Page 53 of Broken Breath (Rogue Riders Duet #1)

Her eyes light up. “Oh! That’s where the last race of the season is, isn’t it?”

I nod.

“Maybe when you’re there, your mother could cook a dinner for you and Luc, hmm? Then he could compare, see if I have some competition too. ”

I freeze mid-bite, my smile slipping just a little. “Ah… I don’t have a mom.”

Her face falls, warm expression turning apologetic. “I’m so sorry, I…”

I shake my head quickly. “No, it’s all right. She died when I was a baby. I don’t remember her.”

There’s a soft beat of silence.

élise recovers quickly, her gentle smile returning. “Can your father cook, then?”

From across the table, Dane snorts, making me grin.

“Uh… no. Definitely not.”

élise’s eyes bounce between us, her smile faltering. “ Oh, chéri. I didn’t mean to…” She flutters her hands, flustered. “I keep putting my foot in my mouth tonight, don’t I?”

I wave her off with my fork. “Don’t worry. My family issues aren’t your problem.” I take another bite, groaning again because it’s just that damn good. “This is amazing. Honestly? No one could top this anyway.”

Her smile softens again, and she looks relieved that I let it go. “Luc, he has such good manners.”

Luc snorts. “I don’t give a fuck about manners.”

élise gasps, slapping a dish towel against his shoulder. “Luc!”

Luc grins, leaning closer to me. “Told you she’d like you.”

I finish the last bite of dinner, wiping my mouth with the cloth napkin, and Dane clears his throat before pushing back slightly from the table.

“I don’t want to be rude, this was amazing, really, so good, thanks again. But it’s getting dark, and like I said…”

élise waves him off, smiling warmly. “Of course. You know you’re always welcome here. If you want to come back while you’re in town, you just let me know.”

We shuffle out, Luc trailing behind me with his hand lingering at the small of my back. When we pile into the bus, Otis jumps at the chance to drive again, and the rest of us settle around the small table near the middle of the bus.

The engine rumbles to life beneath us as Otis eases the bus out of the driveway, and I sit back, my head resting lightly against the window as the French countryside rolls past.

But I’m not really looking out the window. I’m watching Dane, who smiles when Piper laughs at something he says, her cheeks still pink and hand brushing lightly against his arm as he leans closer.

I can’t remember the last time I saw him this happy and open. It does something to my chest, making it tighten and swell simultaneously. It hurts in a good way, because I’m happy for him. So damn happy. But I feel guilty that I’m the reason he never took time for himself over the last seven years.

Luc’s hand finds my knee under the table, his thumb drawing soft circles there. I glance at him, and he leans in, his breath warm at my ear when he whispers, “They’re falling for each other.”

A smile tugs at my lips. “I really hope so.”

Luc squeezes my knee gently, then leans back, but the warmth of him stays.

By the time Otis pulls the bus into the pit area, the last streaks of twilight are fading, and most of the other rigs are already settled.

Dane gets up without a word, heading up front to help Otis maneuver into the last available space at the back of the lot. Piper follows him, and I watch them both through the window as they hop out together, Piper pointing at something while Dane gestures toward the tight parking angle.

Luc shifts beside me, rising from the bench, and I feel the pull of it before I even look up.

I start to move, too, pushing back from the table, but before I can fully stand, his hand finds my waist. The warmth of his palm sinks through the fabric of my hoodie, fingers curling just enough to make me forget how to breathe.

He slowly tugs me closer, and my breath stutters, pulse tripping over itself as I glance up, while he’s already leaning in with a soft grin on his lips.

I brace myself for a kiss, but instead, his lips brush against my cheek, featherlight, barely there, but it feels like a detonation as butterflies erupt, scattering wildly beneath my ribs.

“ Bonne nuit, mon Petit, ” Luc murmurs, his voice thicker with something more than his usual charm.

I swallow hard, and it’s a miracle I manage anything at all. “Good night.”

He doesn’t let go right away but lingers close enough that I swear I can feel the brush of his breath at the corner of my mouth, like he might kiss me after all.

Like he’s thinking about it.

I sure am thinking about it.

The tension coils tighter, but then, mercifully, or torturously , he pulls back with a low chuckle, his eyes flicking over me like he knows exactly what kind of mess he’s leaving behind.

And just like that, he strolls out into the night, leaving me standing there, heart hammering against my ribs, warmth still blooming where his lips touched, already missing the weight of his hand on me.

I glare down at my shaking knees and whisper to myself, “Get it together, Crews.”

After a few deep breaths, I walk to the front, grabbing the trophy of my win from Leogang, where it’s still sitting behind the passenger seat. It’s heavier than it should be .

