Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57726 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57726 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Chapter 4
“That biker is waiting on you?” Abby Fairchild asked.
Winnie nodded at the third-grade teacher who’d become her bestie in the school. She loved everyone she taught with except Lorraine Oberson. The entire building had groaned collectively when the superintendent had chosen the fifth-grade teacher to fill the suddenly available principal’s position. Winnie didn’t blame their former educational leader for moving with his family when his wife took a prestigious law partnership in New York City, but everyone missed him.
“He’s sexy,” Abby said, waggling her eyebrows. “You haven’t told me anything!”
“Sorry. I met him last night at Inferno,” Winnie shared as she gathered papers to grade at home.
“You went to Inferno? Without me?”
“Or us!” chimed in three more teachers clustered inside the door. Those closest to her classroom had gathered magically to get the scoop. Handsome men on motorcycles didn’t show up frequently. Or at all.
“You guys! Was everyone watching?” Winnie asked.
“You bet. You have nose prints all over your windows. Julie stopped to see what would happen. She was super interested,” Becky, the other third-grade staff member, said, chuckling.
Julie, their custodian, joining those monitoring the encounter in the parking lot meant everyone in the building would know—soon. Winnie shook her head. Here it goes.
“What’s his name?” Abby asked.
“Scythe.”
“Like the big blade thing Death carries?” Becky asked.
“That’s his biker name,” Winnie explained.
“I’d hope so. That would be a fun name to find on your roster at the beginning of the year. Three Michaels, two Johns, and a Scythe,” Susan said.
Winnie stared at the other second-grade teacher and considered that discovery. “You’d guess his parents were unique?” she suggested.
“So much better than a hellion named Precious,” Becky said. “They’re never precious. But Scythe is a grown man. And hot.”
“At nine months pregnant, nothing should be hot,” Susan reminded Becky.
“I’m not dead.” Becky laughed and rubbed her baby bump.
“I don’t want to make him wait,” Winnie said, lifting her bag. “Run interference for me? Tell everyone he’s a friend of the family.” That was true. He’d definitely helped her deal with her stepfather’s collection.
“We’ve got you,” Abby assured her. “But you have to share all the details at lunch tomorrow.”
Rolling her eyes, Winnie agreed. “See you ladies on Tuesday.” Winnie was surprised to find herself smiling as she walked down the hallway to the parking lot with her evening stack to grade. She felt more energetic than she had in forever, even after getting a letter in her file for the first time.
Maybe she should fight that. Pushing open the door, Winnie smiled at Scythe. Four young teachers dawdled in the parking lot. She bet they were trying to figure out how to start a conversation with the powerful biker. He only had eyes for her. Winnie liked that a lot as she crossed the asphalt.
Scythe took her bookbag and slid it into a storage pouch on the side of his bike. “I thought the kids had homework, not the teacher.”
“You don’t know a lot of people in the education field, do you?”
“I know one now. Let’s get you protected for the trip home.” He held out a huge jacket.
“Um, it’s not cold. I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t ride without something made to protect your skin.”
She stared at him, wavering in her decision that she could ride a motorcycle. “Do you crash a lot?”
“No, Chipmunk. But people are crazy out there. Better prepared than hurt. Think of this like a rubber. You like bareback but don’t want the complications of something bad happening.”
“A rubber?” she repeated, feeling confused.
“Protection.” He suggested another word.
Rubber? Protection? What was he talking about? The knowing smile on his face helped Winnie make the connection.
“Scythe!” she said and had to laugh. She leaned closer and whispered, “Who else would compare a motorcycle coat and a condom?”
“In you go,” he prompted, shaking the jacket.
In a few minutes, he released the zipper pull when she stood swallowed up by the volume of material around her. Winnie flapped her arms, feeling ridiculous. Scythe shook his head at her silliness and rolled up her sleeves so she could use her hands.
“Scythe, I’m going to act like a parachute to slow you,” she warned.
“I won’t be going racing speed with you onboard,” he told her, picking up the helmet and setting it on her head. He carefully brushed the escaping wisps of hair from her face and fastened the chin strap before tucking the length of her ponytail inside the borrowed coat. “Now, you won’t have to battle tangles when you get home.”
“Thanks. Do I need to know anything about riding?”
“Keep your feet on the pegs,” he said, flipping down metal supports. “Don’t get your leg close to the tailpipes. They get hot, and you’ll have a nasty burn.” He tapped the area on the bike to avoid.
When she nodded, he added, “Rest your body against my back. Lean the way I do, even if you think you’ll tip over. I promise you that won’t happen.”