Xavier hops on the bike and stands it up between his powerful thighs, stretching his hand out to me with a huge grin on his face. “Hop on, beautiful.”

And just like that, I’m a goner.

I’m in so much trouble.

Lots and lots of trouble.

Riding through the streets on the back of Xavier’s bike is unbelievably freeing. The wind rushes across my skin, and I close my eyes, resting my cheek against his back. The muscles in his back work under his shirt with every turn of his wrist, and the smell of his spicy cologne mixed with soap lingers on his skin. When I’m close to him like this, it makes me forget every reason why I should stop this thing between us before it gets too complicated. Distance gives me clarity—the ability to see that I should stay away. There’s just one problem.

I don’t want to.

I could stay like this forever, which is bad, but I don’t care.

Xavier turns into the parking lot of the same diner he took me to last night. The streetlights illuminate the area, and the neon in the restaurant’s window gleams “Open 24/7,” inviting hungry people in at all times of the day.

Xavier flicks the kickstand down with his boot and then slides his sunglasses onto the top of his head. “I hope you’re hungry.”

I take his hand and swing my leg off the bike, the muscles in my thighs still tingling from having such a powerful machine vibrating between them. “Starving, actually. My nerves were too on edge to eat at Larry’s during my lunch. Besides, I didn’t have any money.”

He furrows his brow. “You moved to a new city with no money?”

“I have money…just not a lot of it. I knew I could wait until I got to Aunt Dee’s to eat, so it really wasn’t a big deal,” I say, trying to make light of the situation.

“No, Anna. Not eating is a very big deal. You’re a tiny thing. If you don’t eat, you could faint and hurt yourself. From now on, you eat.” The authoritative tone in his voice is impossible to miss. “And if you don’t have money, you call me. Understood?”

My lips twist as I try to figure out why this is such an issue for him. So I skipped a meal—no big deal. “You’re being a touch ridiculous, don’t you think? I don’t understand why you’re turning this into a ‘thing.’”

Xavier shoves himself off the bike, and I can’t help but notice how delicious he looks in the blue jeans he’s wearing. “Let’s just say I know what it’s like to be hungry and do whatever you have to in order to eat. Someone like you should never have to experience that. Rough living can make you a hard person.”

My eyes roam over his sculpted shoulders and travel down the length of his torso. It’s hard to imagine this well-fed man ever being hungry, but the words from his lips indicate that he’s had to struggle.

“That must’ve been tough. Did your family—”

I cut myself off before my curious mind steps in and asks for answers that are none of my business. Heat rises up my neck and into my cheeks, surely creating a blush at the thought of my own brazen attitude. “Sorry. It’s none of my business.”

When I attempt to look away, Xavier slides his index finger under my chin. “You can ask me anything, beautiful. I can’t promise I’ll always answer, but you can ask all you want. I like knowing that you’re curious about me. Your questions allow me inside that mind of yours. But you should know up front that I don’t talk about my family.”

I open my mouth to ask him why, but think better of it. It’s probably smarter to honor his wishes because I, of all people, know that sometimes families suck. Maybe he’s trying to forget his past just like I am?

“I understand.”

He gives me a sad smile and takes my hand, pulling me toward the entrance of the restaurant. “Hope it’s okay that we came here again. It’s the one place I can relax when I’m in town. It’s like—”

“Home,” I say, filling in the answer for him after remembering how at ease he was there last night.

After a moment of contemplation, he nods. “Yeah…something like that.”

The moment we step inside I notice the place is empty. Nettie glances up from the broom she’s using to sweep the floor and a huge smile warms her face. “Boy, two days in a row! How did I get so lucky?” She leans the broom against the counter before she makes her way over to us. After a quick embrace with Xavier, Nettie turns her attention back to me. “I think this is a record. Carl, you seein’ this?”

Carl turns around from the grill that he’s scrubbing. “I see it, woman. I ain’t blind.”

Nettie tsks at Carl. “No one asked for your lip. Go back to cleaning.”

I chuckle at the banter between them. “Are you two an item?”

Nettie raises her eyebrows and slides her eyes toward Xavier and then back to me. “Who? Me and Carl? That old fool wishes!”

Xavier shakes his head. “Come on, Nettie, I know when this place is dead you two have a little alone time back in the storage closet.”

Nettie throws her hands on her hips. “Xavier Cold, I have the mind to take you out back and tan your hide for talking to me like that.”

He tips his head back and a deep laugh rumbles out of him. “It’s not as big of a secret as you think, Nettie. Everyone knows you and Carl are a thing.”

She folds her smooth brown arms over her chest. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”