Chapter Ten
“I thought we could have a pot roast for dinner,” Riley’s mom said the next morning after he’d told her Letty was coming over after work.
“With potatoes, carrots, and onions basted with the jus. And I’ll whip up some homemade rolls.
As I remember that’s one of Letty’s favorites.
Mercy’s going to pick up a roast,” she said, referring to their longtime housekeeper.
“Homemade rolls? We’ll have to have Letty over more often.” He poured himself another cup of coffee. “That sounds great. I’m not sure what time she’ll get here, though.”
His mom looked out the window. “It’s looking to snow. You should go get Letty. Unless she’s gotten a new car, she shouldn’t be driving this far in the snow. I’m surprised that old thing she has still runs.”
So was he. “I’ll ask her but I’m not sure she’ll go for it.”
“She is an independent girl, isn’t she?”
He nodded agreement. Lorraine made no move to leave. “Is there something else, Mom?”
“I always thought you and Letty belonged together. It took you long enough to figure it out. I always wondered why you kept dating all those other women when the perfect one for you was right in front of your face.”
“Really? You’ve never said anything.”
“Your father made me promise not to. He said nothing good ever came of interfering in a grown man’s love life.”
“Dad said love life?” That didn’t sound like him.
“No, he put it differently but that’s what he meant.”
“He has a good point.”
“I wouldn’t interfere, but I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you how happy it would make me and your father if you finally settled down. And with Letty, who we already love like a daughter, well, that couldn’t be more perfect.”
“Mom, you realize we’ve just started dating, right?” He wasn’t about to tell her Letty only wanted a fling. But he didn’t want her getting her hopes up in case everything went to shit.
“I know. But a mother can hope.”
“As long as a mother doesn’t say anything to scare her off.
Letty’s pretty skittish.” He was still feeling his way around with her.
He wasn’t sure why she was so set on them having a short-term relationship but she seemed adamant about it.
Which meant he had to tread very carefully if he wanted more. Which he did.
He called Letty as soon as his mother left him. “How about I pick you up after work?”
“Why? Then you’ll just have to drive me back. I can drive out there.”
“Not in a snowstorm in your car.”
“I have snow tires.”
“And a car that barely runs. Lorraine wants me to bring you, so you might as well give in.” In her own way his mother was as strong-minded, some would say stubborn, as his father.
“Fine, but I think it’s ridiculous.”
“Tell that to my mother. When do you get off work?”
“Around four.”
“I’ll be there around four thirty.”
“All right. But only because your mom wants you to come get me.”
*
Letty was nervous. She knew it was stupid.
Jasper and Lorraine had been, and honestly still were, her second parents.
After her parents died they’d taken her in and treated her as one of theirs.
They’d loved her, taken care of her, disciplined her when needed.
Jasper in particular had been as strict with her as he was with Val, his own daughter.
But they’d also loved her deeply, been proud of her, and supported her in what she wanted to do.
So why was she nervous?
Because she’d never been dating Riley before. Part of her was afraid they wouldn’t approve, another part was afraid they would approve and would be hurt and upset when things ended with Riley. Because they would end. She couldn’t allow anything else.
“What’s wrong?” Riley asked when he got there.
“Nothing.” Oh, hell. “I’m nervous.”
He looked puzzled. “Why?”
“I just am,” she said, unwilling to explain herself.
“Okay. I think I can take your mind off whatever you’re nervous about.”
“How?”
He smiled, slid his arms around her to her back, and lowered his mouth to hers. She was surprised but almost immediately she relaxed and kissed him back. Her arms locked around his neck and she poured herself into the kiss. All thought of leaving deserted her mind.
The kiss deepened, became hungrier. Her heart rate picked up.
His hands fell to her bottom and pressed her to him.
She felt him, hard and ready, even through their jeans.
One of his hands slid beneath her sweater and cupped her breast. He walked her backwards until the back of her knees bumped the couch.
She fell back and Riley followed her down, settling between her legs, their mouths still fused together.
She wasn’t sure how she’d gone from zero to one hundred in no time at all, but she had.
She wanted him. Wanted his hands on her bare skin, his lips driving her crazy.
She struggled to rise. He stopped, instantly rising up to look at her.
She smiled and unhooked her bra, then pulled her sweater over her head.
He helped her off with her bra and stopped for a moment, staring at her.
