“I’ll probably just start back toward the city,” Vic answered with a shrug. She shoved the last of her things in a bag and stood before Riley. She wanted to go back down and scream at Vera, and as good as that might feel, she knew it would accomplish nothing, so she was trying her hardest to calm her racing heart and her anger. “I’ll stop at a hotel somewhere since it’s getting a bit late.”
“You could stay the night with me.” Riley seemed as surprised as Vic was at the words. Vic shook her head and started to speak, but Riley stopped her by standing and placing a hand on her chest, just below her collarbone. “You’ve had a few drinks, Vic, and I’d hate for you to get into an accident. We’ll get an Uber, and you can stay with me tonight.”
“Only if you’re sure?” Vic hated feeling insecure, but she never really knew what Riley was thinking or feeling from one minute to the next. She hadn’t felt this way since she was eighteen, and it was unnerving. “Will Megan be okay with me being there?”
“She’s working overnight, so she won’t even be there. And yes, I’m sure.”
“Then let’s go,” Vic said before placing a kiss on her lips. Riley started to reach for the big suitcase, but Vic handed her the smaller bag containing her toiletries instead.
* * *
“It was a nice party,” Riley said as they settled in on the couch next to each other, their thighs touching. They each had a glass of wine and Riley had the television remote in her hand.
“Yeah, it was,” Vic said in agreement. “Even though Vera had those people there for her and not really for Vanessa.”
“What do you mean?” Riley hadn’t believed Vic’s depiction of her mother being such a snob, but now she’d experienced it firsthand. Her own mother was bad, but Vera took bad motherhood to new levels.
“I bet Vanessa didn’t know more than ten people there.”
“Are you serious?” Riley was truly surprised. “There had to have been more than a hundred.”
“It isn’t just you Vera doesn’t like,” Vic said. “She wouldn’t invite anyone from Wolf Bay if her life depended on it.”
“Then why does she still live here?”
“She loves the house and the gardens, and the prestige it brings her when she has parties like this one.” Vic took a drink of her wine before setting the glass on the coffee table. “She allowed Vanessa to invite two people from town who weren’t in the wedding party. The rest of the guests she knew were relatives.”
“Are you serious?” Riley asked again, knowing she sounded like a broken record. Vera really was a world class bitch. “Why did Vanessa let her do it?”
“Nobody lets Vera do anything.” She chuckled, but Riley was certain there was no humor behind it. “You know what? I really don’t want to talk about my mother anymore if that’s all right with you.”
“Yeah, of course,” Riley said. “The more you tell me about her the more pissed off I’m getting anyway. What should we talk about?”
“You coming to visit me in the city,” Vic said, turning so she was facing Riley. “Like I said before, I have an extra bedroom, so there wouldn’t be any pressure. I just don’t want to leave tomorrow and feel like the only way I can see you again is to come back here.”
“What are we doing, Vic?”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s happening between us?” Riley’s heart was beating so fast she worried she might pass out. She wanted so much for this to turn into something more, but what could she possibly offer someone like Victoria Thayer?
“I’m not sure, but I know I don’t want it to end,” Vic said, sounding genuine, but Riley was still skeptical. “I realize we don’t know each other very well, but I’m really hoping that’s going to change.”
“Why? I mean, there are so many women to choose from in the city, I’m sure,” Riley said, looking away. “What can you possibly see in me?”
“Are you kidding me?” Vic said, taking Riley’s hand in hers and bringing it to her lips. “You’re beautiful, you make me laugh, and after spending this time with you over the past few weeks, I honestly can’t imagine not having you in my life.”
“But I have nothing to offer you, Vic,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m trailer trash, remember? You’d be better off with a woman who doesn’t bring so much baggage to a relationship.”
“Trust me, I have baggage too. And I don’t want any other woman, Riley, I want you,” Vic said softly. Riley looked at her then, and immediately wished she hadn’t. There was so much emotion swirling in Vic’s eyes it threatened to overwhelm her. Vic placed a hand on her cheek and ran her thumb along Riley’s lower lip. “Can’t you see that?”
Riley didn’t resist the pull between them, and they leaned toward each other until their lips touched. She opened her mouth when Vic’s tongue demanded entry, and she melted as their tongues slid together. She gripped her neck to hold her where she was, and Vic’s hands moved underneath her blouse, stopping when they reached her breasts.
“I want to make love to you, Riley.” Vic brushed a thumb over the material of the bra covering Riley’s nipples, causing her to surge against her. “Will you let me?”
Riley turned her head away, needing air and a little distance to clear her head. Even though she wanted this more than she’d dreamed possible, it didn’t feel right. Not with Vic leaving in the morning. When she felt she had a handle on her emotions, she looked into her eyes, a hand on her cheek.
“I want that too,” she said. “But I don’t want it to be on a night when you’re leaving. If it happens…”
“If?” Vic asked, looking worried.
“When it happens,” Riley amended with a slight smile. “I want it to be a night where I know I’ll be able to keep you in bed with me the entire next day.”
“Does that mean you’ll come visit?” Riley laughed at the hopeful look Vic gave her.
“I can’t promise when, but yes, I’ll come visit if you really want me to.”
