Page 73 of Defending You

She watched the world pass by, a blur of green and brown. As they passed into Maine, it seemed like they left civilization behind. The narrow two-lane road was hardly interrupted by towns or stop lights or stores.

They were in the middle of nowhere when lightning cracked overhead.

Cici felt more than heard Asher’s frustrated exclamation. He slowed and pulled off the road, down a rain gully and into the forest, where he cut the engine.

“What are we doing?” She had to shout to be heard over the rain.

“Trying not to die. Hop off.”

She did, then removed her helmet. At least the foliage overhead blocked some of the rain, though it was coming down harder than she’d realized, plopping against her poncho, soaking the motorcycle seat.

Asher followed suit, yanking his own helmet off. He was mostly hidden behind the yellow plastic poncho, only his face and the lower parts of his legs showing.

Somehow, he made even that look good.

“I guess this is hard to drive in.” Sort of a lame observation on her part.

“Youguess?”

She decided to ignore his sarcasm. “What do we do? Wait it out?”

Sighing, he pulled out one of the burners and powered it up. It reminded her…

“We need to call Alyssa.”

“And Bartlett, but let’s wait until we’re somewhere a little less drenched.” He returned his focus to his phone, checking the weather app.

Since she didn’t think he’d appreciate her looking over his shoulder, she watched his expression. His annoyance didn’t fade. If anything, the little furrow between his eyebrows grew deeper.

“I take it the news isn’t good?”

“Thunderstorms and heavy rain for a couple more hours. In fact, according to the radar, what you said earlier is true. The heavy stuff hasn’t even started.”

She hated the thought of riding in this terrible weather all the way to Shadow Cove, but they were so close.

She’d be safe when they got to her parents’ house. She could turn over The Crimson Duchess, knowing she’d done something heroic and admirable, something her family could be proud of.

And Asher could drop her off and be on his way.

As eager as she was to be finished with this adventure, the thought of never seeing him again brought a twinge of sadness.

Maybe more than atwinge.

He was looking at something on his phone, but he’d shifted so she couldn’t tell what.

Finally, he settled his helmet back on his head. “Let’s go.”

“We’re riding through it?”

As if to offer its opinion, thunder rumbled.

Asher looked toward the sound, then shook his head. “I can hardly see. The point is to keep you safe, not get us both killed.”

“So where are we going?”

His lips twitched at the corners. “Camping.”

Camping? Cici liked the outdoors as much as the next girl—as long as the next girl hated camping.