****
Riley drove home feeling as if his entire life was in shatters. He’d gained a mother and father but lost the love of his life. He knew she wouldn’t show up at the cabin. This little town was such a huge part of her life, and Kaitlyn loved every person and part of it. Parking in front of the cabin, Riley sat in his truck for a few minutes thinking about everything. Son of a bitch! He knew it was a mistake getting involved with her. Damn, but it hurt to think of life without her. Was he being selfish? Everyone implied as much by asking him how he could walk away from Kaitlyn and Sadie. Then wasn’t she being just as selfish? Shaking his head, he stepped from the truck and headed inside. His bed beckoned knowing his two favorite girls would fill his dreams.
The next day, Riley headed to the work site. The men already had the exterior walls up, and he was pleased. It was going up faster than he expected. Walking the interior, he decided the house was going to be beautiful. As if in a mirage, Riley could see Sadie running through it with her hands clutching her bunny.
“Fuck!”
“Something wrong, boss?” Gus asked from behind him.
Riley spun around. “No. I…hell, I don’t know.”
Gus chuckled and shook his head. “Stuttering and swearing…sounds to me like you have a female on your mind.”
“Two of them,” Riley muttered.
Gus’s bushy eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline. “Two? That’s real trouble, man.”
In spite of himself, Riley let out a laugh. “You got that right.” Continuing through the house with Gus on his heels, he nodded his approval. “It’s going to look great.”
“I agree. It makes me think of retiring and moving to this little town. It really is nice here. The people are real friendly.” Gus smiled.
Agreeing, Riley grinned. Yes, the people of Clifton were friendly and the town was nice, but it wasn’t for him. He knew it and Kaitlyn had to see it too. God, he hoped she showed up tonight. If she didn’t…well, he didn’t know what he’d do. She just had to. Taking a deep breath, he continued through the house. Four bedrooms. Three filled with children. It was as if Riley could hear them running around the house—each one carrying a blue stuffed bunny. Shit! He ran his hand down his face and sighed. Saying a silent prayer, he hoped she showed up tonight because with or without her, he was out of here tomorrow morning. Rubbing the spot over his heart, he thanked Gus for his hard work and left.
By nine o’clock that evening, Riley knew she wasn’t going to show. Anger and pain filled him so much he seethed with the emotions. Sitting on the sofa, he stared straight ahead seeing nothing. His eyes burned and he rubbed the heel of his hands against his eyelids. Like everyone else who hadn’t cared, she hadn’t loved him enough to come with him.
“Fuck,” he shouted to everyone and no one. How could she let him leave when she told him she loved him? Swearing, he stood and headed off for a shower then bed because he had a long drive to the airport in front of him tomorrow. Riley hoped he’d be able to sleep but he seriously doubted it.
****
Kaitlyn lay in her bed staring at the ceiling. Her eyes hurt from crying so many tears. Was it possible to dehydrate yourself by crying? Because she thought she was at the point where she had none left to shed. At least she’d thought so until one slipped down her temple into her hair. Yet again, she chastised herself over, and over. You knew he was going to leave. It’s not like he lied to you. He’d been honest from the beginning, saying he was going back to Texas. You knew it was wrong to get involved with him.
Damn, but she’d loved him since she was a young girl, practically from the first time she saw him, and his beautiful eyes…whiskey colored eyes that darkened with passion when he was making love to her. Her insides quivered and craved him as she thought of him moving inside her, making her orgasm so hard at times she thought she’d pass out. Riley was a fantastic lover and she knew, deep in her heart, there would never be another man who could ever make her feel that way again. Not with the passion and heat, only Riley could bring her. Hugging her pillow, she cried some more. Sadie would forget him in time, but Kaitlyn knew she never would.
