Riding into Love (9 page)

“Look at that.” Drew pointed to the sun changing colors as it lowered toward the horizon. He held Alana's hand in his.

“Isn't it beautiful?” Alana slowly took in the fresh air as she admired the picturesque sky.

“Are you enjoying this?”

“Drew, this is amazing. I've always wanted to do this. It's one of the things on my bucket list.”

“We'll have to take a look at that list and see what else I can scratch off with you. What else have you dreamed about doing?”

Alana paused for a moment. “Having a relationship like my parents' and a family of my own.”

“Lots of kids?” he asked.

“A few.”

“Hmm.” Drew nodded.

“What about you?”

“I've always wanted a little girl who I could spoil. I imagine being wrapped around her little finger.”

“Really? That's sweet. I guess I never really thought about you wanting kids with you being a racer and all.”

Drew looked directly into Alana's eyes. “With the right woman, anything is possible. I don't plan on racing forever.”

Alana's cheeks burned. Could she be the right woman?

After a while, the pilot directed their attention to the sunset again. Alana had never seen one so stunning. She wished they could stay there in the balloon, taking in the splendor of God's evening performance forever.

Once the sun fully set, the pilot landed the balloon. They ended up in a different location, but there was a car waiting, which they called a chaser to take them back to the area where they had boarded the balloon. Their driver Harry was ready for them when they returned.

They drove through the blackness of Texas. By the time they arrived back at the hotel, she'd forgotten to be upset with Drew for assuming that it was okay to set her up in a room with only one bed. She hadn't even asked where he planned on sleeping. She was still caught up in the magnificence of her day. Instead of going straight to the room, they spent some time at the bar, sipping cocktails, holding hands and talking more about their dreams. Alana found herself giggling. She considered putting distance between her and Drew, but she had to admit that she was smitten. Drew doting on her in this way was new and wonderful.

“You're probably tired,” Drew said as they headed to the room. “I'll see you in, and I'll be back early in the morning.” He kissed her in the open door.

“You'll be back?” Alana was puzzled.

“Yeah.”

“Where are you going?”

“To my room.”

Alana was disappointed, but she was supposed to be relieved. She cleared her throat. “Where's your room?”

“Right next to yours.” He pointed to his door.

“Oh, okay.”

“Good night,” Drew said but didn't move.

“Good night,” Alana said after a moment. Drew's sultry gaze was like a laser that set her insides on fire. “I'll see you in the morning.”

Drew stayed there and licked his lips. They sparkled in the moonlight shining through the window. Alana wanted to feel them again.

“Bye,” she said again before slowly stepping back. She closed the door, cutting through the rising temperature around them.

Behind the door, Alana panted. She dropped her forehead into her hands. Why was she upset that he wasn't staying in her room? Her heart thumped. She'd only closed the door seconds ago and missed him already.

Alana walked circles around the living area, fighting the desire to run after him. Trying to busy herself, she went to the bedroom and turned on the TV, filling the space with background noise. She brushed her teeth and changed her clothes. It was well past ten, Texan time, which meant it was past eleven, New York time. Alana had been up since four thirty that morning. She was exhausted yet couldn't sleep. She texted Cadence pictures of the sunset from the balloon ride. Cadence expressed her awe with emoticons.

Why am I fighting this?
she thought to herself, but couldn't answer. Alana stood, grabbed her key and left the room before she could talk herself out of it.

At Drew's door, she knocked softly. He opened immediately. He had been waiting.

Chapter 16

D
rew yanked the door open, cupped her head in his hands and covered her lips with his. The taste of her incited a wild hunger; it was sweet and hot—decadent in the most indulgent way. They moved together, him stepping back, her moving forward. Their lips never parted. They danced that dance all the way to the bed in his room.

Drew pulled back for a moment and searched her eyes. Her kiss-swollen lips parted, begging for more.

“Only if you want this.”

Alana nodded.

“I need to hear you say it.”

“I want this.”

Greedily, Drew devoured her lips, pressing his rising erection against her belly. He scooped her up, carried her to the bed and gently laid her down. Hastily, they tore off each other's clothes. Drew revered her naked body as if it were a rare piece of fine art. Caressing her skin, he drew a line from her neck, around her breast and down to her navel, and then kissed that blazing hot trail.

Alana squirmed beneath him. Drew dipped his tongue in her warm mouth. They could scorch water with the heat emanating from their skin. Alana reached between his legs and held his thickness. Drew hissed and almost bucked but took control. This had to be right. He wanted to satisfy the depths of Alana. He was still proving himself and needed her to know that he didn't just want her. He needed her. They'd had sex before, but today he intended to make love to Alana and leave an indelible imprint on her soul.

