“Come on. Let’s get you home,” I said, nodding toward the door.

Bethy

Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod, Tripp Montgomery, or was it Newark—I wasn’t sure; I’d heard him called by both names—was speaking to me. He was actually looking at me and talking to me. It was hard to breathe. When he’d shoved Jonathon back into the kitchen, looking like an avenging angel, my heart had gone into a frenzy.

He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. I was ten when I first saw him at the club. I’d been trying to load the drink cart for Aunt Darla because she was mad at me for running around outside in front of members instead of sitting in her office until she finished a meeting. So I thought if I helped her, she’d be happy again.

The problem was, I couldn’t carry the cases of drinks because they were too heavy, so I’d carried four single drinks at a time from the cooler to the cart. It’d been ninety degrees outside, and after five trips, I was getting exhausted. I’d let my attention wander and ended up tripping over a step and dropping all the bottles of beer in my arms. Glass had shattered everywhere.

I was sure that Aunt Darla would never let me come back and stay with her. I’d be stuck with the stinky old neighbor lady in the apartment next door who yelled at me all the time when Daddy was working. And he was always working.

Tripp had walked up and seen my mess. Without a word, he’d started cleaning it up. I’d stood there in awe of him in his khaki shorts and white polo shirt, looking like a teen model in a magazine. When he’d glanced up at me and winked, my ten-year-old heart was lost.

That had been our last interaction, although I’d been watching him from afar all these years. He was my favorite daydream. Now here he was, saving me again.

I followed him as he walked out of the kitchen. When he saw the large crowd of people gathering in the living room, he reached a hand back and took mine. Any ability to breathe was now gone. Tripp Montgomery Newark was touching my hand. He was holding it. If I died today, it would be OK. Because of this moment, my life was now complete.

He weaved his way through the crowd, holding my hand in his. People called out his name, and many looked at me curiously when they saw him pulling me behind him. I didn’t know what to do with the attention. These were people I’d watched my entire life, but they’d never acknowledged me.

“What are you doing?” London asked in a horrified voice, just as we pulled free of the people. This was not good. Tripp and London had been a couple for years. Everyone knew it. When I’d heard he’d ended things with London, I’d been so happy I’d smiled like an idiot for a week. Which was silly, really. It wasn’t like Tripp was going to realize I was alive now that London was out of the picture.

“Leaving,” Tripp replied without looking at her.

“You’re leaving? With her?” she asked, even more horrified.

Tripp let my hand go and opened the front door. “Yep” was his only response.

“Who is she?” London asked, looking furious.

“That’s not your business,” he said, then looked at me. “Come on, sweetheart.”

He was calling me sweetheart again. I was seriously close to swooning. Right here on this marble floor.

“Tripp, do not walk out that door!” London warned as he opened the door and stood back for me to walk through. I quickly stepped out before London decided to take a lunge at me.

“Ignore her,” he whispered as I walked by.

It was like we had a secret. I shivered.

He closed the door on London, who was talking nonstop, and let out a sigh of relief. “Damn, she’s exhausting.”

He didn’t seem like a man upset over a breakup. That was good. I couldn’t think of anything to say to him that didn’t sound stupid. I wished I had some witty insight to make him want to be around me.

“Ever ride a bike?” he asked, stopping in front of a motorcycle. I knew he drove a Harley. Everyone knew it. But I hadn’t thought about getting to ride on it with him. This night was just getting better.

“Uh, no,” I replied, trying to keep the absolute giddiness from showing on my face.

“I’ll be your first. Sweet,” he said, then winked at me.

My heart stopped. Tripp had winked at me. I’d been so worried about tonight. I hadn’t been sure about Jonathon, but I’d wanted to see how the other half partied. I’d heard all about it, but I’d never been. Never had I imagined that I’d hold hands with Tripp, that he would wink at me, that I’d get to ride on the back of his bike. This night was going to be the most epic of my life. I was sure of it. “OK,” I managed to say without stumbling over the word.

He grinned, and it was perfect. I loved his smile. He handed me a helmet. “Put this on,” he instructed.

I’d never worn a motorcycle helmet, so I held it and studied it a moment. I didn’t want to do it wrong. I was pretty sure I’d need to tighten the strap that went under my chin.

Tripp’s hand reached out as he took the helmet away from me. I glanced up, afraid I’d taken too long and he’d changed his mind. “Sorry. That was rude. I should’ve done it for you. You’ve never ridden before,” he said simply, then put it on my head and adjusted the straps.

He was so close I could smell him. He had some wonderful scent that I assumed was cologne, which mixed with the sea breeze. I inhaled deeply as he fixed the helmet.

“There you go. We got that gorgeous head all safe and sound now,” he said as he stepped back from me and threw a leg over the bike. “Grab my shoulders and climb on back. Hold on to me as tight as you need.”