by Janice Lynn
Ashley hadn’t understood that.
Riley did. After just one day with the boys she got it.
Justin had wanted to wrap his arms around her and spin her around in glee when she’d said she wanted to bring them all home with her. That was exactly how he felt. What he’d do, given the chance.
Which might be happening soon with Kyle, depending on what his birth mother decided. Would she let Kyle be adopted?
After he’d been loaded into his foster family’s vehicle, Riley came over to where Justin was strapping his kayak to the top of his Jeep. She’d changed out of her wet clothes into dry shorts and a T-shirt. They were a little tight, and accented her lush curves in ways that heated him more than the South Carolina sun.
She leaned against the side of the Jeep and smiled up at him. Good grief, she did a number on his insides. He’d kissed her, made love to her, and he wanted to do all that and more again. And she was smiling at him as if she was happy to be here with him.
Did he dare hope he’d finally gotten through to her that she was special?
“I think I’m in love.”
As he battled suddenly weak knees, Justin’s ears roared at her claim. Insides quaking, he grabbed hold of the Jeep to steady himself. Not that he thought she was talking about him. He knew she wasn’t. But her words had twisted his insides around, playing havoc with logic.
“I can’t imagine Kyle’s foster family not wanting to keep him,” she clarified. “I just met him and I adore him.”
Kyle. Of course she meant Kyle.
“They’ve been taking kids in for years.”
But he knew they had no plans to keep Kyle. He’d had multiple discussions with them when news of Kyle’s mother’s intentions had been made known.
“For some, that’s what they want to do. Give kids a safe place to go for a few weeks or months.” Thank God people like them existed, to give love and care so freely. “But many of the foster families don’t feel equipped to take on one kid or more forever.”
Thank God the Brothers family had. He and his siblings had gotten the cream of the crop when they’d been made official family members.
When he adopted—whether it was Kyle, one of the other Wilderness Group boys, or a child he’d yet to meet—Justin wanted to give that same cream-of-the-crop family experience.
Riley leaned against his Jeep and sighed. “I guess that makes sense...but I don’t know how you could take a child in and then just let them go.”
He understood. Because it was something he’d battled with since becoming involved with the boys. Having spent so much time with them, it was only logical that he’d want to adopt one of them, should that become a possibility.
“Don’t think harshly of them. It’s what they signed on to do. Foster parents do a great service, taking in kids who have nowhere else to go until the state figures out what’s best for them.”
“You’re right. I know you’re right. But still...” Her lower lip disappeared into her mouth.
He watched her closely. “You couldn’t do it?”
“Be a foster parent?” She shook her head, looking down at Daisy in her arms and scratching the dog’s neck. “I don’t know... I’m not that great with kids but today, being with them—well, I can’t imagine turning my back on them.”
Justin’s insides shook at her confession. Was that why he’d felt such urgency for her to come with them today? To see how she interacted with the boys? To see how they interacted with her? Stan’s wife had canceled on them, but they’d have been fine even if Riley hadn’t gone with them.
He hadn’t consciously been doing so, but if he’d been testing Riley she’d just aced the test.
And if she hadn’t—then what?
Then nothing.
He’d never meant to become involved with anyone who didn’t want a houseful of kids. Whether or not Riley wanted kids hadn’t mattered. He’d been drawn to her and any “rules” he’d given himself about future romantic interests had been irrelevant.
“They’d be lucky to have you,” he said, and meant it.
Her cheeks flushed a bright pink. “Ha! I know nothing about kids.”
She looked so flustered it piqued his curiosity.“No natural instincts?”
“None.”
He didn’t believe her—not after having seen her with the boys. She’d opened right up to Kyle, had shown patience and kindness to the boy.
“I was an only child of an only child, so no siblings or cousins. And none of my close friends have kids,” she continued. “If I do have natural maternal instincts they’ve not had any reason to come out.”
“Until today?”
Her gaze lifted, and even though he couldn’t see behind her mirrored glasses he knew her eyes were filled with surprise.
“You think I was being maternal today?”
Her question was raw—as if his answer mattered way more than it should, as if her merit was somehow being weighed. As it had at the party, her vulnerability shocked him.
“I think the boys, and Kyle in particular, brought out your protective instincts.”
Considering what he’d said, and seeming pleased with the conclusions she drew, she smiled. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Haven’t you figured it out yet?”
“What’s that?”
“I’m always right,” he teased, thinking that when it came to Riley he really had been. Right to think there was something special between them.
He might not be able to see behind her glasses, but he knew she was rolling her eyes, which didn’t bother him in the slightest. She was smiling and so was he.
He glanced around the parking area. All the kids except Stephen and Jevon were gone. The boys were sitting on the lowered tailgate of Stan’s truck while Stan dug through a bag on the passenger floorboard.
Justin hesitated. As much as he wanted to suggest dinner, or whatever Riley would agree to, he couldn’t just leave Stan with Jevon.