Drew slowed their rhythm down, instead taking his time to cater to her whims. He reacquainted himself with her body, exploring her with his fingers and tongue. He spread her legs and then dipped, teased and prodded, paying special attention to every gasp then repeated those actions that seemed to satisfy her the most. He explored other ways to cause her to expel pleasure and pushed those buttons until she was a symphony of pure bliss.

He strummed her bud until her moans and hisses became staccato squeals leading into one elongated cry. Her body bucked. Muscles spasms prevented her ability to move momentarily. Her back bent into a high arch and shook violently. Drew sheathed himself and entered her while her body was still quivering. Her walls tightened around him, threatening to send him to an early release. Drew moved with controlled intent, extending his impending climax. He wanted her to have her fill. He'd never get enough.

Drew leaned forward and kissed her, letting her taste her own sugariness. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her snugly against his chest and drove himself deep inside of her. Each stroke was long, purposeful and calculated. She whimpered and her eyes rolled back. He pushed himself into her depth and stayed put for a moment, pausing to collect himself. He started again, rotating his hips to reach every part inside of her. She hissed again, grabbing his back, her hands slipping from the moisture collecting there.

Drew continued a steady, luscious rhythm until he could no longer control his tempo. He drove himself into her faster until his ability to maintain a composed pace completely evaded him. Drew's moan rose from the pit of his core. His stride increased. Alana met him stroke for stroke. She chanted his name frantically, grasping at him. The sweet melody of her desperate pleas sent him over the edge. She joined him there. She screamed. He growled as his release blasted through him, paralyzing him temporarily, holding his rigid body hostage. Empty, he melted onto Alana, rolled over, kissed her forehead and held her in his arms until her convulsing ceased. They found themselves in that very position when the light of the sun nudged them awake the next morning.

Alana rolled away from Drew, attempting to ease out of the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“Oh...um. Back to my room.”

“Why?”

“Drew.” Alana sighed.

Before she could say another word, he held his hand up. “Don't say this was a mistake.”

Alana looked away.

Drew sat up. “It's a mistake when you don't care about the person you just made love to.”

“It was sex.” She still hadn't looked at him.

“Really?” Drew huffed. “Did it feel like just sex to you?” he asked.

Alana didn't respond. Instead she closed her eyes. Drew wondered if she was trying to wish him away. He moved closer to her.

“What's the problem? Why do you keep pushing me away?” Alana kept quiet, but Drew refused to let her off the hook. “Why are you fighting this?”

“There's nothing to fight. It's not like we're dating or anything.”

That felt like a hit in the groin to Drew, but she was right. They had never established anything between them. Still her answer wasn't good enough.

“Why are you fighting this, Alana?” he repeated adamantly.

“I don't want to get hurt again.” Alana stood, holding the sheets against her naked body. “You've been so wonderful that I forget how bad it hurt when you left me to go back to your ex. I was fine when you weren't around, but every time you returned to the States, I remembered what it felt like. For a long time, I was scared to take chances with my heart. Then James came along and I finally let myself fall in love just to be hurt again. Falling for you scares me to death.”

“You think I'm going to hurt you?” Drew looked at her incredulously.

“I know you will.” Alana covered her body and walked over to the chair where some of her clothes had been tossed from the night before. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come over here last night.”

For a moment, Drew was at a loss. He rubbed his face in frustration. He couldn't remember ever being speechless. However, he understood the reason Alana doubted him, which is why he was working so hard to reverse his reputation.

Drew walked up behind Alana and gently caressed her arm. She flinched. He hated the fact that his touch caused that reaction from her.

“Sorry,” he said.

She nodded.

“Can we sit down and talk?” Drew waited for her approval. Several moments passed before she nodded again.

Delicately, he took the clothes she'd gathered from her hands and led her to the side of the bed. Alana continued looking at her hands as he sat next to her. Drew lifted her chin.

“Alana,” he said softly.

She lifted her eyes until they met his.

“You don't trust me.”

Alana opened her mouth to speak. Drew was sure she'd attempt to object. He put a finger to her lips. “That wasn't a question and I understand why. I haven't shown you the most trustworthy behavior—until now.”

Alana averted her eyes once again.

“I also know that you've been hurt and I know what it's like to want to protect your heart, but, in case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to show you another side of me.”

She finally looked at him.

“I didn't have the best reputation, but I also didn't have any reason to change my ways. I'm just asking that you give this thing a try.”

Alana shook her head. “I don't know, Drew.” She averted her eyes again.

“I also need you to be honest.”

“About what?”

“What's so scary about me?”

Alana sniffed out a small laugh. “You really want to know?”

“I wouldn't have asked if I didn't.”

“Fine.” Alana turned toward him for the first time. “You run from commitment. You don't take women seriously, and I'm sure that you probably have a different woman in every city.” Her reasons rolled off her tongue with such ease that Drew was slightly taken aback.

