HARLEY

A ria was right, he had called. It was the morning of date number two and I was going in blind. I hadn’t told her about Ace calling on Sunday afternoon, but it had literally happened just a couple of hours after we’d finished brunch. Just as she predicted.

This wasn’t typical for us. Aria and I never usually kept secrets from each other. Except she was so into Jax and was spending all her free time with time with him lately. Other than our Sunday brunches, we just weren’t connecting on the daily like we usually did. Plus, if I was being honest, she was rarely with a guy and I didn’t want to interrupt her fun.

Rummaging through my drawers looking for the perfect hiking outfit, or even just any hiking outfit, was not a simple task. I was not the outdoorsy type, but this was no ordinary date. I’d have to make it work.

Opting for some ripped denim shorts, a white tank top over a black bra, and a pair of old running shoes was as good as it was going to get. I admired my reflection in my bedroom mirror. Cute but also… just kind of meh. It would have to do, though. None of my other options were any better. But also, it didn’t really matter because all that did was the fact that I was going out with Ace Novak. And this time we were actually going out. Maybe he’d spring for dinner afterwards, too. My fridge was certainly empty. A girl could hope.

Despite my excitement at seeing him again, I was also wary. It had been disappointing to accept that Ace was probably just looking for a good time. However, when he hadn’t even tried to kiss me, it felt like he’d changed his mind about that, too. Maybe in the daylight I wasn’t as pretty as I looked in the dark club? Or maybe he’d hated my personality? Nah, guys didn’t give two shits about a girl’s personality when they were trying to get her into bed. Ace was an enigma, and I needed this second date to really figure him out. Besides, whatever he wanted from me didn’t really matter. He’d continue on with his rock star life and forget all about me, but maybe I’d have something that could last forever. I was the one who could walk away with an autograph, a photo and maybe… just maybe, a little romp between the sheets with my favourite rock star.

In a small backpack, I packed a water bottle, wallet and sunscreen, then tied a plaid shirt around my waist. Just then, the downstairs rang out through my space. He was here.

One finger hovered over the button before finally pressing down and breathing a nervous “Hello?” into the speaker.

“It’s me.” Came a gravelly voice on the other end.

I took a deep breath and tried to sound casual as I answered. “Be right down!”

My nerves were multiplying by the second. I had no idea what was in store for me when it came to hiking, but more than that, I didn’t know what to expect from Ace. Because if I was being honest with myself, I didn’t understand him. He wasn’t a typical rock star. Sure, he seemed like one on stage, but now that I’d had personal interactions with him, I realized he wasn’t like other celebrities and powerful men that I’d met. He hadn’t tried to get in my pants immediately, like all the other guys who asked me out. This had left me feeling confused and positive that I wasn’t his type. But yet, here he was again. And he’d assured me that he was interested, but in what exactly, I wondered? Either way, I needed to find out.

By the time I’d made my way downstairs and out to the lobby, I could see him through the glass doors leaning against the brick wall. His tight black t shirt showed off that infamous muscular torso and the very enticing V shape that started at his broad shoulders and made its way down the length of him and into the belt of his jeans. At least I wasn’t the only one who hadn’t dressed appropriately. Although, I did notice that he was wearing what looked like hiking boots.

My hand reached for the door just as he turned, and our eyes locked.

Something was different this time, and it took me by surprise. His gaze held me captive, unable to pull my eyes from his. I stood still, frozen by the foreign feelings swirling around in my stomach.

“You look beautiful.” he exhaled under his breath yet loud enough for me to hear it.

“Thank you,” I smiled shyly and feeling more self-conscious than ever. This wasn’t me. I was loud, confident, brazenly honest and to the point yet in front of him… I felt shy, awkward even, and definitely not the confident, sexy self that I presented night after night at the club. Despite all this, fake till you make it had always been my personal motto. I steadied myself. Today was no different.

Ace opened his arms and brought me in for a hug. His warmth encapsulated me. Like a drug that called to the depths of my soul, his touch bombarded me with terrifying thoughts of wanting to remain in his arms forever.

Squinting in the sun, I pulled back from him and sucked back all my insecurities. “So…” I said brightly, “Shall we do this hiking thing?”

“Definitely!” He grinned. “Let’s hop in the car and get going.” He winked back at me. After walking around and holding the door open for me, I climbed up into his massive Escalade.

“No driver today?” I asked.

“Not right now.” He grinned and winked.

We drove in silence for most of the forty-five minutes between my apartment and the hiking spot. Occasionally, he’d look over at me and smile, but that was it. No music, very little talking, yet strangely, no awkward silence. Which was great because had I felt awkward, I’d have been trying to fill up the space with whatever randomness entered my head. But with him, it just felt… comfortable. Yet another strange thing about Ace Novak. This guy was truly an anomaly.

