“Do I owe you an apology?”
With her pulse still beating in her ears, Tristan’s question didn’t make as much sense as it should have. “Why?”
“You sort of shot outside as if you couldn’t get away from me fast enough. It made me wonder if my attempts to hang onto you long enough to get you alone were over-the-top.”
“Awww, you wanted to be alone with me?” she asked to keep from lying to him.
He snorted. The sound made her smile as much as his confession. Silence hung between them. Instead of answering her question, Tristan merely stared at her. The heat in his gaze wiped her fear away, her mind clean, and weakened her knees. His bottom lip was fuller than the top. It made her want to sink her teeth into it. She couldn’t look away. There was no way her every emotion wasn’t written on her face. Her panties dampened. She was so going to Hell. Every time he was near she became more and more assured of it. It wasn’t her fault. He was dangerously sexy. Her palms itched to touch him. Berta appeared at their sides, breaking the spell.
“I expect both of you to be at my house in thirty minutes for lunch. Understood?”
Since Riley sort of liked the woman, she accepted the excuse to spend the day with Tristan. “Yes ma’am.”
Berta held her gaze steadily. “If anyone tries holding you up, tell them I’ve got shit to do. Just because I’m an old lady that doesn’t mean I don’t have a life, do you hear?”
“You got it,” Riley agreed even as Tristan groaned. Probably because he knew she’d do it.
“Now, walk an old lady to her car.” Tristan offered her his arm, but Berta swatted him away. “Not you. You’ve got folks to rush along so I can eat. I’m not getting any younger.”
“Quit playing. You’re not old,” Riley argued as she helped the older woman down the stairs. “I saw the way Mr. Tarpley was eyeing you in there. If you don’t mind a little spittle, you’re golden.”
Berta chortled like a schoolgirl. “Oh, honey, at my age a little spit is a good thing. You need all the lubrication you can get.”
Tristan covered his eyes, horrified yet oddly amused as Riley helped his grandmother down the stairs. What had he done? The two of them together were likely to bring down the entire town. He couldn’t wait. With that idea firmly planted in his head, Tristan rushed the last stragglers from the building. Riley had agreed to spend the afternoon with him. It was enough to get him moving. Once he had everyone out and the building locked tight, Tristan found Riley at her car, switching her heels for a pair of flip-flops. She looked sexy as hell in her orange summer dress. It showed off a hint of cleavage. His gaze continued drifting to the exposed skin, lingering.
“If you don’t mind, we’ll leave your car here and take my truck.”
She winked. “I’m all about saving some gas money.”
He found her response amusing since she was currently digging around in the trunk of a 2015 Bentley. “Are you ready then?” he asked as she closed the lid.
“Almost,” Riley answered before snagging his tie and hauling him forward. Going up on her toes, she pressed her lips to his. He didn’t consider his actions or question whether anyone was watching as he deepened their kiss. When Riley was around, everyone else disappeared. By the time she pulled away, he was panting, and—inexplicably—his tie had vanished. He blinked at the spot where it had been. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone. His gaze shot to the scrap of material dangling between her fingers. His eyebrows rose.
“I’m very, very good,” she said in response to his silent question. She shoved his tie in her purse. He couldn’t speak. His mind was still attempting to process her boast. “I’ll just keep this.” Her mouth lifted in one corner wickedly before adding, “For later.”
He cleared his throat. His phone rang coming to his rescue. It was Berta.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Stop by Faith and Adam’s bakery on the way. Faith is going to bring some food out to you.”
“Yes ma’am.”
She hung up before he finished speaking.
“Saved by the phone.”
Tristan steered her toward his truck. “You say saved, I say cock-blocked.” Riley missed a stop. A spike of satisfaction ran through him. No matter what Riley thought, she didn’t have him pegged. He shuffled her inside the vehicle before he completely ruined her reputation. When they made it to Desserts First, Faith came outside with two bags in hand. She handed them through the window with a wink. She didn’t give him to time to thank her before she darted back inside.
