“I got caught at work, so I never made it to Sac. Riley is going to kill me.”
“You left her hanging at the airport?”
Liza had talked about seeing her best friend nonstop for the last two weeks.
“I couldn’t help it. My largest customer showed up madder than hell today. Anyway, I can’t chat. I tried to call Riley, but she’s not answering. Taylor talked to her earlier. Riley should be at your place soon. Can you entertain her and give her a room? I’ll meet up with you guys tomorrow. It’s going to be a late night here at the office.”
Josh could detect fear in her voice. “Cousin, you sound off.”
“Tired. That’s all.”
“Why don’t I believe you?” he replied.
“Josh, please take care of Riley.” She hung up before he could question her further.
She’d delivered the last sentence as though she would never see her friend again. Josh was tempted to call her back, but he knew she wouldn’t tell him anything more than she already had.
Josh scratched his neck as he went over to Drake. “Do we have any rooms available?” He knew the answer but asked just the same in the hopes someone had canceled.
Drake’s brown eyes went wide as he shook his head. “You know we’re booked solid through Monday.”
Josh ran a hand through his sandy-blond hair. “Liza’s friend needs a room tonight.” He also hadn’t gotten a chance to ask his cousin why Riley wasn’t staying at her place in the city.
Charlie went over to his bed behind the counter and plopped down.
Drake waggled his dark eyebrows. “You mean the hot beauty we’ve seen pictures of?” Now that Drake was divorced, he spent his time surfing and playing the field.
“The very one.”
“She could stay at my place,” Drake said.
Josh chuckled. “That isn’t happening. She’s not available anyway.” He remembered Liza mentioning that Riley had a boyfriend. Josh got on the computer. “I’ll check the other hotels in the area.” That way when she arrived, he could at least have a room for her somewhere. But the more Josh searched, the more he started to panic. Not one hotel within a thirty-mile radius had any openings. He wasn’t surprised with the summer winding down and vacationers rushing to get the last-minute summer sun and activities in before school began.
He needed to think, and Charlie needed a bathroom break. So with the lobby still quiet, Josh said to Charlie, “Come on, boy.”
They were headed out through the main entrance, when the door opened.
All Josh saw at first were red-painted toenails peeking through high-heeled sandals. Then his gaze traveled up long legs until he locked eyes with a black-haired goddess.
Charlie nuzzled her hand as Josh’s jaw slackened.
She bent down and petted Charlie. “Hey there. What’s your name?”
Josh tried to speak, but Riley had his tongue twisted. Her pictures didn’t do her justice. Her long black hair had a blue tint to it, and her curves were… well, curvy. But what had his stomach doing somersaults were her light-gray eyes that reminded him of a cloudy day when rain threatened. He loved days like that when he could kick his feet up on the porch rail while sitting in a rocking chair, waiting for the clouds to open up.
“His name is Charlie,” Josh finally said.
Climbing to her feet, Riley held out her hand.
The minute they shook, an electrical charge jolted Josh in a good way, even more so when she smiled and batted those luscious lashes that framed her blue-rimmed gray eyes.
Josh didn’t believe in love at first sight, but maybe he should have. His body heated and reacted in ways he hadn’t felt since Marybeth, his first love, in high school.
