––––––––
Riley drove his truck up to the front of the huge white house and parked. Despite the heat of the day, people sat on the porch steps and in the rocking chairs lining the porch. Putting his fingers to his hat in greeting, he strolled through the entrance. A very attractive woman with different shades of blonde hair stood at the counter, smiling at him. Grinning, he strolled toward the counter.
“Hi. I’m looking for Trisha.” Riley smiled.
“I’m Trisha. You must be Riley. Becca told me to expect you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Please, call me Trisha. The cabin is clean and ready for you.” She handed him a key. “It’s number twelve. I think you’ll like it. It’s the only one that sits back alone on the wooded side of the property.” She smiled at him.
Riley grinned back. She was beautiful and he was about to ask her if she’d like to help him find it but then he glanced down, and noticed the huge diamond ring sitting next to a wedding band on her left ring finger. Riley frowned. It figured. Turning to head out, he stopped when he heard his name called. He turned to see Kelsey Wolfe entering the foyer from the hallway. When they met in the middle of the lobby, he gave her a hug.
“What are you doing here, Kelsey?”
“I was heading home and decided to stop in to see Evelyn. What brings you to the B and B?” Kelsey was a beautiful blonde married to one of his best friends, Ryder Wolfe, and the only reason he’d come to town the year before.
“Becca has a cabin I can stay in. How does Ryder like married life?”
Nodding toward the door, Kelsey laughed. “You can ask him yourself.”
Turning to face the doorway, he grinned. The big man coming through the door saw him and laughed. They shook hands and patted each other on the shoulder, as men tend to do when they greet good friends.
“Damn, it’s good to see you again, Riley.”
“Same here, Ryder.” Riley grinned, pleased to see his old friend. Ryder Wolfe owned a lucrative ranch, breeding, and selling registered Paint horses.
“I brought a horse over for trail rides. I didn’t even know Kelsey was here.” Ryder smiled at his wife.
“You know you lucked out with this one, don’t you?” Riley remarked as he turned toward Kelsey. “It’s really good to see you again, Kelsey.”
He and his friends had always competed for the same girls—with Sam, Trick, or Wyatt winning most of the time. Ryder put his hand out for Kelsey. She walked to him and put her arm around his waist.
Riley narrowed his eyes at him but looked at Kelsey, and put his hand out to her. When she placed her hand in his, he kissed the back of it just as he had with Becca. He noticed Kelsey blushing. He chuckled when he heard Ryder muttering under his breath.
“It’s good to see you again too, Riley.” Kelsey laughed.
“Get away from my wife, Madison,” Ryder growled.
“This isn’t going to be a pissing contest, is it?” Kelsey asked them, placing her hands on her hips.
Both men burst out laughing. “I like her,” Riley said giving a nod to Ryder.
“I do too,” Ryder said as he hugged Kelsey.
Riley shook his head feeling somewhat envious of his friends and their happiness. “I saw Sam earlier and he told me he’s the only single one left in the group, besides me that is.”
Kelsey laughed. “Yes, I guess that’s so, and all the single women in town are after our sexy sheriff.” She smiled. “And even some who aren’t single.”
“Sexy sheriff? Sam?” Ryder gave her a mock glare.
Kelsey giggled. “Sam’s downright gorgeous but don’t worry, hon. I won’t run off with him...” She grinned up at her husband. “After all, he hasn’t asked me yet.” She squealed when Ryder grabbed her around the waist.
“See what a smart-ass I’m married to, Riley?”
“Seems to me you got what you deserved.” Riley smiled at them.
Ryder kissed Kelsey’s temple. “I’m not sure I deserve her, but I’ll keep her.”
Riley laughed at their playfulness. He’d never admit it but watching them made his heart ache a bit. “Sam told me about Kaylee. I bet Trick can’t keep the smile off his face.”
“I know. He’s mighty thrilled. We’re all real happy for them. I think Trick will make a great dad.” Ryder smiled at him.