The next morning, Kaitlyn drove to work. The bright sunshine glared through her windshield, making her squint. Lowering the visor, she put her sunglasses on, and tilted her head back against the headrest. After not getting much sleep the past two nights, she was running on empty. Today Riley was leaving. In fact, he may already be gone. Kaitlyn hadn’t heard from him…not that she expected to. Not knowing what time he was leaving today, for all she knew he was probably already on his way home to Texas. A tear rolled down her face and she angrily brushed it away. Pulling into the parking lot, she took a deep breath, shut off the engine, and climbed out. Gathering up Sadie and her things, she entered her shop to find Madilyn settled in behind the counter. Her friend smiled at her but it died fast when she saw the sad expression on Kaitlyn’s puffy, sleep-deprived face.
“He’s gone, isn’t he,” Madilyn asked softly.
Kaitlyn nodded. “I believe so. He said he was leaving early today and since it’s after ten, I’m sure he’s already gone.” Her voice ended on a sob. Sadie started fussing. “I think she’s getting another tooth.”
“Or she can feel that you’re upset.” Madilyn reached for Sadie, taking her from Kaitlyn. “I’ll be fine out here if you want to sit in your office for a while.”
Taking a deep breath, Kaitlyn nodded. “I just need to freshen up my makeup. I’ll be right back.”
Once inside the bathroom, she gazed at herself in the mirror.
“You have to get past this, Kaitlyn. It’s simple, he’s gone, and you have to move on.” She took a shuddering breath and blew it out. After repairing her makeup, she walked out front to start the first day of not having Riley in her life.
Chapter Thirteen
Sitting in his office, Riley gazed out the window but all he saw was rooftops. The city bustled below only none of it appealed to him anymore. He used to love sitting in his office and watching the city alive and active below. Sighing, he turned the chair back around to his desk. There was work to do. A client wanted a new restaurant built and Riley had signed the contract all the while not caring one way or the other if he’d won the bid.
A little over three months had passed since he’d left Clifton, and every day his heart ached more and more for Kaitlyn and Sadie. So many times, he had picked up his phone to call and never followed through. She’d be so happy to know he talked with his parents every weekend now. They were getting to know each other and Riley promised to visit later in the year only it wouldn’t be the same without Kaitlyn and Sadie. God, he missed that little girl—and her mother.
A sudden knock on his door jerked him from his thoughts. His secretary stuck her head inside around the door and smiled at him. “Your real estate agent is on line one.”
“Thanks, Liz.” Riley gave her a nod as she backed out the door, and he picked up the phone. “Hey Henry.”
“The house in Clifton has only just been completed and we’ve already got an offer,” Henry Richmond told him.
“That’s great,” Riley said but not feeling it. The house had turned out as beautiful as he’d hoped. Although he hadn’t been back to see it, Gus had sent him pictures of every part of it. “How much?”
When Henry named a price, Riley sat up. “That’s a good price, just about what we’re asking and fast. Do you think we should hold off for other offers? What do you think? Should we take it?”
“Up to you…getting an offer right out of the gate is a good thing. It could mean we could get other offers and start a bidding war, or no one else is even going to show up. If it gets around you’re turning down contracts, it could hurt. Frankly, it’s a good contract, Riley.”
“All right. Do it,” Riley told him. It was a fair price, and once it was sold, he’d have no reason to even think about or even talk about Clifton. “Send me whatever I need to sign and we’ll get thi
s thing ratified. Thanks, Henry. You’re getting a pretty good commission.”
Henry laughed. “Yep. I think I’ll take a nice vacation. I’ll get the papers to you this afternoon then I’ll get things started for settlement. The buyer already talked to the inspectors so all of that is out of the way. It shouldn’t take too long, and it will be over. Later, man.”
It will be over. The words echoed in his ear long after he hung up. With the house and land sold, he’d have no more reasons to think of Clifton ever again. He’d managed to banish the pain he’d lived through growing up years ago, at least until he had to go back this time. The minute he saw Kaitlyn standing in the street yelling at him, he knew he was in trouble, and it hadn’t even mattered that she may have been married. That had been the real reason he’d asked where her husband was, to find out if she was. Only he hadn’t planned on finding out she was his best friend’s little sister. That piece of information had knocked him for a loop. The pain, which had flooded his thoughts ever since stepping back in Clifton, disappeared when he gazed into those blue eyes—the mother and the daughter’s. His friends, and Kaitlyn, were right. Roscoe was dead and buried, and could never hurt Riley again. The only person capable of hurting him was himself…not Kaitlyn. Oh, he ached for her and that hurt but he caused the pain, not her…he caused it with what? His cowardly pride.
