Page 7 of Giddy-Up
He knew she was there.But why wasn’t she answering?
Jesus, what if she thinks I’m a fucking predator or something?
That thought made him sick enough to start talking, closed door be damned.“Riley?You okay?Just wanted to check on you, darlin’, and say sorry about last night.”
The door whipped open then, revealing a wide-eyed Riley.Like every other time he’d seen her over the past week, she managed to take his breath away.This time in sweatpants and an oversized shirt.
“Why are you sorry?”she asked.
Here we go.
He cleared his throat and blanked his expression.He needed to be serious.Professional.And put his tongue back in his head.“I’m sorry about the things I said last night, Riley.My intention wasn’t to make you uncomfortable, which unfortunately, I think I did.For that, I apologise.It won’t happen again.”
“The things you said?”Her head tilted to the side, genuine confusion contorting her pretty face.
Was she really going to make him say it again?“Yes.The things I said.Commenting on your looks like I did.It was inappropriate.”
“Oh.”She went quiet for a moment.He could see the wheels turning.Finally, she asked, “W-whatwasyour intention?”
“What?”
He watched curiously as her hand went to her wrist.Using her thumb, she began stroking her pulse point.It was an odd thing to do.But then, she was a bit odd.And he liked it.
When he met her dark eyes again, they were sparkling, a look of sheer determination boring into him.
“You saidmy intention wasn’t, so um, whatwasyour intention?”
He was slow to answer, unsure if this was a test.A test he was about to fail.Surely, she knew exactly what his intentions were.She was shy, sure.But she wasn’t dumb.
“I think youknowwhat my intentions were, darlin’, but that—”
“I don’t,” she cut him off.
Seriously?
His face must have conveyed exactly what he was thinking because she went on, even though he could tell it was costing her.
“I’m not good at reading people,” she rushed out.“I, uh, I’m not great in social situations.”
She was still rubbing her wrist.Harder than Wade liked.She was nervous.Embarrassed.He realized then, that she really didn’t know.Had no idea.
Fuck.
Fuck indeed.Where was that ‘don’t sue’ contract when you needed it?
Hell with it.
He took a step toward her, his hand immediately going to her abused wrist.He replaced her thumb with his, gently brushing over her skin which just so happened to feel as silky as it looked.
“You honestly have no idea?”She shook her head in response, her red lips parting and her eyes growing rounder as he got closer.“You think I go ‘round telling every woman I meet that they’re beautiful and sexy?”She didn’t need to answer, not when he got a good look at the innocence leaking out of her.“I don’t, petal.”
“S-so...why tell me?”Her voice was so quiet, he could only just make out the words.
“’Cause I couldn’t bear the thought of you not knowing.That would be a goddamn shame, darlin’.”
Riley drew in a shaky breath, but her gaze never left his.“So that was your intention—to make sure I knew?”
She really wasn’t getting it.
