“No hearing aid?”
“Hearing aids don’t work on me. Anyway, I’ll check to see if we have any cancellations.”
Quick on her feet, Riley said, “I’ll call Liza and head to her apartment in the city.”
He dragged a hand over his rugged jaw that needed a shave. “Absolutely not. It’s getting late, and you’re here now. Let me see what I can do. In the meantime, why don’t you grab a bite in the restaurant and relax.”
She was famished, and she could use something cold to drink.
He and Charlie escorted her into the restaurant. It was then she noticed a slight limp in his gait.
Nevertheless, the short distance was painful on her feet. Riley was wearing mid-size high-heeled sandals, compliments of Liza. Since she worked for a swanky fashion company, Liza sometimes shipped Riley new product samples. The designer sandals were stylish but not meant for a fourteen-hour day.
Riley groaned as Josh pulled out a chair for her.
Again, he let out a low chuckle, or maybe he groaned with her.
“Sorry, my feet hurt,” Riley said.
“Charlie, stay,” Josh commanded.
The golden retriever obeyed and lay down near her.
As Josh left, a waiter took her order of lemonade and a nacho appetizer. Then she called Ross and filled him in on where she was. After she hung up with him, she called Liza.
Liza answered on the first ring. “Sorry, bestie.”
Riley could hear the anguish in Liza’s voice, so she couldn’t get mad. Besides, the ocean view Riley had at the moment with the full moon shining over the water was far better than staying in the city with horns blowing and the din of traffic outside a window. If Josh couldn’t find her a room, she was tempted to sleep in one of the rocking chairs on the veranda that Liza had bragged about.
The waiter set down her lemonade.
Riley took a gulp. “When are you getting here?”
“Not until tomorrow,” Liza said. “I have to finish something for a client. I should be out of work by noon.”
Riley ran a finger along the glass that was sweating a little. “Why did you send me here and not your apartment? Are you dating someone that I don’t know about?”
Silence reigned over the line before Liza sighed. “Josh will take care of you. Relax. I’m sure you’re tired. I’ll fill you in soon.”
Riley took the answer as a yes. She couldn’t help but wonder why Liza hadn’t said anything about a new boyfriend.
She’s working. She doesn’t have time right now.
That was the reason. They would have plenty of time to catch up starting the next day.
“You didn’t tell me your cousin is drop-dead hot. I mean I saw pictures, but wow!”
Liza giggled. “He needs a good woman like you. And you could use a good man who will treat you like royalty and not trash like your ex.” Anger filtered through her tone.
“Is Josh the reason you sent me here? Are you playing matchmaker?”
“I got to run. I should be at the inn by one tomorrow.” Then she was gone.
A shiver zinged down Riley’s spine but quickly vanished when Josh returned.
His five o’clock shadow was getting darker. “Are you cold? I can get you a sweatshirt from the souvenir shop in the lobby.”
Her chill had nothing to do with being cold but rather with how Liza wasn’t telling her something. And Riley had no idea what that something was.
“I’m good.” She didn’t want to mention anything to Josh. He might think she was a crazy woman. “So did you find a room?”Please say yes.She wanted to curl and sleep for twelve hours.
He frowned as Charlie perked up. “The only thing I can offer you is my place.”
Riley choked. “Come again?” She was all for having a good time with a man who was giving her goose bumps and making the butterflies inside her stomach flutter, but she didn’t jump to second base on a whim. Sure, she was twenty-six years old and wasn’t living in the Stone Age, but she had scruples. One of her absolute rules was that she had to know more about the guy than his name.
Granted, Riley knew more about Josh than the average man trying to pick her up in a bar, but she needed a little more meat to his story despite his gentlemanly qualities. Nevertheless, she was still giddy at the idea of sleeping at his place.
