“I just wanted to let you know that she means a lot to us, but we can see you make her happy.” He grins. “There’s no way I could have talked her into getting a dog—believe me, I’ve tried just like her other girlfriends have. But you come along and she’s taking chances like commitment to a pet. Not like her.”
I feel like I know where he’s going with this, and I need to be the one to do some reassuring right now. “I don’t intend to hurt her.”
“No one everintendsto—” Levi begins, but I hold up a hand and cut him off.
“She’s special to so many people and I can see why, because she’s special to me now, too.” I sit forward, putting both hands on the table. “She’s told me about your friendship, and I know how much it means to her. Like I know how much her brother and family mean to her, and starting her own business. I see how loyal and loving she is with her friends and those she loves, and I see how big her heart is with the pets she has.”
“When she really cares, that’s when you start getting fat.” Levi cracks up, pointing to my croissant. “So beware. She knows the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I think she’s kept all of us off her case when she was with Todd because she kept us fed.”
“And that’s the thing, right there,” I say, tapping the table three times. “I am not Todd and I won’t be.”
“Good.” His words are serious, but laughter dances in his eyes. “Cause you’re like a penalty kick away from pain if you do anything to hurt her.”
“I’m thinking that’s supposed to be a warning?”
“Nah.” Levi chuckles. “Just doing my duty to take care of Riley.”
“Can’t blame you one bit,” I reply. I know my place here. Where in the past, I’d be jealous or angry for receiving this kind of talking to, this time I know something is different for mebecause I sat here for it and I’m okay with it. Riley is her own woman, and I know that if I want to even have a chance at being her man, I need to be the one she deserves.
We sit quietly for a second before he pushes his chair back and stands. “I will take you guys up on the chance to come see a game. Be epic to see you play now that you’re back in Renegade territory.”
He holds his hand out and I shake it. “Let me know when, and we’ll make it happen.”
With one swift nod of his head, Levi turns on his heel and walks off, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Thoughts that keep circling back to Riley and how I want to be better for her. How since the moment I laid eyes on her, I was entranced and had to know more about her. The synchronicity of the fact that she got into my car as I was on the way to meet her brother doesn’t escape me; it adds to the mystery of why and how she’s landed in front of me now.
Honestly, having her in my vicinity is so special, like something to be cherished and loved, nurtured and protected. I want to rush ahead and do all things, to get to the part where I’m with her already, but I also want to drag my feet and go really slow. So slow that time will feel like it’s standing still, but it won’t be because it’s us. Us and our journey to whatever will be.
But that’s the thing. I’m a little turned around by these feelings I’m having, it’s all so new to me. The feeling that I don’t want to go, the feeling that being away from someone will feel like a limb is missing. The sinking feeling that swishes around inside me when I think about the fact I’m headed back to River City Virginia in a few days’ time to settle back in. Granted it’s going to be off-season soon, but what happens after?
Sighing, I put my head in my hands, willing myself to stop overthinking the situation. There’s only one person I can discussthis with and she’s at her parents’ house, with our dogs, waiting for me to come back and meet her.
Standing, I throw down a ten-dollar bill for a tip—because now that I’ve been a server, I have a new appreciation for the job, let me tell you—and pull out my car keys.
Slowly, I make my way to the parking lot on the other side of the fountain. Everywhere I look, there are couples walking hand in hand, or sitting by the fountain, or cuddling up together and looking out over the lake. Pairs. Couples. Love. It’s everywhere.
That’s when it hits me. Like a punch to the gut I knew was coming, but it still takes my breath away when it happens. A slap across the face I needed to remind me of the actual luck it takes to find someone who is as intriguing and impressive as Riley Richards is to me.
I’m falling for her, and I’m falling hard.
EIGHTEEN
Riley
Standing on the back deck, the sight of two dogs tumbling together down a hill makes my heart happy. Posh had taken to Becks rather quickly, faster than I thought she would, seeing as she’s a bit of a spoiled princess…but it turns out that the lady likes my tramp just right.
“This is a surprise,” Mom says from behind me as she opens the patio door of the house and joins me outside. She holds up her cell phone. “Your father said you were out here and wanted to see me, but I’ve been stuck on the phone finalizing this week’s silent auction details for Big Brothers Big Sisters.”
“Frannie mentioned that to me. Did you get the Porter boys to throw in some auction items?”
“I did. But Frannie also brought up a good point, that it feels stale. Judging by the number we’ve got this year, I have to agree. We’ve only had ten tickets bought so far and we need to see at least fifty to even think about making money for the charity.” She sighs, tossing the phone on the table before pulling up a chair and sitting down near me. “I’ve had some good feedback from the dinner you and Jake did, but—”
My hackles raise. Of course there’s a but. “Yes?”
“I also heard that you were put in a horrible position by the host’s younger brother.” She tilts her head to the side, shielding her eyes from the setting sun. “You okay?”
“I’m lucky Jake was there to intervene, not that I couldn’t have handled it myself,” I add with a wink.