“Of course I do,” Vic said, resituating so there was a bit of distance between them. “You’re killing me, but I can wait.”
Riley smiled, thinking how easy it would be to fall in love with her.
She wasn’t entirely sure she hadn’t fallen already.
Chapter Twenty-two
When Riley hadn’t heard from Vic a week after she’d left, she decided to send her a text, just to let her know she was thinking about her. She’d responded quickly, telling her she missed her, but then there was nothing else. At all. Another week passed with no communication from her, and Riley was starting to wonder if she’d imagined it all. Maybe it really had been too good to be true.
“You seriously need to cheer the hell up,” Megan said one morning. “You’re starting to bring me down.”
“Why hasn’t she called?”
“I can’t answer that.” Megan poured them both a cup of coffee and joined her at the table. “Maybe she’s just crazy busy. Have you tried calling her?”
“No, but is she too busy to make a phone call?” Riley shook her head. “She’s probably found someone new already.”
“Please,” Megan said with a wave of her hand. “I know I’m not the brightest bulb in the pack, but I truly believe she’s crazy about you.”
“Or I was just a nice distraction from her insane mother while she was stuck in town for her sister’s wedding. I need to wise up, Megan,” she said, sitting up straighter. “She’s better off without me. I’m still that same loser I was in high school.”
“Jesus, you have such a fatalistic attitude. Maybe, and I know I’m going out on a limb here, but just maybe she’s been doing her job and Vanessa’s while she’s been away on her honeymoon. They do both work at the Thayer Group, yes?”
“Yes,” Riley said with a slump to her shoulders. Of course, that was probably what was happening. But a part of her wanted to still feel as though Vic had moved on, because it might not hurt so much when she found out it was true. “Maybe you’re right.”
&
nbsp; “If you’re so worried, call her. I’m telling you though, you’re going to feel like an idiot when you find out I’m right.”
“Vanessa’s supposed to be back today I think, so if she doesn’t call in the next couple of days, I will,” Riley said, grabbing a bowl and some cereal. “And I hope you are right. How’s Peter doing?”
“He’s coming to visit next week, so it might be a good time for you to make yourself scarce, wink-wink,” Megan said with a grin.
“Wow, it must be serious if he’s coming here. He said he’d never come back to this shit-hole just to visit.” Riley poured some milk into her bowl and sat down again. “I’m really happy for you both.”
“Thanks.”
Riley ate her cereal and contemplated life without Vic. It was crazy, really, to think just a month ago Vic wasn’t someone she ever gave much thought to, and now, it hurt her heart to realize she might have lost her.
* * *
“Welcome home, Vanessa,” Vic said as she walked into her office and gave her a big hug. “Are you still happily married, or are you ready to divorce him?”
“Blissfully happy,” Vanessa said with a grin. “Greece was amazing, at least what I saw of it. You know, we spent way too much time in our room.”
“Yeah, I don’t need to hear all the gory details.” Vic laughed and took a seat on the couch. She looked around the office that was decorated so much more personally than her own was. Vanessa was happy in her job, and it showed in the décor. Vic, on the other hand, was tired of working for the family business. It wasn’t what she’d dreamt of while growing up, but it had been expected.
“How was it while I was gone?”
“Hectic. I feel like I didn’t have a second to myself. I’m ready for a permanent vacation.”
“You should take one,” Vanessa said with a nod, obviously not having heard the word permanent. “It does wonders to recharge the batteries, you know?”
“Yeah,” Vic said with a sigh, deciding to let it go. By her calculations, Vanessa would realize what she’d said before the end of the day. She’d never have believed it possible, but she didn’t feel like herself since she’d left Wolf Bay two weeks before. The time she’d spent in the town she couldn’t wait to get out of twenty years ago had seemed to ground her. Or maybe it had been Riley. She couldn’t really say. Maybe it had been the combination of the two.
“Vic, where are you?”
Vic looked up to see Vanessa watching her with a strange expression. Obviously, she’d zoned out, something she’d been doing with alarming frequency over the past two weeks.
“Sorry, what?”
“I asked if you’ve had any interesting dates lately,” Vanessa said with another grin. “I miss hearing about your disasters.”
“Maybe you missed the part about not having a second to myself?” Vic asked as she got to her feet. “And I’m glad you think my love life is so interesting.”
“I’m sorry,” Vanessa said with a frown. Vic waved her off and headed for the door. “At least you’re away from Riley again. I’m sure that one wouldn’t have ended well.”
“What do you mean?” Vic tried not to sound defensive, but she wasn’t sure she pulled it off.
“Well, you complain about the women you date only wanting your money. You know she does, especially with her background. I just think it’s good that it’s over.”
Vic stared at her for a moment, not really sure what to say in response. She should just leave and not say anything, but her anger got the better of her.
“What the hell do you mean, ‘with her background’?”
“She came from nothing, Vic, you know that. And working at a movie theater? Really? I’m sure she’d love to get her hooks in someone like you.”
“For your information, she’s the manager there, and she’s actually hoping to buy the theater.”
“Yeah?” Vanessa laughed. “With your money, no doubt.”
