Chapter 2

I was going in for (hopefully) my last appointment. I had been out of the cast for two weeks; I felt pretty good. I was comfortable putting weight on the leg and I was "Back in the Saddle" as far as riding goes. Now all I had to do was get the final ok from the Doc and I would be a happy camper.

I checked into the clinic and after the obligatory 30 minute wait, regardless of appointment time, I was shown into the exam room.

Dr Donovan came in (I finally got over calling her a girl child or Baby Doc) and was smiling as she looked up. When she saw my leathers she correctly assumed I jumped the gun in getting "official" clearance to ride but it had been two weeks since the cast came off so she let me slide.

After the poking and prodding she said I looked to be healing a lot faster and my attitude seemed a lot better than the last time. Dang, she must have kept notes; I did not expect her to remember something like that. Especially since I'm sure she sees a lot of folks.

I told her I was doing well and adjusting to the single life again, working out three times a week and just relaxing.

She said "I figured that by the way you're dressed."

Hearing me affirm that, she then asked to see the new bike.

Since it seemed as if the exam was over, I said sure. As we left together, she said she was going to lunch. It felt a little strange that she would hold onto my arm on the way down, but then I'm also a gentleman and didn't mind that. We went down to the parking lot and over to a far corner that was isolated from the cages (cars). As she stood back admiring my new "baby" she asked where I was heading today. I told her I was on my way to a place out in the mountains for a burger and a relaxing day on two wheels.

I said I wanted to take a long loop up north the next day. I jokingly asked if she wanted to come along.

"You betcha!" she said with a smile, "I just love to be outdoors and it is one of my few days off."

I said as long as she dressed for the ride. I told her I had a helmet she could use and she should wear Levi's and boots. Since not everyone has leather chaps hanging around with a leather jacket, I offered her the spares, but she declined and said she had riding gear. I would pick her up at 9 AM.

She assured me she would be ready to ride the next day and gave me her phone number and address, requesting that I call an hour before I got there to ensure she hadn't been called in to work.

As I was mounting up, she knocked on my helmet and said, "When you call to confirm tomorrow ask for Reggie. If you ask for Dr Donovan, Mom will get the wrong idea and think I'm being called into work. Oh, and do try NOT to stand me up, Daddy DOES carry a gun."

Oh CHIT!!

I called at 8 AM and I heard Reggie come on the line. "Just calling as the Dr ordered." I quipped.

Reggie laughed and told me she would be waiting for me when I got there and if I was early not to worry since she was ready now.

I told her I'd be there in a half hour then and we could relax on the ride I had planned.

I pulled into the drive way of the tract home in a neighborhood not unlike the one I lived in. Before I could get off the bike, I saw Reggie coming around the side of the house dressed out in leather pants and a leather jacket. Both looked as if they had been well used.

I dismounted and opened the suit case/trunk and pulled out a matching helmet to mine with a mike hook up and showed Reggie how to hook into the intercom. She then slipped the helmet on and fastened it quickly.

"You must have done this before" I said.

She nodded, "We have all the desert toys, dirt bikes, sand rails, and quads, so I know what you mean when you want to be protected."

It was then that I noted the jacket she was wearing did in fact have Kevlar. Here is a girl after my own heart; even if she is too young and her daddy carries a gun.

I got on the bike then held it upright for Reggie to climb on. After hooking up her helmet and the numerous "Can you hear me nows," we got underway.

Normally I would tell a new passenger to just lean back and relax. If they want to hold onto something use the arm rests or my belt. Reggie just naturally leaned back and relaxed. I asked if she had done much back seat riding, since she seemed at home and she said she's been "cargo" for all of her life, even if she did ride off road.

We cruised around town a little just so I could see how she'd react in traffic that was close. No problem there. So off we went.

Getting onto I-8 East, we went for a few miles until we did the sweeper to I-15 North.

About that time Reggie finally asked where we were going. I told her we were headed for Tom's Farms up past Temecula for lunch. It is actually an hour and a half up the road but I wanted to take a round-about route that would not have a lot of highway on it.

I know it sounds weird we had only talked a little and here she was, trusting me with her on a day trip. She didn't really know a lot about me either, other than the fact that I was, or seemed to be, a nice guy who didn't care what she did for a living. Yes I had difficulty with a previous girlfriend but I bounced back quickly.

There were no real repercussions other than a few nasty looks for a couple of weeks since we did see each other at places we frequented and we had a lot of mutual friends. Luckily they stayed out of the disagreements. The one who tried to "make peace" was sent packing by both of us. After a while we just settled into the way we were before we became a couple and that was as acquaintances.

