Page 15 of No Turning Back
When I get back to my bike, she’s already got her helmet on. I know that she’s pushing me away, but I’m not going to let her do that. I climb on my bike, and she gets on behind me. Again, she starts off giving us space, and when I accelerate once we are on the main road, she slides more against my body. I can feel her letting go once more. Maybe I should just keep her on my bike. I could find creative ways to kiss her and get close to her on it. I chuckle into my helmet.
I pull up to her house and see a brand-new Mercedes SUV in the driveway. She gets off and pulls off her helmet. I turn off the bike and stand to help her.
Nodding to the car, I ask, “You have company?”
“It’s my mother bringing Mari home. I texted her before we headed this way to let her know I was on my way home.” She hands me the helmet along with the leather wrap from her hair. I want to hold it to my nose and smell her vanilla scent that has been teasing me all day. “Thank you. I had a lovely time.” She turns to walk away, but I reach out and stop her.
“First, these are a gift. We are going to be riding more, so you’ll need them. Second, I’d like to take you out again on Friday. We have a big project we are trying to finish this week or I’d come over sooner.”
“I can’t accept these because I’m not really ready to be in a relationship.”
She tries to shake my grip off her arm. I give her arm a gentle pull and she falls into me. I hold her with one arm around her body.
“Too late, spitfire. I want to be in a relationship with you.”
She tips her head back to look up at me. “Mari is my focus, not starting a relationship.”
I pull her tighter against my body and lean down to her. “Good thing she’s my focus too. We can go to a family restaurant.”
“I don’t know. My life is still so complicated.”
“I can help you, Sydney.” I’m about to take her lips again when we’re interrupted.
“Hello,” a voice says from the porch.
I look up while keeping Sydney in my arms and see a woman with dark brown hair holding Mari. She’s taller than Sydney but has the same smile and chin.
“I’m Sharon.” She walks over and reaches out a hand to me. She takes in me holding her daughter.
I let Sydney go and shake her mother’s hand. Sydney reaches for Mari, who coos at me.
“Hello. I’m Poseidon,” I say, then look at Mari. “Hello, little bean.” I smile at her and rub a finger down the side of her face. She reaches up and latches onto my finger.
“She likes you,” Sharon says as she smiles slyly at Sydney.
“I like her too. Well, I better get going. Sydney, I’ll be in touch about Friday.” I hand the helmet to her again, and this time Sharon takes it.
“Okay,” she says as she looks up at me.
I smile at her, wishing I could kiss her one more time before I leave, but I pull away from her place and head back to the compound.
I walk past the other Drago Defiance members who are hanging out as I head up to my room. I fling myself onto my bed. I need to find out why Sydney’s so intent on putting an end to us.
A horrible thought crosses my mind. What if she lied to Wrenn and is still in love with Mari’s father?
I shake that off because she was fully into kissing me. No, it has something to do with her panic attacks and that last assignment that she wouldn’t talk about. I’m sure of it.
A part of me wants to ask our hacker, Titan, to look into Sydney’s past, but I know it would be better for her to come to me. For Sydney to tell me about her past, because I know it’s not good, and I don’t want to go off without her knowing why.
Chapter Six
Poseidon
Five days. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve seen Sydney. I’ve called her and talked to her every night before she went to bed. I texted her that first night and then called because we got tired of the text chains. She has opened up a little more to me, talking about her projects at the zoo, her drives, and Mari. She still won’t tell me anything about her recent past.
I pull up to her house and step out of my truck. I wanted to ride my bike, but it’s been raining off and on. Plus, my shoulder is sore from all the work this week and the rain in the air. I reach across the seat and pick up the deer stuffed animal I picked up earlier this week while shopping and the bouquet of flowers I grabbed on my way here.
The front door opens, and I can’t fight the smile as Sydney is standing there in skintight blue Jeans and a green sweater that causes her eyes to practically glow. Mari is in her arms, her curly hair covered by a flowered turban that matches her outfit. Her chubby hands grip Sydney’s sweater.
