Only Four Desire

Chapter 5

“I can’t believe you talked me into this,” Roxie said, her voice shaking from a combination of excitement and trepidation coursing through her body at lightning speed. Looking might pleased with himself, Mitch turned the key, bringing the engine to life.

Unable to hold back her emotions, Roxie squealed like a girl half her age and grabbed onto the back of Mitch’s jacket like a lifeline.

Mitch, the bastard, of course, chuckled before he used his booted foot to lift the kickstand, and then they were moving, peeling out of the car park at an alarming speed that stole the breath right out of her lungs.

Suddenly questioning all her life decisions, Roxie squeezed her eyes shut, certain she didn’t want to see what was coming. It wasn’t until a handful of seconds had passed and she didn’t suddenly find herself in the afterlife that she opened her eyes again.

For a moment, everything just looked like a moving blur, and it was hard for her to focus on the buildings and landscapes they passed by. Her grip reflexively switched to the front of his jacket, and she squeezed as though attempting to merge their bodies as one. The move seemed to communicate her unease because the next thing she knew, Mitch reduced the pressure on the throttle, and their speed dropped to something less horrifying.

“Better?” he shouted to be heard above the roar of the engine and their helmets.

Since Roxie didn’t want to shout, she reluctantly unclenched her right hand from his middle and gave him a thumbs up before quickly returning it to its previous position. Mitch laughed, the vibrations of his chest adding to those of the motorcycle.

Roxie had never been on a motorcycle in her life. At no point in her life, between growing up with her strict parents and being married to Elias, had the opportunity to do something so reckless and wild ever presented itself.

So, of course, she’d been hesitant when Mitch suggested it as soon as they stepped out of the supermarket.

“I have an idea,” Mitch suddenly declared while he carried her small shopping bag like a gentleman, even though Roxie had declined his offer to pay for her purchases. Although Roxie suspected he carried the bag in order to make sure she didn’t run off on him.

Roxie gave him a wary look. “I only agreed to a milkshake,” she reminded him.

Mitch smiled. “I remember, and I am going to make sure they add extra chocolate sprinkles for you. I was just thinking we could make the journey to the milkshake more interesting, that’s all.”

“Oh my God.” Roxie stopped walking and pressed a dramatic hand to her chest before she looked around the crowded mall car park as though looking for someone to rescue her. “This is the part where I find out you are actually a serial killer or something, right?” she mock-whispered.

“Ha! Very funny. Don’t you trust me?”

“Actually, no. I don’t know you enough to trust you.”

“True.” Mitch nodded, still looking undeterred as he headed for a bright red Hyundai Tucson, giving her no choice but to follow. “Don’t worry,” he said over his shoulder. “This will give you plenty of opportunity to trust me.”

Roxie hesitated. “That doesn’t fill me with confidence for some reason.”

Mitch chuckled. “Relax. You will love it. Have you ever been on a motorbike before?”

Roxie had no idea how he’d talked her into doing it. Somehow, though, she hadn’t backed down and left even when he’d driven them to his apartment, not batting an eyelash when she categorically refused to go inside while he fetched the keys to the bike.

And now that she was on for the ride, the wind blowing past her borrowed helmet, Roxie realized perhaps it had been exactly what she needed. A strange sound bubbled in her throat, a combination of laughter and a scream. Being on the bike was both thrilling and terrifying. It certainly took her out of her mind, spinning with problems she had no solutions for, and just allowed her to experience the moment.

Holding on to Mitch’s firm body didn’t hurt either, even though she tried not to let her mind wander in that direction.

By the time Mitch brought the motorbike to a stop outside a diner tucked right on the edge of the central business district of the city, Roxie thought she wouldn’t mind doing that again.

Of course, the diner had to be another shock to her senses, in that it was nothing like what she’d expected Mitch would take her to.

While the outside hadn’t given her cause for concern, it looked like a regular old warehouse that had been transformed into a diner. However, Roxie was immediately put on guard when Mitch pushed the front door open, and it creaked like a soundtrack for every horror movie she’d ever watched.

