Page 20 of Mac (Demented Souls #7)

She walked back and forth for a minute, her lips rolled as if she were biting them.

Mac had to bite back a laugh. It was funny but not really.

He remembered his first long ride and knew she was stiff and a little sore now, but it would only be worse by the time they made it home, not to mention tomorrow after everything had stiffened and become even more sensitive.

Still, her next ride wouldn't be so bad. Assuming she went on another.

"Come on, let's go inside." He carried his helmet with him and took hers on their way, sticking it under his arm before opening the door so she could go in before him.

Inside they found a table with no problem. The place was one large room with tables scattered throughout, only about half of them full. Large screen TV's lined the wall near the ceiling with football, hockey and NASCAR playing along with a few things he didn't take the time to identify right away.

"I'll hold the table if you want to use the restroom," he pointed out the direction to Elyse as he set one helmet in the empty chair beside him and the other on the table in front of it. There were four seats at the table, and Elyse had already pulled out the chair directly opposite his.

"Oh, thanks! I'll do that." She pushed her chair back in before taking off.

Mac glanced around and a waitress in a black t-shirt bearing the restaurant logo and jeans moved from table to table. She caught him watching her and spoke up.

"Thanks for coming in, I'll be right there." She smiled a friendly smile then hurried off to deliver the beer on her tray.

"No hurry." He smiled back. He really was in no hurry.

The longer they took here, the longer Elyse got a break from the bike, and he knew she could use one.

They were a little over halfway through their trip and experience had taught him that even an hour would help how she was feeling by the time they got home.

Elyse had just come back, sat across from him and let out a big sigh when the waitress appeared next to their table with two glasses of water and a pair of menus. She must have seen them come in, because she hadn't had time to grab both since Elyse's return.

"Thank you," Elyse said as she took the menu and scanned it.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" the waitress offered.

"Just water for me, thanks."

"The same for me," Elyse said with a smile.

"No problem, I'll give you a few minutes to look over the menus then I'll be back, all right?"

"Sounds good."

Mac stayed quiet and just watched the two of them talk, he'd always been a bit of a people watcher, but he enjoyed the spark Elyse seemed to get when she talked to people. It was more than just entertaining, it was entrancing.

"What?" Elyse asked after the waitress had walked away.

"Nothing, just watching you."

"Why? Do I have dirt on my face? I know my hair's a little flat from the helmet."

"Not at all. You look great. I just like watching you, that's all."

"That doesn't sound creepy at all." She shot him a playful look to let him know she was only teasing.

Mac acted like he was going to kick her under the table but didn't make contact. "Imp."

Elyse only grinned and went back to looking over the menu.

"If you want a beer, or something stronger, don't let me hold you back. I'm driving, but you're free to have something if you like."

"I'm okay with water. The ride's made me a little dry anyway." She was quiet a moment. "Have you been here before? What's good?"

"A couple times, and everything I've tried so far."

They discussed the options for a moment then the waitress appeared, and they placed their orders, she let them know it shouldn't be long and headed off to turn in their order and take care of another table. Mac watched her go then turned back to Elyse.

"So, what do you think of the ride so far?"

"It's been fun. Not exactly what I expected but still fun."

"What were you expecting?"

Her cheeks turned red. "I don't know. I guess I always assumed that motorcycles roamed in packs and there would be half a dozen or more thundering down the highway." She looked away, then down at where her arms sat folded on the edge of the table.

Mac chuckled. "We do that too. Mostly just for club events though. Most of the time it's just two or three of us who want to get out for a while."

"But not today?"

"Not today." He couldn't resist repeating her words. "Today I just wanted to ride with you." He quit talking, waiting to see how she would respond, if she did.

Her gaze lifted to meet his and her lifted brows told him he'd surprised her.

"Me?"

"You."

It seemed like she didn't know what to say because she looked away, then up at the TVs behind him a moment before speaking again.

"How often do you do this?"

"Come over here or go for a ride?"

"Both."She frowned.

"I ride frequently, short rides around town, mostly. But I do longer rides, several hours about once a month. Sometimes more often, sometimes less. It depends on what's going on, what the club's got going, how busy I am and how badly I need to get right with the world."

"Get right with the world?" She kept frowning and tipped her head to one side.

Mac shrugged, not entirely sure how to explain it.

"Riding is kind of a Zen thing, but not.

I love the wind on my face, the feel of the bike and the highway.

Most of the time, it lets me think in a way I have a hard time doing anywhere else.

I can work out my problems, or forget them, as I need to.

I guess, for lack of a better term, you could say my bike is my happy place.

" He shrugged. "Not that I buy into all that bull shit, but you get the idea. "

"I do. After having ridden with you, I understand it more than I would have before.

I have a place like that, it's not on a bike, but I get it.

I builtmy own happy place at home. I turned my smallest bedroom into my library and reading room.

" One side of her mouth drew up into a wry half-smile.

"It's where I can always find happy, it's also where I go to escape, the irony of that has not escaped me.

" An odd light in her eyes made him wonder what she was thinking about.

"An escape isn't all bad." Mac picked up his water and took a sip before setting the glass back down. "Riding is a kind of escape too. It's a physical distancing of myself from whatever it is, where yours is more of a mental distancing, but our happy places have a lot in common."

She stared at him for the space of several breaths and Mac wasn't sure if she was trying to figure out if he was being honest or if she was considering what he'd said. Either way, she smiled after a moment and ducked her head a moment before looking back up and meeting his gaze.

"I guess that's true. I'm glad you offered to bring me on your escape this time though. I am having a good time with you."

"Despite how bad it hurts?"

Elyse gave a small laugh as a blush crept up her face. "Yeah, even with the hurting."

"You might want to reserve judgement on that. We still have a couple hours ride left before we're done."

She let out a low groan. "No, let me say it now, because I might change my mind after that.

I am enjoying the trip and getting to know you better.

" She reached across the table and picked up his hand.

Turning his large paw over in her much smaller fingers, he couldn't help but notice how soft and delicate her hand looked cradling his.

"There's a lot more to you than just a mechanic or a biker, even if it took me longer than it should have to figure it out.

I'm glad I'm figuring it out now." She used one index finger to draw circles in his palm while still cradling his hand with her other.

The sensation sent sparks of heat through him and his cock stirred.

Dow boy, he told the wayward part of his anatomy.

This isn't the time or the place. He could only hope things would happen in the right time and place.

Something about Elyse told him she would be everything he'd ever hoped for in bed.

Sometimes prim, proper and sweet, sometimes hot, wild and demanding.

If she wanted him even half as much as he wanted her, then more than sparks would fly if they ever landed in bed together.

"Here you are." The waitress appeared beside their table, plates in hand.

Mac pulled his hand away from Elyse and leaned back, making room for his plate to be set in front of him, and the same for Elyse.

"Thank you," he said, at the same time wishing she'd taken just a few minutes longer with their food. Because somehow, the moment between he and Elyse had broken and he'd wanted to hear what she'd been about to say.

"Anything else I can bring you?" the waitress looked at him expectantly.

Mac looked down at his plate then across to Elyse before turning back to her. "No, I think we're good for now. Thanks again."

"Just let me know if you change your mind."

"Will do."

She smiled again and hurried off to check on her next table.

Mac turned his attention back Elyse, who had already started eating.

Seeing as she was busy, he picked up his burger and took a bite.

Flavor burst in his mouth and he closed his eyes for a moment.

Yep, the food was just as good as he remembered it.