Chapter Twenty-One
Riley
On Monday afternoon, Duncan arrived just before I headed out. I grinned and almost wanted to jump him before realizing that Jeremy was there as well. Crap. Why hadn't we discussed how to handle this? Then again, what was there to discuss? I just had to act like a normal human being, not a teenager.
"Hi, Riley," he said, then looked around. "Where’s Jeremy?"
"In the bathroom, washing his hands and getting ready for dinner.”
“Which means I can do this," he said, then pressed me against the wall and kissed me senseless.
Well, at least I wasn't the only one acting like a teenager. I figured that made it okay.
On Tuesday, we learned to behave… or at least that’s what I thought. And when he asked me to stay for dinner, I flatly refused because that was just playing with fire.
We managed the same on Wednesday.
But then on Thursday, we didn't. When he arrived at home, Jeremy was in the shower. He'd played in the mud outside and was under strict instructions to clean himself properly, which I relayed to Duncan.
"So, that means he's going to need a while, huh?" Duncan asked.
"I guess. He just went in."
"Good. I need to kiss you so fucking much."
Then he lifted me onto the kitchen island, kissing me hard and deep, even more desperate than on Monday.
We both had so much pent-up energy from behaving for two days.
I pressed my thighs against the sides of his hips until a low groan reverberated in his throat.
My torso was pegged to his, so I felt it throughout my body.
"Can't wait for tomorrow," he said.
"I can't either."
Then, for some reason, I became a bit jittery.
I wasn't ready for us to talk about this.
I couldn't see what would come out of it.
I mean, we both knew our respective situations.
I was starting my law job in less than two months.
And he was a single dad focused on his son.
That was never going to change, and it didn't have to.
I just couldn't see how I could fit into their lives.
Why, oh why did I want to become a lawyer and be stuck in an office all day, dealing with all those uppity suits? I loved spending time with Jeremy. He was hands down the best kid in the world.
But being a lawyer would allow me to take care of my sister and Mom. That would make it all worth it.
Despite my reservations, I was looking forward to tomorrow because the man was a damn good kisser, and I was dying to have him all to myself again.
I'd seen a different side of him last weekend.
I'd seen Duncan the man, not Duncan the dad.
And while I liked both a lot, I really, really wanted to experience some more of Duncan the man.
He stepped back, helping me down from the kitchen island, just as we heard the bathroom door open.
"You have excellent timing," I said.
I wanted to ask him more about tomorrow, but I didn't get a chance because Jeremy ran toward us wearing nothing at all and saying, "There's a spider on my towel. Hi, Dad."
Then his eyes widened, and he ran back into the bathroom.
I looked at Duncan.
"Okay, what just happened? Why did he run away? Does he have you kill spiders?" he asked me.
"Yeah. I'm the designated insect killer around here."
"Funny, because he tells me that he can do it himself because he's a big boy when it's just the two of us," Duncan said.
I chuckled. "Maybe he wants to impress you. Oh, and he trusts me enough to be vulnerable with me. That's so cute."
Then I said, "Let's go kill that critter before it scares him even more."
I walked in front of Duncan, and he squeezed my ass. I looked at him over my shoulder. "What are you doing?"
"I believe you call this fondling."
"Yeah, it is," I said.
"Then you've got your answer. Fuck, I can't wait to get you alone."
I smiled, focusing on my steps.
"Let's get that spider first."
On Friday, Duncan’s brother Knox arrived earlier than I’d expected, which was fine by me. My plan was to hurry home and change—I wanted to look perfect when Duncan picked me up.
I’d imagined all the brothers to be similar to Duncan, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Knox was laid-back and quick with a joke. I also had a feeling that he knew way more about me than I knew about him.
"So, how do you like working with my brother?" he asked.
"He's a great boss," I said.
"He is, isn't he? Very exacting as well."
"If he wants things done a certain way, that's not bad."
"So, I heard you plan to be a lawyer."
I jerked my head back. "Really? How?"
"From my brother. He likes to talk about you," Knox said.
"Oh, okay."
"Yeah. Especially because he doesn't seem to be aware of it. After our meetings are over, he somehow ends up talking about you.”
My jaw dropped.
He wiggled his eyebrows. "Am I putting you in an awkward position?”
"Yes, a bit."
