Wild Heart by Jennifer Culbreth Page B

useless as it rode back up. At this point, she could only pray for green lights the rest of the way through town so that no one would have the chance to see her. But just as they drove up to the last stop light through town she saw it begin changing to red and the bike slowed and stopped next to Rage and Kate.
    “You look like a biker bitch!” Kate yelled over to her.
    “You do too!” Ani laughed.
    Just as the light turned she glanced over toward the gas station to their right, taking in the handful of people who were staring at the four of them. At the end of the parking lot sat Cash’s Bronco. She hoped that the darkness setting over the town had camouflaged her enough, but as they began to picking up speed, she saw him staring at them with his mouth wide open. She locked eyes with his until they were too far away for her to see him any longer. Guilt washed over her. She truly didn’t want to hurt Cash, but maybe if he saw that she was out having a good time then he’d back off a little. She wasn’t sure what the future held but at twenty-seven, she still had plenty of life left to live before she had to figure that out. As Knox hit the throttle, she let out a squeal and before long, they were passing through the outskirts of town and heading toward the shadowed road that lie ahead.
    After what felt like hours to her ass, they slowed and turned down a gravel drive. She gripped Knox tight as they eased around the turns going up the mountain. She had no idea where they were, but from the popping of her ears, she knew they were heading up. The excitement bloomed in her stomach and after the next turn, the road opened and she stared up at the sparkling lights of a beautiful log cabin. They pulled up and parked next to an old Chevy pick-up; Knox killed the engine and put down the kickstand. She swung her leg around and stood trying to stretch out her sore muscles.
    “Sorry. Shouldn’t have gone so long for your first time,” he stood, taking off his helmet and sitting it down onto his bike.
    “It wasn’t my first time, but it has been quite a while since I have been on one,” she leaned from side to side working out the cramp in her hip as she pulled the helmet from her head and fluffed her hair back up.
    She could hear Kate’s light giggles from the other side of the truck and smiled. Ani looked out at the last of the sun setting behind the trees along the mountain. They weren’t at the top but the bluff looked out over a beautiful valley of lush green trees. She walked closer to the edge and was in awe of the beautiful colors splashing in every direction. She had missed the southern sunsets, the royal magenta that mixed with the blues and pinks could take anyone’s breath away.
    “It’s beautiful isn’t it?” Knox came up behind her and placed a hand on her hip, brushing the hair at her neck to the side with his other.
    Even though she didn’t know much about him, she felt safe in his presence. She’d seen how he had treated Mrs. Bell and in her gut, she knew that he cared for and respected others. As the sun sank lower, she let the rest of her worries go with it. She felt his warm lips press down against her bare neck and she reveled in the shivers that flowed down her body. She turned, looking up at him; his hair was wild and flowed down onto his shoulders. She wanted to touch and feel every one of his strong features, his arms, his chest. She traced her finger through the beard that covered his chiseled jaw line, gently tucking the loose strand of hair that fell into his face behind his ear and watched as he closed his eyes.
    “Don’t do that,” his voice was low as he leaned into her hand.
    “Do what, Knox?”
    “I’m not a flowers and chocolates kind of guy. I don’t know if I can give you the same things that you can give me.” She could hear the worry in his voice. Why it was there, she wasn’t sure, but something in her wanted to reassure him she wasn’t going anywhere.
    “I’m not