“What’s all of this?” Riley asked, digging around in the bags. Tristan’s phone rang again, keeping him from joining her investigation. Berta’s voice carried through the line before Tristan had the device to his ear.
“Change of plans. Edward is taking me to lunch. Do not let my food go to waste. Take Riley on a picnic. It’s obvious she needs a real man to show her a good time.” Once again, she hung up without allowing him time to respond. Meddling woman. He loved her.
“Looks like it’s just the two of us for lunch. Thankfully, I know the perfect place.”
***
Tristan didn’t want the day to end. With a blanket spread across the ground in the same clearing where they’d caught fireflies, Riley was poking at her iPad and frowning. He couldn’t look away. Even as she gave the defenseless device the death stare, she was still the most alluring woman he’d ever seen.
“Is everything okay?”
Her brow cleared and she flashed him an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I tend to work a little here and there. If I don’t, I fall ridiculously behind.”
“You survived watching me work today. I can do the same. So what do you do exactly? I mean, I know what you do, but I don’t understand what it entails.” Tristan couldn’t explain the change Riley underwent at his question. It was as if every ounce of passion inside her soul moved to her expression, lighting her face.
“Let me show you.” Coming up onto her knees, Riley crawled to his side before settling down between his knees with her back against his chest. With her head resting on his shoulder, she snapped a photo of the two of them together. Tristan stared at the picture as she uploaded it to Facebook. They looked happy. A surge of pride ran through him, especially as he read the words she typed along with it.
“My sexy sweetheart surprised me with a romantic picnic and Desserts First.” Riley nodded toward the screen as the hit “post”. “Notice how I tagged Desserts First. That way, it’ll show up on both of our pages. Since I’ve already built a loyal following of amazing connections, it won’t take them long to bite.” No sooner than Riley finished her explanation, the status received its first comment.
“Who’s the hottie? If I head over to my local Desserts First, can I get one of those too?”
Another comment came in on its heels. “RAWR! I’m with Ronnie. I’d love one of those to sink my teeth into.” A series of similar statements followed, degenerating as they went.
Riley waited a minute before responding. “Sorry ladies, this one is mine, but Desserts First is looking to expand. Maybe if enough people get on board, you can lure some hotties your way. You know the sexy ones don’t get to eat. If you shake a cheesecake at them, you’ll have them hooked for life.”
Tristan couldn’t lie. He was impressed. “That’s brilliant. I don’t know whether I should be impressed or frightened by your skills.”
“Please be impressed,” Riley begged with a fake cry. “It may seem like simple chitchat, but I work my ass off.” The exhaustion in her voice had him tilting her chin up to meet his gaze. For the first time he took note of the smudges beneath her eyes.
“You do look tired.” He plucked the iPad from her hands and set it aside. He gave his thigh a pat. “Head here, eyes closed.”
“Oooh, I like this game,” Riley said as she did as he bade. “I feel like you’re going to start singing about giving me a big, fat surprise.”
God she was fun. “The surprise would be if you ever did anyt
hing without getting mouthy.”
She peeked one eye open. “When I get mouthy with you, you won’t remember your name, must less be capable of complaining.”
Running his knuckles across her cheek, he was driven to honesty. “I can’t wait.”
A tiny grin touched her lips. With her eyes closed, on her side, and her arm draped over his thighs, Riley snuggled in. He couldn’t stop touching her. His fingers rubbed each bump in her spine until he reached the base. Flattening his hand against her skin, he smoothed his palm over the curve of her ass before moving back up to her hip. Tristan did his best to burn the memory of her lines into his brain. When his thumb brushed the underside of her breast, he paused. His gaze traced her cheek. He absorbed every nuance of her expression as he allowed his thumb to caress the spot once more. His heart raced. The sensation of touching someone was such a small thing to most people, but he’d been starved too long. Devastated didn’t come close to describing the state of his heart since meeting Riley. He craved, ached. Inside his head, Tristan was screaming for her to need him the way he needed her.
