Epilogue
With almost everyone staying at the hotel that night, it wasn’t easy to sneak out, but once his father and Chelsea left at eleven, Riley decided to make his move.
He’d quit drinking hours ago so he could drive them home.
He and Nikki donned coats, said their goodbyes and headed out into icy, windy darkness.
Riley bundled her into his truck and ran around to the driver’s side. “I still can’t believe you’re back in my truck where you belong. I’m not going to wake up and realize I dreamed this, am I?”
“I’m really here, and I’m staying this time. I talked to Mac about the job, and he said it’s mine if I want it.”
“And do you?”
“I really do. I’d love to be part of getting the Wayfarer back up and running again.”
He cranked the heat and reached for her, crushing his mouth to hers. Kissing her felt as natural to him as breathing. He couldn’t get enough. “We’re going to spend the rest of the weekend in bed. Just so you know.”
“Thanks for the warning, but that works for me.”
Riley forced himself to let her go, to focus on driving when all he wanted was more of her. Once they were on their way to Eastward Look, he reached for her hand, loving the way her fingers wrapped around his. “I was going to come get you tomorrow.”
“Were you?”
“Yep. Ask my dad. I told him that earlier.”
She squeezed his hand. “I believe you, and I would’ve been really glad to see you.”
By the time they pulled into the driveway at Eastward Look, the sexual tension in the car was so thick, it threatened to consume him. He wondered if she had any idea how completely she owned him or how desperately he wanted her.
He released her hand so they could get out of the truck and then put his arm around her so she wouldn’t trip in those crazy-ass heels. When she teetered precariously, he scooped her up and carried her the rest of the way.
Her laughter echoed through the vast yard and filled him with joy. There was simply no other word to describe it.
“Get the doors,” he said.
She punched in the code, and when they were inside, he put her down only long enough to remove their coats before picking her up again.
“Riley! I can walk.”
“But this is so much better. Hold on to me.” He could tell he surprised her when he walked toward the kitchen rather than heading straight upstairs. “Get the light.”
She flipped the switch and gasped at the sight of the new white cabinets, half-finished subway tile backsplash and silvery-white quartz countertop, with one piece still waiting to be installed by her. “Riley… Oh my God! You did all this?”
“With a little help from Finn. Are you happy with it?”
“I’m thrilled! I can’t believe you did this.”
“I hoped you wouldn’t mind if I kept going. I didn’t know how long you’d be gone.”
“Of course I don’t mind. But I still want you to show me how to do it all.”
“I left most of the tile and finish work for you to do. I’ll teach you anything you want to know, but not tonight.”
“Why?” she asked, the picture of innocence. “Is there something else you’d rather do tonight?”
Nodding, he kissed her as he carried her upstairs, breaking the kiss only to put her down next to the bed.
She slid her hands into his suit coat and wrapped her arms around his waist. “In case I forgot to mention it, the suit is hot as hell.”
“It’s nowhere near as hot as those heels are.”
“You like them?”
“Whimper.” He kissed her again, giving her deep thrusts of his tongue that she answered enthusiastically. They began pulling at clothing, laughing when her dress got stuck halfway off before clearing her head.
While she frantically freed buttons on his shirt, Riley feasted his eyes on the sight of sexy, lacy black underwear.
“Focus, Riley. The goal is naked here.”
“I’m focused.” He nuzzled the tops of her breasts, which spilled out of the cups of her bra. “I’m very, very focused.”
Giggling, she tugged on his belt and nearly unmanned him in her efforts to get him out of his pants.
“Go easy down there, tiger, or this’ll be over before it starts.”
“Then help me!”
“Gladly.” He whipped off his pants and boxer briefs and followed her into bed, coming down on top of her lush softness and breathing in the intoxicating scent of her. “I’ll remember three very distinct things about my father’s wedding,” he said as he kissed her neck.
“What three things?”
“One, that he and Chelsea are truly happy.”
“Agreed.”
“Two, that you came back to me.”
“I couldn’t stay away another minute. Missing you was killing me.”
“Same. You’ve got me completely addicted to you.”
With her hands on his face, she said, “What’s the third thing you’ll remember?”
“That the day my dad got married was the same day I knew for certain that I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Riley,” she whispered.
“It might be too much, too soon, but all you had to do was walk into the room to make everything that was wrong right again.”
“It’s not too soon. I want the same thing you do. I want you and a life with you.”
“Here on Gansett Island?”
She nodded. “This is our home. Gansett Island and Eastward Look are home.”
“Gansett, Eastward Look and you are home. Home is nothing without you, sweetheart.”
Nikki wrapped her arms around his neck and gasped as he entered her in one smooth thrust. “Yes, Riley. God, yes. I missed you so much.”
“Missed you, too. But now you’re back, and I’m never letting you go again.”
“That’s more than fine with me.”
Thank you for reading Mine After Dark! Turn the page to read Yours After Dark, Finn and Chloe’s story.