Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 148238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
Before I could reply, he kissed me tenderly, then spun back around. Placing his helmet back on, he eased the bike into motion, quickly catching up with Mo and Grasshopper, who had gone ahead, obviously to give us some privacy.
I wished I’d asked where we were going. What did he hope would jog my memory? The more we drove these streets, the more comfort and nervousness descended. I knew this place as surely as I knew Art when I first saw him, but memories were shrouded in mist.
The afternoon sunshine had turned from a golden glow to a russet haze as time inched onward, bathing the township in new beginnings.
My inner thighs ached and my ass was flat by the time Grasshopper and Mo slowed and turned their bikes into a pretty yellow-and-white diner.
I clutched Arthur’s midriff, anticipating a corner, but he only waved and increased his speed. We shot past, leaving them in our dusty wake.
Why are we going on alone?
I didn’t have to wait long to ask. Arthur drove through suburbia to the other end of town, then cut the engine and rolled to a stop in a bushy alcove off a deserted road.
Kicking the stand down, he clambered off the bike, before grabbing me and helping my jelly legs to unwrap from around his trusty machine.
“We’re here,” he said, ripping off his helmet, and shoving a hand through his slightly sweaty hair. He came closer, eyes full of anticipation. His fingers went around my chin to undo my helmet.
My skin sparked beneath his touch; I swayed closer.
His lips tilted into a half smile, showing off the sharpness of his strong jaw and the sexy mess of long strands falling over his forehead. Pulling the helmet free, he whispered, “Even after a two-hour ride, you’re still fucking stunning.”
I smiled as he kissed me softly. “I’m glad you think so, seeing as I have no way of making myself presentable.” Looking around the vacant road, I asked, “Where exactly did you bring me?”
His eyes lost their emerald glow, switching to a flat green. “Somewhere I swore I’d never go back to. The place of my fucking nightmares.”
My stomach clenched at his tone.
Burn, baby girl. Burn.
I swallowed hard. “Then why bring me here?” I peered into the bushes as anxiety settled heavily in my gut.
Danger. Run.
I shouldn’t be here.
He massaged the back of his neck. “Because it might remind you enough that everything else comes back. I need to know what happened. Then I can tell you what I plan to do.”
“Who you plan to hurt for revenge, you mean?”
He bared his teeth, the need for vengeance bright in his gaze. “Who I mean to kill—not hurt.”
“You can’t be serious.”
He froze, animosity settling like fog around him. “I’m deadly serious. If you knew what they did, you wouldn’t be so quick to judge.”
“Tell me, then, so I can make up my own mind.” My heart raced. “You can’t keep talking like that. What did they do? Who are they? Just tell me their names. Tell me what you did to land in prison. Tell me how you got out so soon, even when slapped with a life sentence.”
His mouth fell open. “How do you know about that?”
I crossed my arms. “Grasshopper told me.”
“What the fuck?” He threw his hands up. “That damn dick. Can’t keep his nose out of my business.”
My temper flared. “You’re forgetting that you meant to sell me. He didn’t think I’d ever see you again. He told me certain things so I could go to someone new without wondering if I ever stood a chance with you.” My voice trailed off remembering what else he’d said. “He told me how you took women—how he could tell I meant nothing to you by the way you treated me.”
Arthur suddenly grabbed my shoulders. He shook me, forcing my eyes to meet his. “Don’t believe a word of bullshit he said. You mean every-goddamn-thing to me. Never doubt that. Ever.”
I smiled. “I know that. Now. But you were dense, Art. You were so wrapped up in your misery that even the truth wasn’t registering. On some level you believed me, yet you kept pushing me away and treating me…”
Arthur closed his eyes, agony etching his face. He pressed a fierce kiss on my forehead. “I’m sorry. So fucking sorry. I’ll tell you every damn day for the rest of our lives. I’ll make it up to you—I promise.”
I shook my head. “I don’t need apologies. I hurt you more than I can bear by forgetting everything we had. I still don’t understand how my mind deleted something so fundamental—we both have faults. But there are a lot of things we need to talk about. I need to know—”
“I know all that!” Rage colored his face. “I know we need to talk, but goddammit, Cleo. Give it a rest.”