Taking a Chance

Chapter 16

Gabrielle's words completely surprised Daryl. "How the hell did she pick up that something was wrong?" he wondered. Daryl forced a relaxed smile on his face, "Nothin's wrong. Just anxious to get out of the city and ride."

She did not believe that for one second, but Gabrielle didn't feel she knew him well enough to call him on it. He was perfectly fine one minute and then all of a sudden, there was a change a coldness that wasn't there before. It was nothing he did or said, but a feeling she had. Well whatever was bothering him, she would take him mind off it. "Then let's go. Is one of those for me?" Gabrielle asked him pointing at the helmets he had brought in.

Daryl knew he had to make the best of it tonight. He got himself in this situation and it was not fair to Gabrielle to back out right now, plus he didn't think he could. He would take her out on his bike this one night and make memories that would have to last him. He couldn't promise more than tonight which was heartbreaking as he had naively hoped this could show her that they deserved a chance. Instead, it proved to him just the opposite, how could they live a life together when he couldn't even afford her coffee maker.

"Yeah, this ones for you. Try it on," he suggested.

Like a little girl, Gabrielle giggled as she took the black helmet from Daryl. Then she walked over to the big mirror in her entrance hall to try it on. She slipped it on and her long luxurious hair spilled out the back in wild waves. She turned and gave him a big grin.

This time Daryl smiled for real. Her enthusiasm was contagious and she looked like a hot biker babe in that helmet. Hell, she was his hot biker babe.

"How do I look?" she asked him.

"Hot as hell," he answered honestly.

"Perfect, then let's go." After removing the helmet, Gabrielle grabbed some cash, a credit card, and her ID from her wallet and put that in her back pocket. Her house key went in the front pocket and she hoped she wouldn't be back for hours if not longer.

With the door locked, they headed to the elevator and when the door closed behind them, Daryl did what he had been wanting to do for months. "Hang onto this," he told Gabrielle giving her his helmet so she had one in both hands. Then he cupped her face and kissed her. It was gentle at first, but by the time the doors opened the temperature in the elevator had skyrocketed.

They reluctantly pulled apart and walked out of the elevator. Daryl took his helmet back from Gabrielle. "Been waiting three months to fuckin' do that again," he told her as they headed towards his bike.

"Me too, Daryl. Me too." Gabrielle felt she was walking in air. How could she have ever denied her attraction to him? It was stronger than she had ever had with any other guy.

When they got to the motorcycle, Daryl had her put the helmet again on so he could make sure it was fitting her correctly. He gave her a quick lesson on how to ride and lean into turns and not away from. Then he got on the bike first, put on his helmet and started the engine. Gabrielle climbed on behind him. She learned where to put her feet, wrapped her arms around his waist and they were ready to go.

Daryl had them heading out of Atlanta as quickly as he could. He didn't like cities and all the traffic that came with them. Motorcycles were easily missed with so many cars moving in and out of lanes. He breathed a sigh of relief when they finally left the city behind and were back into the country. This was the riding he loved.

Since talking on the bike, was impossible, Daryl pulled over to see how Gabrielle was doing. The death grip she had on him in Atlanta had relaxed. He turned around and faced her, "How ya doing?"