Chapter Twelve
In the morning, Riley called and begged off on getting together that night. He said he had a lot to take care of at the ranch. Letty was disappointed, more than she should have been, but she was aware of how much work went with ranching, so she wasn’t terribly surprised.
She called Cici when she had a break at work. “Hi, Cici. Are you busy?”
“No. I’m staring at the computer trying to figure out my plot. It’s not working. I’ve been at it over two hours, and I’ve managed to write three words.”
“Do you have plans tonight?”
“Logan’s on call, so no, I’m free.”
“Want to meet me for a drink? We could go to the pub at the Graff.”
“As long as we can eat there too.”
“Great. Meet you there about six thirty.”
The mood at the pub was different from that at Grey’s.
The bar at the Graff was Irish-themed with green leather booths and a 400-year-old bar that ran the length of the room.
It was dark and cozy and the food was good, often Irish-themed, but nothing fancy.
The Graff saved the gourmet meals for its classy, elegant dining room.
Letty ran a little late, but she wasn’t worried. Cici was late more often than not. She tended to get caught up in her writing and lose track of time. To her shock, Cici was there before her. She really must be having a hard time with her book.
“Hey, sorry I’m late. Have you ordered anything yet?”
“No, I just got here.”
They ordered drinks and snacks. Wine for both of them, Guinness beer cheese dip with large soft pretzels, and the pub’s special corned beef puffs.
“I take it you didn’t work out your plot problem,” Letty said after their food and drinks arrived.
Cici frowned. “No. Do you mind talking about it?”
“Since when have I ever minded talking about books?”
Cici laughed. “True.” She caught Letty up on the story and then they talked about her problem.
“Thank you so much,” Cici said some time later. “You always give me so much to think about.”
Letty smiled. “That’s my job. I’m just glad I can help. You know I love your books.”
“Thanks. That makes me feel good.”
“What’s up with you? When you called, you sounded like you had something you needed to talk about.”
“I do. It’s Riley.”
“What’s wrong? Is the sex bad?”
Letty laughed. “No. Trust you to think of that first. It’s great.” Amazing. Better than anything she’d experienced. Which was part of the problem.
“Oh, good. Good sex is a requirement for flings. Is it still a fling?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk about. Last night was the first time. It was really hot, really stellar. But later on, when we were talking, Riley said he hadn’t been with anyone in a long time. And when I asked him why he said he was waiting for me.”
“Uh-oh. What did you say?”
“I kind of flipped out. I mean, it’s not like we’ve been together for long. And he knows this is casual. Which I said and it pissed him off. He said it wasn’t a big deal and if I was going to freak out over everything he said, it wasn’t going to work.”
“You’re afraid he wants more than you do.”
She nodded. “I’m almost sure he does.” Almost. He’d indicated he did at first, even though beyond that one comment he hadn’t said anything.
“Do you have feelings for him?”
“Of course I do. I don’t sleep with men I have no feelings for.” Well, unless she was trying to forget, like the night Riley dragged her out of the bar.
“Would it be so bad if you changed your mind?”
Would it? Could she let their relationship develop into more than a fling?
If it did, she’d fall in love with him. Letty was under no illusion about Riley’s appeal to her.
She realized unhappily that while she’d gone on with her life and been perfectly content without Riley, a part of her was still that young girl who’d thought he hung the moon.
Who’d wanted him madly. And now that she’d had him…
he was just as wonderful as she’d always imagined he would be.
He was sweet and thoughtful, and so damned sexy it made her nuts.
“Yes. I’m not ready for a long-term relationship. I don’t know if I ever will be. I tried it once with a guy I should have known wouldn’t work.”
“Sounds like you’re scared.”
“You’re damn right I’m scared. I don’t want to fall in love. Love hurts.” Losing her parents had taught her that when she was seventeen years old. How much worse would it be if she fell for Riley and it didn’t work out? Or worse, if something happened to him?
“What are you going to do?” Cici asked.
“What we agreed on. We’re having a fling and come New Year’s we’ll be done.” Cici looked skeptical, as if she didn’t believe for a minute that Letty meant it, but she didn’t call her on it.
*
Much as he wanted to, Riley couldn’t get away for the next few days.
He talked to Letty on the phone but that wasn’t the same as seeing her.
It didn’t seem to bother her that he couldn’t see her every night.
He wondered if that was because she didn’t want to see him every night and that was part of her insistence that they keep things casual.
Yeah, that already frustrated the hell out of him. But he’d realized from the first that pursuing Letty wouldn’t be easy. Well, he’d sure as shit realized it when she’d put a time limit on their ‘fling.’ A time limit that was rapidly disappearing, damn it.
At any rate, when he finally arranged to have the night free, he called Letty.
“Hey, are you free tonight?”
“I was going to sing Christmas carols with a group of people. Why don’t you come with?”
That wasn’t exactly what he had planned, but if that’s what she wanted he was game. “Sure. What time?”
“Can you get here around six and we’ll have a quick bite to eat and then go?”
“I can do that. See you later.”
After they had a burger at the Main Street Diner, they went to meet people for caroling.
There was quite a group of people waiting there.
Riley remembered going when he was a kid.
His mom had always enjoyed it and had dragged Riley and Val along.
Val wasn’t crazy about it but Riley had always secretly enjoyed it.
Singing Christmas carols made him remember simpler times.
Times when he was too young to have any worries beyond whether his dad would let them buy the new horse he wanted so badly.
It was cold and clear tonight. His breath hung in the air whenever he breathed heavily. The stars were out, and Copper Mountain rose behind the town, its peak covered in snow, bathed in moonlight. A peaceful, beautiful sight, it reminded him of some of the best things about living in Marietta.
Letty was bundled up with a ski jacket, a hat, a muffler, gloves, and boots. He wore a flannel shirt, his shearling jacket, gloves, and his cowboy hat. “Can you move all bundled up like that?” he asked her.
“Are you kidding? I wish I had more clothes on.”
“I’ll warm you up,” he said, wrapping an arm around her. A bit to his surprise she snuggled against him.
They sang a couple of classics as they moved along Main Street. Then they sang ‘O, Holy Night,’ one of his all-time favorites.
As the carol ended, he found Letty staring at him. “What?”
“I had no idea you had such a beautiful voice.”
He frowned. “It’s nothing special. I like to sing though. Usually country western songs.”
“Why did I never know this?”
“It wasn’t something I advertised, especially when I was younger.”
“And now?”
“I sing at church. Sometimes in the barn. And in the shower,” he added with a grin.
Her eyes darkened when he said that and he wanted to drag her off and kiss her senseless. Which he fully intended to do. Later.
Meanwhile they talked to friends and, when the carolers broke up, they went to Grey’s for drinks and pool. Eventually, Riley tugged her aside and asked her, “Are you ready to leave?”
“What’s the rush?”
Was she kidding? “We haven’t been together in days. I can think of more interesting things to do than watch people play pool.”
She gave a slow smile. “I can too.”