Drew tilted his head in agreement. “Okay, you got me.” He laughed. Alana swatted him. He ducked, but she still grazed his arm.

“I won't run from you. I take you very seriously and you're the only woman I want in any city.”

Alana's eyes widened. Her mouth fell open. “What are you saying, Drew?” she asked.

Instead of answering, Drew locked her in his gaze, leaned forward and kissed her. She seemed to melt under his touch, so he pulled her closer and kissed her deeper.

“I'm saying that I won't take no for an answer. I want to be with you, Alana.”

She hugged herself as if the room were cold. “What about the distance? You're traveling most of the time. I don't know if I can handle a long-distance relationship. I want someone who I can touch and feel all the time.”

“Being away from you won't be easy. Trust me, I already know.” Drew didn't miss the fact that her breath caught at his words. “I'm willing to believe we can work anything out if we want to. Regardless of how far apart we may be at times, I want you to know that your heart is safe in my hands.”

Drew noticed the tension leave Alana's shoulders. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled her onto her back. He lifted himself over her and searched her face. Drew examined her doe eyes, sweetheart lips and high cheeks.

“You're so beautiful,” he heard himself say.

She blushed and he kissed each part of her that he'd just admired. He lowered and kissed her nipples. They pebbled and he felt her skin grow warm under his touch. Drew continued, leaving a trail of moist lip prints all the way to her toes and back to her waiting lips.

Last night, they'd made love with urgency. Today, Drew planned to take things deeper than they'd ever gone before.

Chapter 17

A
lana entered the office with a bounce in her step and a hum on her lips. She hadn't realized that Cadence was following her until she sat, dropped her purse in the bottom file drawer and lifted her head. Cadence stood at the entrance of Alana's door with her arms folded across her chest and one brow lifted.

“What?” Alana asked.

“You tell me.” Cadence took the seat on the opposite side of Alana's desk and rested her elbow on the cherrywood desk. “And don't leave out a single detail.”

Alana laughed aloud. “How much time do you have?”

“Oh goodness. That much happened?”

“He got me, Cay.”

Cadence twisted her face in confusion. “How?”

“He made me fall for him.”

Cadence stood so fast that she knocked the chair over. With a hand to her heart, she gasped, “Oh, Alana!” She picked up her chair and sat back down. “Spill it all, right now,” she said.

“That trip was absolutely magical. Well, except for the parts of his race that I saw.”

“You weren't there for the entire race?”

“Of course I was.” She waved at Cadence as if she'd said something ridiculous.

“What do you mean about the parts you saw?”

“I kept closing my eyes.” Alana giggled. “But I did peek through my fingers every now and then. They were moving too fast and those turns—whew! I'm surprised that he didn't leave his kneecap on the track, but he did look incredibly sexy in that biker uniform. I see why the groupies go crazy over them.”

Cadence snickered. “Get back to the magical part.”

“Cay, he catered to me from the moment I stepped off the airplane until the second we left.” Alana shared the details with Cadence, leaving out the truly personal parts. “Beautiful hotels, delicious meals and...those things are great, but what really got me this weekend were the small things. He pays attention to me, Cay—keenly I might add. I never realized how much that mattered. He's arranging for me to meet him in France for his upcoming race. Can you believe that he has a small place out there in the country? This is all happening so fast.” Alana put her hand on her head. “He says he wants me to trust him.”

“Wow!” Cadence grinned through the entire recap. “So is it official?”

“Yes.”

Cadence clapped her hands.

Alana held up a finger and tilted her head. “Don't get happy too fast. We're seeing if this will work out. I don't know how the distance is going to affect us.” Alana opened the laptop and hit the power button.

Their assistant, Jennifer, ran into the office, entering like a brisk wind.

“Alana.” Jennifer was breathless. “What's the name of that motorcycle racer who came here for you? Is this him?” she asked without giving Alana time to answer. Jennifer shoved her cell phone in front of Alana's face.

Alana had to step back to see the image.

“Let me see.” Cadence took the phone. “No. That's not Drew.”

“Why?” Alana turned to Cadence. They exchanged confused expressions and looked back at Jennifer.

“Thank goodness. I was reading this article online about a motorcycle racer who was arrested for assault a few weeks back. It's been all over the news, but now he's being sued for a half-million dollars. Someone filmed him being served papers. He lost it. They posted the video on Facebook, and it went viral. There's over a million likes, and the video has only been posted less than a day.”

Alana tapped her password into her laptop and typed in the man's name. A full page of headlines, videos and images came up, showing the face of the man he allegedly assaulted. Other pictures depicted the man being cuffed and taken in by the police.

“How did I miss this? I wonder if Drew knows him,” Alana said.

“Call him,” Cadence prompted.

