by RJ Nolan
Following her nose, she padded barefoot into the living room and stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of her dinette table set for two people. One of her oversized coffee mugs was serving as an impromptu vase for a small bunch of flowers. What the…?
Riley stuck her head out of the kitchen. “Good morning.” Before Sam could muster a greeting, she disappeared back into the kitchen and returned with a cup of coffee.
Sam took the mug wordlessly, her sleepy brain trying to make sense of what was going on. Riley had spent the last forty-eight hours at the hospital, yet here she was, dressed in freshly pressed slacks and her signature silk blouse, looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, apparently making breakfast.
The smile dropped from Riley’s face.
“Thanks,” Sam said belatedly. She inhaled the steam rising from the mug. “This smells good. What is it?”
“Hazelnut. Hope you like it.”
Sam tasted the coffee. “It’s great.” Taking her time, she took several more long sips, not only to enjoy the taste, but to give her brain a chance to process this unexpected development.
Because of the hours Riley worked, Sam had barely seen hide nor hair of her in the two weeks they had been roommates. This was the first time that Riley had acted as if she actually lived there. Although Sam had invited her to move in, she braced herself, determined to fight the feelings that were sure to come with this casual invasion of her space.
They never came. The only thing Sam’s brain seemed interested in was the enticing aromas emanating from the kitchen.
“I, umm…” Riley fidgeted. “I hope you don’t mind. I made breakfast.” A brief smile flashed. “I’m celebrating.”
Sam returned the smile and set her coffee cup down on the table. Unable to resist, she captured Riley’s hand. “What’s the occasion?”
“I came out to my friend Denny.”
“Good for you. I take it things went well.”
“It went great.” Riley beamed, her smile fairly splitting her cheeks.
Before Sam realized what she was doing, she swept Riley into a tight embrace. “Congratulations. That’s wonderful.” The scent of Riley’s shampoo teased her senses.
Riley wrapped her arms around Sam’s waist. “Thanks.” Her cheek pressed against Sam’s braless breast.
Arousal singed through Sam. Oh God. She bit back a groan as her nipples hardened. A flush heating her face, she dropped her arms.
Riley held on for an interminable second or two longer, then stepped back.
Caught off guard by the strength of her own reaction, Sam glanced at Riley.
She stared wide-eyed up at Sam, the rapid rise and fall of her chest clearly visible.
Does she feel it too? Crossing her arms over her chest, Sam willed her body to behave. It doesn’t matter if she does. You’re the last thing Riley needs. You’ll just end up hurting her.
“What’re we having?” Sam asked in hopes of taking attention away from what was happening between them.
Riley didn’t answer for a moment. Her expression closed off, then she roughly shook her head. Offering what looked like a forced smile, she said, “Cinnamon raisin pancakes with maple syrup, bacon, and fresh raspberries.”
Sam’s stomach growled loudly.
Riley laughed, and the tension between them dissipated. She motioned Sam over to the table. “Sit down. I’ll bring everything out.”
“Give me a minute to get dressed, then I’ll help.”
“No need for that. Sit.” Riley turned on her heel and returned to the kitchen.
* * *
Sam chased the last traces of syrup on her plate with her final piece of pancake. She popped the bite into her mouth and smacked her lips. “Wow. That was really good. Thanks.”
“Bet you didn’t think I could cook.”
Sam had thought exactly that but had kept the remark to herself. The way she usually is around food, her freak aunt sure as hell didn’t teach her to cook.
Riley arched an eyebrow. “No comment, huh?”
Sam flushed.
It was apparently all the confirmation Riley needed. She laughed. “Well, honestly, for the most part I can’t.” Her gaze went distant for a moment, and her smile faltered. “I haven’t made breakfast like this in more years than I can count.”
“Well, out of practice or not, you did a wonderful job. You must’ve had a good teacher. That was delicious.”
