Riley's Secret (A Moon's Glow Novel # 1)

by Smith, Christina

  “Hey, Walter, how’s it going today?” Nate asked an elderly man with white hair and wrinkles. He was wearing a sweater vest and holding a cane.

  “Can’t complain, Nate; not with you cooking. What’s for dinner today?” He picked up a plate and silverware and walked over to us.

  “Spicy chicken, mixed vegetables and Megan’s famous mashed potatoes.” Nate smiled, glanced at me and winked. What was with him? Yes, he’d been a lot better this week, but tonight it seemed like he was flirting and that was so not like him.

  “The rich girl?” His eyes went wide as he glanced at me. “I don’t know. You don’t look like you’ve cooked that much,” Walter said with a smile which made Eddie laugh.

  I sneered at Eddie. “Don’t worry, I only poisoned Eddie’s potatoes.” My words only made him laugh harder. We loaded Walter’s plate while more people filed in.

  I noticed the family from the fire. I had heard they were staying with the mother, Anna’s, family. But since the renovations on their house were taking so long, they moved in here after Natalie and her mother moved out. I hadn’t had a chance to speak to them yet.

  Before I could talk myself out of it, I made my way over to where they were picking up plates. “Excuse me?” I said as I approached them.

  Kara and Billy looked up at me.

  “Hey, guys, how are you?” I ruffled their hair with my hands.

  Billy just smiled while Kara hugged my leg.

  “I wanted to tell you how sorry I was about what happened,” I said to the kids’ parents. “If there is anything I can do to help, just let me know.”

  Mike and Anna both smiled. “Thank you. And we also wanted to thank you for what you did. We heard that you tried to get in. I know that Nate wouldn’t have heard the fire if you hadn’t been banging on the door,” Mike said, picking up a cup.

  “Yes and I know how hard it must be to stand up to your friends. I just want you to know we appreciate what you did.” Anna gave me a hug. I was so touched by their forgiveness that I had to walk away before the tears that stung my eyes fell down my cheeks.

  As I stepped past Nate to take my place again, he was staring at me.

  “What?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “Nothing.”

  When all the residents were finished eating, we made up plates and ate in the kitchen with Julia. She and I were discussing the latest movie she had seen when I overheard Eddie whisper to Nate. “I guess the answer to my question earlier would be no?”

  Nate just shoveled potatoes into his mouth, ignoring Eddie.

  Once we finished eating, we began to clean up. I washed the dishes while Nate dried. Eddie brought all the food and serving dishes in from the dining room. Nate was quiet again until Eddie came back in. “When are Steve, Markus and Frannie coming back?” Eddie asked, scooping the leftover food in Tupperware dishes.

  “Who?” I placed a plate in the sink for Nate to dry.

  “They’re other volunteers. They’ve been off for a while.” He looked at Eddie. “They’re starting back next week.”

  “Good, then maybe I could take a few days off. I need to study for an exam.”

  Nate frowned at him. “Eddie, if you need more time to study, why don’t you take the next few months off until school is out? We really appreciate your help, but your studies should come first. Besides, now that Megan’s here we can manage better without you.”

  Eddie smiled. “I might take you up on that. Exams are starting soon and I’m a little stressed out.” He stepped up to us to dump a big bowl into my dishwater. Water splashed all over the front of my shirt.

  “Ugh.” I turned to Eddie and scowled at him. “Thanks a lot. Now I’m soaked.”

  He just laughed, headed out the door and into the dining room.

  “Here,” Nate said, lifting up a towel. I turned to him as he started to wipe the front of my shirt, touching things that were off limits at the moment. I stared at him in a daze, unable to stop him. He looked up, oblivious to what he was doing. When he gazed into my eyes, he realized his mistake and dropped the towel. “Oh God, I’m so sorry—” He didn’t finish his sentence because my lips were suddenly on his and my hands were gripping his thick, wavy hair.