Throwing down his pen, he strode from his office.
“I’m done for the day. Cancel any appointments until I say otherwise. I’m expecting papers from Henry…tell him, I’ll get back to him. The others…tell ‘em whatever you want. I just need to get out of here for a while,” Riley told his secretary as he headed for the door.
“All right. I’ll take care of it.”
Knowing Liz would take care of things eased his mind because he knew she’d do what he told her. It was one reason he treasured her. Liz did her job, no questions asked.
The weather was beginning to cool. The leaves were turning colors of gold and red. His mind traveled over the miles back to Clifton, Montana. They could be having snow already, even though it was only late September. With the Glaciers hovering in the distance, snow moved quickly into the little town. He missed snow. It rarely snowed in Texas and if it did, it wasn’t much. In Clifton, it could snow three feet at a time. Most everyone in Clifton loved it. As he headed toward his truck, his thoughts went to Kaitlyn and Sadie. How were they? Did Sadie like playing in the snow? Did they miss him as much as he missed them? He was about to open his truck door when Gus called out his name. Riley turned toward him.
“Hey Gus. Something wrong?”
“Not really. I was wondering if you have a minute.”
Frowning, Gus rarely asked for one-on-ones, yet he seemed nervous about something. “Sure. Do we need to go inside?”
“No. I mean, not unless you want to,” Gus said shuffling his feet.
“I’m good. What is it?”
“I’ve decided to retire. Martha and I are moving to Clifton. We headed up there last month on our vacation. I couldn’t stop talking about the little town, so we decided to go there. She fell in love with it too.”
“Retiring? In Clifton?” Riley was admittedly shocked.
“Yes, to both. I have a great retirement plan and I’m still young enough to enjoy life with Martha, so we’re buying a home and settling there. I’m sorry to spring this on you, but Mike would make a great foreman.”
“Mike Wills? Yeah, I’m sure he would. I understand Gus. I’m not overly pleased about it, but I understand.” Not pleased? Riley wasn’t happy at all. Clifton’s charm had claimed another friend and he doubted he’d get over it.
“I’ll stay until the end of this month so I can get Mike settled in the job.” Gus stuck his hand out. “I’ve loved working for this company. You’re a great boss, Riley. I have to say though you haven’t been the same since you came back from Clifton. It’s none of my business but if that female trouble we talked about is eating you up, maybe you need to go back too.”
Lectures from his employees too, well, it was his life so he’d make his own decisions regarding it. Riley watched Gus until he disappeared. He just couldn’t get over it though. Gus and Martha were moving to Clifton. People seemed to fall in love with the little town once they visited—except him.
****
Kaitlyn stood at the counter helping a young woman pick out a bouquet for her wedding and she had to pull her bottom lip between her teeth to keep it from trembling. It never bothered her before Riley came into her life, but now when someone was picking out floral arrangements, or bouquets for weddings, she had a very rough time.
“Are you all right?” Madilyn whispered from beside her.
“Yes, I…can you take over please?”
“Of course.” Madilyn smiled at the young woman. “Let me get the other books.”
Giving the customer an apologetic smile, Kaitlyn headed back to her office. Sadie was in daycare now and the office seemed so empty without her. Who was she kidding? Just the office wasn’t the only thing that seemed empty it was everything…her apartment, her bed, and her heart. She took a seat behind her desk.
Despite her hope that he would, Riley hadn’t contacted her at all. When he said he was leaving, he meant he was leaving everything, not just the town, but her and Sadie too. Kaitlyn felt the tears well up in her eyes like they did any time she thought of him so she quickly blinked them away. Her friends had suggested dating since it had been over three months but the thought of even thinking of falling in love with another man seemed foreign to her. However, she really didn’t want to be alone the rest of her life either. Should she have gone with him?
