Chapter 30: Ride to Love

AVA

We drove through the street, Cyrus slaloming through traffic. I didn’t know whether to lean with or against him, so I tried to just remain as still as possible.

Every time we had to stop for a traffic light, he would rub my arm or thigh to soothe me. Minutes later, we pulled up to the now familiar neon sign sporting Georgia’s name.

Cyrus took off his helmet, and a wave of butterflies washed over me. He looked so handsome, his hair disheveled, his eyebrows seemingly even darker and lower than usual.

We walked into the diner and stopped between the first and second set of swinging doors to remove our motorcycle gear.

Georgia came to meet us. She wrapped Cyrus in a motherly hug and then turned to me.

“How lovely to see you again, dear.” She cupped my face in her hands. “I see you two finally admitted your feelings to yourselves.”

I blushed, and Cyrus wrapped his arm around me, kissing me on the forehead.

“Couldn’t fight it any longer,” he said and winked at Georgia.

She took us to the same booth as before, and we were brought a pitcher of sweet tea.

Cyrus poured us both a glass, and Georgia scooted into the booth beside him and put her elbows on the table and her face in her hands.

She looked at me lovingly. “Now do I finally get to hear about this lovely girl?”

Cyrus leaned back and looked me up and down with a satisfied look on his face.

“I found her outside on a snowy day and offered her a job. She came to work for me and tried to make me jealous by dating another employee.”

“Hey! I didn’t date him to make you jealous!”

He chuckled and took a sip of his drink. “Well, it did.”

Georgia laughed. “I knew you two were meant to be from the start. What can I get you two lovebirds? Some pie, perhaps?”

“We’ll both have a burger,” Cyrus said, and Georgia left to go get them.

“So, motorcycles, casual clothes, and burgers…” I looked Cyrus up and down. “Who are you, and what have you done to Mr. Brentstone?”

He narrowed his eyes a little and leaned forward. I automatically mirrored him, so that his face was just inches from mine.

“Which do you prefer?” he whispered.

I brushed my lips over his cheek, which was now sporting several days’ worth of stubble. “I like seeing another side of you. I like getting to see parts of you that most people don’t.”

He grinned at me. “I can show you a few parts only you get to see.”

I blushed and playfully swatted at him. Cyrus caught my hand in midair and pulled me toward him. He kissed me hungrily, and I shivered as I felt the heat leave my limbs and pool between my legs.

“I never took you for the PDA type,” I whispered.

“I want you. I don’t care where we are.”

We spent the next hour casually talking over our burgers, which were almost as good as the pie. I felt completely at ease, more than I had in a long time. More than I ever had with any man.

It was such a stark contrast with how on edge I’d felt around him the first couple of weeks.

“Tell me,” Cyrus said, “why did you move so far away from your home?”

“I found a great job opportunity,” I mumbled, looking away.

He scoffed. “At Porthouse?”

“Yeah.”

He took my chin and turned my head back toward him. “Don’t lie to me, Ava. I know you applied at Brentstone first. You didn’t move here for a job.”

I finally looked at him. “I didn’t. I had more to run from than toward, I suppose. I just needed a fresh start.”

We sat like that for a long moment.

“Well, I’m glad you’re here.”

I smiled at him and took his hand. “Me too.”

I saw a short, stout figure coming our way in my peripheral view. It was Georgia, approaching with a plate of pie. She set it down in front of us and gave us each a fork.

“The Pie of Endearment for the new couple.” She winked at Cyrus.

I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

“That’s what it’s called. People kept warming up to each other after sharing it.”

I put my hand to my chest, feigning disbelief. “You fed me love potion pie to get me to like you?!”

Cyrus wiggled his eyebrows at me.

We finished our pie and put on our motorcycle gear again. I felt a tap on my helmet. I looked up, thinking it was Cyrus, but was met with a similar-looking face.

“Dominic!” I said happily and felt Cyrus step closer behind me.

The brothers shook hands, and I gave Dominic a small hug, which was cut short by Cyrus pulling me back.

“It’s ~Dominic~.” I rolled my eyes.

Cyrus shot me a look from under his brow, but I saw he was grinning.

“Glad to see my helmet is getting some use after all.” Dominic tapped it again. “So, business or pleasure?”

I felt my cheeks heat up, but Cyrus’s arm snaked around my waist, pulling me to him.

“Pleasure,” he said into my hair, and my knees buckled, making me glad he was holding me so tightly.

Dominic tilted his head back with a satisfied grin on his face. “Finally,” he said. “Come over for dinner tonight. Georgia is joining us too.”

Cyrus looked at me hesitantly.

“Sounds good!” I said.

“Good. See you guys at seven.”

We went outside, and I put on my helmet. Cyrus secured my chinstrap.

“I can get us out of it if you’d rather go somewhere else for dinner,” he said. “I get that we kind of put you on the spot there.”

“No, I’d love to go! I like Dominic, and I’m excited to meet your sister-in-law and their kids. Plus, Georgia being there is an added bonus.”

We rode back home, and I felt a lot more comfortable this time. We spent the rest of the day hanging out at Cyrus’s place, watching movies and kissing on his pristine couch. Suddenly it was time to go.

“I don’t have a change of clothes with me,” I said. It occurred to me that I was dressed a touch too casually to have dinner with a family that seemed to always be dressed in suits.

“Don’t worry about it. I wasn’t planning on changing either.” Cyrus nodded at his jeans.

I fixed my hair and turned suddenly to look at Cyrus. He wasn’t planning on making me wear a helmet again, was he?

“Don’t worry, we’re going by car,” he said without even looking up.

I relaxed a little, and we went down to the garage. Just before we got into the car, though, I slapped my hand to my mouth, mortified.

“We should bring them something! We can’t show up empty-handed.”

Cyrus held up a bottle of expensive-looking liquor that he’d apparently been carrying the whole time. I breathed a sigh of relief while simultaneously suppressing a shiver.

Cyrus grabbed my hand and gave it a little squeeze, and I kissed his cheek gratefully before getting in the car.