Reggie told me she was the youngest of five, three boys and two girls. Her father was a cop in the city and VERY proud of all his children. Her older sister was also a Doctor, her youngest brother was in the Army. Her oldest brother was an attorney in San Francisco, and her second to oldest brother was a Commander in the Navy. All she ever wanted to do was be a doctor and she was leaning really hard towards Orthopedics. Her time in trauma was enlightening and she wanted to work there a lot. Being an Ortho surgeon would benefit a lot there.

I think I should tell you about Reggie. She's not "knock your socks off gorgeous," but she IS pretty and cute (as in, Cute with a Doctorate). She has a head full of long auburn hair that she was wearing in a single braid down the middle of her back. The braid she had went to her bottom. Yes she had a bottom. Actually more like an ass, nicely rounded and cute enough to bite. (Note to self: Her father carries a gun for a living.) She was slim without looking like a boy. She did have a nice tight bod though with about B cup breasts. It's really hard to estimate these things when all you've seen her in was scrubs with a smock, and a leather jacket. The leather pants were fairly snug, and showed off her legs and ass to their best advantage.

As we rolled along, I turned onto a connector road and headed for Highway 67 to work our way to 79. We rolled through the residential area and soon we were heading north on 67.

We continued our little feeling out of each other. I should have realized there would be a problem with Lynne when she didn't ride with me except on very rare occasions, and then, not very long rides. Just around town. I do enjoy riding and would ride year-round if it weren't for the rains in the winter and spring. I said this to Reggie and she agreed.

She was more experienced off-road but was totally comfortable with the set up as we had it now. I asked her why she would jump on a bike with someone who had obviously been in an accident recently.

Reggie told me her Dad had access to the accident investigation. I had done everything right even though I didn't realize it at the time. The guy that hit me saw me as he ran a red light. He tried to stop and steer at the same time and cut his wheels to the left. That swung the right side of the car around in a skid and I was hit broad side with the passenger side of the car. I had instinctively leaned hard on the left handle bar to cut left and then leaned hard on the right bar to go right in a panic swerve to get me away from the oncoming car.

The only thing that went wrong with the maneuver was the car continued its skid which caused the rear passenger side to get me as I straightened up from the controlled left-right swerve.

All the witnesses said the same thing; they didn't believe a person could do a one handed hand-stand on a handlebar and not dump the bike much less two, one on each bar, and they all thought I had gotten by the car until it continued in its skid. Lucky me I had engine and roll bars protecting my feet and legs; it could have been a lot worse.

Reggie said if I could do that by instinct she couldn't hold it against me that someone couldn't control their liquor. So she has no problem riding with me.

I then asked the $64,000 question, why me? I was sure there was a line around the hospital trying to go out with her.

"Well," she said, "you didn't seem intimidated by a woman with a brain, because of the way you teased when you asked if you could keep me. You also asked about the person that hit you, not realizing you were hit and not the other way around. You have a sense of humor, and even when you were hurting, you didn't lose that."

"Also, you have no outstanding wants or warrants and a clean driving and criminal record. I had Daddy check you out when I told him I was moving in with you within a month of our first date and this, by the way, is day one."

I wish I had a mirror and a picture of myself at that moment. I was riding up a highway at 60 MPH and I'm calmly informed by someone I barely know that she's moving in with me.

Catching my breath I asked, "Don't I have anything to say about this?"

"Oh, I know it's sudden but you'll get used to me doing that. Daddy still isn't used to me making those decisions, but he lives with them."

"But don't I have a say in this? Usually I would like to date a little to see if we are compatible, and moving in means there will be a certain amount of intimacy. Besides you don't even know if I like you or not other than as my Doc."

"In answer to your question, yes, you do have something to say about it but I'll ignore you. As far as dating, isn't that what we are doing now?

"Also, as far as intimacy, I'm sure we'll work something out. Oh, don't even mention age, it's not relevant, and besides, I've always liked older men."

Like I said, here I am, riding up a twisting road with a 5' 2" GIRL CHILD on the back of my bike. She doesn't even know how to turn down the volume on her head set yet and then she informs me she's moving in with me even though I've just gotten rid of one girlfriend and recovered from an accident, all in less than three months. Oh, and she'll be moved in within a month.

How in the heck did this happen? I think I was shanghaied somewhere. Oh, did I mention her Daddy carries a gun?

We pulled into Dudley's for a breather and potty stop and I just sat on the bike trying to absorb all that has gone on for the last 30 miles.

She's cute, like I said, 5'2", long auburn hair (I have no idea how long), about 110lbs. Very cute with a sprinkling of freckles that would get serious if she spent more time in the sun. Great ass and legs, ok boobs, but she's not afraid of talking. The first thing I think about is that she enjoys my passion for riding. Well that is one good thing. I don't know about a relationship thing though. She seems to have no problems with it but then she didn't know me that well.

