Genevieve didn't bother trying to refuse as she would have on any normal day. She was too cold to act as courtesy demanded right now.
''Oh my goodness, thank you so much!'' She leaned forward to take the jacket, but Adrian snatched it before she could.
''What are you—'' she started to ask, only to fall silent when he took off his own jacket, handed it over to her and then wore the one he collected from the other man.
She stared, jaw slacking in disbelief, as he zipped up the jacket. The exchange just now looked normal but also seemed off for some reason.
If he wanted to give her his jacket, he could have told the other man to keep his. And if he didn't want to, he could have kept his jacket and allowed her to wear the other man's own. But what was the confusing game he played just now?
However, it seemed she wasn't the only one who noticed the weird exchange, as the other man frowned and said, ''Boss…''
''What?'' Adrian looked up, blinking innocently; as if there was anything innocent about him.
The man frown deepened.
''You just took my jacket. I intended to give it to the missus," he said.
Adrian shrugged in total indifference.
''And so? I helped you with that by giving her mine. Can't have another man's scent on my father's woman.''
Genevieve brows pulled together at the explanation he gave. But since she was too cold and cowardly to say anything about it, to challenge a man like him, she turned instead to the other man and smiled, ''Thank you very much…''
''Alejandro,'' the man offered.
Her smile widened as she repeated, ''Thank you, Al. I can call you that, right?''
Alejandro nodded, reciprocating her smile even though something within him told him it was the wrong step to take.
''Do you still need held to—"
Adrian interrupted him, ''Shut the fuck up and stop shivering like a drenched chick. I will help her up.'' He turned to Genevieve to see her extending a hand, probably expecting him to take it and pull her up with it.
How boring would that be?
Instead of taking her hand, he walked around to stand beside her, took one of the helmets hanging on the back rails and placed it over head. then bent slightly so his lips were hovering right beside her ears, to fasten it beneath her chin.
'A bit big for her head,' he noted inwardly, making a mental note to get one of her size from the garage later on.
''Lift the jacket,'' he directed, and she complied without saying a word. Straightening, he placed his hand on her waist. The wet fabric of her t-shirt was the only obstacle between his warm palm and her cold skin. He made his grip firm and lifted her up, placing her right at the back of the bike.
Then he placed his own helmet over his head, fastened it, and got on the bike, sitting right in front of her.
Genevieve almost fell off the bike when the order 'hold tight' echoed in her ears. What the hell was that?
As if he'd sensed the dilemna she was in, Adrian's voice echoed in her ears one more time, ''It's an earpod that's inbuilt with the helmet. Helps with better and clearer communication when we're moving fast against the wind, which is what we do all the time.''
''Oh…'' Genevieve hummed at how smart that actually was. Carefully, she leaned forward and tightened her arms around Adrian's chest. Her cheeks reddened slightly even though she couldn't feel anything beneath the thick leather jacket he was wearing. It was a pity she'd never get to know how they felt... right?
Before she could chastise herself for thinking about Adrian in that manner, his voice resounded in her ears, ''Say it again.''
Her heart leaped into her throat. Had she spoken her thoughts out loud?
''Say what?!'' she asked, the pitch of her voice a little bit high.
''My name,'' His tone was unsure.
''Adrian?'' Genevieve said, confused. ''Why? Did I pronounce it wrong earlier?''
''Good,'' he simply said. ''Hold tight.''
The bike lurched forward, and her grip around his waist instinctively tightened as a small yelp escaped her lips. Tentatively, she lowered her head, resting it against his back, her eyes flickering over the passing scenery—the blur of cars, the roadside malls glowing with twinkling lights.
After an exhausting day of standing outside the café, wondering if they would come for her, she was finally going back home…
Or so she thought.