“Riley.” At the sound of her name, her eyes fluttered open for a second, meeting his before falling closed once more. Her cheek shaped into a grin.
“Don’t stop.” At her command, his fingers slipped back to her spine, following the same pattern as before.
“What brought you here?” He needed to know. She had to stay.
“A Bentley.”
An inner sigh rang through his mind. There it was, the reason for his lingering sense of impending doom. It didn’t make logical sense for her to be here with him. “In a way, that’s my point. Your car alone easily cost more than most people’s homes here.”
Silence filled the space between them. Tristan swore he could hear her gathering her thoughts, deciding how to respond. “Billy is here,” she said after a moment. “Things are different in California. I’m different,” she added. “Even when I wasn’t alone, I was alone. I’m sick of feeling empty.”
God help him. He was too.
Chapter 7
August 28th
“Come to service in the morning. I want to see you.”
Riley rolled her eyes—the same way she did every time they’d had this discussion over the past three months. No way in hell was she subjecting herself to Emma May’s spite again. The small of Riley’s back bit into the edge of the counter as Tristan backed her against it. Their hips bumped. His erection pressed between them. Riley’s heart slammed against the wall of her chest at the look in his eyes. If anyone had ever wanted anything as much as she wanted Tristan, she’d never heard the tale. Hunger etched every line of his face. It made her mouth go dry. She was weak, which really wasn’t unfamiliar ground for Riley.
“Do this for me.”
The way his eyes cajoled her, making her want to give him everything, it was her undoing. “What time?”
Riley knew the exact moment he realized she was giving in. Barely suppressed triumph laced his smile. Those lips…damn. She loved the way they tasted. Her tongue shot out, wetting her lips, and unconsciously attempting to capture any hint of his flavor from their last kiss. Tristan’s gaze dropped to her mouth.
“Tristan.”
He swallowed his name before she finished the last syllable. His tongue moved slowly, torturing Riley as it fought with hers. Her clit pulsed in time with every brush. When her hands touched his waist, unconsciously seeking more, Tristan laced his fingers through hers, denying her. It was always this way with them, especially since Billy had been pulling doubles at the hospital each night. Tristan was always there, rousing her desires. Enticing her. Rejecting her. That last one hurt. She couldn’t lie. It also confused her, yet oddly, kept her intrigued. Gah! She was such a mess. A groan vibrated through Tristan’s chest as he pulled away.
“I really hate leaving you. This is the hardest part of my day.”
“Stay.” Riley’s offer hung in the air between them. A half smile played on Tristan’s lips, and she knew he wouldn’t accept.
“I’ll see you at nine.”
Riley’s heartfelt groan put Tristan’s to shame. “Nine a.m.? Damn. That’s early. I bet God wishes y’all would cut an old man a break and let him sleep.”
Tristan chuckled. A flush still rode high on his cheeks, making his light blue eyes stand out, and Riley’s stomach growl. “You can’t take it back.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Riley said, unable to stop the childish grumble. “I’ll be there.” Wickedness goosed her, the way it always did, causing her to add, “Just remember, every time you catch my eye from that pulpit, I’m picturing you naked.” She allowed her gaze to slip down his body before meeting his stare once more. “And it’s fucking delicious.”
Tristan faked a cry. “You’re so evil.”
“Stay,” she offered one final time, praying he’d accept. Her roots stung as Tristan buried his fingers in her hair and hauled her forward. His mouth slammed down on hers. Their kiss was almost violent. When Tristan pulled away, his nostrils flared, fascinating Riley.
“Nine,” he repeated, before heading for the door.
Riley had a hard time forcing her knees to work. She found herself staring at the door for way longer than necessary after he left. Even after Riley checked all the locks and pushed her bedroom door closed, she hadn’t completely recovered. No one else had ever gotten to her the way Tristan did. She’d agreed to go to church for fuck’s sake. But man oh man, the expression on his face when she’d finally given in, wow, it had been totally worth it.