Some girls I worked with were always on the lookout for boyfriends that could pull them out of this life. Not me. I loved my life. I was independent. No one told me what to do or how to do it. I was my own woman and no one could take that away from me. So for me, a boyfriend wasn’t on my to-do list. However, I never said no to a fun date or a potential work opportunity. And to be honest, that’s what Ace could be for me. A super fun date with a guy that’d had been one of my celebrity crushes for years. As long as I stayed focused.

Finally, after driving along the coast and then up into the mountains, Ace took a right turn into the thick trees and down what seemed to be a private lane before pulling his Escalade into park next to a tiny log cabin. The significant clearing around the cabin seemed excessive for such a small house.

“What is this place?” I asked tentatively. I was all for spontaneity and fun, but there was also something a little nerve-wracking about being in the middle of nowhere with a guy I barely knew.

Ace grinned wide, raised his thick eyebrows and somehow tilted his head back to raise his aviators up on to his forehead. He looked up at the sun, as if checking the time, explaining, “I wanted to start our day here because…”

“Because what?” I asked sharply. My nerves making me sound bitchy again. Stop it, Harley! I silently berated myself.

But before either of us could speak again, I heard the whir of helicopter blades. Whipping around at a speed so high, the noise level was deafening. Wind shot through the open clearing, almost knocking me over with its force. Ace was behind me in an instant. He grabbed my hand and motioned for me to follow him, all with that never-ending grin plastered across his face.

“What the hell?” I screeched, my hair flying everywhere as we ran.

A helicopter came out of the sky and landed in the large clearing that surrounded the cabin. The captain got out, walked around to the side door, opened it, and stood by the automatic stairs as they descended.

“Shall we?” Ace asked, pulling me into a side hug. The feeling of his arm around me and being held tightly along the side of his body made shivers run through me.

“I thought we were hiking?” A sly grin spread across my own lips.

“Yeah, but I figured down was better than up, especially now that I see you went with those old sneakers.” He chided.

I made a face. “Well, I’m not the outdoorsy type and this was all….”

“Same… I only had the shoes.” He nodded, motioning to his attire. “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to see the view at the top.” He grinned and grabbed my hand. “Don’t you?”

I smiled back. “Let’s do it.”

We ran to the helicopter and took our seats behind the pilot, who handed us our headsets. Ace helped me put mine on and adjusted the mic so we could speak to each other. I’d only had one other helicopter ride before, but the feeling was as thrilling as the first time. In seconds, we ascended into the clouds. As the world below faded into nothing more than a map of coloured patches beneath us, I leaned back in my seat and exhaled.

“You okay?” Ace asked, scooting closer with his arm still around me.

“I nodded and smiled. This is so cool. Thanks for this.”

He just winked as he held me close. There was something in the air between us, an electric chemistry that was building by the second. I could see it, feel it. It was becoming a tangible thing that seemed to dance between us. I just wanted to reach out and grab it, hold it and hide it away forever.

Ace must have felt it too, because, because for the first time since we had spent time together, he had that look on his face. The one that made his eyes glaze over with obvious desire and confirmed the words he had been saying. Suddenly, everything felt heated and raw between us. Ace slowly dragged his gaze away from eyes and down to my lips. He stared at them like he was going to pounce, as his eyes darkened even more. The air was electric, crackling with energy. My skin tightened from the shivers that ran down my back. It was here… the very moment that would tell me exactly what this was between us. I knew I wanted it, wanted him; to feel his lips on mine, to know if this thing between us was real or just a dream. Following his lead, I too leaned a little closer, silently begging for it to happen.

Our faces shifted closer to one another, the space between our lips closing in on us. The inevitable was about to happen.

“Mr. Novak, sir?” A strange voice came through my headphones and jolted me back to reality. “We’ll be on the ground in just a moment.”

Ace returned to himself in a split second. “Thanks Max!” he answered, nodding in to the pilot.

I turned my head to look outside and saw that we were now at the very top of a huge mountain and were descending into the thicket once more.

“Is there a clearing down there?” I turned to Ace. “Somewhere to land?”

I truly couldn’t see a spot, and it seemed like we were about to land on top of the trees.

“Nothing to be concerned about Miss, I have a perfect area to land safely on.” Max’s voice came across my headphones.

I gave him a thumbs up from the backseat, despite my hesitation.

Once we had landed and exited the helicopter, Max waved and hopped back in the helicopter.

“What’s happening? Where is he going?” I called out to Ace.

The noise of the propellers was deafening, and my questions went unanswered. Finally, once Max disappeared into the clouds, Ace spoke. “Don’t worry, if we need him, I’ll just call him to come back.” He said, motioning to the two-way radio attached to his belt.

“Oh okay, that’s good.” At least we had a backup plan.

I tried to fix my hair, but the wind from the propellers had turned me into a modern-day Medusa. “Don’t worry about it,” Ace said, his hands reaching to help smooth out my hair. “You’re gorgeous.”

“Thanks…” I smiled shyly as he touched me. Who was this version of me?

Shaking off my apprehension, I tried to be more like the Harley I’d always known.

“Shall we hike?” I asked, skipping off towards the trail with far more confidence than I felt.