to motorbikes.
The salesman loved his enthusiasm and the two of them laughed and chatted away, while Kallie stood by and thought about how annoyed she was to suddenly become Hunter’s escort.
Is this what life would be like if she stupidly agreed to his romantic agenda?
Would she be forced to wander around by his side, quiet, submissive, like some new age geisha with blond hair and blue eyes?
Eventually, they made their way outside to the lot and the salesman brought around a large blue and black chrome monstrosity. Just looking at that thing made her nervous, and yet she had to admit that the thought of Hunter being able to handle such a large machine was a little bit hot.
“Is she going to get on with you?” Kallie dimly heard the salesman ask, as her subconscious slapped her out of her reverie.
Hunter laughed and shook his head no. “She’s strictly a land dweller, likes to keep both feet firmly planted on the concrete. You know the type.”
The salesman grinned. “That’s what they all say. But once she hops on and gets a taste of that speed and the engine thrumming, we’ll probably have to drag her off of it.”
Hunter looked at him. “Don’t even bother. Believe me, she’s the exception to that rule.”
The salesman raised an eyebrow. “If you say so.”
“I do.”
Kallie felt a twinge of aggravation. “I’m the exception to the rule? What does that mean?”
Hunter glanced at her. “It means that most women resist riding at first, but once they try it, they’re hooked. However, there is a small percentage that’s just too afraid of the speed.”
“If she’d like to try, we can provide her with a helmet and protective jacket to help give some peace of mind,” the salesman said.
Hunter jumped in again, waving his hand. “She’ll wait here. She doesn’t want to do this, trust me.”
The salesman shrugged, finally giving up. “Anyway, here are the keys. Take it for a spin and then we’ll talk, okay?”
As the salesman left, Hunter walked back to his car and popped the trunk, grabbing a large helmet and then slamming the trunk shut with his free hand.
Kallie was watching him with a building sense of frustration. Did he really think she was so predictable—how could he know that she wouldn’t enjoy it even if she tried it? Even though she suspected he was right, Kallie was flustered that his low opinion of her bothered her as much as it did. “I’m thinking I want to try and ride that thing,” she said to him.
He was already about to get on the bike. One hand rested on the left handlebar of the motorcycle. He looked at her, pausing for a moment. “Look, I want to get on the road and put this baby through its paces. I can’t do that with you holding on for dear life, whimpering in my ear.”
She stood straighter. “Whimpering? You don’t know me very well, Hunter, or you’d never say something so idiotic. I’ve never whimpered in my life. I grew up with five brothers, remember?”
“You should just hang out here and read a magazine or something. I won’t be gone long.”
“I’m not waiting here. I’m coming with you.”
“Kallie—“
She started towards the dealership to find that smarmy sales guy. “Don’t you dare leave without me, Hunter!” she yelled back at him, walking at a fast pace to the showroom doors, opening the door (and distantly hearing the bell tinkling overhead).
“Can someone find me a helmet for a test drive?” she called.
The salesman came running over, telling her how much she was going to love it and not to worry, the Suzuki bikes were some of the safest bikes in the world, etc. etc.
Meanwhile, he was finding the correct sized helmet for her.
Eventually he gave her a cheap-looking red helmet that wouldn’t have been her first choice fashion wise, but she didn’t really care. Kallie wanted to get back to Hunter and prove him wrong.
She headed back outside, and Hunter was nowhere to be seen.
She couldn’t believe it. He’d