“I can stay with Jevon until he’s picked up,” he told Stan. Or until he drove him home, which was sometimes the case when the boy was at his birth mom’s. She’d forgotten to come get him for one reason or another more than once. “If you need to get Stephen home?”
Stan shook his head. “I got this. You go ahead.” He gestured toward Riley. “Nice to meet any friend of the doc’s.”
“Same,” she agreed, holding Daisy close as she took one last look at Stephen’s bandaged leg. “Take care of that knee so you’re all well by our next adventure.”
The boy nodded and Riley told him and Jevon goodbye. As she and Justin made their way to where she’d parked she was quiet.
“Thinking about all that yard work?” Justin teased. “There’s still a lot of daylight left. I could help you knock it out this evening.”
Ignoring his offer, she let Daisy jump into the driver’s seat, then turned back to him. “Thanks again for inviting me today. I wasn’t sure about coming, but I’m glad I did for a lot of different reasons. Today’s one of those days I’ll think back on and always be grateful I experienced.”
Despite the multiple layers of sunscreen applied at various points throughout the day her nose boasted a rosy pink color, as did her cheeks. He couldn’t resist brushing his finger across her face.
“You’re serious about coming with us again?”
She didn’t pull away from his touch, or remind him he had no right to touch her. He supposed he didn’t, but when she stared up at him, lips parted, looking hesitant, as if she wanted all the same things he wanted, he kept forgetting.
She nodded. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“So am I.”
He didn’t want her to get into her car and drive away. He knew it was going to happen, and that the fact she’d spent the day with him at all was nothing short of a miracle. But he wasn’t ready for
it to end.
“Anything I can say that would convince you to spend the rest of the day with me?”
She inhaled deeply and he wished he could see what was in her eyes.
“I had a really great time...” she began.
“Does that mean you’re considering having a really great rest of the day?” At her hesitation, he added, “As friends. Nothing more, if that’s not what you want. You planned to do yard work. Let me help you.”
“But...but that means inviting you to my house.”
Hearing the possibility that she was going to say yes in her voice, he grinned. “I’d have trouble helping you with your yard work without being in your actual yard.”
“Why would you want to do yard work with me?”
Unable to stand not being able to look into her eyes a moment longer, he lifted her sunglasses from her face, stared straight into her beautiful green eyes and told the truth.
“I’m not sure you get what I’ve been trying to convey to you for months.”
Her eyes not leaving his, Riley swallowed.
“I like you,” he admitted. “I want to date you. Not just take you to bed, like I think you assumed after Paul and Cheyenne’s party, but to take you to dinner, help you with your yard work, spend time with you in ways that have nothing to do with sex.”
Her eyes widened.
“I don’t care who knows,” he continued. “For that matter, I’d like there to be something for everyone to know.”
Her lower lip disappeared into her mouth again as she stared up at him. “You’re serious?”
He nodded. “Very.”
Her long lashes swooped down over her cheeks and she kept her eyes closed for a few seconds, then lifted them and met his gaze. “I’m not sure this is smart, but would tomorrow be okay?”
Joy filled him. “Okay for you to be my girlfriend?”
Her eyes narrowed, but no walls went up. Hallelujah.
“Okay to help me with my yard work,” she clarified, sounding very much like the in-charge nurse he was used to seeing. “Lucky you.”
Although she was teasing, he felt lucky.
“The other thing is debatable,” she said, her eyes darkening.
He felt her pulling away. He’d thought... No matter. She was letting him go over the following day. For now, that would have to be enough. No need to warn her that he’d been on his high school’s debate team and they’d always won. She’d know soon enough that he wouldn’t give up easily.
“I’ll take what I can get if it means getting to spend time with you.”
With that, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. Her skin was warm beneath his lips. The touch was brief, but it felt right.
Just as Riley felt right.
* * *
“Special delivery.”
Riley frowned through the peephole of her front door.
What had she been thinking, inviting him over? All night she’d tossed and turned, knowing that she had opened Pandora’s box, was risking letting him in, risking the pain he could dole out.
Although she’d not recognized it at the time, she now knew Johnny hadn’t been nearly the man Justin was. If Johnny’s betrayal had gutted her so, how much more so would Justin’s?
She’d considered canceling all morning, picking up her phone, typing out a message, deleting it, only to do the same thing again fifteen minutes later.
She opened the door and gestured to what he held. “What’s that?”
He glanced down at the pizza box as if it had morphed into something unrecognizable. Arching his brow, he gave a sheepish grin. “Lunch?”
“I’ve already eaten.”
Her cup of yogurt that morning had to count, because she didn’t have the heart to tell him pizza was not on her diet. But the aromas were delicious and tempted her almost as much as he did.
“It’s pizza. It’ll keep until you work up an appetite.” His gaze met hers as he added, “Doing yard work.”
“Of course.” She moved back for him to come inside, hoping she hadn’t made a big mistake. Knowing she had.
“Not that I agree that you need to be dieting, but I did order cauliflower crust, in case you were still doing that low-carb thing.”