  He froze for an instant, obviously as shocked as I was at my sudden move. I thought he was going to push me away, but when he finally recovered, he took a deep breath, wrapped his arms around my back and pulled me closer. His kiss was wild and hungry, but his lips were surprisingly gentle as they moved over mine. I closed my eyes and sunk into the kiss. He opened his mouth and I felt sparks fly as his tongue teased mine. He moaned softly as he backed me up against the counter, the granite edge dug into my back.

  Someone cleared their throat. We froze mid-kiss and turned around. Eddie stood in the doorway with a huge grin on his face, holding a serving platter. “Am I interrupting?”

  We pulled apart quickly. “No, we were uh…just finishing the dishes. Better hurry, I have homework,” I stammered, stepping away from Nate. I wiped my shirt with the cloth that he had dropped to the floor before I kissed him. When I took the platter from Eddie, I thought I saw them exchange a grin.

  When we were finished cleaning, Nate went to the office to do some paperwork. I said goodbye to everyone and headed home.

  As soon as I got home, I rushed into the kitchen, where Mona was putting the dishes away.

  “Mona, guess what?” I said in a sing-song voice.

  She looked up from the silverware drawer just as she placed a fork in. “What?” A grin spread across her face.

  “I kissed Nate.”

  “You hussy.” She winked at me as she pushed the silverware drawer closed with her hip. “How was it?”

  “Amazing,” I sighed as I threw myself into a chair.

  “I’m happy for you, honey. I knew you’ve always liked him.”

  “Yes, I did. But he’s so confusing. One minute I think he likes me, the next he pushes me away.”

  “That’s men for you. You can never tell what they’re thinking.”

  “That’s for sure. For the last two weeks I thought he might ask me out or kiss me, but every time I think he’s about to do something, he suddenly clams up and pulls away. So, even though I didn’t plan to, I kissed him.”

  She stacked a pile of plates on the counter. “I’m guessing he kissed you back.”

  “Not at first. I think I shocked him as much as I did myself, but when he pulled himself together he kissed me and I mean kissed me. Until Eddie walked in and interrupted us.”

  “So, what does this mean?”

  “I don’t know. I left shortly afterward.” I stood up. “I’m going to go to my room to daydream.”

  As I walked out of the kitchen I heard her yell, “Have fun.”

  I smiled to myself just as I heard the sound of my father talking loudly behind his office door. From the sound of his voice, someone on the other end of the conversation must be giving him news he wasn’t happy about. I tiptoed by the door and down the hallway, turning the corner. My room was near the end of the next hall, as far from my parents as possible.

  I rummaged through my bag, looking for the book that was assigned for English. Once I found it, I leaned against my pillow, flipping to chapter four where I had left off.

  “Hi.”

  I jumped, throwing the book in the air. It landed on the wood floor with a thud. I looked over in the direction of the voice and saw Nate in my room, leaning against the closed patio doors.

  “Holy crap, you scared me,” I gasped, my hand resting on my chest, feeling my heart pumping.

  He chuckled, pushed off of the door and stepped up to the bed. His shoulders were wet from the rain and his damp hair glistened from the glow of my lamp. “I’m sorry, I let myself in. I guess I should have knocked. I was hoping we could talk.” He sat down on the edge of the bed, lifting my legs and placing them on his lap.

  “Talk about what?”

  He smiled, leaning back against his elbows on the bed. �
��Anything. The weather, our homework. Or the mind-blowing kiss you just planted on me.” His bright blue eyes twinkled in the low lamp light.

  I grinned, happy to see that he was in a good mood. I had been afraid he would push me away again. “The weather lately has been beautiful, well, besides today.”

  He grabbed a pillow and tossed it at me, hitting me in the head. The smell of Mona’s favorite floral laundry soap drifted into my nose before the pillow bounced off of me and landed on my lap.

  “What do you want from me?” he asked, suddenly serious.

  “You.” I lifted my legs off of him so I could lean forward until my face was inches from his. “I want to kiss you again. I want you to kiss me. I want to spend time with you, get to know you. Don’t you want that? Because, it sure felt that way. I may have started the kiss, but it was you who finished it.”

