Bassist Instinct (The Rocker Series #2) Read Online Free Page B

over.
    “Thank you, but I’m not really a lemming. It was an accident, I wasn’t deliberately trying to hurt myself. I think my bike will get me home; it’s just a few blocks, and mostly downhill from here. Hmm, it’s a little banged up, too. Thank you for not running me over,” she said. Pretty man shrugged a little, still smiling.
    “I wasn’t driving, but you’re very welcome. What’s your name, lass?” He said as she swung her leg over the bike.
    “I’m Fiona Brooks,” she said putting her hand out and shaking his. His hand was warm and his handshake firm, but not crushing, something she always noticed since her hands were her livelihood.
    “It is very nice to meet you, Fiona Brooks,” he held on to her hand. After a pause where she expected him to say his name in turn but he didn’t, she cocked her head at him. He made no move to tell her or disengage his hand, he only stood there gazing into her eyes with a silly grin on his face.
    “Now you’re supposed to say your name,” she urged in a discreet whisper. His eyes opened a little wider and he cocked his head to the side and smiled.
    “I’m Tate, Tate Dylan,” his smile got huge. His teeth were very white and even on the top with the bottoms only a little crooked. It was disconcertingly charming for some reason and her heart fluttered a little.
    “Thanks for your help, Tate, Tate Dylan. Hey, by the way, you and your wife are Irish, right? I didn’t hit my head and start hearing everyone speak in Irish accents?” He laughed.
    “She’s my sister, I’m not married. And yes, I’m Irish. And you, Fiona Brooks, are the most refreshing woman I think I’ve ever met,” he said gleefully. She looked at him surprised.
    “Refreshing? In four minutes you decided that? Why?”
    “It’s been closer to six minutes,” he grinned his lopsided grin. “Give us your number and we’ll discuss it over dinner, aye,” his smile was the sweetest thing she’d seen in a while, and she couldn’t help smiling back at him.
    “I’m afraid I’ve got plans for dinner, it’s Thanksgiving… an American holiday where we eat until we’re too exhausted to eat any more,” she said. “It’s downright Roman.” He laughed, throwing his head back doing it.
    “Then I’ll say ‘thanks for giving me your number,’” he grinned and she rolled her eyes.
    “That was a little bit painful,” she said and they laughed together.
    “Forgive me, I’m grasping at straws, I don’t want you to just ride out of my life. We’ll discuss it over breakfast, lunch, dinner tomorrow, pick one, or all. If only so I know you made it home with that terrible head injury making you hallucinate Irish people everywhere.” She liked the way he said Irish, it reminded her of her dad. He gave her puppy dog eyes and she damned near gave him her number. This man has flirted before, she thought. “Are you married?”
    “Just to my work,” she said with a smile and started coasting slowly away from him. He kept up with her.
    “Are you in a serious relationship?” He said and she bit her lip and shook her head. “Would you like to be?” He held his arms out from his sides in supplication. She laughed and he tried again.
    “What, you’re just going to leave me here?” He said, still walking with her.
    “You’ll be all right. Thanks for scraping me off the pavement,” she smiled at him and gained speed.
    “Mind the road, Fiona Brooks,” he called to her and she gave him a thumbs up and pedaled home to soak in the bath and lick her wounds.
    Tate watched her disappear down the road, and when she was gone he slid back into the car. “She had no idea who I was,” he said excitedly to Christie and Ryan. “Driver, will you follow her a few blocks to make sure she gets home safely?”
    “Yes, sir,” the driver said and smoothly pulled back out into traffic. They caught up to her and followed for about three minutes before she stopped and opened her garage with an opener in her