Chapter Six
The day went slow as Seth waited impatiently for more time with Breeze. Rachel, as instructed by his mom, basically kicked him out of his own room to give Breeze privacy. He found Caleb and Ridge working on the four-wheelers. Caleb excitedly told him how Ridge had improved his YZX450 speed by tuning it up. Seth had top-of-the-line mechanics working on his motorcycles and snowmobiles, but as he talked and worked with Ridge, he was extremely impressed with the kid’s knowledge. He was a little socially backward but seemed like a smart, respectful kid with a gift for mechanics. How had he gotten mixed up with the likes of Flint Brooks?
It was lunchtime before he saw Breeze again. He was able to sit by her side, talk to her, and inhale the perfect scent that Cosette had identified to fit her body chemistry. He brushed his knee against hers a few times and liked watching her startle, blush, then share a secretive smile with him. She was so innocent and beautiful. He was relieved that he’d gotten her away from Flint and it didn’t seem like the brute had hurt her, despite the man’s nasty insinuations of that morning.
As soon as lunch was over, the women explained that they were heading to the spa for the afternoon and Seth realized that he wouldn’t be able to see Breeze again until dinner. Seth couldn’t tell her not to go as he had no hold over her and she was obviously excited about the experience, but he wanted to spend time with her, not give her over to his sisters and sisters-in-law.
All the boys loaded up on dirt bikes or four-wheelers and went on a long ride up the mountain trails. Seth was impressed with how well Ridge could ride. He wondered how to help him relax. The kid was completely comfortable with Caleb, as most people couldn’t resist Caleb’s friendliness, but Ridge was awkward around the rest of the family and regarded Seth with almost hero worship.
They made it to the top of one pass and stopped to stretch and look out over the mountain range and small valleys. Seth loved the lush forests and high mountain peaks of this area. Joshua, Luke, and Isaac were discussing something about Mar and Cosette’s business. Mar was fiercely protective of what she and Cosette had grown on their own, but Luke had confided that she’d listened to some of his suggestions. Emphasis on the “some”.
Caleb tilted his head to the side and Seth nodded his agreement. He was grateful that he had an independent and successful career doing what he loved. He and Caleb had invested most of the five million dollars that their father had bequeathed on them on their twenty-fifth birthdays. The investments were doing well and neither of them needed to stress about money. They’d only taken a small portion to start an online store nobody knew about. A fireworks store called The Twin’s Wizard Wheezes. When they were young, they fancied themselves Fred and George Weasley from the Harry Potter books. Sadly, Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes wasn’t available as an online store, so they adapted.
Ridge walked with them along a trail of sorts. They stopped when they couldn’t hear their brothers “discussing” any longer. Ridge's eyes darted to Seth and away, his whole body twitching nervously.
“You can tell him,” Caleb encouraged. For all of Caleb’s laughter and joking he was a pretty observant guy.
Ridge pressed his lips together thoughtfully. When he opened them, he said, “Thanks for rescuing us. I hated Breeze being around those jerks.”
“I’m glad I met her. I hated her being around them also.”
Ridge gave a flicker of a smile. “She told me how you met.” His smile disappeared and he studied the ground. “I owe you big. Could I work off that money somehow?”
Seth met Caleb’s gaze over the kid’s head. “I don’t want you or Breeze to think you owe me. That’s not why I did it.” It was interesting how adamant Breeze was about working for him — her pride streak seemed to run a mile wide — whereas her brother was definitely willing to work, but a little more flexible about it.
“The kid’s a rock star with dirt bikes,” Caleb interjected. “He might be valuable on your team.”
“Do you have a job?” Seth asked, giving himself time to think.
“I was working in a garage but … I got fired for … being late too many times.” He shuffled his feet. “Breeze doesn’t know. That’s why I snuck up here with a buddy and got in with Flint.”
Seth groaned inside. He’d seen a lot of impressive mechanics and riders who’d ruined all their opportunity with drugs, alcohol, or sheer laziness and inability to follow through on anything except some stupid game on their phone. Breeze had bluntly told Seth that Ridge was into drugs, while Ridge was beating around the bush.
“First of all,” he started. “You better be up front with Breeze, always. Sounds like she’s dedicated her life to watching out for you.”
“She has,” Ridge admitted, his jaw working, still not able to meet Seth’s gaze.
“Second of all,” Seth said. “Are you clean?”
Ridge looked out at the view and said softly. “I haven’t used for a while …” His voice trailed off as if he realized they were onto him. He shook his head slightly. “The truth is, drugs are why I got in all this trouble with Flint.”
“I wondered. What exactly are you into?” Seth’s stomach was churning. He’d love to help this kid out, and not just because he was Breeze’s brother. He sensed a humility and integrity about him that he liked, even if he hadn’t admitted to Breeze that he’d lost his job. Seth had also noticed the smooth ride of all the machines they’d been riding. Ridge was obviously good at tinkering on dirt bikes.
“Mostly just mixing marijuana and alcohol, getting twisted,” his voice dropped. “Some meth.”
“I don’t hire anyone who uses,” Seth explained, hoping his voice wasn’t too harsh. The stupid kid. His sister would do anything for him, and Ridge was messing around with drugs and associating with idiots like Flint Brooks.
Caleb was giving him a pleading look. He’d obviously connected with the kid while they tinkered with the machines today.
“But if you can get clean and look me in the eye and tell me you’re clean, I’ll hire you on my crew.”
Ridge’s deep brown eyes, so like his sister’s, flew to Seth’s. It was the first time the kid had truly met his gaze. “Do you mean it?”
Seth nodded.
Ridge looked like he might throw his arms around Seth. If the kid was any less shy he probably would have. As it was, he simply bounced on his heels, stared at Seth as if he were Zeus, and swallowed several times before saying, “Thank you, sir. I haven’t touched anything since I got Breeze in the mess with Flint. It made me so sick that I exposed her to that.” He hung his head for a second but then seemed to gain strength. “If I can stay clean for a month will that be long enough to prove you can trust me?”
“Yes.”