"Sorry. It's a habit of mine. Actually, it kind of runs in the family. Duncan has better manners than us. The rest of us are a bunch of Neanderthals."
"I see."
This conversation was completely bizarre.
Knox grinned. "I hope I'm not scaring you away."
"No," I said, "I'm just stunned that you’re so… not like Duncan."
"Ha! You can say that twice. No, I am not. Between you and me, I'm so much better."
I laughed. "I'd say it's debatable, but obviously I’m biased."
Knox whistled. "You're a good sport, Riley."
"I appreciate that. So, what exactly are you going to do with Jeremy?"
"I've got a full weekend planned for him, but I'm afraid it'd make no sense to lay it all out. Knowing him, he'll convince me to do something else, like to go on roller coasters again."
I beamed because there was a lot of affection in Knox's voice. I liked that Jeremy was so well-loved by all members of the family.
"What are you still doing here?" Duncan asked, coming out of the elevator.
Knox looked over his shoulder, and his face exploded into a grin.
"I’m waiting for Jeremy to retrieve his favorite toys. And I was getting to know Riley here."
Duncan stopped right next to me. "Don't annoy Riley."
"It's too late, brother," Knox said, folding his arms over his chest. "I already introduced myself as a Neanderthal, and now I have to live up to that intro."
Duncan looked at me. "I'm sorry for whatever he's said."
I laughed. "Nothing too bad. Is it true that you’re the only one with manners in the family?"
Duncan's eyes closed as if he couldn't believe what I just said. "He said what?"
Knox jerked his head back. "No, man. I meant it in a way that sounded boring, but apparently, Riley appreciated it."
Duncan shook his head. "I should have known that you'd bolted from that meeting for a reason."
"Ah, the rest of you had it covered, and besides, when else would I have the opportunity to meet Riley one-on-one?"
Wait, what? He’d left a meeting early to meet me?
"Right. I'll go see if Jeremy needs?—"
I didn't finish the sentence because Jeremy came barreling toward us, holding his favorite bus under one arm and an inflatable bear in the other one.
"I'm ready, Uncle."
"That you are, buddy." Knox looked at the toys but didn't chastise him at all. I liked him even more with every passing second.
I avoided looking at Duncan, feeling more on edge than any other time we'd been together.
"All right, then. Let's go," Knox said. "Duncan, I’d promise you that we'll be good, but you know me. I don't like to lie. I am absolutely incapable of behaving."
Jeremy looked up at him, grinning. Knox was uncle of the year.
"All right, bud. If you want, I can hold one of these." Knox held his hands out toward the toys.
Jeremy took a step back. "No, I want to hold them."
"Then I'll just take the backpack," Knox said, grabbing it and throwing it over his shoulder. It looked comical since it was much too small for him.
After a brief goodbye, they both headed toward the elevator. Just before going out, Knox waved at us. I felt my cheeks go up in flames the second the doors closed.
Duncan and I went back inside the condo and closed the door.
"Riley, is everything okay?" he asked. He swallowed hard, not taking his eyes off me. "Are you changing your mind?"
"About what?
"Our date."
My eyes widened. "No. Why would you think that?"
"Because you seem nervous."
"No, it's just that I was hoping that the first time I’d see you tonight was when you picked me up from home and I’d be wearing a knockout dress."
He smiled before starting to laugh. "Sometimes I forget how adorable you are. You’re gorgeous just as you are."
"We should hurry up. I don't have too much time to get ready."
"Or," he said, coming closer and splaying his hand around the back of my neck, "we can just go directly there."
I gasped. "No way! I mean it. I look terrible."
"You look gorgeous," he said.
"I want to dress up."
He grinned reluctantly, straightening up and lowering his hand. "Right," he said. "Okay, then. Let's go." He pointed toward the door. "After you."
As we headed to the elevator, I realized that Duncan was walking a few feet behind me. "What are you doing?" I asked.
"Keeping my distance. Who knows what will happen otherwise."
Guess where he couldn't keep his distance, though? In the elevator.
I was making a concerted effort to stay away, leaning against one of the walls. It took all I had not to tempt him. What on earth was happening to me? After all, I’d been the one who insisted that I wanted to change, yet now I wanted to entice him.
Good Lord. I was terribly confused about what I really wanted.