Trouble from the Start Read Free Page B

time.”
    His grin grew wider. “I like taking girls on their first ride.”
    I flushed. I didn’t want to think about how I was one of many he’d given a ride to. Besides he was just being nice because he knew I wasn’t feeling well. It wasn’t like he was interested in me or anything. I’d just hurled in front of him, after all.
    As we walked toward the front of the house, I tried to fire off a text to Kendall to let her know I was leaving. It was easier than trying to find her. Or it should have been. My fingers kept hitting the wrong keys. Normally I couldtext and walk at the same time. Not tonight. I staggered to a stop and started over.
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Fletcher asked.
    â€œI need to let Kendall know I’m heading home so she isn’t looking for me later. Dang it! Stupid autocorrect.”
    â€œDang it?” He chuckled. “Such harsh language, Grandma. Give it here.”
    He plucked my phone from me. In spite of the fact that his hands were much larger than mine, his fingers thicker, he didn’t seem to have any trouble typing. I heard the swoosh of a message being sent. He handed the phone back to me and I glanced at the screen.

    Hot guy giving me ride. Catch U l8r.

    I released a tiny shriek. “That’s not what I wanted to say. And you’re so not hot.”
    â€œIt’s eighty degrees out. Course I’m hot.”
    His hand rested lightly on the nape of my neck, and he led me over to an assortment of coolers near the patio. Some guys standing nearby hooted, whistled, and gave him a thumbs-up.
    â€œWhat’d you do?” I asked.
    â€œWhat?” Fletcher asked.
    I made a half-wave toward the guys. “They seem excited for you.”
    â€œThey’re drunk idiots. They get excited about everything.”
    Ignoring them, he reached into a cooler and handed me a bottle of water. As we continued on, I swished water around my mouth and spewed it out a couple of times before drinking. It was nice to get rid of any lingering aftertaste from my embarrassing performance by the lake. When we got to where his motorcycle waited, he took the bottle and dropped it into a nearby trash can.
    â€œThe environment thanks you,” I told him.
    â€œDon’t make a big deal out of it. It was right there.” Fletcher lifted the helmet off the seat and held it out to me.
    â€œI can’t wear that,” I said. “It’s yours and if we crash—”
    â€œWe’re not going to crash.” His voice held impatience, his hands not so much as he worked the helmet over my head and secured the chin strap. He straddled the bike and patted the area behind him. “Come on, Einstein. You can figure this part out.”
    Yeah, I could. I settled in behind him. Reaching back, he took my hands and pulled my arms around him. He was so sturdy, all muscle and sinew. Not an ounce of fat. I really wished I wasn’t noticing that. It made me sound breathless when I gave him my address.
    â€œGot it,” he said. “Hold on tight.”
    â€œTightly,” I corrected.
    â€œWhatever, Hemingway.” He fired up the bike and theroar rumbled through me. He revved the engine, and I cringed with the realization so much power was beneath us. “Ready?” he yelled.
    I tightened my hold, locked my fingers together so nothing could separate us, nodded, then realized he couldn’t see that so I yelled, “Yeah!”
    He took off, and I clung to him as though I’d never let him go. I heard his deep laughter echoing around me, felt the wind rushing over my face. The force of it sobered me. I figured this was why he liked giving girls their first ride, because it was at once both terrifying and exhilarating and caused them to hang on tighter. I was acutely aware of the scent of him filling my nostrils, the warmth of his skin seeping through his clothes.
    As the world whizzed by, I snuggled more closely against