“I’m sure we’ll never hear the end of it,” Riley told him.
Ryder burst out laughing. “I believe you’re right about that.”
“I want to get out there to see them. I’m happy for them.”
“Hell, he’s probably already bought cigars.”
“Do they know what it is yet?”
“Trick told us they don’t want to know because he doesn’t care.”
“I’ll have to give him a rough time about it.” Riley laughed. “I need to get settled. I hope I get to see you both again before I leave.” Riley saluted them and headed out the door.
Driving his truck along the road to the cabin, he was pleasantly surprised when he arrived in front of it. It sat nestled in the woods and as Trisha had said, away from the other cabins. Large pine trees rose above it from behind. He was sure he’d enjoy it a lot more than staying on the ranch. Riley couldn’t understand what happened to the ranch. Why was it so run down? Didn’t the old man take care of it at all once he ran his son off? Riley wondered what happened to the two ranch hands who had worked for Roscoe. Did he run them off too? Riley grunted. It wouldn’t surprise him. No one liked Roscoe...especially his wife and son. Sam’s parents treated Riley better than his own parents had. Of course, he didn’t remember his mother much except the time when Roscoe put her into a car and made her leave. He exhaled. That was something he’d never understood. How a woman could leave her child behind with an abusive man.
Pulling his duffle bag out of the back seat, he walked up the small stone path that led to the porch. A swing hung at one end and two rocking chairs were on the other side. He entered the cabin and gazed around. It consisted of a living room with a large stone fireplace, a kitchenette, and French doors facing the woods behind the cabin. A small hallway led to one bedroom and a small bathroom. The cabin was open and airy. He liked it.
Setting his duffel bag on the bed, he unpacked. It’d been a hell of a day. A nap sounded good. After putting his clothes away, he stretched out on the bed and promptly fell asleep.
****
Kaitlyn’s feet were killing her. She hadn’t had a chance to sit and relax all day. Sam had taken her on her deliveries. It took them less than two hours. He hadn’t been happy about it but he did it, and she was grateful. Knowing how busy Sam was being sheriff, she appreciated that he always came through for her. Kaitlyn couldn’t bring herself to tell him Riley had refused to help her. Knowing her big brother, he’d go after Riley and it didn’t matter if they were friends or not. Sam had always watched over her. He was six years older than she was and had always protected her. She loved, and adored him. It would never matter the reason she needed him but when she did, he was always there for her. Kaitlyn slowly moved through the greenhouse, taking inventory. Orders for additional houseplants and flowers were needed. Madilyn entered the greenhouse and walked toward her looking tired. It had been a long day for her too.
“I can stay if you need me to.” Madilyn was a tall, gorgeous redhead with porcelain skin. A sprinkling of freckles crossed the bridge of her nose while thick, lush eyelashes surrounded light green eyes that were stunning.
Kaitlyn smiled at her. “No. I’m good. Thanks, anyway. Go on home to Brody and your son.”
Madilyn smiled at her. “I just checked and Sadie’s still asleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.” With a wave, she left the greenhouse.
Kaitlyn had just sat at a table to relax while she figured out what to order for the next shipment when she heard the front bell. Sighing, she stood and headed for the front of the store. She halted when she saw Riley standing there. Watching him as he gazed around the room, Kaitlyn cleared her throat. He glanced over to her and her heart slammed into her ribs. His gaze roamed over her face and came to rest lingering on her lips.
“What are you doing here, Riley?” Still angry he hadn’t helped her earlier, she glared at him.
“I came to apologize,” he said in a quiet voice that surprised her.
Stunned actually, the last thing she expected from him was an apology. Intrigued to hear it, she folded her arms across her chest. “All right. Go ahead.”
His eyebrows went up and his mouth twitched. “I’m sorry.”
Kaitlyn gave him a terse nod. “Accepted.”
“You’re tough, Katie.” Riley grinned. “I don’t remember that about you.”
Kaitlyn chuckled softly. “You don’t remember a lot of things about me.”
