“Now let’s get this over with so we can come back here and I can find out exactly what you’ve got on underneath that dress.”
She was wearing sensible, no-line briefs.
“Will you excuse me for a minute? I need to change…something.”
* * *
The Santiago residencewas a large contemporary home perched on the hill in the Floribunda Heights neighborhood or, as Riley called it, Where the Rich People Live. Thanks to tall hedges and immaculate landscaping, it was almost impossible to see the house from the street. All Riley saw were glimpses of dark gray wood and glass.
“Wow,” she said when Nick parked at the front door. “Did you grow up here?”
“Nah. My parents bought this after my sister and I graduated and moved out. Bought all new furniture too, since we weren’t around to ruin nice stuff anymore. They were counting down the days.”
“That’s…nice?”
“I’m telling you, my parents’ seal of approval is nothing to strive for,” he insisted.
“Do you guys not get along?”
He shook his head. “Nothing like that. We just don’t get each other. They want me to be someone they understand, and I don’t care. Makes family get-togethers fun.”
They got out of his SUV, and Riley yelped when he gave the top of her dress a little tug to expose more cleavage.
She slapped his hands away.
“Come on, Thorn. Give me something to enjoy during the thinly veiled parental disappointment portion of the evening.”
“You are such an ass—”
The front door opened, and Riley, still trying to contain her breasts, was met with two questioning gazes. Marie Santiago looked much the same as last time Riley had seen her. Vaguely disgusted. The man standing next to her was definitely Nick’s dad. His skin was darker. His silver hair was slicked back, and he had a great mustache. But he had the Santiago dimples and testosterone geysering out of his pores like a nice cologne.
“Your girl got a bee down her dress or something, Nicky?” he asked.
“Hi, Dad. Mom,” Nick said, taking Riley’s hand and dragging her inside.
After making sure she wasn’t flashing nipple, Riley allowed herself to check out her surroundings. The interior of the house was just as confusing and modern as the exterior.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” Nick’s mother asked.
“You’ve already met while on a date with my ex-partner. But, okay, if we’re making it official. Riley Thorn, this is my mother, Marie, and my father, Miguel.”
Marie scoffed. “I wasn’t on a date with Kellen,” she insisted, gesturing with her wine glass.
“What’s her name?” Miguel demanded loudly.
“Riley,” Nick shouted. He turned back to her. “He’s hard of hearing and stubborn as hell. He won’t get hearing aids, so if you want to have him do anything besides smile and nod, you have to scream.”
“Is this why you’re so comfortable with my roommates?” Riley whispered.
He tugged her into his side and gave her waist a squeeze. Marie choked on her wine.
“Are you a fan of modern architecture, Charlie?” Miguel asked a few decibels louder than necessary.
“Riley, Dad. Not Charlie,” Nick yelled.
“Huh?”
“It’s okay. I can be Charlie,” Riley insisted.
