4. Mel

“I’ve never been on a motorbike before.”

Davis slips a helmet over my head, and the closeness of him makes me dizzy.

“I’ll take it slow. All you’ve got to do is hold on.”

His fingers brush my chin as he does up the strap, sending a zing of electricity dancing across my skin. My gaze slices up to meet his, and he’s watching me with intense green eyes.

It’s been a long time since a man looked at me that way, like I’m desirable.

His warm breath tickles my cheek, and I catch his scent of coffee and leather and fresh mountain air. It’s a heady, masculine mix, and I breathe in deeply. Such a different aroma compared to Jeff and the smells of the city.

“Don’t go too slow,” I say. “My meeting starts in fifteen minutes.”

He grins, and there’s a boyish charm to his smile. I’m not sure how old Davis is, but he’s definitely younger than me judging by the lack of wrinkles around his eyes.

“No problem.” He slides onto the bike and helps me get my leg over the back. “Hold onto me.”

It feels less weird than it should to put my hands on this stranger’s waist. The leather is cool under my fingers, and I cling onto the solidness of him.

Hercules is strapped into the side car with special goggles on and a big doggy grin on his face. I’m guessing he loves riding as much as his owner does.

We head out of the parking lot and up the mountain. The wind whips my hair behind me, and my heart hammers in my chest.

I can tell why they love to ride. The tension falls out of my shoulders, and there’s nothing to do but cling onto Davis and admire the view.

It’s a rush, and one that I’d never have in the city.

I’ve always taken the sensible path. I was a model student and went off to study economics at college. I got a job in the city and bought a safe car and got a safe boyfriend.

They were all things I thought I wanted. But as I cling onto Davis as he tears up the mountain, I wonder what I’ve been missing.

Too soon we turn onto a dirt road and a log cabin comes into view. It’s like a cabin you see in the movies with round logs slotted together that meet in a peak in the middle. But it’s bigger than I expected for a single man.

Unless he’s not single.

The thought disturbs me more than it should, and I shake it away. It doesn’t matter if this cute biker is single or not. I’m here for one or two nights until I can figure out new accommodations in Charlotte and get my stuff out of Jeff’s house for good.

I follow Davis up the steps to the wraparound patio, trying not to notice the way his butt moves in his tight jeans.

Hercules pads behind, his paws clicking softly on the wooden stairs.

The cabin is as beautiful inside as it is out. The front half is open plan with a huge kitchen island surrounded by barstools and a long wooden dining table with bench seats.

On the other side of the room, there’s a fireplace and an L-shaped couch that looks like it could fit a soccer team.

“Who else lives here?” I ask, not wanting to examine why my chest is tight while I wait for an answer.

“Just me,” he says with a smile.

He gives me a quick tour, showing me the bathroom and where to help myself to food in the kitchen. Then he sets me up at the end of the long dining table where there’s a power outlet.

I long to explore what’s down the hall and all the rooms with closed doors, but my meeting’s in a few minutes and I need to check the connection.

I get the laptop going while Davis brings out an ironing board and iron.

“You don’t have to do that.”

He gives me a stern look that makes my tummy do a little flip.

“You get your call set up, and I’ll get your shirt ready.”

I do a quick test with Alice, my PA and the only person who knows where I am today. I can trust Alice with anything, and I make a note to send her a box of flowers and cookies for her grandkids. A discreet PA is worth their weight in gold.

Everything’s ready with a few minutes to spare, and I admire Davis expertly wielding an iron. I don’t think Jeff has ever even done my laundry let alone ironed my clothes for me.

He takes it off the board with a flourish and hands it to me.

“Thank you.”

I grab the blouse and head to the bathroom for a quick change.

I’ve got a stick of concealer in my handbag and lip-gloss, but that’s all the makeup I carry with me. I pinch at my cheeks, trying to get color into them, and run my fingers through my hair.

For the first time, I wonder if taking off spontaneously straight from the office was the right move. But it’s too late to go back now. I’ve got my laptop, a pretty blouse, and some lip-gloss. That’s all I need.

When I come out, Hercules has made himself comfortable on the floor near my chair.

“Come on, Hercules, you’re coming back with me,” Davis says to him, but the big dog only looks at him with sad eyes.

“He can stay here.”

“Are you sure?” Davis asks. “He’s a lot.”

Hercules turns his mournful eyes on me, and I rub him behind the ears.

“We’ll be fine. Won’t we?”

“I’ll be back as soon as my shift finishes. Help yourself to anything you find in the kitchen and take a shower if you want. The first bedroom on the right is yours. I’ll clear it out when I get back.”

I’m so grateful for this stranger opening up his home to me that tears suddenly sting my eyes.

Davis looks horrified, and I blink them away quickly.

“It’s okay. You’ve just being so kind, that’s all.”

I don’t think there’s anyone in Charlotte who would have taken me like this, yet this complete stranger here has.

Davis looks like he’s about to say something, but at that moment my laptop chimes with the incoming video call.

“I’ll call in a few hours to see how you’re doing,.” Davis says from the doorway. And then he’s gone.

I watch him jog down the stairs and slide onto his bike, wondering what I can do to repay his kindness.

Then I take a deep breath and answer the call.