CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
R iley stared at her reflection in the mirror. The long pink silk bridesmaids dress was probably the sexiest she’d ever seen. With thin straps, it managed to hug every curve and came complete with a rather revealing slit down the front that was bordering on inappropriate.
A low whistle brought her head up. Wade was standing behind her, looking awfully fine in a black suit.
“Goddamn, you look fucking hot.”
Riley’s gaze sliced to his in the mirror. He was giving her that look again. The one that meant he was about to either order her to drop to her knees or take her clothes off. She loved that look.
Spinning around, she took her time perusing him. Trying to work out how late they’d be if she surrendered to the heat in Wade’s eyes.
“We don’t have time.” She smiled.
As much as she wanted him, she wasn’t about to let her friend down. She may be new to having friends, but even she knew being late to a wedding is rude. And being late when you’re in the wedding party is unforgivable.
“I can be quick.” He winked.
That was a lie. “You can’t and you know it.”
His hand went to hers as he hauled her into him. “Okay, petal. You win. The dress will stay intact until we’re home. Then...all bets are off.”
She resisted the urge to kiss him, knowing full well that would be too much of a test to her willpower. How she got like this she still didn’t know. She was pretty sure Wade had turned her into a sex-crazed beast. It was as if she couldn’t get enough of him.
“Come on,” she tugged at his hand, “let’s go.”
During the drive over to the church, her mom called again.
Riley didn’t answer. Her mother’s calls had gone from twice a day to all day ever since she’d found out about Wade.
Naively, she thought they’d eventually calm down.
But two months and two weeks of having a boyfriend and her parents were still freaked out.
“You’re not gonna get that?” Wade took his eyes off the road for a second to throw a concerned frown her way.
“It’s my mom again.” Riley sighed. “I told her I’d be busy all day with the wedding, so I don’t know why she’s calling.”
“Maybe we should pay them another visit next week?”
Riley grimaced. Since the introduction from hell, they’d had two more painful lunches with her parents.
The first to celebrate her new job, where she spent most of the time trying to convince them she was up to the task of being a chef at the Evans ranch.
The second was two weeks ago. Again, it went downhill quickly when her father began inquiring about the turnover of the ranch.
He then deemed it appropriate to start listing all the local ranches that had recently gone bankrupt.
“You really want to brave Silver Valley again? I think I’ve still got heartburn from our last visit.”
Wade’s dimples were paired with a short, sharp laugh. “Trust me, I’m not in a hurry to go over my latest bank statements...but they’re your parents. They’re important to you, which makes them important to me.”
Riley didn’t reply. She simply stared. He was perfect.
Sweet. Kind. Funny. Not to mention the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.
But beyond all that, he made her comfortable enough to just be.
He didn’t care that she had a habit of blurting out whatever came into her head.
Or get annoyed when she didn’t understand a joke and she asked him to explain. Which happened a lot.
“Why are you looking at me like that, petal?” He side-eyed her just as he pulled up into a parking space.
“I love you.” She was unusually calm as she declared her love. Maybe because she’d waited so long to say it, she’d already come to terms with the fact it was likely too soon for Wade to feel the same. But that didn’t matter. She just wanted him to know.
“What did you say?” His gaze swung to her, an unreadable expression hardening his face.
“I love you,” she repeated, swallowing down the sudden lump in her throat.
His eyes lit. Blue fire hot enough to melt the snow covered parking lot. “You love me?” he asked again. Making her question if she’d even said the words out loud.
This time, she decided to nod in reply. Her heart hammering against pink silk as she tried her best to search him for clues.
In true Wade fashion, his reply came in the form of his mouth slamming down onto hers. He treated her to one of the claiming kisses she loved so much. Pure possession sending tingles all the way down to the tips of her toes.
The intensity didn’t subside as he released her, he stayed close enough for his stubble to graze against her jaw.
“I love you too, Riley.”
All the air in her lungs whooshed right on out of her.
He loves me?
She was in an alternate universe. No. She was dreaming. That was it. Any minute now, her high school math teacher was going to turn up with a surprise pop quiz she’d not studied for.
“Riley?” Wade brushed his lips against hers. “Did you hear me, baby?”
Don’t worry, Mr Thomson’s on his way and he’s going to want you to factor quadratic equations.
“I love you,” he murmured. “Being with you feels like home.”
Mr Thompson wasn’t coming. There was no pop quiz. The sexy cowboy making her lips wet was in love with her. And there was a strong possibility she was having a heart attack.
One problem at a time, Riley.
***
H unter and Rachel’s church ceremony was traditional, elegant, and understated. The reception, however, was the complete opposite. An explosion of pink covered the insides of the town hall. With neon signs fighting for space along the walls and fuchsia tulips decorating pink linen tablecloths.
“Jesus Christ,” Matt said as he took in the cotton candy dreamscape. “You think they got a bulk discount if they ordered everything in the shop that’s pink?”
“It’s like someone tipped over a truckload of Pepto-Bismol.” Benny was next to take in the room.
“I think it’s amazing,” Riley announced. “It’s like Barbie’s dream house.”
“Yeah, on steroids.” Benny’s eyes were still wide as they swept around the room.
