Page 91 of Lucas

I want to cling to him and never let go. “Where are you injured?”

“I’m fine,” I say.

“Your hand.” He leans over me, inspecting the ugly scrape on my palm where I broke my fall.

“It’s just a scrape,” I say between sniffles.

He blows cool air on the wound with surprising gentleness. “I think you’ll survive. Good thing I made you wear those pads.”

I laugh. And cry. And laugh.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“About what?”

“About what just happened here? Because I’m guessing it’s not about this fall.”

I shake my head.

“Okay.” He stands and extends his hand, pulling me back to my feet. “Do you want to keep going?”

“No. I can’t.”

“You’re not hurt.”

“I just can’t. I’ll never get it.” I shake my head.

He grips my chin, tilting my face up to meet his eyes. “Ava. You finished college, earned degrees, you’re a CEO. You married me to save your company, and you fought me to save your employees. You didn’t get where you are by giving up. Right, Ava?”

My heart races.

“I won’t let you give up on yourself. You’re strong, you’re amazing, and you’re going to leave here knowing how to ride. Are you hearing me?”

I nod.

“Now get back on and show that bike who’s boss.”

After a few more tries, with Lucas cheering me on the whole time, it clicks. I’m riding, and I can’t fathom why I ever found it difficult before. I turn around and pedal back to Lucas. “I’m riding!” I yell to him.

He grins, waiting for me to reach him.

“Yeah, you are.” His voice is low as I come to a stop beside him. “I told you you’d leave here knowing how to ride.”

I smile so wide my cheeks ache. I remove my helmet and hang it on the handlebars, then my pads.

“Thank you, Lucas. You have no idea how much this meant to me.” I throw my arms around him, burying my face in his broad chest.

I don’t want to break this embrace.

His scent envelops me, clean and masculine. And my body tingles. We’re pressed together, and still, it’s not enough. I want him on top of me, inside me. I inch even closer, slipping my hands under his shirt to caress his warm skin.

He feels so good, so right.

I tilt my face up and meet his smoldering gaze.

“Ava?”

“Hmm?”