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attempt to keep the mood light.
    “Lucked out,” he replied without turning back.
    And they were back to the minimal responses. Perhaps it was for the best.
    The meeting was shorter than usual tonight since Gary had brought in a speaker. Not that she was paying much attention. Ethan was proving to be too much of a distraction. She’d been around some of the sexiest men alive like Ari’s brother, Gabe, but none of them left her on edge like Ethan did.
    She sat straighter in her chair, trying to keep her attention on the speaker instead of the man sitting next to her. It’s all because he’s someone you’ve admired for years, and you haven’t gotten laid in four months. Just a bad combination of a crush and a dry spell. Nothing more .
    Then she made the mistake of glancing at him out of the corner of her eye. He was watching her with that intense, brooding gaze that made her nipples harden.
    But damn, what a fantasy that would be to spend the night with him .
    She turned away with an exasperated sigh and did her best to ignore him for the rest of the meeting. By the time Gary got back on the podium to thank the speaker, she’d almost forgotten about Ethan.
    Of course, that would be the moment he chose to rush out of the room.
    Damn it! She offered an apologetic smile to Gary and chased after Ethan.
    He was already on his bike and strapping on his helmet by the time she caught up to him.
    “What’s the rush?” she asked.
    “I don’t do prayer.” He revved up the engine in an angry growl that added emphasis to the angst underlying his reply.
    This she could handle. She’d spent most of the week preparing to handle the angry Ethan, and putting her plan into action was just what she needed to clear out the haze of desire. “Fair enough.”
    He released the throttle and tilted his head to the side. “What? No questions? No trying to get me to reveal why?”
    She shook her head. Last week had taught her that he’d only volunteer information when he was ready. Questions only made things worse. But now she understood why.
    He sat back on his bike, his brows drawing together like she’d just stumped him.
    Thirty seconds of uneasy silence passed between them before she proceeded to the next step in her plan. “I’m going to get some cake and coffee. You’re welcome to join me.”
    She turned to go toward Gitta’s café when a gloved hand grabbed her wrist.
    “I can give you a ride,” he offered. “That is, if you’re not too scared.”
    She chuckled. “What makes you think that?”
    “I like to go fast.” Behind his challenge lay a hint of flirtation.
    A delicious tingle rippled up her spine. “So do I.”
    “Prove it.” He reached behind him for the spare helmet and shoved it in her hands.
    She chewed her bottom lip while she ran her hands over the smooth fiberglass. Could she keep it together while they whipped through the streets of Manhattan, her arms wrapped around his waist, her thighs gripping his? Talk about the ultimate foreplay, even if it was only for a few blocks.
    But on the other hand, if she could get him to join her at the café, then maybe she could also make some headway on his recovery. She slipped the helmet on. “You’re on.”
    A minute later, she had secured her messenger bag across her chest and climbed onto the seat behind him. Even through the thick leather of his jacket, she could feel his lean, hard muscles.
    “Hold on,” he shouted a split second before pulling out into traffic.
    The speed awakened the long-dormant sense of exhilaration she’d buried years ago when she’d given up her wild lifestyle. She resisted the urge to raise her arms in the air and shout with joy. Instead, she kept her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, leaning her body from side to side as they weaved through the lanes. The cool autumn air cut through her clothes as they sped along the street, and she nuzzled closer to him, drawing in the warm scents of cologne and leather. The ride would be