Riley smiled at Hunter and Rachel. They hadn’t made an entrance to some cheesy song, instead, they’d arrived with their friends and were already on the dance floor swaying.
“It’s romantic,” she uttered. “Hunter would paint the whole of Woodvalley pink if it made his wife happy.”
“You’re right about that, petal.” Wade’s arms circled her waist. “What color shall I paint it for you?” A lingering kiss was planted in her hair.
“Excuse me while I throw up.” Matt groaned. “I need a drink.” He was halfway to the bar seconds later. Benny hot on his heels.
She twisted in his hold, her arms going around his neck as she looked into bright blue. “Hmmm, maybe a deep purple?”
Wade’s head dipped until his nose lightly nudged hers. “Done, baby.”
They stayed like that for a while, breathing each other in until his woodsy scent surrounded her, every inhale more intoxicating than the last.
It was only when her hip began vibrating that the spell was broken. She didn’t need to even check her phone to know it was her mother again.
“You should take it,” Wade muttered.
Urgh.
Pulling the phone out of her purse, she pouted as she answered. “Hi, Mom.”
“I’ve been trying to call you.” Her mother huffed.
“I’m at the wedding I told you about, remember? I’m a bridesmaid.”
The line went quiet. Riley tapped her foot impatiently while waiting, avoiding Wade’s gaze that she already knew was on her.
“Right. Well, your father and I need to speak with you, are you able to drive down tomorrow?”
She could. She didn’t want to. But she could. They’d taken the weekend off for the wedding which meant she wasn’t working.
“Let me just ask Wade—” she was about to turn and do just that until her mother’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
“No. Just you, Riley. Your father and I would like to talk to you privately.”
What the hell?
“Okay,” she easily agreed. If she didn’t, who knew how long she’d be on the phone for. “I’ve got to go Mom; I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She wasted no time telling Wade about her parent’s request as she slipped the phone back into her bag.
“Is that okay?” she cautiously asked.
“Darlin’, you don’t need my permission.” That was true. But she’d been looking forward to spending the whole weekend with him without work interrupting their quality time. “ Are you okay with going up there?”
No. “It’s not my first choice on how I’d like to spend my Sunday.” She shrugged. “But maybe they’ll ease off with the phone calls if I spend some time with them.”
She very much doubted that would be the case, but a girl can dream.
***
R iley couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
When she’d arrived at her parent’s house thirty minutes ago, she was expecting maybe a lecture on their favorite topic; personal safety.
Or perhaps she’d be quizzed on her car maintenance.
There was even a chance that they’d give her a belated birds and the bees talk now that she was in a relationship. But this. She wasn’t prepared for this.
“Did you hear me?” Her mother’s voice echoed in her ears.
How could she be sick? Her mom was the healthiest person she knew. She ate well, walked ten thousand steps a day, rarely even got a cold.
“What do they think it is?” Riley asked, hugging her glass of juice tight.
“They’re still doing tests.”
“So, it could be nothing?” Her voice caught.
Her mother’s eyes went to her father’s and then back to Riley. A silent exchange. Of what, she had no idea.
“Let’s wait and see.” Was all she said.
Her mother was unusually calm. So was her dad. The only one freaking out was her.
“When’s your next appointment, I’ll come with you?”
“Well, that’s actually what we wanted to talk to you about.
” Riley’s stomach flipped. “While I’m going back and forth to the hospital, we could use some help around the house.
I won’t be able to do all the things I normally do.
So, we were wondering if you could take some time off, maybe come back home for a bit until we know more about what’s happening? ”
Take time off? Move back home? Just the idea made her want to run out of the room screaming. She finally had a life. Friends. A dream job. And a man she loved. The last thing she wanted to do was leave that all behind. She wasn’t ready to give it all up.
When she didn’t reply, her mother continued. “Maybe you can talk to that boyfriend of yours, work something out. It’ll just be for a few months. And we wouldn’t ask unless we had no other choice, you know that don’t you, Riley?”
No other choice.
Guilt made her stomach churn. Other than her dad’s brother, there was no other family nearby. She was all they had.
“I’ll speak to Wade,” she reiterated what her mother said. “The restaurant is meant to be opening in the new year, after Christmas, this month I’m supposed to be training the staff.”
It was already December. A month away from opening. She didn’t think her parents realized what a big deal this job was and how much responsibility she’d been entrusted with. She couldn’t just pick up and leave. People were counting on her.
“Like I said, dear, we wouldn’t ask unless we had to.
” Her mom rubbed at her eyes, there was also a loud sniff and a stern head shake.
Riley watched on not knowing what to make of it.
She wouldn’t necessarily say the woman was cold, but she definitely wasn’t into showing much emotion.
Stoic. That was a good word. She was stoic.
“This is hard for me and your father, Riley. We’ve never once asked you for anything.
We’ve never asked you to contribute to the household financially or otherwise.
But now we need you. And selfishly, I want to spend as much time as I can with you. ..in case...in case the worst happens.”
Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe. In case the worst happens. It felt like her mother had just plunged a knife into her heart. And then twisted it for good measure.
I need to talk to Wade.