Free Hard Ride, Part 3 by Opal Carew Page A

wonderful, loving wife. Just what Shock deserved.
    â€œBut once I was back on top financially, I realized”—he shook his head, looking weary—“that’s not where I wanted to be. I didn’t want to be around all these rich people who only cared about money and power. For my own sanity, I decided to walk away from the whole thing.”
    â€œAnd she didn’t want to?”
    Shock scowled. “I can’t blame her for that. I was rebellious and angry. I decided to take off on a motorcycle and live with bikers. She didn’t want to don blue jeans and a leather jacket. That wasn’t her style.”
    â€œDo you still love her?” Liv asked, afraid to hear the answer.
    He took her hand and his intense gaze captured hers.
    â€œNo,” he said simply.
    Liv’s heart fluttered. “Why didn’t you divorce her?”
    â€œI guess it comes down to not wanting to be a failure. My dad divorced my mother when I was very young. And even though he was very wealthy, he left her with nothing.” He scowled. “My whole life I watched him go through women like tissues, and I swore to myself I wouldn’t do that. That when I was in a relationship, I would make it work.” He gazed at her, as if willing her to understand. “I couldn’t just ditch her. So I gave her the house and a regular allowance.”
    â€œDoes she think you’ll go back to her someday?”
    â€œShe probably does.” He shook his head. “But, believe me, that’s never going to happen. Even if I stop riding and settle down one day, she’s just not the right woman for me.”
    The way his warm brown eyes held hers made heat thrum through her.
    â€œShe’s not?” Liv asked, mesmerized by the love shining in his eyes.
    â€œNo.” His fingertip glided along her cheek gently, the tenderness in his eyes rocking her to the core. “You are.”
    At his words, joy swelled through her.
    â€œIn fact, the reality is, my feelings for her always took second place to how I felt about you.” He stroked her cheek tenderly. “I never got over you.”
    He leaned in close. “I love you, Liv.”
    Then his lips swooped down on hers and he kissed her with passion. His tongue plundered her mouth and an intense yearning flared within her.
    â€œAnd in case you’re wondering, I’ve already set the divorce in motion. That’s what I was doing when we went into town yesterday.”
    Her heart flipped as joy blossomed within her. She gazed up at him and stroked his whisker-roughened cheek.
    â€œOh, Shock. I love you, too.”
    He laughed, his face glowing. “Thank God we finally sorted that out. Then he drew her into another kiss, this one long, lingering, and oh, so sweet. When their lips parted, he stood up and walked to his jacket, which was slung over the back of the armchair near the bed. He pulled something from the pocket, then returned to her.
    Then this big, tattooed, tough-looking man knelt in front of her and held up the little box in his hand. He opened it, displaying an infinity ring studded with diamonds. The sparkling gems glittered even more through the tears in her eyes.
    â€œI’m not asking you to marry me yet. Not until the divorce is done. But this symbolizes my promise that I will.” He smiled. “And I hope, when I do, you’ll say yes.”
    She sucked in a deep breath, then let the exhilarating joy sweep through her. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Yes. Oh, my God, yes!”
    Still on his knees, he pulled her from the love seat and into his arms, both of them falling onto the carpeted floor, then he rolled her onto her back and kissed her deeply. Her heart thundered in her chest, happiness pulsing through every inch of her.
    He smiled. “You’ve already lost the ring I bought you.”
    She laughed and grabbed the blue velvet box, which had fallen on the carpet a