Page 11 of Hello Trouble

HAYES

It was a perfect night to take the Harley out for a ride. Spring was finally starting to give us some warmer days, and the sunset burned the horizon like the painter in the sky forgot to use pastels today.

I drove around dirt roads outside of town until the sun set and then took the bike slow down the side streets in Cottonwood Falls, listening to nothing but the hum of the motor and the rush of wind over my helmet.

A few people were sitting on their front porches doused in soft golden overhead lights, but not many. The sidewalks were empty until I saw a tuft of familiar red hair shining like a beacon in the dark and the swing of hips under flowy floral material.

What the fuck was Della doing walking around town after dark? And over a mile away from her house?

I slowed down next to her and flipped back the shield on my helmet. Then I killed the engine so she could hear me. “Couldn’t remember the tow truck’s number?” I called over to her.

She stopped and turned to me, an exhausted expression on her features. “God, I wish that was it.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Care to explain?”

“No.”

Wow, Moonshine was really not in a good mood. Something must have happened tonight, and a strange urge to incapacitate anything or anyone that upset her overwhelmed me. Taking a deep breath, I said, “Then care for a ride?”

Now she raised her eyebrows at me. “You’re kidding, right?”

I pulled off my helmet. “You can wear the helmet, and we won’t go over twenty. Most you can get is a lady boner from riding on such a sexy bike.”

She snorted, then covered her mouth. “Did you just tell me I’ll get a ‘lady boner’ from riding your motorcycle?”

I dipped my head in answer.

Her lips twitched. “Unfortunately, that’s not covered by insurance.”

“I won’t charge,” I retorted. “Now get your ass on the bike. I know you’re not walking all the way home in those shoes.”

She glanced in the direction of her life-size version of a dollhouse and then back to me. “Promise you won’t go over twenty?”

“Cross my heart.”

“And you’ll stop at every stop sign?”

“And hope to die,” I replied.

She let out a sigh. “Guess there’s a first time for everything.”

I passed her the helmet, but soon she realized she couldn’t pull it over her head with that bun sticking up. So she groaned and undid the knot, letting her curls flare wildly around her face. The way she looked went straight to my cock, so I tore my eyes away.

“Don’t say a word,” she huffed, pulling the helmet over her head. The ends of her hair stuck out under the red and black helmet, and I had to smile at her with the middle finger sticker on the side of her head.

“I didn’t say anything,” I replied, trying and failing to fight my smile. “Now get on.”

She placed her palm on my shoulder, the spot heating instantly under her touch. The bike shifted as she threw her leg over and then placed her feet on the foot pegs behind mine.

“Can I hold on to you?” she asked.

“Depends on where,” I teased over my shoulder. “The lower the better.”

She rolled her eyes and put her hands around my solid middle. Something about her soft hands and forearms sent my blood thrumming. That was until she pressed her full chest to my back. And damn, if anyone was getting a boner, it wasn’t her, and it wasn’t because of the bike.

I took a breath and did my old trick of listing off the parts of an engine to keep my mind from picturing her riding me on this bike.

Pistons...

Valve spring...

Spark plugs...

And it took a little of the edge off as I kicked the bike into gear and took off down the street.

She shrieked just loud enough for me to hear and gripped me tighter, and it took all I had not to push the bike to the max and get Della holding on to me with all her strength.

But I kept my promise, going under twenty until Della’s house came into view. I navigated the bike to park behind her car, uncomfortable at the squeeze in my chest at our ride being over.

Regardless of my feelings, I waited as she stepped off, balancing herself on the gravel. Then I got off the bike, putting the kickstand in place. I turned just in time to see her step back and tugged the helmet straight off her head.

Her hair expanded in a giant poof, and I held back a laugh, despite my eyes shining with a smile.

“You suck,” Della huffed, smoothing her hair. She bent over and used gravity to pull her hair into a knot atop her head.

I watched in fascination as her shirt slid up, showing a sliver of her pale lower back. Her leggings were just sheer enough to see the outline of her thong underneath. I bit down on my lip, hard.

Camshaft...

Timing belt...

Oil filter...

She stood up straight, cheeks pink with blood flow. “Thank you for the ride. It wasn’t as bad as I expected.”

“That’s what every guy wants to hear,” I returned with a smirk.

She shook her head at me with a smile. “Can I get you a drink, as a thank you?” she suggested, nodding toward her house.

And even though I really wanted a drink and to see where things could lead, I had standards of my own.

Standards that included not fucking your sister-in-law’s love-obsessed best friend and pissing off everyone in the family when it didn’t end well.

“I better not,” I finally said, taking the helmet back from her. “But call me next time you need a not-so-bad ride.” I couldn’t help the wink I added at the end.

Her laugh did strange things to my chest, like it always did. “Will do. Goodnight, Hayes Madigan.”

“Goodnight, Moonshine.”

I waited until she was safely inside her house to rev my engine and head the motorcycle back toward home. I was getting a major hard-on, and the bike’s vibration wasn’t helping at all.

Usually when I got to feeling like this, I’d go through my phone, find someone to come over and meet the need humming through my veins. But that felt wrong, knowing I’d be thinking of Della’s breasts pressed to my back the entire time.

So I walked my happy ass to my room and took care of myself, dangerously thinking it would be better with Della instead.