Read Online Revving Up the Holidays by A. S. Fenichel - Free Book Online

emotions under such control that he would never
have known if she hadn’t broken down tonight. He certainly never knew she has
such strong feelings for him.
    He’d hoped to sneak into the house unnoticed but Sadie was
waiting for him when he entered the kitchen to pour himself a stiff drink.
    He went directly to the high cabinet above the refrigerator
and pulled a bottle of Jack Daniel’s down. She narrowed her eyes when he didn’t
say anything. He took out a glass and tipped it toward her. She nodded and he
took out a second glass, filled them both with ice and poured a double for each
of them.
    He sat across from her and took a sip. The amber liquid
warmed him from the inside out but did nothing to settle his mind.
    “What exactly are your intentions with Giada?”
    He’d been asking himself the same question all the way back
from her condo. He had no answer then and he didn’t have one for his sister
either. He sipped more whiskey. “I have no idea.”
    “That’s not exactly the answer I was hoping for, big
brother.” She took a long pull on her drink.
    “No, I expect it isn’t, but it’s the best I can offer you at
the moment.” He expected an argument. She could get nosy and he was in no mood
to discuss the situation. Besides the fact that Giada would be mortified if he
did, it was none of Sadie’s business.
    She looked at him for a long time. “Okay.”
    Was it a trap? “That’s it? Just okay and you’re letting it
go?”
    Sadie smiled and swirled her glass, making the ice tinkle
musically. “Yes. You seem to be thinking about something and I can’t ask more
than that. Giada’s a big girl and though she’s been through a lot, she can take
care of herself.”
    He downed the last of his drink and kissed his sister on the
cheek. “I’ve got work to do. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    “You’re supposed to be on vacation, Isaac. Why don’t you go
and play with that bike and leave the work until you go back to New York?”
    He was about to tell her that he couldn’t just stop working
for two weeks. Ben had forced the vacation on him but he couldn’t make him stop
working. But the idea that he might be able to put the motor inside the frame
and get it secured before he went to bed stopped him. He nodded. “You’re
right.”
    Her eyes widened. “I am?”
    “Yes you are. I’ll see you tomorrow. I assume the term is
ending for you too?”
    “I still have to grade finals, but yes tomorrow is the last
day of the fall term.”
    “Good. I want to get the kids something for Hanukkah. You
can help me shop.”
    “That really isn’t necessary.”
    He smiled. “I want to. For the eighth night, if that’s okay
with you.”
    “I think that would be very nice. Mom is coming to dinner
then too.”
    He nodded and said good night before taking the back door
toward the shop.
    He ran his hand along the motor, feeling the ridges and
wondering why he wasn’t in Giada’s bed feeling the ripple of her ribs under his
fingers until he reached those perfect globes. Her body and responsive nature
drove him insane with desire. He closed his eyes.
    She’d said she loved him. His initial reaction to that was
pure joy, immediately followed by terror. He’d gone after her to make sure she
arrived home in one piece. He’d sat in the car and watched as she walked across
the parking lot, crying. He’d thought of driving out without a word but
couldn’t do it.
    Standing, he bent at the knee, took hold of the motor with
both hands and strained to lift the heavy heart of the Harley. Inch by inch, he
moved it into place within the steel frame. One step back and he could see what
the bike had once been and would be again.
    He wondered about the rest of his life since he’d abandoned
the Harley to his parents’ garage all those years ago. The man he’d become
barely resembled his younger self. He’d lost the joy in his life.
    The clock on the wall told him it was near midnight when he
secured the motor into place.
    He