Her breasts weren’t huge but they were a nice size and fit her frame.
Riley murmured, “Perfect.” Took one of her nipples in his mouth and sucked on it.
Moving to the other breast, he did the same thing while his hand caressed the nipple he’d just left, tweaking it and rolling it between his fingers at the same time as his mouth created a wonderful suction on her nipple.
“Take your shirt off,” she told him, nearly panting.
Pulling away from her, he began unbuttoning his shirt, but he paused midway. “Shit!”
“What’s wrong?”
“I forgot we’re supposed to go to the ranch.”
“Crap. I forgot too.” She got up to find her bra and sweater. They were thrown on the floor in different directions. She put them back on.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting—but damn, Letty, once I kissed you, I forgot everything else.”
“I know. I did too.” She finished smoothing down her sweater. “I need to make myself look less like we were…um, doing what we were doing.”
His lips lifted in a smile but his eyes were serious. “You look beautiful. I wish we didn’t have to go but my mom is cooking your favorite meal. What she hopes is still your favorite anyway. She won’t be happy if we don’t show up.”
“Of course we need to go. I wouldn’t disappoint your mom.” Damn it.
Finished straightening her clothes, she went to the bathroom to brush her hair and repair her makeup. Not that she wore a lot, but she looked like she’d been thoroughly kissed and what little makeup she wore had disappeared.
*
Riley’s parents had been so happy to see Letty that they acted as if they hadn’t seen her in a year, when he knew for a fact she’d visited them recently.
Just as his mother, at least, saw her at the library from time to time.
But this was different, he supposed. He very rarely brought a woman home to meet his parents.
Actually, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d done so.
That would have been way too much of a commitment for him.
Watching Letty and his mom discuss some of the finer points of cooking pot roast made him wonder what it would be like if she lived here.
With him. The thought made him smile until he remembered that permanent wasn’t on Letty’s list. If things between them worked out in the short term, would he be able to convince her that they had a shot at being together permanently?
Somehow he’d gone from wanting to date Letty and not have an expiration date to wanting her to live with him. And they hadn’t even had sex yet.
Jasper came into the kitchen with his coat on. “I’ll help you with the horses.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Jasper waited until they reached the barn before speaking again. “I know you’re a grown man,” he began. “I have no business telling you what you should and shouldn’t do, but we’re talking about Letty.”
“Who is also grown. Are you planning to ask me my intentions?” He stopped to pet River, a Lab mix he’d found, appropriately, near the river. “Good dog.” River continued to follow him while he did his chores.
They started checking food and water for the horses. Luckily, their teenage helper had mucked out the stalls that afternoon, so that was one chore they could skip. After caring for the horses, Riley fed the dogs. As usual that was a madhouse.
Jasper leaned against the stall door where Riley filled bowls with dog food. “And if I am asking your intentions? What are you planning to do about Letty?”
It wasn’t possible to ask Jasper to mind his own business. More than he did Riley, his father considered Letty very much his business. “You don’t need to worry. I’m serious about her.”
“Does she feel the same?”
“I’m not sure. But I’m hoping to convince her.”
“Well, then. That’s good to know.”
“She’s not in the same place I am. She isn’t interested in getting serious.”
Jasper looked shocked. “Why not?”
“I don’t know. But I intend to find out. In the meantime, I need to be really careful not to spook her.”
“I reckon you know what you’re doing.”
“Reckon I do.” He sure as hell hoped so.
After they finished with the horses they washed up and walked to the house.
Dinner was on the table, and his mom and Letty were waiting for them.
Dinner was nice and relaxing. Thank God, neither of his parents said anything he thought would make Letty think she needed to call this whole thing off before it really started.
Such as mentioning other people’s weddings and engagements, which he’d half expected his mother might do.
Ever since Val had married she’d been anxious for Riley to ‘find a nice woman and settle down.’ He’d been a big disappointment to her so far in that regard.
After dinner they talked for a while before Letty said she needed to get home.
“Why don’t you stay over, honey?” Lorraine asked. “The weather looks like it’s getting worse.”
“I have to work tomorrow so I need to get back. But thank you. And thanks so much for dinner.” She hugged both his parents, and they left.
“Do you really have to work tomorrow?”
“Unfortunately, I do.”
He started the truck and drove down the lane to the highway.
“Can you stay for a while when we get there?”
He reached over and took her hand. “Absolutely.”