Riley tilted his head. “What I remember is a young girl, not the beautiful woman in front of me now.”
Words were lost to her, she didn’t say anything, she wasn’t sure she could have if her life depended on it.
Riley glanced behind her. “What’s back there?”
“The greenhouse.”
“Ah, I see. You grow your own flowers for your arrangements?”
“Some, but I have to have a lot of the tropical plants shipped in. I don’t have the room to grow them all.” Kaitlyn shrugged.
“Have dinner with me.” Riley stepped forward.
“No.” Kaitlyn moved to stand behind the counter, picked up a cloth, and wiped it off although it was already clean.
“Why not? It’s just dinner, Kaitlyn. You can bring the squirt.” He glanced around. “Where is she anyway?”
“In my office, asleep in her playpen.” She nodded her head in the direction of the closed door.
“So, how about dinner? You both have to eat, right?”
“You have no idea how difficult it is taking a seventeen month old out to dinner,” Kaitlyn told him.
“Let me find out.” Riley leaned on the glass countertop and stared at her.
Kaitlyn sighed. “You’re really serious?” At his nod, she smiled. “All right...but only to the diner.”
Riley chuckled. “You feel safer there?”
That was exactly what she felt but she wasn’t going to admit that to him.
“It-it’s just more convenient. I’m sure once Sadie wakes up...” She stopped when she heard Sadie calling for her. “Speak of the devil. Excuse me.”
Hoping to recapture her breath and her senses, Kaitlyn walked to the office and opened the door. Inside, she saw Sadie standing in her playpen rubbing her eye with a fist. When the little girl saw Kaitlyn, she squealed and bounced on her toes.
“Mama.” Sadie giggled as she raised her chubby little arms up.
Kaitlyn picked her up and hugged her, kissing her soft, dark hair. “Hi there, Mama’s precious girl.” Sadie squeezed her mama’s nose then Kaitlyn spun around hearing Riley chuckle.
“So she does that to everyone, huh?”
Kaitlyn smiled. “Yes. I think Sam taught it to her. Now everyone who picks her up gets their nose squeezed.”
Sadie stared at Riley as he moved closer. “Hey squirt,” he said to her in a soft voice.
Kaitlyn was surprised when Sadie put her arms out to him and he took her daughter from her arms. He balanced her on his hip and her precocious daughter squeezed his nose making him laugh. He squeezed hers back and she giggled laying her head on his shoulder. Kaitlyn didn’t know what to think. The only man Sadie ever went to was Sam, or their dad. Sadie never demonstrated any problem going to other women, but she held back with men. Kaitlyn reached for her.
“Come here, Sadie. Mama needs to change you.” Sadie looked as if she was going to refuse but when Kaitlyn gave her a look that meant business, Sadie came to her.
“Dinner, Katie?” Riley asked again.
Kaitlyn sighed. “Yes. Give me a minute.”
Nodding with a grin, Riley left the office to wait for them while Kaitlyn laid Sadie on a blanket she’d spread on the floor of the office, and changed her then put a little sundress on her with white sandals.
This was a mistake, a big one, and Kaitlyn knew it. She’d always had a crush on Riley and it would be for the best if she just stayed away from him. Sighing, she set Sadie on her feet, took hold of her hand, and headed toward the front. As soon as Sadie saw him, she broke away and ran to Riley. He caught her, lifted her up, and tossed her into the air. At first, she looked scared to death but when he caught her, she laughed. When he did it again, her laughter blended with screams.
Kaitlyn shook her head. “What is it with men tossing babies into the air? Sam does the same thing with her. I guess she wasn’t sure about you at first, but now she’ll want you to do it every time she sees you.”
“I don’t have a problem with that.” Riley grinned.
Leading the way out of the shop, Kaitlyn waited as Riley followed her out carrying Sadie, and then she locked up. “Are we walking over?”
“If you want.”
