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“I don’t know. I um…”

“Don’t go getting in your head about it.” I could still feel the weight of his eyes on me, and it was making my pulse race. His grin didn’t falter as he said, “It’s just a ride. It can be as long or as short as you want it to be.”

It seemed simple enough. It was just a ride. No expectations. No pressure. And a piece of me found the idea thrilling. I’d never done anything like it before. In all honesty, I’d never really spent time with a man because I wanted to.

Dimitri had never taken me on dates or whisked me away for a long weekend. Our time was structured and controlled. He never cared what I wanted. It was always on his terms.

This was different.He wasn’t telling me. He wasasking me.

And that had my heart nearly beating out of my chest.

Because the choice was mine.

All mine.And God help me, Iwantedto say yes.

I tried my best to keep my emotions hidden as I looked back over to him and asked, “And when would we go on this ride?”

“That’d be your call.” He gave me a slight shrug. “Cause if it was up to me, I’d say we go right now.”

“But isn’t Sergei waiting on you?”

“He is, and if I had to guess, I’d say he’s biting at the bit.”

“I’m sure he is,” I giggled. “If my son is anything, it’s impatient.”

“Then, maybe I can teach him a little grace.”

“By making him wait even longer.”

“Oh, I’m not the one making him wait.”

It took me a second to understand what he meant, but when he raised his eyebrows, I knew. “Woah, how is this on me?”

“You’re the one who hasn’t told me when we’re going on that ride. As soon as you do, I’ll head inside.”

“That sounds a littleblackmailish.”

“I like to think of it as a negotiation tactic.”

“Oh, you’re good.”

He grinned wider and cocked his head, but he didn’t say anything. He was waiting for me to give him an answer, so I gave him one. “Okay, then. Let’s negotiate.”

“Okay. I’m all ears.”

“I could really use a hand around here, so you come help me out and for every hour you work, I’ll spend one out riding with you on your motorcycle.”

“So, a trade?”

“Yeah, you could call it that.”

“Okay, but I’m not shoveling shit.”

“Not the kind of help I need.”

“Alright, then. I’d say you got yourself a deal.”

“Great.” I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and it both excited and terrified me at the same time. “Can you be here around noon tomorrow?”