Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
T his couldn’t actually be happening. Surely Riley wasn’t in Antony’s arms, her hands in his hair, and his mouth on hers. There was no way it was real. She’d been having dreams of this ever since he left, but each and every time, she’d woken up, disappointment sitting bitter on her tongue.
“Tell me you’re real,” she whispered against his lips. “Tell me I’m not hallucinating.”
Antony chuckled, the sound deep and soothing. “No, sweetheart.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “You’re definitely not dreaming.” His lips found their way from her mouth to her jawline, then under her ear. “And I’m not dreaming,” he whispered against her skin.
Riley sighed and fairly melted into his chest. That tiny flame of hope that had refused to die was suddenly burning in her chest, and the heat was sharp and welcome, bringing life back to her heart which had been numb for too long.
The tears, the smile, the laughter…it was all real. Riley had forgotten what it felt like to be alive. And now on a late Christmas Eve night, she’d been brought a miracle .
Her hold around his neck tightened.
A miracle.
She hadn’t dared to voice the word out loud, but now it was the only coherent thought in her brain.
Antony pulled back, studying her face while they both caught their breath. Finally, his serious face broke into a soft smile. “You have to be starving,” he murmured, running his fingers through her hair again. “You’ve been working all day, and now all the food my family made is getting cold.”
Riley closed her eyes and shook her head. “I completely forgot about it.” Her attention had been on anything but food, but as a thought occurred, she gasped. “Aspen. Your mom! They all…” Riley bit her lip and glanced toward the door. “They’re all a bunch of sneaks. That’s what they are.”
Antony laughed and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping both arms around her. “They’re nosy for sure,” he agreed. “But this has been so long in the making that I can’t really blame them.”
Riley relaxed and rested her head on his shoulder. “I think I could stay here forever,” she murmured sleepily.
“In that case.” Antony cleared his throat. “Why don’t you go grab that gift over there?”
Riley frowned and sat up straight, following his finger across the room to the small Christmas tree. Sure enough, there was a bright red package under the branches. “You want me to get up?” she asked. “And you brought me a present?”
“I mean, I could get it,” Antony drawled. “But seeing as you’re on top of me, you’d still have to move, so we might as well make this as efficient as possible.”
Pouting to hide her excitement, Riley stood and walked over, grabbed the box and came back, but didn’t sit down. “I was comfortable, you know.”
“I know,” Antony agreed with a slow nod.
“I thought you wanted to hold me.”
“I do. ”
“But you kicked me off.” Riley had to work to keep from laughing as Antony grimaced. She really was quite touched that he’d brought her a gift, but leaving his arms had been terrible. She wanted nothing more than to sit back down, but not before she teased him a bit.
“Riley Roo,” he said in a low, seductive tone. “Won’t you please come back and sit with me?”
Yes, yes, yes! She absolutely wanted to do that, just so he could whisper in her ear with that voice! Ugh! Why did everything about him draw her in?
“I really wish you’d stop calling me that.” She raised an eyebrow. “I’m not a child any more.”
“No, you’re absolutely not,” Antony agreed. “Which is why you’re going to come over here and sit back down.” He patted his knee.
Riley rolled her eyes, but the temptation was too much and she finished walking over, laughing when he grabbed her hand and pulled her down.
“For someone who said they could stay here forever, you certainly took your time coming back,” he murmured against her neck.
“Yeah, well…you made me move when I didn’t want to.” Riley handed him the gift. “So, what’s this?”
“Curious?” Antony grinned and tapped the box against her leg. “Maybe I should make you wait.”
“I think you already did that,” Riley whispered, her voice growing more serious.
Antony closed his eyes. “You’re right, I did.”
“Sorry,” Riley quickly responded. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, you’re right.” Antony took a deep breath. “In my defense, I wasn’t ready.”
“I know.” Riley ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t blame you for that. I’m just glad you came back.” She pinched her lips between her teeth. “When I heard you were coming home and I still hadn’t heard from you, I was positive that I didn’t stand a chance. In fact, I’ve been job searching in California and Washington.” She kissed his scarred temple. “I couldn’t stand the thought of living here and watching you fall for someone else.”
Groaning, Antony dropped the gift on the couch and pulled her in tight. His face was buried in her neck, and he held her close for several long minutes.
This was exactly what Riley had been missing. With Antony gone, and his anger creating a wedge between them, she’d felt lost and adrift. Nothing mattered or made sense any more, but now he was here. He’d explained and apologized, and the strength of his arms seemed to cure all her aches and pains that had appeared during their time apart.