“Thanks. My mom always made a big Sunday breakfast, and I helped from the time I was old enough to sit on a stool at the kitchen counter.” Riley ducked her head. “Although I did kind of have to look things up.”
After seeing what a decisive, competent woman Riley was at work, Sam was always surprised to see her so unsure in private. She slid her fingers down Riley’s arm. “Well, you can cook breakfast for me any time.”
A stunning smile lit Riley’s face.
There’s the smile I wanted to see. Sam didn’t quite understand why she got such enjoyment out of making Riley smile, but there was no denying that she did.
Riley turned away, trying to hide a yawn.
Sam rose from the table. “You cooked. I’ll clean up. Why don’t you lie down for a while?” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “You’ve got time for a short nap before we have to leave.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’m fine.” Riley pushed back her chair. A yawn caught her, giving lie to her words, and she flushed.
Shooing her toward the living room, Sam said, “Go sit down. I’ve got this.”
Riley shook her head and firmly held her ground.
And she thinks I’m stubborn. Sam ground her teeth together. “Come on. We’ll do it together.”
Riley had cleaned up as she prepared breakfast, so it only took a few minutes for the two of them to take care of the remaining dishes. They moved about the small kitchen together as if they had done it many times before.
As Sam was setting up the coffee maker, out of the corner of her eye, she caught Riley stifling another yawn. She turned and put her hands on Riley’s shoulders. “Go sit down.” When Riley didn’t move, Sam guided her to the doorway. “I’ll bring the coffee.”
Riley looked over her shoulder, a protest forming on her lips.
Sam placed her finger on Riley’s lips. She froze for a second, barely resisting the urge to stroke her finger across her soft lips. What’s wrong with you this morning? She jerked back as if burned.
The light in Riley’s eyes dimmed, and her shoulders slumped. “Okay. I’ll be in the living room.”
Sam stared at her retreating form for a few seconds, then shrugged and returned to the kitchen.
Several minutes later, she carried two cups of coffee into the living room.
Riley was slumped against the arm of the couch, her head resting at an unnatural angle.
Poor thing. She’s exhausted. Sam set the cups down on the end table. She was hesitant to wake Riley, but she didn’t want her to have a stiff neck from sleeping in such an awkward position. Keeping an eye on Riley to make sure she didn’t wake, she moved the coffee table out of the way as quietly as she could. She knelt in front of the couch, slid one arm under Riley’s neck and the other across her back, then eased her into a more supine position.
As she withdrew, Riley caught her arm and pulled it tightly against her chest. A sigh fluttered past her lips.
She must think I’m Annie. Sam gently extricated her arm from Riley’s grasp.
Riley mewed in her sleep. “Sam,” she breathed out on a whisper.
The sexy little sound kick-started Sam’s libido. Her heart tripped double time. She stared at Riley.
Her brow furrowed, Riley shifted in her sleep and whimpered.
“Shh. Sleep now. I’m right here.” Sam leaned down and placed a lingering kiss on Riley’s forehead.
While her eyes remained closed, a smile blossomed on Riley’s face. “Sam,” she murmured again.
Sam moved away before she could give in to the temptation to take R
iley in her arms. Settling on the loveseat, she tried to rub away the strange sensation in her chest. Her gaze lingered on Riley, and she sighed. No sense wishing for things that could never be.
Chapter 36
Riley glanced at the clock on the dash. It showed just before two in the afternoon. I can’t believe she let me sleep that long. She scowled at Sam, then turned her gaze back to the road.
“You were exhausted and needed the rest,” Sam said as if she had been privy to Riley’s thoughts.
Riley flushed and kept her gaze focused out the windshield. She gripped the steering wheel, resisting the urge to argue, especially since she knew Sam was right.
“It was no big deal to reschedule for a later time. The property agent actually seemed relieved not to have to meet at nine o’clock on a Sunday morning.” Sam raked her overly long bangs out of her eyes. “Look, I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds. I just couldn’t see where a couple of hours would hurt.”