Then came the inside. The first thought that popped into her mind was post-apocalyptic. That was the only way to describe the booths, which looked like they were made up of old, rusted, twisted metal scraps and the faded road signs and battered license plates that adorned the walls like priceless art.

Roxie gave Mitch another wary look. “Seriously, you are a serial killer, aren’t you?” she asked.

Mitch, who had been watching her keenly to gauge her reaction, laughed, his shoulders shaking as he made his way to the only empty booth in the place. Because, strangely enough, Roxie realized that the place was packed, loud chatter and the sound of cutlery confirming that business was booming for the creepy diner.

But if the smell that carried in the air was any indicator of how good the food in this place was, then Roxie understood why anyone would overlook the end of the world look with a side of a need for a tetanus shot.

Reluctantly, Roxie followed Mitch to the booth and carefully sat down. She, however, discovered that she’d had nothing to fear. While the metal that made the booths looked rough and hideous from afar, she realized they were actually quite smooth and comfortable.

“Still think I brought you to your doom?” Mitch asked, still watching her like he didn’t want to miss a single reaction she made.

Roxie looked around before she arched her brow at him. “You have a strange way of trying to woo a lady,” she said.

Mitch lifted his finger. “Ah, but I’m not wooing you, remember? We are just two simple acquaintances out for a milkshake.”

“Right. Acquaintances,” Roxie repeated.

He nodded. “That’s right. This is not a date,” he declared before giving her a wink.

Roxie scoffed. She shook her head. Of course, it wasn’t a date. It was just the most elaborate and thrilling non-date she’d ever been on. “You are ridiculous,” she informed him, but she was smiling and probably felt more free and alive than she had in way too long, and it was all because of the man seated across from her in the most hideous-looking diner she’d ever laid her eyes on.

Totally not offended by her assessment of him, Mitch continued to grin even when the waitress came over and he passed their orders for crazy shakes, requesting more chocolate sprinkles on Roxie’s like he’d promised.

By the time their order was on the table, Roxie had completely forgotten why she’d had reservations. She laughed as Mitch tried to convince her that he’d been voted the most grumpy student in high school.

“Then what happened?” she asked. “Aliens abducted you and gave you a personality switch?”

“Nope. I just realized life was far more interesting if I didn’t take everything so seriously.”

“So your motto is being spontaneous?”

Mitch pulled the straw out of his shake and licked at the frosting before sticking it back, the act seeming innocent enough if not for the way his eyes twinkled when he caught her looking. “Live in the moment. Have fun. Do something crazy,” he said.

Roxie dropped her gaze, suddenly uncomfortable as the mood in the air seemed to switch. She traced her finger on the condensation on the side of her glass. “And what about the consequences?” she asked without looking up. “What happens after you have fun and do something crazy? How do you deal with the aftermath?”

A frown creased his forehead. “You are already assuming the aftermath would be ugly.”

“In my experience,” Roxie began, leaning back in her seat so she was looking at him as she spoke. “Reckless, not thought-out actions always lead to heartache.”

“You can’t think and plan out everything, Roxie.”

“Doesn’t mean I go jumping off cliffs without an idea of how I will land when I hit the ground.”

Mitch was silent for a beat, then a cocky smile lifted the corners of his lips. “I would be your parachute if you’d like. Or the mattress you land on at the bottom.”

That caught Roxie off guard. She blinked at the man, her brain trying to comprehend as a beat of silence passed. “You want to catch me when I fall?” she found herself asking even though she knew the question was ridiculous.

Ridiculous or not, the man’s grin widened. “Isn’t that what a gentleman would do?” he asked. For emphasis, he suddenly stretched out his arms and flexed his muscles. “Just look at these arms. They look cut out for the job.”

For a second, Roxie could only stare as the man continued to show off his arms like a peacock train-rattling. Honestly, she didn’t know what to make of him, but after a beat, she found herself laughing, and she couldn’t stop.

Mitch waggled his eyebrows. “See? I got you.” Did he?