Page 5 of RiffRaff's Reward

“Who’s Katie?” RiffRaff asks.

She looks up at him and replies, “My best friend.”

“Always good to have close friends,” he says. “Got a few of them myself, and so does my son.”

“You have kids?” Kimber questions as we follow the hostess to the booth she’s leading us to after RiffRaff gave her his name.

“One, a son named Brick,” RiffRaff advises as he settles in across from us, his back to the wall.

I had noticed that he always did that and asked him one time when we were out why, and he told me then it was so he could see the entire establishment and be prepared for anything coming our way. Since he also walks on the outside of ‘danger’ whenever we’re in town meandering down the sidewalk, I don’t question it any longer.

Her eyes widen but before she can ask another question, a server comes by and takes our drink orders before putting rolls and cinnamon butter as well as menus down in front of us. I watch my daughter gazing around the five-star restaurant, her eyes saucer wide with wonder and am glad that RiffRaff chose this place for their initial meeting. Needless to say, she’s impressed.

“Help yourselves, ladies,” he says as he snags a roll and proceeds to slather butter all over it. At my glance, he winks and states, “Cholesterol’s fine, darlin’, I promise.”

His comment has me giggling as I take my own roll and put far less butter on mine than he did, while Kimber does the same. When I bite into mine, I moan in delight when the warm bread and butter combo hits my tastebuds. “Oh, my goodness, now I understand why you put so much on, this stuff is phenomenal!”

“Mom, these are really good,” Kimber mumbles around her stuffed face.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” I chide, my mom hat fully in place. RiffRaff chuckles as he finishes his first roll then proceeds to butter another one.

“Mom,” Kimber drawls out once she’s chewed and swallowed.

“Let’s check out the menu,” I suggest, not wanting her to show her snarky, teenage side. While I know he’ll eventually see it because I’m hoping he’s gonna want to be around for a long time, I don’t want it to happen within the first thirty minutes of them meeting.

I smile in euphoric contentment at the fact that RiffRaff insisted on following us home and making sure that we made it to our destinations safely. There aren’t many chivalrous men around anymore and I’m enjoying the fact that he is. The look on Katie’s face when he pulled up behind me as we dropped Kimber off was one of amazement, and I anticipate that Kimber is going to embellish the dinner with RiffRaff.

“I think that went well,” I murmur as RiffRaff and I walk up the steps to my porch.

Ididdownsize from the house that Duncan and I owned, but that was more for practical purposes since I never really cared for the house itself. Instead, I found a sprawling farmhouse with a wraparound porch, a huge backyard, and established, mature trees that line the long, winding driveway. I have more bedrooms than just the two of us really need, but what sold me on it was the fact that each bedroom, except the Jack and Jill set-up that’s on the second floor, has its own ensuite bathroom and workable fireplaces in each bedroom.

Plus, there’s a vanity area in it which has given Kimber and Katie hours of enjoyment as they try out various makeup looks they’ve seen on TikTok videos. I have no qualms about them practicing their ‘look’ even though both sets of parents agree that they aren’t to wear their made-up faces outside of either of our homes. They’re also learning how to take care of their skin, which a lot of people don’t start doing until later in life. Since my skincare routine focuses on my actual skin, and I wear minimal makeup, mine isn’t as full of brushes, eyeshadow palettes, and perfumes as my daughter’s is. Actually, hers looks like Ulta exploded in an array of colors and scents, but she’s happy, so that’s all that matters.

“She seems like a good kid,” he replies as he takes my keys and unlocks the front door before opening it. I quickly disarm my alarm and see his approving nod as he closes and locks the door. Before I can go any further, he says, “Let me check it out first, Jilly.”

He turns on all of the lights then prowls through all of the rooms before being satisfied it’s safe for me to enter. Once he makes itback to me, he places his hand on my lower back and ushers me inside.

“The alarm was on, RiffRaff,” I reply in protest. “Surely, no one is here but us.”

“It eases my mind, darlin’,” he says.

I remind myself that he’s old school, and instead of arguing with him over the fact that I enter my home every day that ends with a ‘Y’ on my own and count on my system to work proficiently, I settle with telling him, “Okay, that’s fine.”

Despite the fact that we’ve been seeing each other officially for about six months now, we’ve kept things PG. Oh, he holds my hand or guides me with his hand on the small of my back, but outside of quite a few swoon worthy kisses, we haven’t gone any further and I find myself nervous all of a sudden.

Duncan was the first man I ever slept with and that had stopped about eight months before his death. Since then, there’s been no one else as I was focused on Kimber, school, and working. Not only that, but his actions beforehand have me questioning myself and my sexual prowess as far as an intimate relationship goes. I obviously wasn’t good enough to keep my husband satisfied and from straying outside of our marriage vows, how can I expect to keep RiffRaff from doing the same?

“What has your brow furrowing, Jilly?” RiffRaff asks. “If you’re not ready, we can wait.”

“It’s not that,” I slowly reply. “It’s just that… I mean… well, I’m nervous, RiffRaff. What if I’m no good?”

He throws his head back, laughter bubbling out of him, and I gaze in astonishment at how free and open he looks right now.Pulling me into his arms he leans down and kisses my forehead and says, “Babe.”

Wait, that’s it? Just ‘babe’ as a response?

“Any man worth his salt who knows what he’s doing will make it sobothparties enjoy themselves,” he finally says. “I’m taking from your response that you’re feeling insecure so maybe I need to show you what you do to me. And for the record, it’s been a longass time for me, Jilly, so you’re gonna need to go easy on me.”

CHAPTER THREE

---