“No. I’m sorry. You’re right. I was exhausted.” Riley blindly reached across the console and patted Sam’s leg. “It feels nice to be cared for. Just not something I’m used to.” That was officially pathetic. Her ears burned, and she was sure her freckles must be glowing like fireflies in a jar. “Forgive me?”
“Nothing to forgive.” Sam’s hand covered Riley’s before she could withdraw. “I’ll always be there to look out for you,” she said, her voice filled with conviction.
Riley’s heart swelled with the realization that she hadn’t messed up things between them. Sam had seemed a little distant when Riley woke up from her unplanned nap. She had worried that Sam sensed her arousal during their impromptu hug that morning.
Suddenly aware of the tension in the muscled thigh beneath her hand, Riley tugged her hand free. She turned to smile at Sam, only to find her staring intently at her. Riley was caught by the swirling emotions in her silvery-blue eyes.
Sam quickly looked away.
Riley wrenched her gaze back to the road. Questions ricocheted through her mind. Did Sam feel something for her beyond friendship? Hope flared, then died a sudden death. Don’t kid yourself. You’ve seen Marina. You could never compete with someone like her.
“Turn left in two hundred feet,” the navigation system announced. A few moments later the unit beeped twice. “Arriving at destination.”
Thankful for the interruption, Riley pulled into the complex. She stopped the car and glanced at Sam. All the emotion that had been so apparent in her eyes moments before was gone, making Riley wonder if she had imagined it.
“I don’t see any open spaces,” Sam said. “That’s a problem with living downtown—parking is always going to be at a premium.”
Forcing her mind back to the business at hand, Riley scanned the lot. Even the guest spaces were taken. She checked her watch and frowned, hating the idea of being late for an appointment.
“Does the condo come with a parking space as part of the rent?”
“I have no idea.”
A horn honked behind them.
Riley pulled over to let the other car pass, then made a second loop around the complex parking lot. Luck was on her side, and a visitor spot opened up in front of the building.
* * *
Riley trailed after the property agent, Mr. Reynolds, her gaze sweeping the condo that was still furnished with the departing tenant’s belongings. The modernistic furniture reminded her of her aunt and uncle’s condo. After just two weeks at Sam’s comfortable apartment, the stark furnishings turned her off. Ignore them. You’re interested in the condo, not the contents. She glanced back at Sam and caught the look of distaste on her face.
Sam noticed her perusal, and her face immediately became an unreadable mask.
Ah, her cop face.
Riley forced her attention back to Mr. Reynolds, who was prattling on about the condo’s many attributes. She tried to work up some enthusiasm for the place.
By the time they returned to the living room, she knew this wasn’t the home for her. It stirred too many bad memories. She forced a polite smile and faced Mr. Reynolds. “If you’ll excuse us for a moment.” Tugging on Sam’s sleeve, she guided her toward the balcony. “What do you think?” she asked, her voice low.
Sam glanced around, then down at Riley, her expression carefully neutral. “Do you like it?”
“No. Reminds me too much of—” Riley caught herself. “Where I used to live. No warmth.”
Sam grinned. “Whew.” She wiped imaginary sweat off her forehead. “Glad to hear you say that. I can’t stand the place. I wasn’t looking forward to visiting you here.”
She elbowed Sam. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I’m just here to check that the building looks safe and the pipes don’t leak.” Sam’s expression turned serious. “But no matter what I think, the decision is yours.”
Riley smiled. “Then let’s see what else he has to offer.” She had a spring in her step as she headed for Mr. Reynolds. It felt wonderful not to have her opinion belittled, as her aunt was prone to do.
* * *
Sam leaned against the island that separated the kitchen from the main living area and let her gaze sweep the room. All the places they had seen so far looked alike. Stark white walls, a large expanse of glass, lots of chrome and marble, but not a trace of warmth. Even the hardwood floors appeared uninviting and cold. The wood was highly polished but without the richness she usually associated with wood floors.