“He's visiting his dad at the hospital. I don't want to disturb him now.”

“You're right. We can ask later.”

“He's stopping by later. We were planning a late lunch. I'll ask then.” Alana didn't recall seeing Gary Hayden in Austin but assumed that Drew had to know him. She wasn't quite sure how big this motorcycle-racing world was. “In the meantime, we need to get to work. Cadence, did you get a chance to look over the marketing plan I left for you?”

“I did, and I have a few suggestions. How about we start with that and then go to the budget?”

“Sure.”

For the next few hours, Cadence and Alana finalized their marketing strategy, hired a PR consultant and held a conference call with their accountant. Then Cadence went back to her office to review briefs.

Alana had completely forgotten to call Drew about her lunch. When she picked up her cell phone, she noticed several missed calls and a few texts. Just as she was about to call him back, Jennifer stuck her head into her office.

“Alana,” Jennifer said with a mix of excitement and anxiety, “you won't believe who just came into our office.”

Alana's brows furrowed. “Who?”

“That motorcycle guy I showed you this morning. He asked for you and Cadence. Where should I send him?”

Their office was small, consisting of only a reception area and the two offices Alana and Cadence used. Each had a round table that could fit a few chairs, which they often used to spread papers across the room as they worked. Soon enough, they would be able to upgrade to a larger space with an actual conference room.

Alana stood quickly, putting her phone aside. She'd call Drew later.

“Tell him we'll be right with him.”

She headed to Cadence's office and closed the door.

“Cay, that biker is here.”

Cadence looked confused.

“The one whose video went viral,” Alana added.

Cadence's back straightened. “Really?”

“Yep. I'll tell Jen to send him in here.”

Cadence started tidying her desk, even though it wasn't really messy. Big clients made you scrutinize your space, so Alana understood her actions. Alana called for Jennifer to bring the client to Cadence's office.

“Gary Hayden,” he said, sticking out his hand.

Alana shook it. “Alana Tate. This is my partner.”

“Cadence Payne,” Cadence interjected as she came around her desk.

“Please have a seat,” Alana offered.

“Can we get you anything to drink?” Cadence asked.

“I'm fine, thanks.”

The three sat at the table. “What brings you to Payne, Tate and Associates today?”

“It was self-defense.” He jumped right in. “He provoked me. Even though I was arrested, the case didn't go anywhere. Then, yesterday, I get these.” Gary tossed the papers he had been served on the desk. “He's suing me for half a million dollars.”

Cadence and Alana looked at each other.

“Let's start from the beginning,” Alana said, guiding him as she and Cadence took notes.

Gary told them that he'd been out celebrating a recent win with fellow bikers in his division when a man began taunting them. The end result was a black eye and one broken rib for the guy and sore knuckles for Gary.

“I need someone who will be able to prove that I'm innocent. I'm sick of these fools trying to chip away at my finances with their false claims. I came here because I heard you're one of the best firms at handling cases where the media loves to create a frenzy.”

Alana smiled inside. This was just what their practice needed. They listened to the rest of his story and told him what would be required for representation. Gary didn't hesitate. He pulled out his credit card and handed it to Cadence. She called Jennifer to process the payment of his retainer and provide Gary with a receipt. The three of them stood and shook hands.

“We're looking forward to working with you, Mr. Hayden. Come on, I'll walk you out,” Alana offered.

“The two of you are quite beautiful,” Gary added as they left Cadence's office.

“Thanks, but I have to let you know that flattery won't help your case or reduce your fees.” Alana raised a brow and chuckled.

“A sense of humor too? If you're as competent as folks say you are, then I'm truly in luck.”

Keeping her manner professional, Alana stuck her hand out to shake his. “Mr. Hayden, we'll see you in the morning.”

“The pleasure's all mine,” Gary said with a frisky grin. “I'm feeling confident about my situation already.” His handshake lingered a little too long.

Alana withdrew her hand, placing it behind her back. Nodding, she dismissed him and his flirtatious advance, saying, “Have a great evening.”

“What are you doing here?”

Both Alana's and Gary's heads whipped in the direction of Drew's voice, which was coated in insolence and suspicion. Drew glowered at Gary, who glared back at him.

“Hey, Drew. I'll be ready in a moment. You can wait for me in my office, if you'd like.” Alana wasn't sure what was happening, but Drew's and Gary's distaste for one another was apparent. She thought it best to immediately defuse anything that could spark a confrontation. There was no need to ask Drew if he knew who Gary was.

Gary looked back and forth between Drew and Alana, apparently summing up their possible connection. His glare faded, replaced by a smirk.

Drew walked past Gary to where Alana stood, kissed her and posted himself by her side possessively.

Gary turned and walked out, leaving Alana to wonder what had just happened.