“How about we meet over there? Since it’s still a little hot for Sadie, I’d prefer to drive her over,” Kaitlyn suggested. Riley touched the brim of his hat and headed for his truck while she and Sadie went to her SUV. Chuck had fixed it as promised and it had been ready when Sam brought her back from doing the deliveries, of that she was now grateful.
****
Pulling into the parking lot at the diner, Riley waited as Kaitlyn took Sadie out of her car seat. Leaning against the fender of the truck, he watched her. Her jean-covered ass had his mouth salivating as she leaned into the car. His groin tightened and the material across his fly stretched. Shit! Riley moved away from the fender when she straightened and turned to face him. By the look on her face, he knew she’d caught him staring at her ass. Riley smiled and shrugged. He was a living breathing man after all.
Kaitlyn held Sadie in her arms, staring at him. Riley jerked his chin for her to go ahead of him. Hesitating at first, she started for the diner. Riley followed with his eyes still on her ass. When she stopped suddenly to let someone out of the door, he almost ran into her. Turning to look at him over her shoulder, she glared at him.
“Quit staring at my ass,” she muttered.
Riley chuckled. “Yeah, right.”
Kaitlyn leaned back against the building. “Fine. You go first then.”
Chuckling, Riley entered the diner with Kaitlyn behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and grinned. “Quit staring at my ass.”
Lifting her eyes to meet his, she burst out laughing. “Touché.”
Riley held the door for her, and then they found an empty booth. No sooner had Kaitlyn sat Sadie in a highchair, she proceeded to bang her hands on the tray. Connie, the owner as well as one of the servers, came over to take their orders.
“It’s good to see you, Riley,” Connie told him.
“Thanks, Connie, you too, it’s been a long while. I was in earlier today but didn’t see you.”
“I come in around two every day.”
Riley nodded. “Okay, I was in here around noon. Jake and Becca Stone were here too. I’m staying in one of the cabins at the B and B.”
“I thought you’d stay at the ranch,” Kaitlyn said.
“No,” Riley snapped. When he saw Kaitlyn blush at his sharp retort, he blew out a breath. “It’s a mess, Katie. I can’t live in it. I’m thinking of just bulldozing it over.”
“That bad?” He was glad Kaitlyn had waited until Connie moved away after taking their orders to ask.
“It will make me feel a whole lot better that’s for damn sure,” Riley muttered. Sadie chose just that moment to shriek. Riley quickly glanced over to her thinking something must be wrong. The little girl just stared at him and then shrieked again. Looking to Kaitlyn, he raised an eyebrow in concern. Kaitlyn shrugged.
“Why’s she screaming like that?”
Kaitlyn laughed. “To hear herself, I suspect.”
“Christ, who can’t hear her?” he grumbled.
“I told you it wouldn’t be easy having dinner with her.” Kaitlyn grinned at him.
“It’s...” Sadie screamed again. “Fine.” Riley yelled then laughed when Sadie did it again. Thankfully, she stopped when Connie brought their dinners.
“I let them cool down.” Connie set fries down on the table for Sadie.
“Thanks, Connie. Maybe these will quiet her down.” Kaitlyn grinned with a shrug.
Watching Sadie pick up a fry and tentatively take a bite, he chuckled when she suddenly giggled. Sadie stared up at him and then offered him one. Learning in, he took a bite making her laugh. When she reached a hand out to him, he leaned closer so she could squeeze his nose.
“You’re beautiful, Sadie,” Riley told her.
“Sadie,” she said pointing to her chest.
“Yes. Sadie. That’s your name.” Then he pointed to himself. “Riley.”
“Riley.” She giggled and pointed to Kaitlyn. “Mama.”
Riley’s eyes went to Kaitlyn. “Yes. Mama.”
His eyes held hers and he watched as a blush moved across her cheeks. She glanced away from him. Glancing back to Sadie, he saw she had her finger pointed at him. Riley leaned forward and pretended to bite it. Sadie squealed with laughter making Riley laugh, but then he quickly sobered when he saw Sam walk in the diner. Shit! Sam spotted them and headed toward them. The look on his face told Riley he wasn’t happy about him being there with his sister.
