Page 5 of Giddy-Up
Riley would have to ponder that question another time.Right now, her body was being pressed up against Wade’s.
Dear Lord, is the man smuggling bricks in his shirt?
His stare still hadn’t wavered, and despite the very real desire to look away, she had fallen under his spell.Strong hands that rested on her lower back pressed once more until she was plastered against him.Her head tilted back, while his chiselled chin dipped.
“What happened to your glasses?”he rumbled, taking her by surprise.Again.
“Oh, um, I-I thought that...”What did I think?“I-I, uh, I wanted to look nice.”
It was the truth.She was trying.For him.
“Contacts and glasses don’t dictate a woman’s beauty.”
“Oh,” was all she said.Followed by more gulping.She was beginning to wish she wasn’t so close.Or staring into his eyes.The pure intensity radiating off him was enough to make her shake.
“You, Riley,” his voice deepened, “are a beautiful woman.”
She tried to swallow again but it felt like there was something stuck in her throat.Beautiful?He thought she was beautiful.That couldn’t be right.He’s drunk.Yes.That must be it.The man had had too much whiskey.
“With glasses or without,” he continued.“Although, I have to admit, I prefer you with the glasses on.They’re sexy as hell.”A crooked smile tipped his lips.
Beautiful?Sexy?Was she in some sort of alternate universe?Never once had Riley been called beautiful.Cute, once.By a relative.And sexy, well, that was almost laughable.There was nothing remotely sexy about her.She was the ultimate plain Jane.
Drunk, remember?
Right.Although, he didn’t really look that drunk.
“Do you want me to get you some coffee?”she blurted, remembering that was how you sobered a drunk person up in movies.
“What?”Wade chuckled.
The man was laughing at her.
Wrong again, Riley.Idiot.
That was her cue to run.Her head dropped and she started to pull away.But he didn’t let her get that far.His hand grasped hers before she could turn to leave.
“Hey,” he tugged, “what just happened?”
Lie.Say anything.Just get out of there.
“I-I don’t feel well, I want to go home.”
“Okay, darlin’.I’ll walk you.”Concern began to crease his brow as guilt hit her full force in the stomach.
“No.I.No.I don’t want that.”Freeing her hand, she did the only thing she knew how to do.Guilt be damned.She ran.
