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throttle and took off down the road.
    Even though I had already ridden on his bike, I still wasn’t
used to it. I clung to Bastien for dear life, resting my head against his back
and closing my eyes, praying for a second chance as he drove us somewhere.
    Bastien drove for at least any hour before finally pulling
into a small wooded park on the beach. Lake Huron’s blue water sparkled under a
high noon sun. The beach was deserted since it was September and the kids were
back in school. I was thankful for the solitude.
    “Why are we here?”
    “I like the water,” Bastien said quickly. “I grew up in New
Orleans. I have to be near water every once and a while. It clears my mind.
Helps me think.” He put the kickstand down and took off his helmet. “Come on,
let’s go for a walk.”
    I set my helmet down beside his. He stood there waiting for
me, his arm extended. I took his hand and we walked toward the beach, still
within sight of his motorcycle.
    Bastien said nothing. I could feel the tension between us. I
wanted to say something, but I knew it would only make it worse. I was the
villain here after all. We stopped and Bastien looked out over the water. The
only sound was a few gulls circling and the water lapping against the sand.
    “I don’t think I really told you the reason I left New Orleans
and came to London, did I?”
    “Only that you wanted a change.”
    A small half smile curled his lips, but he still didn’t look
at her. “I needed a change all right.”
    “Why? What caused the need for change?”
    “A woman.” He looked at me then. “She broke my heart.”
    A wave of remorse washed over me. “Bastien I—”
    He silenced me by raising his hand. “I’m not looking for an
answer, angel. I know you’ve been hurt too. I just wanted you to know that you
were the first woman I’ve been with since my heart was broken five years ago. I
followed her here. We were happy for a while. Then she broke my heart and
returned to Louisiana. I stayed here, and I haven’t been with anyone since.”
    “Five years? You haven’t been with anyone?”
    “Nope. Trust issues. I needed time to heal, and I was
angry.”
    “Weren’t you lonely?”
    “Weren’t you when you got divorced?” he asked pointedly.
    “Maybe…yeah I guess I was. Though I didn’t want to admit it
to myself.”
    “Me too,” he said quietly. “Honestly, I didn’t know if I
could trust another woman, let alone think about going into another
relationship. My heart was shaken to its core, and then I started delivering
mail to your house. I saw you and I felt alive again.”
    “The first time you delivered to my house I was a wreck.” I
laughed uneasily. “I had been up all night, my hair was frazzled. I think I was
wearing different-colored socks even.”
    “It didn’t matter to me. Besides you’re gorgeous and I saw
something more in you then, angel. I looked forward to working, thinking I
might catch a glimpse of you.” Bastien laughed and turned to face her. “The
days you didn’t get mail…well let’s just say I didn’t enjoy those days.”
    I felt a blush creep up my neck. “Honestly, I liked getting
bills after you came along.”
    He brushed my cheek with his thumb. “I just need to know,
was it just about the sex? Was that all you were interested in?”
    As I looked deep into his eyes I could see he was hoping my
answer was no. He had been used before, and it was apparent to me he didn’t
want to be burned again. Neither did I.
    “Honestly, at first I was.”
    His expression saddened and he lowered his head. I cupped
his face in my hands so he was looking at me again. “At first I was. I wanted
to do something so unlike me, to force myself out of the slump I had been in. I
needed to do something bold and daring, like the women I write about, but after
being with you, I knew that it wasn’t just the sex. When I walked away from you
I was scared and stupid. I wanted more than just a fuck and it frightened