Chapter Three
Riley was exhaustedas she walked into the Redwood Cove Inn. She swore she could’ve fallen on the flowered loveseat not too far off to her right. Instead, she swayed when she rose from petting Charlie, who seemed happy to see her, even though she didn’t know the beautiful golden retriever.
The tall, muscled, and handsome man steadied her.
Riley blushed as she laid eyes on him. When she did, butterflies took flight. Eyes as green as a lush forest regarded her.
“Josh, right?” She stammered out of her dry mouth.
She knew he was Liza’s cousin. Liza had texted a picture or two every now and again of both of them lounging on the veranda that wrapped around the inn, overlooking the ocean. Riley was excited to see the place and relax on the veranda while sipping cold lemonade, even though the weather in Redwood Cove wasn’t as unbearably hot as it was in Sacramento.
He nodded, a clump of his thick sandy-blond hair falling forward. Riley was tempted to move it off his forehead, but one, the look was rather alluring, and two, it would’ve been too intimate of a gesture for someone she hardly knew.
Regardless, she was finding that Josh’s bad-boy persona was making her a little giddy. Liza had been right. Taking a few days off to forget the breakup and unwind was starting to clear Riley’s mind and help erase the nerdy ex-boyfriend she’d been brooding about for weeks. Josh was anything but nerdy. His chest was broad, and his well-toned, tattooed biceps were calling to her. Riley wanted to run one of her long nails over them. It was odd that she was drawn to his tattoos. She’d never had a thing for tats. She could take them or leave them. Yet at the moment, she was really appreciating the reds and yellows of his tat that depicted an eagle clinging to an anchor, a pistol, and what looked like a pitchfork. Scripted underneath the elaborate tattoo were the words, “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday.” Riley knew that Navy SEAL motto because of her brother.
Josh let go of her hand, causing Riley to jerk her head up to look at him. She was considered tall for a lady, but she wasn’t as tall as him.
“Riley.” His voice was husky, sending a gooey feeling straight south, not even stopping to tickle her stomach. “Liza called and told me you were on your way.”
Any reaction she had to his voice wentpoof. “Really? She had her assistant call me.” Riley shouldn’t have been hurt that Liza hadn’t bothered to call, or maybe she had. Riley had traveled through one or two cell dead zones on her way there. Yet she didn’t have any messages on her phone.
He waved a hand toward the wicker-framed loveseat. Riley didn’t hesitate as she commandeered an edge of the cushion, and set her purse on a matching wicker table that a Reel Life pamphlet on it. At first Riley thought it was an advertisement on fishing. But a quick scan of the brochure explained how Reel Life was the new social media network for sharing photos and videos.
Riley was about to pick up the pamphlet when Charlie came up to her and sat on his hind legs. It was then she noticed the service dog insignia on his harness. Riley was aware of Josh’s story. He’d been on a mission in Afghanistan when an explosion rocked the building he was in. According to Liza, he was lucky to be alive.
Josh wheeled Riley’s suitcase over and folded his body into the chair on Riley’s left. “Don’t be too upset with her. She’s been burning the midnight oil.”
While she was a little put out by the sudden change in plans, Riley knew stuff happened. She considered herself adaptable. She didn’t get upset at much unless someone was hurting her family and friends, and she always looked on the brighter side of things.
Her grandma was a firm believer in things happening for a reason.“You may not know what that reason is, but nine times out of ten, good always comes in the end.”
Maybe the good from this would be that Liza would get a raise.
As for Riley, she was sitting with a gorgeous man who, upon closer inspection, was even more beautiful than she remembered seeing in photos. A hot guy, a cool dog, a beautiful place, and nowhere to be the next morning—a girl couldn’t ask for more than that. “I’m good. So is there a room available for me?” Riley scanned the lobby.
Voices filtered out of the restaurant. Pictures of celebrities like Clint Eastwood, Bill Murray, and others hung on the walls around her.
Josh cleared his throat. “I’m working on that.”
Her gaze rounded on him. “You mean you’re booked.” She shouldn’t have assumed she had a room since she was supposed to be staying with Liza. She shouldn’t have been surprised either. After all, the parking lot was full when she’d pulled in. “I can find another hotel.”
He grinned as he finally moved that loose hair away from his forehead. “That’s the thing. There’s not a room within a thirty-mile radius.”
Maybe she should plant herself on Liza’s doorstep and wait for Liza to get off work. The problem was, Riley wasn’t in the mood to get in the car. Her body was shutting down fast.
Josh studied her as though he were trying to get in her head. His green eyes were roaming up, down, and all around.
Riley lowered her gaze to her red-painted toenails and tucked hair behind her ear. She normally didn’t shy away from a man giving her the once-over. But with Josh, she found herself giddy and flirty like a teenage girl in high school.
As she stole a look at the man who was suddenly making her insides pitch, rattle, and roll in a good way, Riley remembered what Liza had told her about Josh’s hearing. Riley should have remembered sooner, but she chalked up her forgetfulness to exhaustion and the handsome man in front of her.
“You can hear me?” she asked.
He chuckled, a sound that gave her goose bumps. Or maybe she was just chilled with the cross breeze blowing in from the open doors that spanned the length of the restaurant.
“I had some hearing return to my right ear, but it’s not that good. I can hear if the sounds are loud enough, and when it comes to voices, the person has to be close to me. Or if you’re my father, then shouting works too.” One side of his mouth turned upward. “Your voice”—he licked his lips—“is melodic.”
Heat pinched her cheeks. No one had ever told her that her voice sounded melodic. She’d had guys tell her she had nice breasts, curves, and legs, but never voice. She was tempted to ask him if that was his pickup line for all women, but he sounded genuine. Riley wasn’t a smarty-pants either, although she could be with Liza and Ross and those she knew well.
