by Janice Lynn
While he did so Riley trimmed a bush, dropping the cut pieces into a previously emptied mulch bag.
A few minutes later, live music filled the air. “Your neighbors are throwing a party?” he asked.
She shook her head. “There’s a bandshell not far from here, in a small park. Local groups play there most weekends. Some are really good.”
“So you lie in that hammock and listen to your own private concert?”
“Sometimes.”
Her face said he’d hit on exactly what she often did. He’d thought as much. From the moment he’d stepped into her backyard he’d felt her presence, felt her connection to the retreat she’d created there.
“Is that where you were when we were texting the other night?”
She nodded. “I like being out there. Whether it’s the eucalyptus or just being outdoors, my backyard soothes me.”
“Now I understand why I couldn’t tempt you to my place. Your backyard is amazing.”
She beamed with pride. “It’s not big or fancy, but it’s home.”
And it was an extension of her. Strong, beautiful, yet promising a fantasy escape from reality.
“How long have you lived here?”
“A coworker and her husband owned it. I’d visited a few times they had get-togethers and always felt a connection here. I’d just gotten engaged when it went up for sale. Thinking it would be our first home, I put a big chunk of my savings into a down payment. Obviously, as I’m not married, the engagement didn’t work out...”
Had her voice broken a little just then?
“But I’ve no regrets on the house.”
She’d been engaged.
Justin had known she’d had a bad break-up, but no one had mentioned that she’d actually been engaged.
“I didn’t know you’d been engaged,” he said.
“Failed relationships aren’t exactly a priority conversation topic.” She sighed. “My break-up was rather traumatic,” she admitted.
Which made him wonder even more about the man she’d been engaged to but ultimately hadn’t married.
“But that relationship did make clear several truths—one of which you should probably know, as it seems I’m having trouble staying away from you and you seem set on our dating.”
She was considering dating him.
“I don’t plan to marry.”
Which sounded as if she’d been the one to call off her engagement. What had the guy done? Or had Riley just realized she was making a mistake? Just as he’d realized when he’d called off his own wedding?
“A couple doesn’t have to marry to have a committed relationship.”
“True.” Her face pinkened. “And I don’t mean to imply that you’re even thinking in those terms. But, since you say you want to date me, it’s only right to tell you that we wouldn’t be headed in that direction. I’m not a get-married-and-have-kids kind of girl.”
Justin did want a committed relationship with Riley. Maybe he’d want marriage to her someday, too. But the fact that she didn’t want marriage wasn’t a game-changer at this point in their relationship.
“What do you mean about kids?”
“I don’t plan to have children.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Because?”
“Because you were wonderful with the boys.”
“I... Thank you. But that doesn’t mean I should procreate.”
“Procreating can be fun.” He waggled his brows, trying to lighten the conversation, trying not to let his mind fall into a dark place where Riley was saying she didn’t want kids. “Besides, there are other ways to have kids besides procreation.”
“Such as volunteering with your Wilderness Group,” she agreed. “Bringing more children into the world doesn’t make sense when there are so many who need love.”
Which Justin sort of agreed with.
“It feels weird to even be saying these things to you, but I just thought you should know how I felt—that, regardless of what happens between us, either of us can walk away at any time.”
Since she was adamant that she didn’t want the same things he did, perhaps Justin should walk away now. Not that he believed he could.
“Okay,” he said slowly, trying to process the full implications of what she was saying. “I appreciate you telling me how you feel.”
Too bad Ashley hadn’t, or they’d never have gotten so close to walking down the aisle. At least with Riley he knew upfront that she could never be the one.
* * *
Unable to resist, Riley tore off the corner of a pizza slice from the box she’d stored in her fridge earlier.
Mmm. That was amazing, even cold.
Justin had made an effort to get her what he’d thought would make her happy. Because he wanted her happy. Which seemed unbelievable, really.
Just as the fact that he was in her shower right now was unbelievable.
Had someone tried to convince her earlier that week that he’d be in her bathroom, naked, with her water sluicing over his buff body, she’d have laughed.
Justin was in her bathroom naked!
Chewing her pizza, Riley leaned forward and pressed her head against the refrigerator. What was she doing?
You’re having a great day, her inner voice reminded her. A wonderful day with a wonderful man who brought you low-carb pizza.
That alone should buy him major brownie points. That and all the other thoughtful things he did. For her and others.
But she shouldn’t have him here—shouldn’t be wondering what he’d say if she walked into her bedroom and got into the shower with him?
“What am I doing?” she asked out loud, causing Daisy to look up from where she waited in hopes that Riley would drop some pizza crumbs.
“You talking to Daisy?”
Popping the last bit of pizza into her mouth, Riley spun. “Cassie! You’re home!”
Surprised at Riley’s odd reaction, her roommate gave a knowing smile. “Any reason I shouldn’t be?”
