Puckett’s attitude, letting me know that my time with him had been well spent. Sometimes, all it takes is a little push to get a person back on the right track.
When Clutch told me that he was going to take me for a ride on his bike, I was intrigued, but hesitant. I’d always been interested in trying it out, but I’d heard on more than one occasion that motorcycles were dangerous. I knew I’d be safe with Clutch, so I let go of my reservations and agreed to give it a whirl. When he pulled up to the curb to pick me up, my heart skipped a beat. Seeing him on his bike looking all kinds of sexy in his faded jeans and leather jacket had my senses going into overload. I took a deep breath and tried to ignore my libido as I walked over to him. I’d worn jeans and boots like he’d told me and was feeling pretty confident until he handed me the helmet. I fiddled with it, but I had no idea how to strap the darn thing on. I didn’t miss the smirk on Clutch’s face as he watched me, and I was just about to get flustered when he pulled me over to him.
“Come here, Sunshine,” he told me as he took the strap from my hand. “You loop it through the bottom ring and then back through the first.”
“Easy enough,” I told him as he snapped it to the side.
“You’re all set. Now hop on,” he ordered.
“Wait … aren’t you going to tell me what to do?” I squealed.
He smiled. “You get on and ride. That’s about it.”
“Come on, Clutch. There’s more to it than that. Do I lean into the turn or away from the turn? And where do I put my feet? And how do I keep myself from falling off the darn thing??”
“Liv, get on the bike.” He smirked. “I’m going to show you everything you need to know. It’s just easier when you’re on the bike.”
“Okay,” I huffed as I hiked my leg up and over the seat, quickly situating myself behind him. I put my feet on the foot pegs and my hands on his hips, then waited for him to tell me wait to do next.
“You’ve already got the hard part down,” he teased. “And as far as the turns go, just go with what feels right or lean against the backrest.”
“And what about falling off?”
“You’re not going to fall off, Liv. Just relax and enjoy the ride,” he assured me as he started the engine.
Seconds later, we were headed out onto the main road, zipping through traffic like it was something we’d done a hundred times, only we hadn’t ridden a hundred times, and I was a nervous wreck. My heart was pounding against my chest and my palms were all sweaty. I thought my first ride with him would be exhilarating, being all snuggled up close to him as I felt the wind in my face and the sun against my skin, but I was too lost in my little freak-out to even enjoy it. I was worried that I was holding on too tight or not tight enough, and I kept wondering whether I should lean into the curves with him or press my back against the seat like he’d suggested. And every time we stopped at a light, I thought I was getting a small reprieve, but as soon as the light turned green, he’d shoot out into traffic, lunging me against his back.
I felt his chest vibrate with laughter as he shouted, “You’re doing great, Sunshine. Just relax.”
“I am relaxed,” I lied.
“Liv,” he scolded. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Just take a deep breath and let go.”
Realizing he was right, I tried my best to stop worrying so much. I took a deep breath and let go of the tension I’d been carrying for the past hour and finally started to enjoy the ride. In no time, I’d gotten the hang of the turns and felt like I actually knew what the hell I was doing. We rode for several hours. I marveled at how the sunlight danced across the Mississippi River as we crossed over the Arkansas bridge. It was amazing, seeing things from the perspective of a motorcycle. Everything seemed closer and more defined, and with the added excitement of being pressed against Clutch, I couldn’t have enjoyed