I went in and picked up a couple of loaves of potato bread, some cheddar cheese and jalapeno. Dudley's is great. Usually the bread is still warm when you get it and that is NOT from a heat lamp. I took the bread out and stowed it in the side bags and waited for Reggie to come out. I'm still concerned about what she said. Don't get me wrong, I could do a lot worse, but I was wondering if she's serious and what do I do about it?

I don't know what is happening. All I know is she seems to have adopted me and she's not throwing me back. I know, she's doing a big elaborate tease. There is no criminal background check, she's pulling my leg.

NOT. I am pleasantly aroused from my mind wandering around. Then, someone grabs my ears and pulls my head to hers. I am met with a soft mouth as our lips meet for the first time. The kiss is soft and seeking, not aggressive. It's just inquisitive and searching to see if I am accepting of the situation. Not a lot of tongue, just a sweet kiss that has the promise of more, a LOT more.

"Saddle up, lock and load." She says, as she climbs onto the back of the bike. She's waiting on me to put my helmet on and step over. Seating myself I straighten up and hit the starter. The soft vibration is noticed immediately and I kick it in gear and pull out and make my turn onto 79.

"This is NOT a rude joke, there IS a background check and I'm dead serious about us." I heard in the intercom.

I thought to myself, "How did she do that?"

Just a ¼ mile up the road I notice a single head light coming up fast behind us. Ok, crotch rocket. I mentally catalog the bike from its lack of upright profile. Yes, I see the turn signal as he swings across a double yellow line and passes me on the hill like I'm sitting still (I'm doing 60). I see a CBR scream by with a guy in a Power Ranger suit, and a rather cute little girl with her ass hanging out of her Daisy Dukes and Nike tennis shoes hanging onto the back.

In my helmet headset I hear, "Dumb bimbo, doesn't she realize there's a reason, he is wearing leather?"

Well that confirmed it, once was a coincidence twice and I know for certain, we both think alike, since she took the words right out of my mouth.

I only say "Yes" and she says, "See? We're already thinking alike."

"You're right, that is usually my reaction to something like that."

We started talking a bit more, mostly about our differences. There aren't many of them. We both enjoy good food. We are essentially non-drinkers, light social drinkers and every once in a while I do crave an ice cold Dos XX. Since I quit smoking neither one of us does that. We like the same type of music, Country and Rock, no heavy metal unless it's over thirty years old. If you can't dance to it or understand what is being sung or played it's not worth listening to.

Oh, and we both have an extremely low tolerance of stupid.

We straighten out the road and we're cruising along again about 60 and just enjoy being in the area.

Topping out on a crest, we head down the long straight-away and take a wide sweeping curve to the right. Staying in the inside track we straighten out again and all seems right with the world.

Gloria is on the CD changer and it doesn't get much better.

We talk more about her family and the fact that her Father is going to retire after 35 years on the force. She shifts gears on me and wants to know about me, from my side of things.

"Well," I start out, "I have a clean driving record and no past criminal record." This earns me a slap up side the helmet that is gentle but if we had been sitting still, I think it would have been a lot harder.

"What's to say? I'm retired from the Navy, I work in sales and I like to ride."

"What about family?"

I start out in my best Ted Baxter voice, "I was born in a small Midwestern town with a 5 thousand watt radio station." This earned me another cuff upside the bucket.

"I have two sisters; growing up, one could whip me and the other could out run and hold me until the one who could whip me caught up with us. As a result of this childhood abuse I was the only Freshman in High School who could dance, the Twist, Lindy, Jitter Bug, slow dance to a Waltz or Foxtrot, Stroll, or Cha-Cha, all because one sister could kick my butt and did on occasion.

"Parents are divorced, and I'm the black sheep of the family. I'm the one who didn't come home. I stayed in the Navy, saw the world, enjoyed life and survived without a tattoo. Life is good. I have a new bike. I have no one to answer to and, it looks like I finally found someone smarter than me. However, the jury is out on one that since she is, after all, with me."

"What kind of sales?"

"Right now I sell Hyperbaric units to hospitals."

"Do you mean like the one we have in the basement at the hospital?"

"Yep," I said, "That's one of ours."

"Great for heart attack/stroke follow-up, Diabetic Ulcers, and any other open wound that would benefit from an oxygen rich atmosphere. Heck, it even works for bent divers and the occasional hang over." I said, dropping into a salesman's spiel.

"There isn't a lot to say; I lead a rather boring life. I ride, I watch people, I like to have a good meal once in a while and I normally only have a couple of folks I'm close to at one time. I don't do crowds."