Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
“If it’s not too much trouble, yeah. We’re about ready to put up the sheetrock on the first floor and I know you’ve got experience with that.”
Did he ever. “I don’t want to make a promise I can’t keep, but—”
“If you show up? Great. We start at seven.”
They shook hands, then Driver was straddling his baby and taking off. The drive to Lenox Hill from the site in Hoboken gave him time to plan. He took FDR Drive just for the views and spent a little extra time on his bike. He missed the open road, letting her purr and feeling the wind whip at his clothes.
It’d been a good day, the physical labor made him feel healthy and useful. He loved bartending but lack of real exercise sometimes made him feel lethargic. That’s why he’d started working random construction jobs in the first place. Being outside, working up a sweat, and building something were selling points and why he was grateful to Fitch for letting him pitch in. The other reason was the wad of cash in his pocket.
He’d be able to live for at least a couple weeks on what he’d earned at Stage Left and with Fitch. That gave him a lot of security and freedom. What wasn’t to love about that? He wasn’t tied down with a mortgage and two-point-five kids. Not even Michelangelo would stop him from taking off if the mood struck, but he’d do his best to stay, at least until Harrison got back.
Not to mention his new mission—wooing Tam. That was worth sticking around for, at least for a while longer.
He made it to the apartment in decent time, parked and carried his helmet inside. Michelangelo was chewing on a piece of lettuce and warming himself under the lamp. And even though he knew it was crazy, Driver would swear that the turtle’s eyes followed him around the room as he shrugged out of his jacket and kicked off his boots.
“Dude, you gotta stop being creepy. You’re freakin’ me out.” He crossed to the enclosure and tickled the hard shell. There was still food so he didn’t bother adding more. Instead he went to take a shower and get ready for his date with Tam.
He’d been looking forward to it all day and hadn’t managed to keep the smile off his face. He knew exactly where they’d go and exactly how he was going to drive Tam nuts. If wasn’t begging for a kiss by the end of the night, Driver would hang up his charm card forever.
Chapter Nine
“Ever ridden before?”
Tam shook his head, eyes glued to the motorcycle waiting for them.
“Don’t worry, it’s not hard.”
Driver’s laugh prickled Tam’s hair follicles, even his eyelashes shivered at the sound.
“I’m not getting on that thing.”
“Ah, come on. It’s not as scary as it seems.”
“No thanks, I’m not in a hurry to be a pancake on the pavement.”
“Hey now, you’re bruising my manly ego. I’ll have you know I’m a stellar driver. It’s my name, after all.” He sidled closer. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
God, his heat. It soaked right through Tam’s flimsy shields and warmed the frozen parts of him. He’d been sure this afternoon that he could stay strong, but faced with temptation it was so much harder to remain steadfast.
He couldn’t afford to get intimate with anyone, let alone Driver.
They were on the street outside the apartment building. The sun had set not long ago and the halo of flickering streetlights gave the world a strange glow. Tam’s multicolored sequined T-shirt was tucked into artfully ripped jeans, an oversized scarf, and jean jacket covering both. On his feet? A gorgeous pair of royal-blue velvet platforms. He’d gone classic with his makeup, just hints of rose-gold eyeshadow and blush and a pink glossy lip. The whole effect was understated yet feminine, which meant he wasn’t drawing too much attention, as long as people didn’t look too closely.
Beside him, Driver wore a T-shirt and pair of dark denim jeans with combat boots and the same leather bomber jacket. His manicured scruff was freshly trimmed but his hair was unkempt as ever. Effortless. Simple. And sexy.
“Trust me,” Driver said, touching Tam’s elbow.
Damn it. Tam wanted to, that was the problem. “You say that like it’s easy to do.”
Driver seemed to think for a moment, then he grabbed Tam’s hands. “I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”
Crap. There went Tam’s stomach doing that weird stampede thing again. Just that innocent touch shocked his system. Every molecule in his body craved more. He pulled his hands out of Driver’s grip. “I don’t need your protection.” Because he wouldn’t depend on anyone, he could take care of himself. And also because it sounded like Driver was talking about more than just being safe on the road.
“‘’’Course you don’t. Doesn’t mean I won’t give it. Come on, be brave, take a chance and ride with me. We’ll have fun.”