Page 24 of Ride or Die

For the first time in hours, she felt warm again.

Chapter 7

Riley

Riley tapped on Saint’s shoulder, and he downshifted. He followed her pointed finger to the tall building ahead and pulled over in front of Kristi’s apartment. She climbed down and stood on the sidewalk, skin still buzzing from the engine. Saint straddled the bike with careful ease, balancing it as he flicked the engine off.

“Thank you. For the ride…” She trailed off, the words empty and useless. She passed his heavy helmet back. “Sorry I didn’t text you.”

“Happy to.” His steady gaze held hers. “Anytime. And don’t worry about it. I can be patient.” He gave her a small smile.

She swallowed. The breeze felt ten degrees colder on her cheeks.

“Just text me if you need anything. Or if you want to go for a dog walk,” Saint said, sliding his hands into his jeans pockets. The silver scars across his knuckles blurred as her throat stung.

“Sorry,” Riley whispered, gaze darting anywhere but his. He set the helmet down on the tank between his legs. She sniffed quietly. “I will.”

“Hey, hey, come here.” Saint reached for her but left enough space that it was her choice to close it. Riley stepped off the curb without thinking, and his hand cupped her shoulder. He brought her closer until she stood right next to him. Their legs almost touched.

Riley apologized again, almost too tired to care that she was crying on the sidewalk as people walked by.

His thumb brushed her cheek, wiping the tear away.

“You’re fine,” he murmured. “It’s just the adrenaline.”

It wasn’t, and he knew it.

Saint’s eyes were a deep brown, and fine laugh lines framed them. Riley breathed in and out when he did until the tears stopped. With his hand still on her shoulder, Saint leaned forward and barely brushed his lips over her forehead—the scrape of stubble was the only evidence that it actually happened. He pushed her back up onto the sidewalk, and her chest ached.

“Bye, Riley.” He gave her a soft smile before he pulled the helmet on and started the bike. The wheels rolled forward.

“Bye…” Her voice was lost as the engine surged and he accelerated away. He got smaller and smaller as he sped down the street, merging seamlessly into traffic. She didn’t want him to leave.

“Uh, who the hell was that? I just saw your text.”

Riley jumped. Kristi stood beside her in pink fuzzy slippers.

“Hi,” Riley sighed, and her shoulder drooped.

“Ri. What happened.” Kristi searched Riley’s face, and she jerked her gaze back down the road to where Saint had disappeared.

Riley’s eyes swam, stinging again. “Can we please go inside?” She wasn’t asking.

Kristi cast another look down the street and grabbed Riley’s hand to stalk into the warm, bright lobby. She ignored the doorman and pulled Riley with her.

Anger filled the elevator, and the floors on the screen ticked by, one at a time.

“Was it Biker Boy? I’ll kill him,” Kristi announced, staring straight ahead.

Riley tipped her head back and willed her eyes to stop watering.

“No, it wasn’t him. Just a crappy day at work. Another one.”

“Babe.” Kristi looked at Riley, eyes softening as she struggled to contain the violence on her face. She succeeded, just for a moment, and the ache in Riley’s chest throbbed again.

Kristi led them to her sub-penthouse apartment and shoved the unlocked door open with her foot. She turned to pull the bag off Riley’s shoulder.

“I can do it.” But she really didn’t want to.