“What’d you think of the bike?” Chaser asks after his father leaves.
“It’s pretty. Looks comfortable.”
His lips curve. “Glad you think so.”
The playful gleam in his eyes suggests he has plans for the bike. “Your father said something about touring?”
“I might have mentioned that I wanted to take you on a short trip.”
My heart taps a happy little dance. “Where?”
“You ever seen Niagara Falls?”
“I think my parents took me there when I was little, but I don’t remember it very well.” I lean back against the counter. “Why do you want to go there?”
He shrugs, but a teasing smile lingers on his lips. “Thought it would be romantic to whisk you away for a couple days.”
“We’re already ‘away’ here.”
“Not the same.” He clutches my hip with one hand and leans in. “Not even close.”
Excitement bubbles up in me. He’s right. Our visits here haven’t exactly been vacations. We tried to make the best of our trip to England, but it was still work and ended in disaster. Traveling with Chaser on tour was more grueling than enjoyable. This trip will be purely for us.
“Let’s do it.”
“Cool.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “I can’t be gone too long. I need to help my father out with some stuff this weekend, but—”
“I don’t care. It’ll be nice to relax, see something new. Anything as long as I’m with you.”
“Thought you’d be sick of me by now.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.” I tip my head to the side. “Are you sick of me?”
“Never.”
After a quick dinner, Chaser flips through the phone book and wanders into his father’s downstairs office.
A few minutes later, he returns, keys in hand and jacket on. “I’m going to run out for a bit.”
An uncomfortable sensation rolls over me. This feels too familiar to the last time we were here and he snuck out to get high. “I’ll come with you.”
“No.” He leans down and kisses my cheek. “You must be tired from driving all day.”
“I’m fine.”
His gaze darts to the door and back to the keys in his hand. “I want to take Dad’s bike for a test drive. Make sure it’s safe before I take you out on it.”
“Oh.” While I appreciate the concern for my safety, it doesn’t have the ring of truth to it.
“What about you.”
He knocks his fist against his skull. “You know how hard-headed I am. I’ll be fine.”
That’s not reassuring but I’m not sure what else to say.
“I’ll stop by Alice in Videoland and pick up a movie, okay?”
“Say Anything should be out.”
“So is Lethal Weapon 2”
“Aww, shucks.” I snap my fingers in the air and feign disappointment. “I haven’t seen Lethal Weapon 1.”
He grins and kisses my cheek. “Lethal Weapon 1 it is.”
“I walked right into that, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
I follow him to the door and tug on his jacket before he steps outside. “Safety check of the bike, grab a movie, and home, right?” I hate the desperate twinge to my voice but I can’t help it.
“Yup.” He waves at me over his shoulder.
Why am I not reassured?
Chaser
A bit of guilt follows me to the jewelry store. Obviously, Mallory fears I’m going off to score coke. Can’t blame her. I kept things light and evasive. Otherwise I feared I’d confess my real mission and ruin the surprise.
This needs to be perfect. After everything she’s put up with from me. I need to propose to her in the right way. Something special.
The store’s about to close when I pull into a spot. I hurry inside. The jeweler’s happy to see me.
“Chaser, I was just thinking about you.”
“Worried I wouldn’t make the final payment?”
“Not at all. I heard your tour was a success.”
“A few bumps along the way but it wasn’t bad.”
“That’s life.” He bends down, unlocks a secret cabinet, and slides a blue velvet box across the glass counter.
I pop it open and check out the ring. Fuck, I can’t wait to see Mallory’s face when I slip it on her finger.
“Do you know how you’re going to propose?” he asks as I unfold a stack of bills on the counter.
“Not quite. I’m taking her up to Niagara Falls for a few days. Hoping for some inspiration once we get there.”
He scoops up the pile of cash, and not bothering to recount it, shoves it in the register drawer. Devil Demons MC has been coming here for years for custom pieces. I wouldn’t wreck that relationship by trying to short