Chapter 2 #4
He was in the parking lot when he stopped to ask himself what the hell he was doing rushing to see her the second he heard she was back on the island.
In his father’s car, which bore the citrusy scent of the cologne Kevin had worn for as long as Riley could remember, he sat staring out the windshield for a long time.
Long enough that Finn had time to come after him and tap on the window.
Reluctantly, Riley put it down. “What?”
“Where’re you going?”
“I have an errand to run.”
“Out at the Hopper place, by any chance?”
“Fuck off, Finn, and go back inside, will you please?”
Rather than fuck off, however, his brother leaned against the car, apparently settling in for a chat. “What’re you doing, Ri?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Since when is your life none of my business? We’ve been in each other’s business all our lives.”
Riley couldn’t argue with that. But for some reason that he couldn’t explain to himself, let alone his brother, Riley wanted to keep where he was going and why to himself.
At least until he better understood the immediate need to go to her after hearing she was back.
“Could I just please have a little bit of space? Is that too much to ask?”
“Nope, not too much to ask as long as it’s not the start of a new pattern in which you act like I have no right to know what’s going on with you.”
“It’s not,” Riley said, eager to be on his way.
“Good. I’ll hold you to that.”
“Fine.”
“Fine. Go do your little errand.” Finn pushed himself off the car and headed back inside, his distinctive stride—part strut, part prowl—as familiar to Riley as anything in his life.
Riley started the car and backed it out of the parking space. His heart raced with excitement that he’d never felt before when it came to any woman. Why did he feel that way about one he’d seen exactly twice in his life before she disappeared without a word months ago?
Damned if he knew, but he was drawn to her anyway. He had questions, and he hoped she would have some answers. Maybe after they talked, he’d feel more settled and could put this madness—and the accompanying glum mood—behind him once and for all. That’d be a relief.
He drove toward the island’s north end, where Nikki’s grandmother’s house was located.
The last time he’d been out that way had been in the fall when the trees had been turning and the sky bright with sun.
Tonight, the roads were dark and coated with a thin layer of ice that made for treacherous driving.
He slowed to a crawl. The last freaking thing he needed was to wreck his father’s prized BMW in his haste to see Nikki.
As he took the turn into the Hoppers’ driveway, the car fishtailed, but thankfully, he was able to maintain control.
Riley wondered if the elements were sending him a sign that maybe this trip to the Hopper house in the dark of night wasn’t the best idea he’d ever had.
Recalling how skittish Nikki had been in the bright light of day had him worried that he might scare her by showing up this way.
What if she had a gun in the house? Riley wished he had her phone number so he could call her and tell her it was him, but they hadn’t gotten that far the first time around.
The porch light came on along with security lights that lined the driveway and lit up the yard.
Leaving the car running and the lights on, he got out and held up his hands, just in case she had a gun. “It’s Riley McCarthy,” he called out. “I heard you were back, and I wanted to see you.”
A number of locks disengaged, the door opened, and there she was.
Her big brown eyes were just as he remembered, the most dominant feature in a strikingly pretty face that was on full display.
Her long dark hair was piled on top of her head in one of those messy buns that looked incredibly sexy on some women, including this one.
When it became clear she didn’t have a gun, he put down his arms. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“What’re you doing here?”
Right then, it occurred to him that the odd zing of attraction he’d felt for her had been one-sided—and he’d made a total fool of himself trekking out here in the dark to see her. “I… I’m not entirely sure.”
She seemed as confused as he suddenly felt. “My grandmother told me you finished fixing the roof.”
“Yes, I did.”
“So…”
“I heard your sister was back together with Zane and that you were here. I wondered if…”
“What did you wonder?”
God, he was a total ass on a fool’s errand. Since this couldn’t possibly get any worse, he went with the truth. “I wondered if you might need a friend.”
She was silent for so long, he questioned whether she had heard him. Then she said, “Do you want to come in?”
“I don’t mean to bother you.”
“I was watching TV and eating a frozen pizza. It’s no bother.”
“Let me turn off the car.” He got back in the car and shut off the engine. The lights were automatic and would shut off on their own. Jogging toward her front door, he told himself to calm down and take it easy. Oh, and stop acting like a fool. That would be good, too.