Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 79

CHAPTER 48

ace kept staring at the photograph for several moments before carefully handing it back to me. His thumb lingered on the edge for just a second, almost as though he was reluctant to let go of a memory he hadn’t expected to find again after so many years.

“I haven’t seen that picture since I was a kid.” Jace finally said.

I looked down at the faded image again. The paper had yellowed with age and the corners were worn soft from being handled countless times, but the smiles on both men’s faces hadn’t faded at

all.

“You really knew him?” I asked.

“I was too young to remember much. My dad used to keep a photograph just like that in an old toolbox.” He said as he leaned against the workbench and smiled to himself.

“You never mentioned Uncle Will.” I said.

“I didn’t know there was anything to mention. Dad always called him Will. Never Uncle Will or Lawson. Just Will.” He said as he shrugged gently.

I carefully slipped the photograph back into the envelope before resting both hands on the

workbench.

“What were they to each other?” I asked and Jace looked toward the old motorcycle before answering and I could almost see him searching through old memories that had been tucked away

for years.

“Friends. The kind who argued constantly.” He said as he laughed quietly and I smiled.

“That definitely sounds like Uncle Will.” I said.

“My father wasn’t much different.” Jace said.

He reached over and brushed another layer of dust from the fuel tank with the corner of an old microfiber cloth, revealing another strip of deep burgundy paint beneath years of neglect.

“They weren’t in the same club. I know that much. Dad rode with a small independent riding group for years before settling down.” He said.

“And Uncle Will never wanted club life.” I said.

“Exactly.” He said.

“My uncle liked people but he liked his own space even more.” I said and Jace nodded.

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CHAPTER 48

“My father respected that.” Jace said.

“suppose two stubborn mechanics probably understood each other.” I said.

“I think they did.” He said.

For a quiet moment, neither of us spoke. We simply looked at the motorcycle sitting between us and it suddenly felt like far more than an old machine waiting to be restored. It was a piece of

shared history that neither of us had known existed until today and I frowned thoughtfully.

“So how did they meet?” I asked.

“According to my mother, they met because somebody blew an engine halfway through a charity

ride.” Jace said.

“Seriously?” I asked and Jace nodded.

“My father knew how to ride and your uncle knew how to fix.” He said

“They spent the entire afternoon rebuilding an engine beside the road because neither of them

wanted to pay for a tow truck.” He said and I laughed.

“That sounds exactly like Uncle Will.” I said.

“It gets better. They apparently argued over every bolt, every gasket, and every timing mark.” He said grinning.

“And afterward?” I asked.

“They became friends.” He said and I shook my head.

“Only mechanics could build a friendship by arguing over an engine.” I said.

“They kept rebuilding motorcycles together for years.” He said and the workshop became quiet

again.

I looked at the vintage motorcycle sitting between us.

“So they worked on this together.” I said and Jace nodded slowly.

“I’d bet they did.” He said and the thought settled warmly inside me. Long before either of us existed in each other’s lives, our families had already crossed paths.

Long before Lawson Customs. Long before the Iron Vipers. Long before our first conversation.

Our lives had quietly touched through two stubborn men who preferred fixing old motorcycles to talking about their feelings and I smiled without realizing it.

“What?” He asked.

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CHAPTER 48

“It feels strange.” I said.

“In a good way?” He asked so I nodded.

“I spent years thinking Uncle Will’s world ended with this garage. Now I find out he was part of your family’s story too.” I said as I rested one hand against the old handlebars and Jace stepped closer.

“Maybe that’s why everything felt so familiar.” He said and I looked up at him.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“The first time I walked into Lawson Customs, I felt like I’d been there before. I couldn’t explain Maybe I’d already heard stories about the place growing up.” He said as he smiled softly and I laughed.

“Meanwhile I was wondering why the club president kept bringing motorcycles that didn’t actually need fixing.” I said.

“They absolutely needed fixing.” He said.

“They needed polishing.” I said.

“That’s still maintenance.” He said and I rolled my eyes.

“Convenient answer.” I said.

“It works.” He said.

The afternoon slowly drifted toward evening while we worked side by side. We removed faded chrome trim, labeled small containers full of original bolts and gently cleaned decades of grime from parts that deserved another chance instead of replacement. Neither of us hurried.

Every restored piece felt like another small conversation with Uncle Will. At one point I reached for the same cloth as Jace and our hands brushed. Neither of us pulled away immediately. His fingers settled naturally around mine. Warm, steady and comforting.

“You’ve been quiet.” He said.

“I’ve been thinking.” I said.

“Dangerous.” He said.

“I learned from you.” I said and he smiled before gently squeezing my hand.

“I’m glad George found this motorcycle.” He said.

“So am I. It almost feels like Uncle Will’s still here. I think he’d be happy. He’d probably complain we’re using the wrong polish.” I said as I looked around the workshop and Jace laughed.

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CHAPTER 48

“I was thinking the same thing.” He said.

The sound echoed softly through the empty garage before fading into comfortable silence. Without really thinking about it, I stepped closer and rested my forehead lightly against his

shoulder.

Clam

He slipped one arm around my waist and neither of us needed to say anything. After everything that had happened over the past week, the quiet felt more valuable than words and I tilted my head up.

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