Chapter Two #2
That was when he’d realized Letty had been on his mind more and more often.
He’d seen Letty a good bit since Liam and Val got married a little over a year ago now.
Even more once they had the baby. Last night had been the culmination of months of wanting her and trying his best to put her out of his mind.
When he’d finally broken and kissed her, he’d had to admit that Letty was the one he wanted.
That he’d wanted her for a long time and his feelings were not going away.
But he wasn’t at all sure how Letty felt.
Actually, he was. She was mad as hell at him.
*
Letty was working in the library when one of the regulars, Bonnie Driver, came in.
Bonnie was at least eighty and came to the library several times a week.
She was a spinster who fascinated Letty because she always seemed perfectly happy alone.
She had friends, a lot of them, she thought, but no children or other family that Letty knew of.
Bonnie was chatty today. More so than usual. “I swear, that man is enough to drive me to drink.”
“What man is that, Bonnie?”
“Norm Ashcroft,” she said with disgust. “He moved into my complex recently. Do you know he saw me with Jane Eyre and said it’s one of the worst books he’s ever read?”
Fiercely autonomous and sharp as could be, Bonnie lived in an independent living apartment complex. “Oh, no.” Since Bonnie adored the book, those were fighting words. “Is that all he said?”
“No, we talked about the book, but he never admitted I was right. So I need a book that he won’t say rude things about. We agreed to each choose one to read and discuss it. I get to pick the first one.”
“Does it have to be a classic?”
“No. We said any genre.” She tapped her lips. “What about a thriller? I know your friend Cici writes them. I haven’t read any of them yet, but I always like a good thriller.”
“I think we have two of the same one. Her first one, actually. One is in paperback and one is hardcover if you want to give him one. That way he can’t say he couldn’t find it.
” She didn’t know about Norm, but Bonnie didn’t go for ebooks.
She said she liked holding a real book in her hands.
Letty had tried to interest her in ebooks, but she couldn’t convert Bonnie.
“I like the way you think, girl.”
After Bonnie left, Val McFarland came in. “I have a favor to ask you,” her best friend said.
“Sure. What?”
“Would you make your apple pie for Thanksgiving dinner?”
Val and Liam were having both families and several friends to Thanksgiving at the McFarland ranch. “Of course. How many people—Never mind. I’d better make two.”
“Great. You know that’s one of my family’s favorites. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen my dad and Riley fight over the last piece.”
Riley. She wished Val hadn’t brought him up.
She’d awakened this morning after a sexy dream he’d played a big part in.
Good God, she hadn’t dreamed about Riley in years.
It was all his fault for kissing her. Letty hadn’t figured out what was going on with him.
Why, after all these years, had he kissed her?
Sure, she’d practically dared him, but he could have blown her off.
He’d never acted interested in her before. Not in that way.
She didn’t believe he was interested in her now. Letty was short and curvy with short, dark brown hair cut in a messy pixie. Not Riley’s type at all. And she’d gotten over him long ago. No way would she tie herself up in knots over that cowboy.
Cowboys. She’d been involved with one once, until she discovered he’d cheated.
He hadn’t broken her heart but only because she didn’t have a heart to lose.
But she was long over him and hadn’t dated a cowboy since.
She didn’t intend to start again with Riley Fletcher.
Not that he’d asked. No, he’d only kissed her.
And implied that he’d sleep with her if she wanted.
She still wanted to strangle him for that.
“Letty, is something wrong?”
“No, why?”
“You just suddenly fell silent. If you don’t want to make pies, that’s fine.”
“Of course I’ll make pies. So, is Riley planning to be there?”
Val gave her a confused look. “Why wouldn’t he be? He’s my brother.”
“I don’t know. I thought he might be going to a girlfriend’s place.”
Val laughed. “Girlfriend? Riley doesn’t do girlfriends. He goes out with the occasional woman, but he hasn’t had an actual girlfriend in years. You should know that, seeing as how you’ve known him forever.”
Letty shrugged. “I thought he might have changed. Maybe he met someone who made him feel differently.”
“If he has, he hasn’t told me.” Frowning, she searched Letty’s face. “Tell me you haven’t fallen for him again.”
As her best friend, Val naturally knew all about Letty’s crush on Riley when she was younger. “Give me a break. I was eighteen.” But she had to admit he was every bit as gorgeous and hot as he’d been when he was in his twenties. Damn it.
“I’d like nothing better than for my best friend and my brother to get together. But I don’t want either of you to get hurt.”
“Set your mind at rest. Riley and I are not happening.”
“Actually, the more I think about it the more I think you two would make a good couple.”
“Bad idea, Val.”
“Why?”
“First of all, what would happen if we got together and had a bad breakup? Can you imagine holidays? Talk about awkward.”
“What if you didn’t break up? You might discover that you’re perfect for each other.” Val turned around and looked at the library entrance. “Speak of the devil.”
Riley had that cowboy swagger down pat. She wished it made him look obnoxious instead of hot. What was wrong with her? She hadn’t thought about Riley this way in years. One kiss and she was mooning over him like some pathetic loser?
Oh, hell no.