“What? No, of course you shouldn’t be. I mean, yes, you should be.” Goodness, she was flustered. “I’m just surprised Daisy didn’t bark when you came in.”
Reaching down to pet the dog, Cassie grinned. “You’re looking a little rattled. That have anything to do with the Jeep out front?”
Riley’s face heated. “Oh, that.”
“Yep, that.” Cassie looked around the kitchen, even though it was obvious they were the only two there. “Where is he?”
“Who?”
“You know who. The owner of the Jeep. It’s not as if I don’t know who drives it.”
On cue, the shower cut off and Justin began singing from her bathroom.
Cassie’s eyes widened. “Oh, my. He’s in your shower?”
“It’s no big deal,” Riley assured her.
“Right. Dr. Brothers is singing in your bathroom. No big deal.”
“Okay, so it is a big deal. Sort of. But really, he’s just there because he helped me with the yard. Besides, who else would it have been?”
Cassie walked over to the fridge, eyed the pizza box, raised a brow in surprise, then pulled out a cheese stick and peeled away the plastic. “The yard looks great.”
“Yes, he was a lot of help.”
“I bet he was.” She took a bite of cheese.
“Cassie!”
Her friend laughed. “Sorry. Should I make myself scarce? If so, I can hang at Sam’s tonight.”
Riley shook her head. “It’s not like that.”
“The man is singing in your bathroom and you’re blushing.” Her roommate pointed her cheese stick at Riley. “Don’t tell me it’s ‘not like that.’”
“Okay,” Riley admitted, to herself and to Cassie, “so maybe it is like that...”
CHAPTER
EIGHT
COMING OUT OF the bathroom, Justin walked into Riley’s kitchen. “Nothing like that fresh from the shower feel,” he said.
“Oh!” She jumped as he spoke, then frowned down to where Daisy sat at her feet. “That’s twice in less than an hour you didn’t bark. You’re fired.”
“Someone came by while I was in the shower?” He raked his fingers through his still damp towel-dried hair.
“Cassie came to grab some things on her way to Sam’s.”
“They’re pretty serious?”
Riley laughed. “Depends what day you ask.”
“Like that, is it?”
“Oh, yeah.” She started pulling things out to prepare a meal.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Making us something to eat...”
He eyed the lettuce, cucumber, celery, and tomato. He wasn’t opposed to salad, but he didn’t foresee it filling him up. “I’d rather you go and do whatever you need to do and then we grab something.”
She eyed him, then glanced back at what was on her countertop. “Not a salad kind of guy?”
“It’s a nice first course,” he admitted, watching her closely for any sign that his comment bothered her. That wasn’t his goal. After working in her yard he’d need more than what was on her menu, though.
“Sorry.” She gave a small smile. “I wasn’t planning on company when I did my grocery shopping.”
“No worries. We’ll go somewhere—anywhere you like—and the next time you go grocery shopping you can plan for frequent company.”
Her cheeks pinkened. “I could do that...”
“And I could be that company.”
She laughed. “You think?”
“I hope.”
Hesitating only a moment, she nodded. “Let me put this away, then give me a few minutes to get ready to go out.”
She looked amazing to him already, but he knew she’d only blow off any compliment. “Sure, but I’ll put this stuff away.”
Her gaze lowered to the items, then she nodded. “Sounds good. Thanks.”
Placing the items back into the fridge had only taken Justin a minute, and while she showered he wandered around Riley’s house, looking at the few knickknacks she had sitting around—a few photos of her and Cassie, and a picture of her and an older woman who must be her mother.
She’d truly created a warm, comfortable home and he was sitting in an overstuffed chair, Daisy in his lap, when Riley came into the living room.
“You’re beautiful.”
She rolled her eyes. “You obviously got too much sun today.”
The fact that she refused to accept his compliments frustrated him. “If that were true it would only explain this moment. What about every other one since the moment we met?”
“Justin—”
“I’m serious, Riley. I find you beautiful. Don’t make light of it when I tell you so.”
“I... Okay.”
“I like how your shirt matches your eyes.”
“I... Thank you.”
“Good girl,” he praised.
“Don’t treat me as if I’m Daisy.”
“I’m not. Daisy expects to be doted on. You’re the exact opposite.”
“You have a point,” she agreed.
“For the record, I enjoy doting on you, Riley.”
She sat down on the edge of a chair and motioned for Daisy to come to her. Daisy lifted her head, gave a look that said Whatever, then rested back against Justin.
“For the record, you’ve established that I’m the opposite of my very spoiled dog.”
He laughed. “Maybe with time you’ll let me spoil you.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” she warned him.
For dinner, they ended up at a Mexican place, and discovered they had similar tastes in food.
“I don’t eat out a lot, but I do love this yummy cheese sauce,” she admitted, dipping a chip into the creamy mixture.