It was more than just the condos, Sam acknowledged. As they had ridden the elevators and walked the halls of four different complexes around the downtown area, she had felt the assessing stares of the residents. Not one had offered more than a restrained nod, and most not even that. While her apartment complex was nowhere near as swanky as the places Riley was considering, at least most everyone was friendly, and there was a sense of community.
Gazing out onto the balcony, she watched Riley with Mr. Reynolds. He was gesturing expansively at the cityscape laid out as far as the eye could see. When Riley leaned against the balcony railing and smiled, appearing to enjoy the view, Sam sighed. Guess this might be the one. She renewed her vow to keep her mouth shut and support Riley’s choice, whatever condo she picked.
“Knock. Knock,” a woman called out.
Sam turned.
Two strangers stood in the open doorway of the condo. The woman was blond, well dressed, and quite beautiful while her male companion was dark-haired and boyishly handsome.
“We saw the door open and wanted to say hello,” the woman said as they entered the condo. “We live next door.”
Finally someone friendly. Maybe this place was okay after all.
The man smiled and took a slow perusal of Sam’s body before finally making it to her face.
Or maybe not. Sam glared at him.
He smiled and had the audacity to wink at her.
Sam crossed her arms over her chest and straightened to her full height. She had dealt with her share of overzealous Lotharios, but the thought of Riley being exposed to his roving eyes sparked her ire.
“Are you the new tenant?” the woman asked, apparently oblivious to her companion’s lustful gaze.
Mr. Reynolds and Riley came back in before Sam could answer.
Her protective instincts flaring, Sam strode up to Riley, draped an arm across her shoulders, and guided her across the room.
Riley’s eyebrow arched, but she remained at Sam’s side.
“These are the neighbors from next door,” Sam said when they reached the couple. “Sorry. I didn’t get your names.”
The woman stared at Sam’s arm where it rested across Riley’s shoulders. Her mouth puckered as if she had bitten into a persimmon.
Aw crap. A homophobe. Then Sam caught the look on the man’s face. An eager glint showed as he undressed her and Riley with his eyes. In trying to protect Riley, she had just made things much worse. Damn it!
Riley stiffened next to her.
Sam tightened he
r arm around Riley’s shoulders and drew her closer.
“Sorry we bothered you.” The woman’s voice was wooden. She whipped around and took two steps toward the door. When her companion didn’t immediately follow, she turned back and grabbed his arm. “Let’s go.”
The condo door slammed behind them.
Sam flinched and hastily pulled her arm from Riley’s shoulders. It took her a moment to gather the nerve to look at Riley. She fully expected to see anger lurking in Riley’s eyes.
Riley tilted her head and peered up at her. The only thing in her eyes was confusion.
“Please accept my apologies, Dr. Connolly,” Mr. Reynolds said. “Not all the residents are like that.” He threw a scowl at the door. “I hope you’ll reconsider.”
Riley shook her head. “It has nothing to do with the tenants. As I told you, it’s just not what I’m looking for.” She offered her hand. “I appreciate your time.”
She doesn’t want the place? While Sam was relieved, she knew it didn’t get her off the hook.
Mr. Reynolds shook Riley’s hand. “If you change your mind, please let me know. Rentals are limited, but there are several much nicer condos for sale in the complexes we visited today.”
Riley nodded but made no comment.
* * *
Anxiety twisted Sam’s stomach. The ride down in the elevator seemed interminable.
Mr. Reynolds droned on, trying to convince Riley what a good investment buying a condo would be with the current housing market.
Sam wished he would just shut up. She had bigger concerns, such as explaining to Riley what had happened and then apologizing.
When she felt Riley’s hand on the small of her back, Sam looked down in surprise into Riley’s smiling visage. The tension leaked out of her like pressure being released from an overinflated tire.