I leave all the dirty dishes in the kitchen for later, and we go to the garage, turn on the lights, and open the garage door to look at David's bikes. Everest tinkers with the big machine that just came back, and then he rolls it out of the garage and takes it for a ride around the block.
While I wait for him to return, a pack of bikers ride by. It's not unusual, since my street links two main roads, yet they startle me. Suddenly, I feel very vulnerable. I'm alone in the house, and the glaring lights of David's workshop make it impossible for me to see outside while making me a perfect target. It seems as though they're slowing down as they drive by the house, but it may just be my overactive imagination.
I shrug the uneasiness away. I've got to get a grip on myself.
Soon enough, Everest returns from his short test ride.
"It's in perfect condition," he says as he wheels the monster back in. "I can tell your brother took real good care of it, but I agree—it's too heavy for you."
He turns around to look at the other machine, higher and leaner, the one David taught me on, the one he never meant for me to ride alone. He taught me because he believed it was one of those things I should learn how to do, even if I never got any real use from it. At the time, he probably thought either Brian or he was going to be around forever to take me places.
Before he removes his helmet, I grab mine and get on the lighter bike.
"Come on, I'll take you for a ride," I say as I kick the machine to life.
The look on his face is priceless. There's so many different expressions colliding, but what remains in the end are surprise and amusement. He doesn't falter—he climbs on behind me, and I can't decide if he's brave, suicidal, or just a trusting soul. There's no tension in his body as he wraps his arms around my waist.
We roll down the street toward the beach, and I'm having more fun than I have in a long time. I love this feeling of freedom, but right now it's all about more physical sensations. There's the blissful state I get into after a glass of wine, the vibration of the engine between my legs, and then Everest's strong body against my back and his hand on my stomach... wow. This is getting distracting. I concentrate on the driving as we reach the sand, and I ride all the way to the pier, where I can lean the machine against one of the posts.
As Everest shifts his body to get off the bike, I realize this has been distracting for him as well. We remove our helmets and sit together on the sand. The swash of the waves is relaxing, and the moon is bright enough to let me study his profile as he looks at the ocean.
"That was interesting," he says with a sheepish smile. "I had never ridden behind a woman before."
"How is it different?" I blurt out before my brain engages. Oh, right, his dick, my butt, the vibrations... He turns to look at me and laughs. I turn a nice shade of crimson, I'm sure. "Forget I asked."
We both lie back on the sand, look at the stars, and stay silent for a while.
"Are you gonna get the bastards who killed my brother?" I ask.
He reaches out for my hand before he answers.
"Surely you know I can't talk about an open case."
"I understand that, and I don't want details. Really, I don't. I just want to know that you guys are doing what you can to make sure it doesn't happen again."
And then I bait him to find out if there's any truth to my suspicion that the "organized crime group" the task force is working on is the MC. I say, "It would be nice if you cleared the street of those Iron Tornadoes."
"Someone's been talking out of turn," he says, falling right into my trap. He turns on his side to face me and asks, "Who have you been speaking with?"
I glance sideways in his direction, and he does look annoyed. But no one but him can really be blamed for my putting two and two together. Captain Williams just said something about a task force against organized crime. Mike simply mentioned the irony of applying for that task force just before joining the MC. Without Everest's reaction, I would only have my suspicions, but there's no way I'm telling him that.
I decide the only way out of this one is to distract him, so I roll onto my side, facing Everest. I'm slightly buzzed. It's probably more the adrenaline rush from the ride than the wine. But who knows what's prompting me? I go for provocative distraction.
"Didn't you mention something about some light kissing, earlier?"
That wipes the frown from his face. He grins and says, "I sure did."
"The setting's perfect—you have the ocean, the half moon, and..."
He didn't need that much prompting because he's moved over to me, and he's sweetly covering my lips with his. He nibbles gently on my lower lip until I open up to him, and when I do, I'm pretty sure we're past the point of light kissing.
I get a warm and fuzzy feeling. It's sweet and nice and delicious. I’m not fired up but I feel a warm glow and I like it. He makes me feel safe, and right now, safe sounds like just what I need.
He wraps his arms around me and rolls to his back, bringing me with him. My head rests on his chest and he says, "You did sidetrack me for a while, but I haven't forgotten my question, you know."
I chuckle. "I'm not giving up my sources. I'll just tell you that I tricked someone into telling me what the task force was about. I don't want him to get into trouble, so I won't tell you any more than that."
"I'll find a way to figure it out," he says.
"No, you won't. I spoke to most of your colleagues after the funeral, so there's no way you can tell who spilled the beans," I say, hoping to get him as far away from Mike as possible since he returned to the station right after the funeral.
"We'll see about that," he says, and now I realize that he's going to make it a matter of principle to find the loose tongue in his group.
"What do you say we head back?" I ask. "And if you want, I'll even let you drive."
The ride back home is a lot smoother, but then he rides every day, and I was out of practice. Well, that's my excuse for tonight. I'll need another one for the next time—if there is a next time.
We reach the house at the same time as my mother and Captain Williams. There's an awkward moment as both men greet each other and then make a run for it.
My mother tells me she's very tired and wants to crash. This is so far past her bedtime; I never would have expected she'd stay out so late and not complain. I say goodnight and close the garage door.
I'm kind of wired, and I know I won't be able to sleep if I go to bed now, but I have just the right thing to keep me occupied: I still have the kitchen to clean up.