Page 28 of Matched with the Playboy Next Door

I bite my lip, the weight of the interrupted moment pressing on my chest. “It’s not that I didn’t want to…” My words trail off, and I force myself to look at him. “I’m just… I don’t know how to let someone in. Not really.”

“Riley,” he says, his tone gentle but firm. “It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.”

His words hit me harder than I expect, and for a second, I can’t move. All I can do is nod, clutching my phone tightly as I turn and head toward my truck.

As I drive away, my thoughts race, the memory of his words and the warmth of his presence refusing to fade.I’m not going anywhere.

For the first time in years, I wonder if maybe—just maybe—I don’t have to keep running.

By the time I get back from the warehouse, the house feels alive, with the faint sound of laughter drifting through the open windows. I park the truck and pause for a moment, leaning against the door and letting the cool evening airsettle around me.

The memory of Ethan’s words this morning plays on a loop in my head.You don’t have to keep everything locked up, Riley.

I shake my head, pushing the thought aside as I make my way up the porch steps. The familiar hum of Aunt Dotty’s voice mingles with Mia’s unmistakable laugh, and I can already tell they’re up to something.

The screen door creaks as I step inside, and their conversation stops abruptly.

“Dotty, I’m telling you, I saw the way he looked at her,” Mia says, breaking the silence after a beat.

“Looked at who?” I ask, stepping into the kitchen with a raised eyebrow.

Both of them whirl toward me like guilty kids caught raiding the cookie jar. Aunt Dotty recovers first, a sly smile tugging at her lips as she leans against the counter.

“Oh, we were just talking about you, sugar,” she says, her tone as sweet as honey.

“Of course, you were,” I reply, crossing my arms.

“And Ethan,” Mia adds, far too casually, while buttering a slice of bread.

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “What now?”

“Nothing bad,” Aunt Dotty chimes in, her smile widening. “We’re just celebrating.”

“Celebrating what?” I ask, already regretting the question.

Mia grins, clearly delighted to explain. “You and Ethan, ofcourse. Last night at the charity event? You two were practically glowing.”

“Glowing?” I echo, giving her a flat look.

“Yes, glowing,” Mia says, nodding enthusiastically. “It’s about time, too. I was starting to think you’d never let your guard down long enough to let someone in.”

I open my mouth to argue, but Aunt Dotty jumps in before I can get a word out.

“And don’t even try to deny it,” she says, pointing the butter knife at me. “I saw the way you looked at him during the auction. And this morning? Don’t think I didn’t notice how close you two were before you rushed off.”

Heat rises to my cheeks, and I glance away, busying myself with pouring a glass of water. “You two are reading way too much into this,” I mutter.

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Aunt Dotty says, her voice full of mischief. “Ethan’s a good man. He’s kind, hardworking, and he clearly cares about you.”

“Exactly!” Mia says, throwing up her hands. “I mean, did you hear him last night? He practically gave a TED Talk about how amazing you are.”

I turn back to face them, narrowing my eyes. “He was defending me. That’s it.”

Aunt Dotty raises an eyebrow. “And why do you think he felt the need to do that, hmm?”

“Because people were being rude,” I reply, my voice sharperthan I intended.

“Sure, that’s part of it,” Mia says with a smirk. “But I think there’s more to it. He likes you, Riley. And honestly, I think you like him too.”

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