He could tell. Her face showed pure pleasure with every bite, and left him more interested in watching her than in eating. Not that that was anything new.
They talked about nursing school, med school, how they’d both arrived where they were in life now.
Justin couldn’t recall a conversation he’d enjoyed more—not counting his talk with Riley at Paul and Cheyenne’s party.
“I think they’re going to throw us out of here if we don’t leave soon,” Riley mused.
Justin glanced around and realized they were the last customers in the restaurant, and that the staff were putting chairs up on empty tables.
“I guess more time has passed than I realized,” he admitted, standing and dropping some money onto the table.
“Our waiter was giving us the evil eye the last time he asked if we wanted anything else,” she teased. “There was still one other occupied table, so I didn’t respond.”
“I missed that.” Because he had been too caught up in the woman sitting across the booth from him.
Between their kayak trip, the yard work, and their long dinner, he’d spent most of the weekend with her. An unexpected pleasure, for sure. But he still didn’t want it to end.
When they pulled into Riley’s driveway she didn’t immediately get out of the Jeep, so neither did Justin.
Maybe she felt the same way he did.
“I—part of me wants to invite you in.”
His heart pounded at her admission. He wanted her to invite him in, but he also wanted her one hundred percent on board when that happened.
“I’ve mentioned how much I like that part of you. Still, I understand.” He did. Mostly. “I’ll walk you to the door, then leave.”
She picked up her purse from the floorboard, as if she was going to get out, but still hesitated. “I...maybe we could sit in the backyard for a while?”
Pleased by her suggestion, Justin jumped on the offer. “I’d love to. If you’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” She got out of the car, headed to the back of the house, then paused. “I’ll need to let Daisy out first, though.”
“It’s okay,” he assured. “I promise I won’t force my way into the house.”
Her gaze cut to his. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. I’m teasing, Riley. I don’t want you so nervous about my being here tonight. I was trying to lighten the mood.”
“Sorry.”
“I don’t want you sorry, either.”
Her gaze lowered, as if she carried a heavy emotional burden, but then she smiled—albeit an obviously forced one. “Today was wonderful, but it may take me a while to get used to the idea of you at my house.”
Earlier, he’d wondered if she’d been the one to call off her engagement—now he asked himself what kind of a number her ex had done to her? He reached out to take her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze that he hoped conveyed she was safe with him. He’d never intentionally hurt her.
He hadn’t intentionally hurt Ashley, either. But he had hurt her when he’d called off their wedding. She’d been floored that he’d chosen the boys over her.
He should have told Riley about his own past engagement earlier, when she’d mentioned hers. Something had held him back, though, telling him to wait until the time was right to mention that he’d come close to walking down the aisle, too, only to realize he was making a mistake.
He’d tell her about Ashley, but not now—not when Riley was just beginning to acknowledge what was happening between them.
Then again, she’d made it clear nothing long-term would be happening between them, so what did it matter if he told her about Ashley?
* * *
Riley admitted that Justin had been as good as his word. Not once had he made any attempt to go inside the house or tried to convince her to invite him in.
S
he’d let Daisy out into the backyard with them and the dog was now sleeping in her lap. She and Justin sat on the bench beneath the eucalyptus, talking, laughing, and she had to admit it was easy to forget to be nervous that they were alone when everything about the moment felt magical.
Or maybe that was just her fairy lights, casting a glowing spell.
She’d always found her backyard soothing. Tonight, next to Justin, with the night sky clear except for the dotting of twinkling stars, and the eucalyptus-laden breeze caressing her senses, she thought her backyard was the most romantic place on earth.
“Thank you for today, Justin.”
He grinned. “Thank you.”
“I’m serious. Today, and yesterday, too, were wonderful. It’s been a really fantastic weekend. The best I can recall in a long time.”
“And we still managed to get your yard work accomplished.” He took her hand into his. “You should hang out with me more often.”
In the glow of the fairy lights she stared at their entwined hands. How could something so simple cause millions of nerve cells to come to life? Cause her to want more of him touching her?
“Thanks for helping me with the yard.”
Seeming oblivious to what his handholding was doing inside her, he said, “You have a great place.”
“I think so.”
Okay, this was crazy.
She gave a nervous laugh. “I’m making small talk.”
“Why? We’ve been talking just fine.”
Further torturing her, he lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss there.
“I’m going to take this as my cue to leave and go,” he said.
Her gaze hung on his.
Tell him to stay. Tell him not to go, to kiss you. All over.
She swallowed. “I think I’m ready for you to go home now.”
He studied her a moment, then nodded. “Goodnight, Riley. I’ll see you at the hospital tomorrow.”
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, then let himself out the back gate.
Riley sat outside on the bench for a long time after Justin left and wondered exactly why she’d let him leave when they’d both wanted him to stay.