“Dude.” He crosses his arms and sets Jake in his sights, a look of shock flashing across his features. “Were you really in the pantry just now with my sister?”
TWELVE
Riley
Seeing Jake turn six shades of pale white makes my hands twitch nervously. My eyes bounce back and forth between Travis and Jake, a feeling of nausea beginning to rise.
Note to self: take into account that you’re kissing your brother’s best friend next time. Also, your brother’s client. It’s like I jammed a little family and a touch of business with a scoop of personal pleasure into a blender and hit the button, turning it on high without thinking.
I can’t lie. His kiss was ridiculously amazing, but seeing the skewed expression on my brother’s face is making me question my own sanity at the moment.
“So?” Travis inclines his chin at the pantry door. “Were you two just in there, together, or am I seeing things?” He then glances over at me and makes a sweeping motion with his hand from the tip of my head to my feet. “And you look like a flustered mess. I mean, Mom is definitely putting you through the paces, but I know you can recover from her guff. You’ve got a weird look on your face. Guilty.”
“Okay, I’m sorry,” Jake says, stepping forward. “I know what I just did wasn’t cool, man. We were—I was in the pantry and…”
I can feel Jake’s anxiety, it’s dripping off each word he speaks. I want to pick at my fingernails, that’s how anxious I am, but I keep my breath slow and steady.
“So you were in a small space together.” Travis nods, and I think I see a flicker of laughter sweep across his features. I take a second to glance back at Jake, who meets my look with worry in his eyes. I know what my brother’s friendship means to him; he told me as much.
My eyes then rock to Travis, who at this point is clearly having a good time at our expense. A huge grin takes over as he shakes his head and leans forward, clapping Jake on his back.
“I’m only kidding. What you two do is none of my business,” Travis says, but he stops laughing and goes serious real quick. “I will say, because it’s my job as her brother, that if you do anything to hurt her or break her heart, I may hurt you.”
“Oh my…Travis!” I’m the one shaking my head now. “Stop it. We’re not…anything. We’re, well. We’re trying out a thing where—”
Travis laughs. “You’re tongue-tied and his face is bright red. And you’re going to try to convince me nothing is going on? You were always a terrible liar, Riley.”
“We’re in ‘no comment’ territory,” Jake says, coming to my rescue. “But, noted on everything you said.”
Travis nods and points a finger at him. “As long as we understand each other. I came in here to let you know I just got an email. You’re back with the Renegades, it’s official.”
“Seriously?” Jake exclaims as he claps his hands together and jumps in the air. “That’s amazing. Thank you, Travis, so much!”
Jake then surprises both of us by lunging at Travis and pulling him into a bear hug. “This is the best news.”
Laughing, Travis pulls away. “You have some smoothing over to do, but I’ll leave it in your capable hands. Didn’t you say that Henry reached out to you recently?”
As the two guys put their heads together and get into hockey-speak, the door to the dining room swings open and my mother flies in. The only thing that’s missing is her broom.
“Are you bringing the dessert truffles out or is it a self-service kind of thing, like a buffet?”
“Sorry,” I mumble, tossing the last one on the plate for her. It’s not my finest presentation, but I’ve been distracted. Very, very distracted and I liked it. “Here. I did a play on the whole truffle theme and made sweet truffles for dessert.”
She eyes the plate, hovering her hand over a white chocolate truffle, which she finally picks up. I’m a little surprised when she places it under her nostrils and takes a whiff.
“What are you doing?”
“Seeing if I can smell any surprise ingredients.” She then winks at me. “I know you like to punch up your recipes with extra flavor.”
Something I had no idea that she even knew about me. “Really?”
“Yes, sweetie,” Mom says as she puts her free arm around me. “I love the cinnamon kick that comes with your chocolate croissants. And the slap I got from the truffle sauce with your chicken was interesting.”
My little heart is going to explode. It could also implode. It’s just going to blow up because I can’t believe I'm getting these compliments right now. And it’s not that she doesn’t tell me I do a good job at things, it’s just that she’s usually my harshest critic, especially when it comes to cooking. Okay, maybe harsh is too strong of a word. She’s my most vocal critic?
“Then you’re going to like the white chocolate truffles,” I say with a wink. “They’re laced with the essence of key lime.”
Jake and Travis are still chatting away as she pops it in her mouth. She chews for a moment before slapping the counterwith her hand. “Oh. My. Gawwwd…that is to die for, Riley James Richards!”