  His smile returned. “I want everything you just said and more. I want to lean in and kiss you and never stop. But I’m not sure I can do that. I told you, I’m not good for you.”

  I leaned in closer and whispered into his ear. “Let me decide what’s good for me.” I touched his chin and pulled him toward me. Filling the gap between us, I leaned in closer, softly touching his lips with mine. He threaded his finders through my hair and kissed me back, taking the kiss deeper, twisting and pushing me onto the bed.

  He leaned up above me. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” he whispered.

  “Why didn’t you?” I whispered back.

  “I’m—”

  I touched his lips with my finger to stop his words. “Don’t say it again. And if we agree to continue this, you have to promise not to back away from me. My heart can’t take it.”

  His face grew serious again as he sat up on the bed, leaning against my plush creamy white headboard. He was silent, as if he was waging a war in his mind.

  I watched him for a few seconds then took the spot beside him, leaning up on the bed. “Over the last few weeks I thought you liked me. The night you ate dinner here I really hoped you would kiss me. Instead, you just disappeared and have been distant ever since. I don’t even want to talk about Saturday at the bar. I know you’re trying to be friends with me, but it’s not the same. If we’re going to do this, we’re really doing this. No backing away. Got it?” I pointed my finger at him, hoping he realized how serious I was.

  He gazed at me, his expression the same. He must have made a decision, because his eyes lightened and his lips turned up at the edges. He laughed, wrapping his hand around my finger. “I got it. I’m in. I won’t back away.” He pulled me by the finger he was holding until I was so close I could feel his hot breath on my face. He kissed me; the sweet taste of him filled my mouth. His strong hands guided me down again. Leaning over me, he pulled back to gently kiss my neck, my jaw, my collarbone. We continued to kiss and explore each other until I was out of breath. Then we lay with his arms wrapped around me, my head resting on his chest.

  “Tell me about yourself. I don’t know anything. You’re very mysterious.”

  I felt him tense under me, but he said, “Ask me anything you want.”

  “Where do you live?”

  “Over on Cedar Crest. I have a small house near the Rileys’ estate. I rent it from them.”

  “Is that why you were there last Saturday?”

  “Yes.”

  “How do you know them?” I asked, listening to the sound of his heart.

  “I used to volunteer with my father at the shelter in Philadelphia. My dad ran Riley House and showed me how to do it. He was close to the Rileys.”

  “Does your family live here too?”

  “No. They all died in a car accident when I was fourteen. I lived with my uncle until I moved here but the courts let me live on my own as long as he checks in with me. I had the insurance money from the accident and I live off of that. And the Rileys pay me some for running the charity. The cottage is part of that.”

  Was it just me or did that whole speech sound rehearsed?

  “Did you have any brothers or sisters? Or is that too painful to talk about?”

  “No, it’s all right. I had two sisters and a brother, all younger.”

  “I’m so sorry. Were you close to your family?” I leaned up and touched his face, brushing my fingers against his soft skin. His scent of pine and leather soothed me.

  “Oh yes, we were very close. My younger sisters were a pain sometimes, always following me around. But I loved them. I miss them and my brother terribly.” I saw the pain in his eyes and regretted bringing it up.

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “No, it’s fine. I just wish that they had met you. My mother would have loved you.”

  “I’m jealous. At least the time you had was with a family you spent time with and cared for.”

  “You don’t have that.” It wasn’t a question and was said with sympathy.

  “No, I don’t. I don’t even try anymore. Mona is my mother. She cares for me and spends time with me. She and Ben taught me how to ride a bike, to tie my shoes. My parents are like roommates I never see, only coming out sometimes to annoy me.”

  He kissed the top of my head. “I’m so sorry. It must have been a very lonely way to grow up.”

  I sighed. “It was. But let’s not talk about depressing things. Why don’t you kiss me again?”

  “If you insist.” He kissed me softly, slowly, dragging out each touch of our lips and the gentle brush of his tongue. I sighed with pure contentment. It made me forget my depressing family.

