Ready to Fall by Olivia Dade Read Free Book Online Page B

small smile creeping across her expressive face. Normally, he would have found that smack annoying, but from her . . . The little sting reverberated up his arm and traveled straight to his cock.
    Her tiny smile faded. “But I’m not exaggerating my fear, Chris. I don’t think bikes are possessed anymore, but I really am scared of them. Which I know is pathetic, so feel free to make fun of me.”
    And there it was. The honesty beneath the theatrics.
    â€œI know that bike trip is important to you,” he said slowly. “But I’m not sure it’s such a great idea. I’m going to do my best to teach you how to ride, but you shouldn’t take any chances with your safety. Your dad might not blame me if you got seriously hurt, but I’d blame myself.”
    He meant every word. And if the thought of her abandoning her pursuit of Ulysses pleased Chris a bit too much, she didn’t need to know. Hell, he didn’t want to know either.
    Before his eyes, determination seemed to snap her spine straight in an instant. She edged away from his hand and took a deep breath. “No. I can do this. If you hold the bike for me, I’ll try again.”
    He searched her eyes, wondering what she was thinking.
    â€œHold the bike for me,” she repeated. “Okay?”
    There was no point in trying to figure her out or change her mind. After her bike retreat, he’d probably never see her again anyway. She was his customer. Period.
    â€œOkay.” After a moment of thought, he reached for his tools again. “But why don’t I lower the seat a bit for you first? Like I said, the bike will be harder to pedal. But if it makes you more comfortable, so be it.”
    She let out a relieved breath. “That sounds great.”
    â€œShould have lowered it from the beginning.” Keeping his voice carefully neutral, he added, “The customer’s always right, after all.”
    A reminder to himself, disguised as conversation. And if she studied his face a little too long after he said it, he didn’t care enough to ask why.
    After she’d retreated back to her worktable, he fiddled with the seat. For some reason, the muscles in his shoulders had bunched into tense knots, and he kept fumbling with his tools. But after a minute, he’d managed to adjust the seat height to a place where she should be able to touch the ground on her tiptoes.
    â€œGet back on the bike,” he finally said, bracing the frame. “This should feel better.”
    It did. He could tell from the relieved smile she aimed his way when she climbed back onto the seat. Even after a minute up there, her breathing stayed steady. He couldn’t see any signs of incipient panic.
    â€œWith this new seat position, I think my chances of surviving the bike trip are now seventy-thirty. Thank you, Chris,” she said.
    â€œNo problem. Put your feet on the pedals.” He had a firm grip with both hands on the frame. There was no way the bike was moving an inch while he was holding it.
    Biting her lip, she cautiously raised her feet and rested them lightly on the pedals.
    â€œHow does it feel? Are the handlebars at a good height?” he asked.
    â€œIt feels like I’m sitting up in the air with my ass impaled on a tiny triangle of hard plastic.” Her lips quirked. “But the handlebars are fine.”
    â€œLet me do one last inspection, and then I think we’ll be ready to go outside for your lesson.” Still holding the bike steady, he took a good look at her position in the seat. A very good look. His eyes seemed stuck there, actually, immobilized by the glory of Sarah’s soft, round ass.
    After a minute, she wiggled a bit on the seat. He jumped, and his eyes flew up to meet hers. She looked amused, and he could feel a flush heat his cheeks.
    â€œSorry,” he mumbled. “Just making sure you were sitting the right way.”
    â€œI’m pretty sure sitting