Chapter 10
Xena’s POV
Ryder and I carefully removed all the masking tape from the motorcycle. Ama emerged from the bathroom, and I had to do a double–take. She wore a dress with ruched ties on
the side that hugged her curves so tightly it barely covered her ass.
William let out an appreciative “Damn,” and I exchanged an amused glance with Ryder.
Ama struck a pose, tossing her dirty blonde curls over her shoulder. “Eat your heart out,” she quoted from Grease, confidence radiating from her every move.
I wish I had half her confidence sometimes, I thought, though I’d never admit it aloud.
“My hair doesn’t seem curly enough,”She muttered to herself, then walked into the bathroom and picked up her curling iron to style her hair.
With a resigned smile, I grabbed my flashlight to inspect the paint job one final time, moving the beam slowly across the surface to check for any imperfections. The finish was flawless–smooth and even throughout.
“Nice,” I murmured, unable to contain my satisfaction at a job well done.
I switched off the flashlight and turned to Ryder. “We’re good.”
“That’s fucking awesome,” William said, admiration clear in his voice as he circled the
bike.
“Thank you, William,” I replied, allowing myself a small smile of pride.
Ryder hadn’t spoken, but his eyes were fixed on the motorcycle, taking in every detail of the custom paint job. His intense focus felt like a compliment all its own.
I started cleaning up the scattered supplies from the floor. “We’ll do the exhaust and suspension upgrades next time.”
“Can we do Wednesday?” Ryder asked, finally tearing his gaze away from the bike.
I mentally reviewed my schedule before nodding. “Should work. The parts I ordered
1/3
Chapter 10
should be in by then.” I walked over to my appointment book and penciled him in.
William nudged Ryder with his elbow, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
“Helen’s probably going to be begging you to take her for a ride.”
The image of Helen sitting behind Ryder, arms wrapped around his waist, immediately popped into my head. Just like that, my good mood evaporated. I felt an unexpected surge of irritation at the thought.
“Keep her away from this bike,” I warned, voice sharper than I intended. “I don’t want my
work ruined. If anything gets damaged, repairs will cost extra.”
Ryder’s expression remained neutral as he replied with a simple, “Noted,” before heading
toward the door with William.
“Fucking men,” I muttered under my breath once they were gone, continuing to clean up the shop.
“Alright girl. Let’s get you cleaned up!” Ama exclaimed, practically bouncing with
excitement as she dragged me toward the bathroom.
“I’m your doll,” I conceded with an eye roll, though secretly, I enjoyed these moments. I’d never tell her, but being pampered sometimes felt nice.
Ama unbraided my hair, using nearly an entire can of dry shampoo and hair gel to tame my natural curls into something that framed my face perfectly. The dress she’d brought fit like a second skin, just long enough to cover my ass, with a neckline that made my chest look amazing.
She playfully squeezed my breast, grinning wickedly. “I’m so jealous of your watermelons.”
I rolled my eyes again, though a smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “You’ve got your
own assets, Ama. Focus on those.”
She shrugged, completely unbothered. “True, but yours are better.” She stepped back, admiring her handiwork. “You look stunning. Now, let’s get you out there and make everyone regret not noticing you sooner.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, feeling the warmth of her confidence settle around me. “You really know how to boost my ego, huh?”
2/3
Chapter 10
She winked. “That’s what best friends are for.”
Glancing at her phone for the tenth time, Ama groaned in frustration. “Where are those
guys?”
“Maybe they’re primping too,” I joked, sitting down and opening the takeout box Dad had dropped off. Inside was the usual burger and fries from the diner in town. No one at home ever cooked for me, so this was as close to a home–cooked meal as I got.
“Don’t mess up my makeup,” Ama warned, pointing a threatening finger at me.
“Yes, sir,” I replied sarcastically, taking a massive bite of my burger. The meat patty was already cold, but I was too hungry to care.
Chapter Comments
