Page 12

Chapter Eleven

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I double tap Kinsley’s left leg to let her know to lean with me around the bend. I’ve never really had girls ride on the back of my bike. Which is the total opposite of the boys I grew up with. I swear they got off just on the thought of girls pressed up close behind them; they were always flaunting their bikes around.

I can’t pinpoint the reason why, but I surprise myself by being comfortable with the idea of Kinsley riding backpack. There is just something about the smile on her face when I mention my bike; the way she giggles as we fly down the freeway. The little noises from her while we ride have me suddenly upgrading my helmet and buying her a gear of her own.

Taking a quick left turn, I keep an eye on the traffic behind us; one black SUV in particular. Sure enough, the car also takes the unplanned turn, interesting . I follow the road down to the next intersection and indicate right, taking us back onto the main stretch and towards the gardens we are meeting the others at. The car seems to fall back behind a few others whilst continuing to follow the direction we are going.

Despite our little detour, we arrive here before Jess and Soph, giving me time to evaluate our surroundings. The SUV has also pulled into the gardens, choosing the furthest parking spot from where we are. If only I could see into their car, the windows are all blacked out making it impossible to do so even if I were up close.

My gaze darts back to Kinsley as she climbs off the bike and stretches, raising her arms high above her head. With her leather jacket unzipped, her t-shirt rides up showing off the curves framing her stomach. She must sense the weight of my stare because her eyes meet mine and she quickly wraps her arms around herself, turning her face down towards the ground. Stepping forward, I take her chin between my thumb and forefinger, forcing her eyes back up to me.

“Don’t ever look away from me, Kinsley … and don’t ever try to hide. You are fucking gorgeous, every damn inch of you.”

Her breath gets caught as I move my fingers down her throat and towards the nape of her neck. Leaning in close I whisper against her lips, “Take a breath, Pip.” She follows my instruction, sucking in a wavering breath. “That’s it, good girl.”

I kiss the sensitive spot on her neck before tucking a few flyaway strands of hair behind her ear.

Moments later the rumble of Jesse’s Holden HJ ute approaches and I retreat backwards a step, giving Kinsley a minute to compose herself. She’s far too easy to rile up. Jesse, Soph and Lou make their way over to us with the picnic basket; Sophie still cradling the bottle of wine and paper cups in her arms.

“Let’s go lay the blanket down over there.” Kinsley points to a shady area under a large oak tree. “Under that tree.”

“Perfect!” Soph agrees with the excited energy I’m beginning to realise is standard for her.

The girls walk off to set up whilst Jesse follows behind them. I take a quick glance back over my shoulder, the car that followed us from the market is now gone. Something about this feels off. I’ll try to catch Jesse alone later on, surely he noticed something as well.

Stretching out comfortably behind Kinsley, I wrap my arm around her waist encouraging her to lean back against me as I sit with my back against the treetrunk. Out of the corner of my eye I catch Jesse’s glare from across the spread of food in front of us. I’m trying to work out if this guy is in protective big brother mode, or if the poor bugger has been friendzoned. To hide the smirk I know would be impossible to hold back, I nuzzle into the crook of her neck. Bursts of something sweet tingle my nose as I breathe in the smell of her hair. She swats at my thigh; I wonder if her cheeks are turning rosy.

I’ve never been the relationship type of guy, there is too much evil in this world to allow myself to be weakened by loving someone; especially the world my parents have placed at my feet, the dirty world they expect me to run.

Money can buy you whatever you want, unfortunately for me the only thing I want is to have no part of it. Right at this moment, for the first time in my life there is an overwhelming sense of satisfaction simply having this girl in my arms, making sure everyone who sees us knows she is mine. A protectiveness which I have only ever felt for a select five people in my life – the guys who I call my brothers and my sister, Emma – has now extended to her. This shy little brunette with honey coloured eyes.

I want the world to know she is mine.

I want her to know she is mine.