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I snapped out of my trance and looked at Kennedy who was smirking at me. “What?”

“Trix asked if you’d like to head back inside and get some food. We’re both hungry, and that cake Della ordered looks delicious.”

I looked back at Riggs who was still on the phone, but as he took another drag of his cigarette, he hung up the phone and let out a harsh laugh.

“You two go ahead. I wanna go talk to Riggs,” I said.

I was hiding my attraction toward him, but Kennedy knew exactly what was going on in my mind.

I got up from the lounger and stopped as she grabbed my wrist. “At your dad’s birthday party?” she asked with a raised brow.

“I’m just gonna talk to him,” I said with a laugh, freeing my arm and then walking around the large pool to get to Riggs.

“Oh, boy,” I heard Kennedy whisper, but there was nothing holding me back from making sure good ol’ Riggs was okay.

He’s Dad’s friend. Why wouldn’t I check in on him?

“Important call?” I asked as I stopped a few feet away from him, holding up my hand to shield my eyes to stop squinting because of the sun.

He puckered his lips under that thick beard of his, and with a quick shrug he answered, “Not really.”

He studied me for a while before putting out the cigarette and throwing it into the strategically placed cigarette bin next to the pool house’s entrance.

Dad spent most of his time in there during the summer, and when his friends were over, they liked to come out here and smoke before continuing with whatever they did in that pool house.

“That’s a nice dress,” he said, looking down at it and stopping at my shoes before he lifted his gaze again.

“Thank you. Dad says this color looks good on me,” I told him.

“It does. But if you were my daughter, I wouldn’t let you walk around like this. Not with all these men at this party.”

“Good thing you aren’t my father,” I said, not able to hold back a smirk. “Would be a shame.”

I moved my eyes from his down to his chest, then over his stomach and finally stopping at his crotch.

I wasn’t one to brag, but the bulge wasn’t there just seconds before.

Riggs muttered something under his breath I couldn’t quite understand, but from the crease between his brows it was clear he was trying to keep his cool.

I liked him like this, on the verge of cracking, but Riggs wasn’t like Garett. Or Fred. Or any other man I showed my young body to.

Another difference was…Riggs was here. Standing right in front of me.

I could touch him again. Get closer and let him feel my body with his rough, big hands.

But shortly after having those thoughts I wondered if he’d be brave enough to do it.

I knew he wanted to, but there was hesitation in his eyes.

His next words surprised me though.

“What are you up to?” he asked, raising a brow and keeping his eyes fixed on mine.

His stern look was dark, and when I tilted my head to look at him as innocently as possible, he spoke again.

“Don’t play games with me, Valley.”

I frowned and pouted. “What do you mean?”

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