Stunned, Riley stared at him. He’d ordered a low-carb pizza?
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t want you to have a reason to say no.”
To him or the pizza?
“You make it impossible to say no,” she admitted, pointing toward her kitchen. “Just set the box on the counter.” Because she sure couldn’t take it from him. Not with the way her hands were shaking.
Although Johnny had constantly pointed out her jiggly thighs, he’d certainly never put any of her dietary needs before his. Quite the opposite. He’d order her favorites and then taunt her as he ate them.
Why, oh, why had she said yes to marrying him? Had she really been that desperate for love?
Justin set the pizza down, then turned to face her. “That’s the idea, you know.”
Trying to clear her head of the past, wondering if she should be desperately clinging to it instead, she blinked at the man now leaning against her countertop. He looked more scrumptious than anything she’d ever seen in her kitchen. Her mouth practically watered as she eyed him in his shorts, a T-shirt missing its sleeves, and tennis shoes.
“Making it impossible for me to say no?”
He nodded.
“I’m realizing that.”
He grinned. “Maybe we could eat a slice or two before starting on the yard?”
She nodded. It wasn’t as if she was going to tell him he had to work on an empty stomach, particularly as he’d brought food.
Riley pulled a couple of plates from the cabinet. “Can I pour you a glass of water?” she asked.
“That would be great. You mind putting it into something that would be okay to take outdoors?”
She filled two reusable plastic water bottles, then handed him one. He’d already opened the box of pizza and removed a slice. Heaven smacked her nostrils.
“That smells so good.”
He took a bite. “Tastes that way, too.”
She eyed the pizza. “It would be rude for me not to have a slice.”
His eyes twinkled. “It would.”
“But just one...”
* * *
Justin wiped the sweat from his brow to keep it from running into his eyes, glancing around at their progress thus far.
He liked Riley’s house—and her yard. The blue house had been built in the eighteen-hundreds and renovated several times over the decades since. The front yard boasted large rhododendrons, roses, azaleas and other flowering bushes Justin couldn’t name but knew that his mother would have a fit over. And in the back Riley had a private oasis of sorts, with a large eucalyptus tree draped in tiny lights that he imagined must look magical at night.
That she had those whimsical lights said a lot about what she hid beneath her no-nonsense self-protective layers. There was a fire pit, a bench, several chairs, and off toward the back of the yard in a shady area was an over-sized hammock, hung between two large oaks.
Riley spent a lot of time in her yard and it showed.
The house itself was well taken care of, too, with high ceilings and glass vents above the doors giving testament to its age. Hardwood floors covered with the occasional colorful rug ran through the whole three-bedroom house. At some point someone had converted the back porch into a small washroom, and a new bathroom was now connected to Riley’s bedroom.
Cassie rented the second bedroom, and the third seemed to be a catch-all with an exercise elliptical, a few ten-pound free weights, a shelf filled with books—mostly from nursing school—and a computer desk. The walls were decorated with colorful matching flower paintings signed by Riley and Cassie.
Yeah, he liked Riley’s house, inside and out. Just as he liked her, inside and out.
“Cassie’s with Sam,” she’d told him earlier, while they’d been eating pizza.
She’d eaten two slices, all the while talking about how good it was, making him glad he’d gone to the trouble to search out low-carb pizza options prior to ordering.
His gaze ran over where she knelt now, pulling weeds from a flowerbed. She didn’t need to diet, but if she thought so he’d do his part not to sabotage her. But he’d also do his part to make sure she understood that he liked her curves just as they were.
Perhaps sensing that he was watching her, she turned, glanced up at him, and smiled. His muscles clenched with memories, with elaborate longings. Not that he could act on them, no matter how she looked at him or tempted him. He’d promised himself he’d keep his hands off.
For today, at any rate.
So far they’d worked in her front yard and were making good progress. She’d purchased some mulch that she’d had stacked up next to a screened-in side porch. After weeding her landscaping, they’d spread the mulch around the knock-out roses and bushes in the front of her house.
“You want something to drink?” she asked.
“If you want to fill my water bottle up, that would be great.” He’d almost finished what she’d put in there earlier.
She picked up the bottle and carried it inside, coming back out moments later. She handed it to him and surveyed their work. “I like it,” she admitted.
“Me?”
“My landscaping,” she corrected, giving him a teasing look. “Thanks for helping. Your strong back has made mincemeat of getting this done.”
“I’m glad you let me help.”
“Me, too.” Taking a drink from her water bottle, she motioned to the remaining bag of mulch. “There’s only the one left. I think we’ll dump it in this side bed, and I’ll mulch what’s left of the back beds some other time.”
“Just let me know when and I’ll help.”
Rather than agree, she looked away, and seemed unsettled by his offer.
Fighting a sigh, because for every two steps forward she felt it necessary to take one back, he picked up the bag of mulch, tore the plastic open, and began sprinkling the mixture over the flowerbed she’d indicated.