When a shadow fell across her desk, she glanced to the door and gave the man standing there, a quiet smile. “Hi Sam.”
“How are you today, Katie-bug?” Sam asked her the same question almost every day. She knew he was worried about her, and he’d do anything he could to take her pain away.
“Same as the last time you asked. I’m fine.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.” Moving further into the room, he took a seat in the wingback chair across from her desk then placed his booted ankle on the opposite knee and stared at her.
“Stop staring at me, Sam.” Kaitlyn glared at him.
“Go to Texas, Kaitlyn,” he said in a quiet loving voice.
The thought threw fear into her gut making Kaitlyn gasp. “No. Everyone I know is here. My shop is here. I’ve made a life here that I didn’t have before. I was on the verge of losing my job when Kevin died but thankfully, he left me enough money to buy this place and make it mine. I love it here, Sam.”
“You love Riley more.”
The tears started streaming down her cheeks. “I do…but I hate the idea of being there without anyone, Sam. Yes, Riley would be there, and Sadie, but she’s a little girl and he would be off traveling the world on business. I’d have no one,” she exclaimed, shaking her head. “I can’t leave Clifton, my friends, and what about you, Sam? You wouldn’t have anyone.”
Smiling at her, he leaned forward resting his elbows on his thighs. “I’m a big boy, Katie. I can take care of myself.”
Kaitlyn shook her head emphatically. “No. I have no desire to live there—none whatsoever.” She gazed at her brother wishing he could make everything right like he always had when she was a kid. “He could’ve stayed, Sam,” she said in a near whisper.
Pushing to his feet, Sam nodded. “I know. Do you need me to pick Sadie up?”
“No, thanks, I’m closing early today. It’s a little slow and we don’t have any more appointments today. Madilyn and I both want to get out of here since we’re now closed on Saturdays and Sundays…we can start the weekend early.”
“All right. Call me if you need me,” Sam told her leaning down to kiss the top of her head.
Waiting until he left the office, she put her hands over her face and gave a great sob. God, what a mess her life had become. The man she
loved lived in another state, and neither of them would give in to the other, and move so they could be together. Riley was used to going to new places, he had no idea how much harder it was for her to go to a strange place. Clifton wasn’t a new place or strange place for him…it had been his home. At least if he came back here, he already had friends here. In Texas, she’d have no one, and she wasn’t sure how good she was at making new friends. She’d never had to do that since she grew up with all the friends she needed right here in Clifton.
The sound of Madilyn clearing her throat drew her attention back to the moment.
“Are you all right?” Madilyn moved toward a chair, and took a seat.
Wiping her eyes, Kaitlyn nodded. “Yes. You’d think I’d stop crying by now though, wouldn’t you?”
Madilyn laughed. “No, it doesn’t end for a long time, sometimes never. I went through this with Brody, remember?”
Sighing, Kaitlyn nodded. “I forgot you’ve been there but in your case, he did come back to you. Riley won’t even consider it, and I won’t go to Texas.”
The bell chimed announcing a customer and both women groaned as one then laughed when they heard Brody, Madilyn’s husband, calling their names.
“Speak of the devil…” With a grin, Madilyn stood and walked to the office door where she poked her head out. “We’re back here, hon.” The sound of her son’s squeal made Madilyn laugh. “Come to Mama, baby.”
“Are you talking to me or Cade?” Kaitlyn heard Brody ask just as he peered into the room.
“Hi Katie.” He grinned at her. Brody Morgan was a very good-looking man, tall with black hair, a hard body, and dark brown eyes. The glasses he wore only enhanced his sexiness. Of course, since he was also a deputy for her brother, being a man in uniform didn’t hurt.
“Hi Brody.” Slapping her hands on her desk, Kaitlyn stood. “Let’s get out of here before someone else comes in.”
RILEY Men of Clifton Montana by Susan Fisher-Davis FINAL (1) Page 17