“I’m so sorry,” Antony whispered huskily. “I was so lost, Ri.”
“I know,” she whispered back. “I know. But it’s alright. You’re here. You’re feeling better. That’s all that matters.”
Clearing his throat, Antony pulled back. He picked the gift back up. “You need to know before you open this, that I’ve still got a long road ahead.” His head was down, as if he was afraid to look her in the eye. “I feel a lot better, but there’s still work to be done.”
She put a hand to his cheek and gently brought him around. “All of us are a work in progress.”
He smiled. “I know. But I’m more than most.” Taking a deep breath, he left the present in her hands. “Go on. Open it.”
Riley’s brows pulled together, but she pulled her arm from around his neck and tugged at the bow. “Did you wrap this?” she asked with a grin.
Antony snorted. “Uh, no. Do you really think these thumbs can make a bow that perfect?”
“I’m guessing, Estelle.”
“And you’d be right.” Antony leaned over, kissing her jawline. “You know my family well.”
Riley didn’t even care about the blush that raced up her neck and into her face. If he kept handing her compliments like that, she truly wasn’t going to ever leave his lap.
She was going frustratingly slow. Antony’s heart was about to hammer through his chest, and Riley was carefully unwrapping each corner of the box. Where was the enthusiasm of a five-year-old-boy when he needed it?
“You aren’t seriously going to not tear the paper are you?” he croaked.
“You never know when it’ll come in handy,” she said, her nose in the air.
“Give me that,” Antony growled, but Riley pulled it out of his reach with a laugh.
“Okay, okay,” she conceded. “I’ll open it.” Winking, she tore off the paper and lifted the lid. For a second, she simply studied what was inside, then her eyes widened. “Are you serious?” she gasped. Picking up the t-shirt, she held it up in front of them. “Harrison Racing Team.” Her smile was bright enough to light the room. “You’re really doing it?” she squealed. “You’re actually going to keep racing?”
Antony shrugged one shoulder, trying to look nonchalant, but he still felt slightly nauseous. “I like being active, and my trainer, Luca, he said I’ve got some raw skill that can probably do well.”
Riley squealed again, kicking her legs slightly and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Antony laughed when she began kissing him all over.
“You’re amazing,” she said between kisses. “I’m so happy for you.”
“As much as I hate to break this up,” Antony said, grabbing her arms and stopping her movements. “There’s a condition.”
Riley leaned back and blinked several times. “Condition?”
He tipped his head pointedly toward the box.
Riley looked down and her eyes grew wide as dinner plates before she gasped.
Reaching into the bottom of the box, Antony pulled out the velvet square and opened it up. “You can’t be part of the Harrison Racing Team, unless you’re a Harrison,” he said, his voice cracking.
Riley burst into tears, and panic slapped Antony in the face, causing him to begin to ramble.
“Riley, I love you so much,” he said, hoping she could hear him through her tears. “You’re beautiful, amazing, optimistic, and my favorite person in the whole world.” Reaching up, he wiped the tears from one cheek with his thumb. “You also gave me the greatest gift I’ve ever received.” He leaned in a little. “The first great gift was your love, which you so willingly shared when I wasn’t able to return it. And secondly, you were brave enough to send me away, which gave me a new life.” His voice was growing softer and more gravelly. Who knew that talking about something like this would wreak such havoc with his emotions?
He was supposed to propose. She was supposed to say yes, end of story. What was with the tears and the thumping heart and the thickness in his throat?
He tried clearing it, but the stupid block wouldn’t move. “I don’t have much to give in return,” he continued. “But I have my love for you and my determination to make a life worth living.” He debated for a second but figured a little more incentive wouldn’t hurt. “I want you to know that I’ve applied for a job,” he said. “I’m not asking you to take me on faith. I’ve decided I’d like to teach P.E. in schools.”
Riley looked up, and her eyebrows shot up her forehead. “P.E.?” she asked.
Antony nodded. “I know it’s not the most lucrative career, but it’s what I enjoy. I don’t think I can take something on that doesn’t allow me to move.”
Riley shook her head, and Antony’s heart fell. Was she turning him down? Was the job not enough?
“You don’t need to explain your choice,” she rasped. “I think the fact that you’re applying for a job at all is so amazing.” She smiled even as tears fell. “Plus the racing on the side?” She slowly moved her head back and forth. “I couldn’t be more proud of you, Antony Harrison.” She leaned in and brushed his nose. “And to support your venture as your wife? It would absolutely be a dream come true.”
