Page 26 of Malice
She wondered about it for a bit then decided it didn’t matter. He was driving and she trusted him; that was enough.
Now that she’d admitted, at least to herself, that she trusted him, she started to question it. Why did she trust him? Hadn’t she trusted Phillip too? With how that turned out, how could she rely on herself to know who was safe with her trust?
She pushed the heavy thoughts from her mind and turned her attention to the countryside speeding past them, determined to enjoy this time away, this time to just be, and with Corey too.
They rode for quite a while, content with their thoughts and being close to each other. After what felt like a long time, they reached a town, one bigger than where she’d grown up, and Corey eased the bike off the road and pulled it to a stop at a gas station, but not at the pumps.
“What’s up?” Bonnie asked after he’d killed the engine.
“I thought you might need a restroom. I know I could.” He tapped her leg, indicating she should climb off. She did, then stood watching as he swung his own leg over the back of the bike as if he’d done it a million times. She fumbled with the clasp on the helmet she wore but managed to release it after a moment and lift it off. She looked up to find Corey holding one hand out, waiting for her helmet, so she handed it to him and watched as he stowed it, and his own, in one of the bags hanging on either side of the rear tire. “Come on.” He set one hand on her lower back and walked with her inside.
After she’d visited the facilities, she wandered up and down the aisles of the convenience store, waiting for Corey.
“You hungry?” Corey asked, coming up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her middle and rested his chin on her shoulder, so their faces sat cheek to cheek.
She thought about it a second and wondered if she was looking at the candy bars, wondering if they should get one because she was actually hungry or for something to do while she waited.
“A little,” she said after a moment. “I mean, I could eat but it’s not a driving need.”
“There are a couple diners here in town that are decent, do you want to go get something to eat or ride a little longer?” He seemed content to stand there, his arms around her and body pressed along hers, while she decided. Bonnie couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind as they did. Did he hope she’d want to eat? Want to get on the bike? She wished she could see his face, maybe she could get an idea of what he wanted to do.
The ache in her legs made her decision for her. “Let’s go eat,” she said after a moment, then turned her head and placed a gentle peck of a kiss on his cheek. His cheek moved beneath her lips, letting her know he’d smiled, right before he turned and placed his mouth on hers, kissing her back.
“You ready to get back on the bike or you want to walk around a few minutes more?” he asked after pulling away from their all too brief kiss.
She pulled back to get a better look at his face. “You can tell I’m feeling it?”
“Not by watching you, but I remember what it was like after my first few long rides, and even still when it’s been a long day.”
“I wouldn’t mind walking a bit, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. You want to walk around in here or outside?”
“Outside sounds good. I don’t think I’ve ever been here. I’d like to look around a bit.”
“No problem.” He backed away, releasing his hold around her middle but catching her hand with his as he started to step away.
Bonnie found herself smiling down at their clasped hands as she followed him. It didn’t feel like he pulled her along or like he would, but more like he just wanted the connection between them.
This was how things were supposed to feel.
21
Bythetimetheymade it back to the ranch, later than he’d planned but not yet sundown, even Malice was tired from spending too long on the bike in a single stretch. He pulled into the driveway and up in front of the barnlike garage where everyone kept their bikes, along with some of the other equipment for the ranch, and stopped long enough for Bonnie to climb off before pulling the bike into it’s spot in line with the others.
After killing the engine, he stepped off and pulled off his helmet. Bonnie closed the distance between them, her eyes wide.
“I didn’t realize you all ride.” Her gaze scanned the line of bikes.
“Sweetness, we’re not just a ranch and a bunch of hands, we’re an MC too.”
She frowned, looking at him for a moment with what he’d learned was her confused look. Rather than explain here, he took her helmet and his, and went to the wall where several more hung in a row, putting them both in their spots before turning back to her. She looked from the wall to him, then back again for a moment then shook her head, as if none of this made sense.
“But none of you wear those vest things gangs wear.”
He wrapped an arm around her middle and guided her out into the driveway as he spoke, “First the ‘vest things’ are called kuttes. Second, we’re not a gang. We’re a club. It might seem like a small difference, but it’s an important one. Third, we have them, but don’t always wear them here. It’s not practical.”
“I guess they would get dirty or torn up while doing ranch work.”