Then, I head to the back, climb into my bunk, and let myself fall back against the thin mattress, the trophy balanced on my stomach, one hand absently stroking its side like it might tell me what comes next.

What the fuck am I even doing with Luc?

I’m not here for him.

But I’m closer to accomplishing what I came here for, aren’t I?

I beat Raine. Fuck, I beat every single one of them.

I let myself feel it, the quiet surge of something close to pride.

This wasn’t luck. It was earned and is mine.

Closing my eyes, I press my fingertips into the cold metal and breathe.

I feel the weight of it in my hand, of the proof.

I’m not the girl Raine almost buried in Snowshoe anymore.

I’m the one crawling out of her grave, bloody and grinning.

Revenge has been the thing in my lungs for so long I forgot what it’s like to breathe anything else, but this is what it tastes like to be close.

To be winning.

I can almost see the end now. I can fucking do this.

I’m almost done hurting.

Almost done with all of it.

A flicker of a crooked grin and a stupid pink bike flash behind my eyelids, and a voice in the back of my mind whispers, What’s with Luc?

The bus creaks as Dane climbs in, making me set the trophy down on the floor under my so-called bed. His footsteps are familiar as he makes his way to the back and slides into his bunk across from mine.

“You feeling any better?” he asks, voice soft in the dim light.

I roll onto my side, propping my head on my arm. “Better. Still aching everywhere, but better. ”

Dane huffs a little laugh. “Yeah, that’s what eight hours of sleep will do for you. You should try that more often.”

I snort, pushing my hair out of my face. “Look who’s talking. How are you feeling?”

He leans his head back against the wall, and for once, there’s color in his face. “Much better.”

I can’t help but grin. “Oh? That anything to do with a certain blonde physio?”

Dane glances over at me. “Probably. She’s pretty cool.”

“She is, huh?” I lift an eyebrow, my grin growing. “You crushing?”

He sighs, running a hand through his hair, but there’s no hiding the little smile that creeps onto his face. “Maybe. She’s nice and funny. I don’t know.”

“Oh, you know ,” I tease. “And she’s totally crushing on you back.”

“I think so, yeah,” he admits, but then his smile fades a little. “But I don’t know if I have the time to start something right now.”

I scoff. “Oh yeah, because looking grumpy and being my overworked manager is so time-consuming.” I let that hang between us before adding something more real.

“Dane, all my life, you’ve done nothing but look out for me.

You’ve given up everything for me and ended your career for me.

Can you please, just once, do something for yourself ?

That girl is wifey material. I can see it.

I can absolutely see you married in a year or two if you let yourself. ”

He’s quiet for several beats before he murmurs softly, “How about this, promise me you’ll be there for that wedding, and I’ll promise to give it a shot.”

Shit.

I ease onto my back again, eyes fixed on the ceiling, swallowing down the lump that rises in my throat. “Dane.”

“No,” he protests, voice firmer now. “We’re doing this. You’re better. I’m better. We’re gonna finally talk this out.”

I close my eyes, bracing for what’s to come.

“Alaina, I saw it today. You’ve got friends, people who care about you. Finn.” I flinch at the name, but he doesn’t seem to notice. “Payne, Piper, Fisher, and Delacroix. Jesus , that guy’s a fucking clown for you.”

I try to brush it off, but the butterflies I’m still carrying from my time with Luc flutter as a smile tugs at my lips. “I guess so.”

“Does he know?”

“Of course not, I’m not crazy.”

Dane snorts. “Oh my God, that’s even funnier.”

“It’s not funny, Dane,” I snap as I sit up and rest my elbows on my knees. “That’s the fucking problem, they don’t know, none of them do. They don’t like me , they like Allen, they’re friends with him , not Alaina.”

Dane watches me for a beat, brows drawn, then shakes his head slowly. “Wrong. Piper knows, and she wants to be your friend anyway, and Finn knows too.”

My heart stutters and then freezes mid-beat.

Fuck.

“He told you?” I ask, trying to keep my voice casual, but it comes out too tight.

Finn wouldn’t have told him about the kiss. Right?

He couldn’t have.

Dane would’ve chewed my ass out by now if he knew. Would’ve pulled the big brother card so fast my head would spin.

“He said you figured out that he guessed it’s you from the start.”

So he did toy with me.

Fuck, that’s embarrassing.

“That’s all he said?” I push carefully .

Dane raises a brow. “Would there be more to tell?”

“Nope,” I say too quickly. “Nothing else.”

His eyes narrow slightly, not quite suspicious but curious.