the desk. We were in the lobby, and more
guests had arrived, a wave of shuffling bags and smiles. The soft murmur of excitement
weaved around us, layered with holiday vibes. 
    “Follow
me, please.” The concierge, in his crisp white shirt and bright orange
waistcoat, led the way.
    Maybe
it wasn’t such a bad idea. Hell, we might even get off the beaten tourist track
and find something local and new.
    I
looped my arm through Brax’s, doubly glad I’d put on leggings and my large
cream t-shirt today. The outfit offered the best protection of all the clothes
I packed. I hoped the frail fabrics would safeguard if we happened to topple. 
    We
followed the concierge out of the hotel and into the basement car park. He
unlocked a canary yellow scooter and retrieved two helmets. “Please make sure
you keep these with you at all times. It’s a one hundred dollar fine if you
lose them.”
    Brax
nodded, fastening mine with dexterous fingers. His touch sent my heart
thrumming. Giving me a soft smile, he fastened his own helmet and straddled the
bike.
    I
stood there, feeling like a ridiculous, overripe pineapple. The helmet weighed
a ton.
    The
concierge handed me an A4 map, and drew a red oval, which I assumed was the
hotel.
    “This
is where you are.” His minty breath wafted over me as he leaned closer,
stabbing the map. “If you get lost, ask a policeman for directions. They are
all over the city. And don’t separate. It’s best to stay together.”
    My
pulse thudded a little. Policemen lurked thick in this city. Not only lurked,
but loitered on street corners with weapons and guns. Were the Mexican citizens
so ruthless and dangerous?
    Don’t
answer that. Especially when we were about to
explore on a contraption offering no safety whatsoever.
    Brax
patted the seat behind him; I smiled weakly. Throwing my leg over, I rested my
feet on the little stirrups and wrapped my arms around his torso like a python.
    Chuckling,
he turned on the ignition and tested the throttle. “You won’t fall off with the
death grip you have, hun.”
    That
was the plan. I kissed his neck, loving his shiver. “I trust you.” I tried to
convince myself, as much as Brax.
    The
concierge smiled and left us to it. Brax eased off the clutch and we shot
forward. My stomach failed to catch up, but after kangaroo hopping a few times,
Brax wrangled the bike into submission. 
    “Ready?”
he said over a shoulder.
    Lying,
I spoke into his ear, “Yep.”
    We
travelled out of the gloomy parking garage and into the blazing mid-morning
sunshine. Even with dirty streets, Cancun reminded me of a vibrant party. 
    Brax
put his feet down, stabilizing the bike as we stopped on the edge of the busy
road. His heart thumped under my arms, concentration making his shoulders
tight.
    We
watched as speedsters, crazy pedestrians, and vehicles painted in more colours
than the rainbow shot past. For the hundredth time, I wondered just how crash
hot this idea was.
    “Which
way, Tessie? Left or right?”
    I
swivelled my head, wrinkling my nose. No break came in the traffic from either
direction. North, south, east, west—it didn’t matter when everything looked as
death-filled and as foreign as the other.
    Impulsively,
I said, “Right.” Please, let us return to the hotel in one piece!
    Brax
nodded, scratching his chin where the strap of the helmet strangled him. He
rolled forward, his flip-flopped feet slapping on hot pavement. The bike
wobbled while we waited a good ten minutes for courage to join the swarming
mass of craziness.
    I
wanted to suggest flagging, and head to the pool—
    “Hold
on!” Brax sucked in his abs and twisted the