Page 79 of After Tonight

That blunt question came from her mother. And she was right.

Riley didn’t cling to things—like her hometown or traditions or jobs or relationships. She shrugged, pretending that her stomach wasn’t knotting as she did it. “Exactly.”

“Okay. Come on.”

This time she wasn’t fast enough to avoid Derek grabbing her hand and starting toward the front door.

“Derek, I don’t want to talk,” Riley protested, trying to pull free.

“Then I’ll talk.” He sighed as she dug her heels in. He turned, bent, and lifted her up over his shoulder.

She blew out a breath. What was the point of fighting really? If they didn’t talk now, he’d find her another time. Hell, he was supposed to be over for dinner right here later tonight.

He carried her out to the front porch before setting her down. He pulled the door firmly shut behind them.

* * *

This woman was a huge pain in his ass.

And he was in love with her.

And she was about to try to break up with him.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked.

“Me? You’re the one manhandling me.” Riley brushed her hands down the front of her shirt, pretending to be offended.

“Uh-huh.” He crossed his arms and looked down at her.

She sighed. “Fine. I’m annoying my mom. You should recognize it—it happens a lot.”

“Why were you and your mom talking about you giving up and staying here?”

She crossed her arms too. But she didn’t look intimidating. She looked vulnerable. “Because Kyle got Scott to offer me a job.”

“And?”

There was more to it than that. There had been that little show of jealousy he’d seen. He couldn’t believe she actually thought he could possibly be interested in anyone else, but it was nice for someone who didn’t stick to much to want to, at least subconsciously, stick to him. He didn’t like clingy women. But he liked kind of clingy Riley. At least when she was clinging to him.

Riley lifted her chin. “And apparently Kyle is thrilled that we’re settling down together. And Mom and I can’t agree on what to name our twins.”

He couldn’t help it. He grinned. “Kyle knows?”

She rolled her eyes. “You didn’t tell him?”

“We haven’t talked about you.”

“Why not?”

“Because there’s nothing to talk about.” He shrugged as he realized it. “We make sense. It seems natural.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Easy.”

“Yeah. It is easy. You agree.”

“I do. It’s been very easy hanging out with you and fucking you.”

He knew that she was trying to piss him off. But that comment worked a little, he had to admit.

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