“Is that a yes?” he croaked.
“Yes,” Riley stated. “Yes, yes, yes…absolutely yes. I’ll say it as many times as you need to hear it. Yes!”
“That’s good enough for me,” Antony responded quickly, using his free hand to pull her mouth back to his.
He didn’t need to hear more. All he needed was her, and now he had her. And he had her for life. Of all the plans he’d made while at the facility, of everything he’d dreamed since coming out of his deep funk, having Riley at his side was the most important one.
He had her now and forever, which made anything else irrelevant. The teaching gig might fall through, and he might be terrible in the racing circuit, but no matter what, Riley would be there and that would be the greatest gift of all.
A scratching at the door brought the two out of their bubble, and Antony groaned. “They didn’t.”
“They?” Riley stood and straightened her hair. “You know who it is?”
Antony waved an arm toward the door. “Go ahead. But I claim all day tomorrow. I’ll stay with you at the shelter if I have to, but you’re mine, got it?”
She flushed, and he almost pulled her back into his lap. “I think I can handle that,” she said with a shy smile. Giving herself a shake, she walked over and opened the door. “Griffin!” Riley dropped to the ground, and the dog practically leapt into her lap.
“Surprise!”
Riley looked up and shook her head. “I thought you all left?”
Aspen made her way around the happy dog and human reunion. “Most of us stayed. Estelle and Crew went to grab Griff.” Aspen looked at Antony. “Nice, by the way. I didn’t know you had that many pretty words inside you.”
“You heard it all?” Riley gasped.
Antony glared at his sister, but everyone else laughed. “Thanks, Aspen,” he said sarcastically. “I’ll be sure to be listening in the corner of your next private moment as well.”
Aspen shrugged and brought Baby Tony over to drop on Antony’s lap. “I’d say sorry, but…”
“She’s not sorry,” Austin offered from across the room. He stood with his arms folded and shoulder leaning against the wall. “Basically, your sister is just a nosy?—”
“Stop right there, Eat It Austin,” Aspen warned, using her husband’s old business name. “Somehow I doubt Antony has a second bed for you to sleep on tonight.”
Austin was still grinning as he pretended to zip his lips.
“I’m so happy for you,” Antony’s mom said, coming across the room to hug him.
Antony chuckled. “Thanks, Mom.”
She wiped her eyes. “As soon as you’re done hugging Griffin, I want a hug, Riley.”
Riley stood and wiped at her pants. “You can have one now.” She gave one last scratch to Griffin’s ears, then headed toward Antony’s mom, wrapping her up tightly. “I guess all those years I called you Mama Harrison are paying off, huh?”
Antony grinned.
“I’m so proud of you.” Estelle hugged Antony from behind the sofa, and he reached back, awkwardly patting her back.
“Thanks.”
Teary eyed, she sat on the back, staring down at him. “It’s good to see you happy.”
“It’s good to be happy,” he responded with a huff. His face fell. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.”
Estelle shook her head. “No. Don’t be sorry.” She looked at the group of people hugging in the middle of the sitting room, then back down at Antony. “Your journey was your own. I’m just glad that getting you back also brought Riley along.” Estelle’s smile widened. “She’s always been a gem. ”
Antony nodded. “That she has.” He watched his fiancee interact with his family.
“The food!” Aspen slapped her forehead. “There’s no way we’re letting that go to waste,” she announced. “Do you have any idea how long I worked on that cake recipe?”
Quickly, the group filed into the other room, until just Riley was left with Antony on the couch.
“Guess it’s time for dinner,” she said, coming over and offering him a hand.
Antony took it but pulled her down instead of rising. “Hang dinner,” he said, stealing a kiss as fast as he could. They could be interrupted at any time, and he was going to fight it as long as possible. “Every Harrison get together revolves around food,” he whispered. “But this time, I don’t care.” He kissed her eyelids, then her mouth once more. “Besides…” Another kiss. “You taste far better than Aspen’s cake.”
Riley laughed softly. “Don’t let her hear you say that. She’ll never forget it.”
“Too late,” Aspen drawled from the doorway.
Riley squeaked and buried her face in Antony’s neck, while he gave his sister a look.
Shrugging, Aspen tilted her head toward the kitchen. “If you ever decide to come up for air, you know where to find us.”
With that, she left, and Antony put his attention back where it belonged, on the best Christmas gift he’d ever received. Riley Harrison had a nice ring to it. While they enjoyed each other’s company, he made a vow that their engagement would be short.
Very. Very. Short.