  The door opened. “What’s going on in here?” boomed my father, staring at Nate.

  We jumped up, both of us standing beside my bed. “Dad! What are you doing in here?”

  “I need to talk to you. Who is this?” he asked, pointing to the boy next to me.

  “This is Nate. He goes to Everest.”

  Nate stepped up to him, holding his hand out to my father. “Nate Green, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Banks.” My father took his hand and shook it, shooting a confused glance in my direction.

  “Megan, I need to speak to you. Meet me in my office.” With that he was gone.

  I watched my father rush out of the room, then turned to Nate. “I’m sorry, I won’t be long. Do you want to wait? You can watch TV. The remote is right there.” I pointed to my dresser.

  “I’ll be here when you get back and we can continue where we left off.” He kissed me quickly before I stepped out.

  I left feeling as if I was heading to the principal’s office.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Problem Solved

  “What do you want?” I asked, entering my father’s perfectly organized office. When he gestured for me to take a seat, I plopped down onto his uncomfortable office chair in front of the large mahogany desk. I glanced around at the crisp formal walls, naked of any kind of personal knickknack or family photo. As I waited for him to answer, I tried to ignore the ache in my chest that formed every time I walked in here. I should know by now that he didn’t care enough about his daughter to display even one photo or memento of my childhood.

  “Are you dating him?” he asked, narrowing his dark brown eyes.

  “Well, we just got together tonight, but I guess so. Why?” I was uncomfortable with discussing my personal life with my very distant father. I looked up at his perfectly styled dark brown hair, trying to find a stray piece, but no, not a strand out of place.

  “Is that the boy who insulted your mother a few weeks ago?”

  I took a deep breath, already exhausted by the conversation and it had barely begun. “He didn’t insult her, he defended me. What do you want?” I repeated my earlier question.

  He sighed as he usually did when he spoke to his misbehaving daughter. “James tells me that the police have been sniffing around trying to pin the fire on Mandy, Jenny, Shane, Brandon and Chris. Is that right?” He placed his hands on his desk in front of him.

  “I guess so. I
’m doing community service because I wouldn’t tell them what really happened. I’m sure they’re trying to find out another way.”

  “This is not good, Megan. We are in the process of merging with Montech. How would that look if it got out that you and your friends were involved in a fire?”

  “It’s not my fault. I lied to protect them and they didn’t deserve it. I got arrested, even though I was the only one who tried to help that family. Now all you care about is how it looks to your company?”

  “If this situation ruins the merger, there will be hell to pay.” He slammed his fist onto the desk. His stockpile of pens shook in their container.

  “What do you want me to do about it?” I yelled, sitting up in my chair.

  “Make this go away. I don’t want their parents calling me anymore. I want this to end.”

  My chest ached even more with the realization that his work and reputation meant more to him than I did. “Do you even care that those sweet boys threatened me, slashed my tires and tried to run me off the road. All because they’re afraid I’ll tell the police what they did?”

  “Of course I care, but don’t you realize what this publicity could do to their families?”

  “What about the family that lost their home? Don’t they matter?”

  “Don’t be so melodramatic. They have insurance.” He shook his head at me and his cool brown eyes narrowed.

  I stood up and stared at him. “That’s your answer? They have insurance? Who the hell are you?” I stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind me, almost colliding with Nate.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, wrapping his arms around me. “I thought you could use some support.”

  “I need to get out of here. Take me somewhere,” I mumbled into his shoulder, my face pressed against his hard, muscular chest. I was instantly comforted by his embrace.

  He smiled, took my hand and led me to his car.

  We drove down to the lake and sat on the beach. Since the evening breeze was cool, I was wearing my favorite hoodie. The air smelled fresh, like lake water. “I love sitting under the stars at night, it’s one of my favorite things to do.” I leaned back, staring up into the sky, digging my bare feet into the soft warm sand. I heard him chuckle knowingly. “What?” I asked, turning to face him.