Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate (Adelaide) novel Chapter 126

Chapter 100

Briar

ន

62

Today we were going to the fair. The town of Divide had been bustling with the preparations

all month. The cool September air was refreshing. I had on Uncle Jake’s jacket over my black

dress and slashed leggings as we pulled up to the shop. The guys had finally taken a Saturday

off. Today was the day I finally got to ride the bike he left me. Something settled over me as

Carter slipped out of the passenger side of my truck. I had told him I felt like driving.

Something about being in his jacket and his truck just made him feel closer. It panged in my

heart. I unlocked the bay to the garage, and the door went up. Carter helped me take it off the

blocks, and I walked it into the parking lot. It was no longer riddled with more customer bikes

and vehicles than we could deal with. Soon, I’d launch the website and advertisements to

hopefully rebuild the clientele we had lost during the backlog after Jake’s passing. I set the

kickstand and looked at the beautiful gift in the light of the morning sun. I hugged myself,

inhaling the old scent of tobacco and whisky that wound into the leather.

Carter draped an arm across my shoulders and squeezed me into him gently in support. He

seemed to know where my mind wandered.

“Whatever you’re thinking, he’s proud of you Briar,” he said before kissing my hair and

handing me the keys. I looked down at it in my palm and realized a tiny keychain now adorned

the empty ring. A little silver dragonfly. It was a gift from Carter. I took it in my hand and glanced up at him. D

“Thank you,” He said as he slid his hands into his own jacket pockets, a ghost of a smirk

playing at the corner of his mouth. Today, I wouldn’t argue with him about unnecessary gifts.

I hadn’t brought my backpack either. Just a small wallet, I felt naked without it, but perhaps it

was time. Last night proved something to me. That there were things in life worth fighting for,

worth living for. It wasn’t just about the sex. I learned I could trust Carter with not just my

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Chapter 127

body, but my heart. He didn’t need to know that just yet. That I could still find beauty and pleasure after everything I had been through brought me a kernel of peace in my soul. Last night, as Carter sweetly made love to me, that bloom and my chest had risen again, rising as if to search for something, its presence filled me. A source of strength, of grit to keep going, and this time it hadn’t receded. I reflected as I stared at the bike, lost in my head. Today I would

start to live my life again. I had decided. Lana said I’d know when that time came, now I knew

what she meant.

“What are you waiting for?” Carter whispered in my ear over my shoulder. His breath tickled my ear, and I flushed. It seemed he was just as excited as I was for this. I straddled the bike, kicking down the kickstand, put the bike in neutral, and turned the key in the ignition. I glanced at Carter and smiled, he grinned back, and I kick–started the engine. It came to life as it rumbled under me. I adjusted the choke and let out a breath looking up at Carter again. He wanted me to do a few loops around the parking lot to get the feel.” he said, I adjusted my weight and balanced like a natural. We had gone over several basic maneuvers without the bike. The goal now was to hold my balance and smoothly transition the clutch. I shifted into

gear and eased forward. Slow and steady the first loop around and had gained confidence by

the fifth. On the tenth I eased to a stop in front of Carter, shut off the bike, and put the kick

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