Riley slipped out of her clothes and into a ribbed tank top and fresh panties before climbing into bed. Her mind held its grip on Tristan’s expression. Their kiss lingered on her lips. She swore she could still feel his erection pressing between them. Her channel pulsed. She needed him inside her. Without thought, her palm brushed over her hip. Her fingers dipped below the edge of her panties, skimming her mound. She hesitated. What would Tristan do if he were still there? Would he watch as she stroked her wet folds, bringing herself to completion? Surely he had some inner kink. Her nether lips parted beneath the pressure of her fingertips. The floor creaked. Riley froze. Her mind raced as her gaze shot to the door.
Moving slowly, she shifted to her knees without taking her eyes off the wood surface separating her from the sound. If anyone came near it, she’d see the shadow in the crack below the door. This was the exact reason why she never turned off the hall light. Riley’s lungs burned from holding her breath. Her eyes stung and then watered from the effort it took to keep from blinking. Fuck. The chain was undone. Did that mean she forgotten the deadbolt as well? She couldn’t remember. Tristan had her wound so tight, she couldn’t think straight. It was going to be the death of her—literally. Silence rang in her ears as Riley strained to hear every noise.
Before she could lose her nerve, Riley leaped from the bed and threw the deadbolt. Her hands shook and her heart raced as she slid the chain into place as well. From there she turned on every light and lamp in her room as well as the adjoining bathroom. The white walls reflected the beams, making every corner as bright as possible.
Her closet came next. She had to search it. It didn’t matter that she’d removed the door. She’d been lax. Her clothes hung too closely together, giving him a place to hide. She couldn’t have that. Riley yanked the hangers from the pole, tossing them onto the floor and leaving enough space so she could see every inch. Even once she was positive there was no way anyone could stay hidden inside her room, Riley’s panic didn’t fade. She could feel the eyes upon her. Something was out of place. She just couldn’t decide what it was. Taking a deep breath, she turned in a slow circle, eyeing the entire room. Fear was making her slow witted. It was there but she couldn’t see it. Her gaze landed on the door once more. Had she locked the back door after Tristan left? For the life of her, she couldn’t remember. She had to know. If she didn’t check, there was no way she’d be able to relax.
Finding a pair of workout shorts, sh
e pulled them on before creeping closer to the door. At the last second, she dropped down to her hands and knees. With her cheek pressed to the floor, she could see the hallway through the crack. It was empty. Brushing off her knees, she came back to her feet. With two deep breaths for strength, she undid the locks. She braced herself as she turned the knob. Poised between her room and the hallway, Riley froze, listening for any movement inside the house. The hum of the air conditioner was the only sound she heard. After a minute, when nothing bad happened and no strange noises reached her ears, Riley moved to the living room. There was nothing out of place. She checked every window and door, breathing a sigh of relief when she found everything secure. Riley swiped at her eyes. Holy fuck. She needed coffee. There wasn’t a chance in hell she was getting any sleep now. She couldn’t risk it. Not to mention, an eerie feeling still lingered in the air, but Riley tried shrugging it off.
Being with Tristan made her forget. The last thing she needed was to forget. Her routine kept her safe…and sane. Some things were too important to let slide.
As the coffee brewed, Riley stood at the sink and stared into the darkness. After a few minutes, she gave into temptation and turned on the floodlights as well as the porch light. She needed to know no one was out there…watching. When that didn’t completely dispel her paranoia she turned on the TV in the kitchen and the volume up as high it would go. Billy had allowed her craziness with the spare bedroom, accepting Riley’s excuses about needing her bedroom a certain way to sleep. She’d spouted some bullshit about too much light and earthquakes in California to explain the missing closet door and covered windows. Most likely, Billy wasn’t fooled, but she’d let it go. Unfortunately, she’d staunchly refused to allow Riley’s insanity to spill into the rest of her home.
Riley downed three cups of coffee before she worked up the nerve to head back to her bedroom. The thought of her aunt witnessing one of her breakdowns reminded her she needed to clean up the mess she’d made in her panic before Billy got home.
A Dash of Desire (Spiced Life #2) Page 7