Page 223 of Love in Riverbend
With a forced grin, Ricky holds the pint out of my reach. His chocolate eyes scan from my bare feet to my messy bun, and his smile grows. “Damn, you’re hot.”
Taking a step back, I push the door closed. In the millisecond it took for me to move, Ricky has wedged his shoe between the door and the doorjamb.
“Marilyn, please let me explain.”
“Fine,” I say, releasing the door. “Explain and leave. I’m still not going to the partners’ dinner.” My instinct is to wrap my arms around my midsection to secure the robe.
Ricky steps into my apartment, his eyes wide as he looks all around the living room. “Whoa, this is a nice apartment.” He turns to meet my gaze. “You can shut the door, Marilyn. I won’t do anything stupid. I think I’ve already covered that base.”
I close the door but stand near it with my arms now crossed over my breasts and my lips pressed together. “Hurry,” I say. “I have a date waiting.”
It’s with my tub, wine, and now the ice cream, but he doesn’t need to know that.
“Is that how you dress for your date?”
“No. I plan to be completely nude for the date, not that it’s any of your business.”
Ricky comes forward and hands me the ice cream. “It’s caramel macchiato. They didn’t have plain caramel. I’m sure it’s not as good as your grandma’s…”
I take the pint.
“I’ve never tried Graeter’s.”
He pushes his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “It has milk chocolate caramel truffles and Heath toffee pieces.”
“I don’t have any food allergies, but thanks for the ingredient list.”
Ricky’s cheeks rise. “There’s the smart mouth I’m used to.”
“Don’t be.” I motion between us. “There’s nothing to get used to between me and you.”
“I want you to believe me. I didn’t remember that I had your number.” When I don’t respond, he continues. “I sure as hell didn’t recall that note. If I did, would I have handed my phone off to you?”
“I don’t give a damn about the note. Here’s the news flash. You won’t need to answer, because I won’t be calling.”
Ricky nods. “I get it. And fuck the partners’ dinner. I meant what I said earlier in the evening. I had a great time with you. Don’t make that stupid note from years ago into something more than what it is.”
I lift my eyebrows. “What it is? It’s obviously your reminder to blow me off. Well, I never called you, Ricky. I never asked you for one damn thing. It was obvious that I meant nothing to you.”
“We said no strings. I didn’t lie to you.”
The ice cream is now sitting on a small table by my couch, and my arms are again crossed over my breasts. “Right,” I say with too much glee. “You didn’t lie to me. I didn’t call you. Everything is perfect.”
Ricky takes a step back, turns a circle, and faces me. “Nothing is perfect. I don’t care about the dinner tomorrow night. I don’t want you to be upset.”
“My mood has no bearing on you. Just leave. Try not to be an ass tomorrow night, and the dinner should go well.” I let my arms fall to my sides. “Please leave. My bath is getting cold.”
“Is that your date?”
“As a matter of fact, it is—a bath, a glass of wine, and now I have ice cream. I know how to have a good time.”
“I’d like to join you.”
My eyebrows shoot upward. “Oh, hell no. That’s not happening.”
He takes a step toward me. “I could show you how sorry I am.”
I refuse to acknowledge the way my nipples are hardening and my core is tightening, as I continue to stare him down. “Goodbye, Ricky Dunn, Rich, Richard, Dick, or whatever you’re calling yourself.”