“Jesus, when did you become so much like Vera?” Vic knew the barb would hurt Vanessa’s feelings, but she couldn’t really muster the energy to give a damn. She was already feeling guilty about having not called Riley, but she really hadn’t had much time for anything other than working and sleeping. She refused to admit a part of her was worried about the very thing Vanessa was talking about. She was afraid she might be falling in love with Riley, and there was little else that mattered at the moment.
“What’s your problem, Vic? You had your fun with her, and now it’s time to get back to reality. Ooh, you should call Cybill. I know you both still have feelings for each other.”
Vic left the office without a word, slamming the door behind her. Seriously? Cybill? Vic definitely did not have any feelings for Cybill other than total contempt. The woman had stolen money out of her bank account, for God’s sake. She’d been so embarrassed by the entire ordeal that she hadn’t even told Vanessa what had happened. She didn’t stop walking until she reached her own office and locked the door. She sat at her desk and stared out the picture window, taking in the view of Manhattan. She took the cell phone out of her pocket and scrolled to find Riley’s number, hitting the number to call before giving herself the chance to change her mind.
“Hi, Vic,” she said, sounding tentative, and Vic hated she’d had a part in making her feel that way.
“Hi,” she replied, her heart feeling lighter than it had for days simply from hearing her voice. “I’ve really missed you, Riley. I’m sorry I haven’t called, but with Vanessa being gone, I’ve been slammed with work.”
“Oh, she’s back already?”
“Today, yeah.” She sighed, wanting so badly to see Riley, to touch her. She couldn’t describe the feeling of emptiness she was experiencing and wasn’t even sure Riley would understand it if she tried.
“That was a big sigh,” Riley said with a quiet chuckle.
“I really have missed you,” she said softly. “There were a couple of times I tried to call you, but got summoned to my father’s office for meetings. Then I didn’t want to call you while you were working, but I always fell asleep before I knew you’d be home. I swear it felt like I was working twenty-four hours a day.”
“Well then, what are you doing next week?” Riley asked, and Vic’s heart skipped a beat.
“Please tell me you’re asking because you’re planning to come to the city.” Vic closed her eyes and actually crossed her fingers.
“If it’s okay with you. If you’re too busy I’ll understand.”
“I’ll clear my calendar and take a few days off. When are you coming?”
“Can you take more days off after those weeks for the wedding?”
“Like I said, my father owns the company, so I have a little bit of pull,” Vic said with a laugh. “Just let me know when.”
“I could drive down Sunday morning and head back Thursday,” Riley said. Vic heard her shuffling papers and she gave a fist pump to no one. “Unless you think you’ll get tired of me after a day or two.”
“Fat chance of that happening.” Vic looked at her calendar and saw she’d have to reschedule a couple of meetings, but otherwise the week was relatively light with Vanessa being back. “I’m already counting the minutes until you arrive.”
“Has anyone ever told you how charming you are?”
“No.” Her father had told her on more than one occasion, but never a woman. Knowing Riley found her charming made her smile. “Maybe you bring it out in me.”
“Maybe,” Riley said, sounding thoughtful. “Text me your address and I’ll be there Sunday.”
When they hung up, Vic stood at her window and found herself smiling. She felt so good right then that she wasn’t even pissed off at Vanessa anymore.
Well, maybe she wouldn’t go quite that far.
Chapter Twenty-three
Vic looked at the clock for what felt like the millionth time early Sunday afternoon, wondering when Riley would finally get there. The cleaning service had been there the day before, so she knew everythi
ng was spick-and-span, therefore she didn’t know what to do with herself while she waited. She’d also had them make up the guest room—just in case. She didn’t want to assume anything and figured it was better to be safe than sorry. She’d left Riley’s name with the desk downstairs so she’d be allowed into the private elevator that would bring her to the penthouse.
She turned on the television but shut it off again soon after. There wasn’t anything she wanted to watch, but she was tired of listening to her own voice in her head. She was about to put on some music when there was finally a knock at the door. She glanced around the place one last time to make sure nothing was out of place, then ran a hand through her hair before walking quickly to the door and pulling it open. She smiled at the site of Riley standing there with a suitcase in her hand. She didn’t realize exactly how much she’d missed her until that very moment.
“Do you always open the door for just anyone?” Riley asked, one eyebrow arched.
“I never do,” she replied, reaching for her suitcase and ushering her inside. Hers was the only residence on the floor, and for anyone to make it up this far, it was only because she’d left their name with the security team in the lobby. She was hesitant to hug Riley, because she wasn’t sure where they stood after three weeks apart. Luckily, Riley didn’t seem to be questioning anything and pulled her into a tight embrace as soon as she’d set the suitcase down. “God, I’ve missed you.”
“Me too,” Riley said before placing a kiss on her cheek and stepping back with a grin. “I was worried maybe you didn’t want to see me again.”
“I am so sorry about not getting in touch with you sooner. There really was no other reason than I simply didn’t have the time.” She gestured to a stool at the breakfast bar and moved into the kitchen. “Can I get you something to drink? I’m pretty sure I have just about anything you could possibly want.”
“Grapefruit juice?”
“Um, no, and can I just say, gross. I hate the stuff.”
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