Big Girls Don't Cry by Taylor Lee Read Free Book Online Page B

muscular thighs tightened as he took the steps three at a time.
    When he turned the corner at the second landing, she managed to speak.
    “No, wait. You don’t have to come up. I…I’m ready.”
    He stopped at the landing and leaned back against the railing.
    Grinning that disarming grin that made her stomach clench, he whistled again.
    “Yeah, darlin’, you sure as hell are.”
    She refused his hand and walked by him with her head in the air. His low chuckle raised the hairs on the back of her neck and she clutched the railing for support. In seconds, he was beside her, his big hand circling her arm. The skin on the place he stroked flamed at his touch.
    His voice was a low rumble.
    “Steady, now, darlin’. We don’t want you to break your neck or your ankles in those shoes.” He huffed. “I never have figured out how women wear those high heels.” He added with a chuckle, “I’m just glad they do.”
    Lexie forced herself to take a deep breath and then another, but it didn’t do any good. She was a bundle of shrieking nerves. Furious at herself for agreeing to go out with this man, she whirled to face him. The tirade bubbling up in her chest hovered in her throat at the look in his eyes. His stormy blue eyes were dark with concern.
    He reached out and stroked her cheek, the way you would an overwrought child poised on the edge of a tantrum. She was horrified that he read her so easily.
    “Alexis, relax.”
    His voice was quiet, authoritative. He squinted down at her. His expression was almost stern.
    “Listen up. You and I are going to go out and have a nice dinner. You’re going to tell me all about that beast of a car you drive. I’m going to smother you with my southern charm. And if that was a tell-tale growl that I just heard from your stomach, you’re going to eat the first food you’ve had today or maybe in a couple of days. You got that?”
    She hesitated, then mumbled, “I had a banana this morning.”
    He shook his head with a dismissive nod.
    “Good, then you’ll have lots of room for the food I intend to tempt you with. Hell, I might even force you to drink one of the best margaritas you’ve ever tasted just to see if I can loosen you up a bit.”
    She tipped up her chin. “I…I don’t drink much.”
    His eyes twinkled. “Good. A girl after my own heart.” He added, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Just what I like, a cheap drunk.”
    Ignoring her startled frown, he smiled at her and bowed low. He swept his arm toward the dusty gravel parking lot.
    “My lady, your chariot awaits.”
    Lexie looked up in surprise at the gleaming black and silver motorcycle discreetly parked under the only tree in the pock-marked lot. She didn’t know much about motorcycles, but given what she did know, this was one impressive bike. It screamed power and money. Damn, she wouldn’t be surprised if Jake had dropped as much on this baby as she had in three years restoring her Camaro.
    He laughed. “My one indulgence.”
    She sniffed. “I’ll bet. But just so you know, I’m not much of a motorcycle person. How about we take my car instead?”
    Jake stumbled back in mock horror. “And not travel down the open road with the wind in your hair and the sun in your eyes, driving every guy in his Buick sedan green with envy?”
    Lexie hesitated, then blurted out. “They scare me. And…and I’ve never ridden on the back of one before. I don’t know how.”
    Jake regarded her solemnly for a moment, then took hold of her arm and inched toward the machine glinting in the dappled sunlight shining through the palo verde branches.
    “Somehow I find that hard to believe from a girl whose car is every guy’s wet dream. But I’ll take you at your word. That’s why your first ride needs to be with a guy who knows how to handle a girl on the back of a bike.”
    Lexie felt her cheeks heat at the double entendre, but shook off her embarrassment, determined not to let him see that she was