“Hey, Sam,” Riley said as he got out of the booth to stand.
When Sadie saw her uncle, she threw her arms up and squealed. “Unc Sam.”
Sam grinned and took her out of the highchair. Then he narrowed his eyes at Riley.
“What are you doing, Riley?” Sam’s jaw clenched.
“Having dinner with two beautiful girls.” Riley grinned. Sam didn’t grin back and Riley could see a muscle twitching in his cheek.
“You know damn well that’s not what I meant,” Sam growled.
“Back off, Sam...we’re just having dinner,” Kaitlyn told her brother.
Sam didn’t take his eyes off Riley and Riley stared back. They stood toe to toe.
“Jesus, the testosterone filling this place is staggering,” Kaitlyn said, taking Sadie from Sam and returning her to her highchair.
Riley sat down but Sam didn’t move away making Riley sigh. “It’s just dinner, Sam.”
Nodding, Sam glanced at Kaitlyn then moved back to the counter and took a seat.
Riley huffed. “That went well.”
Shrugging, Kaitlyn laughed. “I’m his little sister. He’s always going to protect me.”
“I’m not doing anything to make him want to protect you from me...yet.” He chuckled when she blushed again.
Kaitlyn leaned forward. “Sam will kick your ass if he thinks he needs to.”
Riley ran his hand down his face. “I know. He always could.”
Kaitlyn smiled at him. “Sam’s always been a big guy,” she said, pushing a fry back onto Sadie’s plate even as her daughter tried to push it off again. “And once boys started noticing me, he’s protected me.”
“When was that? I sure as hell don’t remember you looking like this anytime I visited with Sam.”
“The braces came off when I was seventeen. My teeth were awful and it took a while for them to straighten. Sam, of course, has always had perfect teeth,” Kaitlyn grumbled.
Riley laughed. “I don’t mean anything by it, but you and Sam were night and day growing up.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. He was never skinny, his hair was never frizzy, he had clear skin, and perfect teeth. The girls were crazy over him. They still are.”
The conversation shifted to other things including Sadie’s eating habits and soon they were both just enjoying watching the little girl enjoy her meal. When she finished, she pushed her remaining food toward her mother.
Kaitlyn grinned. “I guess she’s done.”
Riley slid out of the booth. “Are you ready to go then?”
Nodding, Kaitlyn cleaned up Sadie’s hands and face with a napkin then lifted her from her highchair. When she started to slide out of the booth, Riley took Sadie from her. Kaitlyn hesitated climbing from the booth so he put his hand out for her. Shaking her head, she slid out without his help.
“I think there’s one thing you and Sam have very much in common. Stubbornness.” Riley grinned.
As if in defiance of the comparison to her brother, Kaitlyn lifted her chin, retrieved her daughter from his arms, and glided past him. Rolling his eyes, he sighed and followed her out the door. Riley stood by the door of her car while she put Sadie in the car seat. Sadie screamed.
Riley chuckled. “She screams a lot.”
Kaitlyn grinned. “This time it’s because she’s tired.”
Leaning in to look at Sadie, Riley frowned. “How can you tell the difference? It sounds the same as the ones she was doing in the diner.”
Kaitlyn shrugged. “A mother knows. By the way, thanks for dinner.” Closing the back door, she started to move toward the driver’s door but Riley didn’t move. Kaitlyn put her hands on her hips and glared up at him. “Move, Riley.”
Not moving away, Riley leaned toward her. “I have to kiss those lips. They’re perfect.” His mouth hesitated above hers, waiting to see if she’d pull back. When she didn’t, he pressed his lips to hers in a soft kiss. When she moaned, he grinned.
“Don’t tell Sam,” he whispered, even as he wanted to kiss her again then strode around his truck, and climbed into it. Riley glanced back, seeing her still standing there with her hand over her mouth. Grinning, he drove out of the parking lot.