I shouldn't have expected to be on the short list—not with my surgical posture issues, of course—but the disappointment was getting old. It was like being a kid all over again. I'd always been secondary to Adam. I was convinced that my parents didn't start out with a shady plan to favor one child over another, but that was how it had shaken out. Adam's interests were the ones we'd pursued, and that was how I ended up running for eighth grade class secretary when he ran for president. Or how I'd found myself on the sidelines as a cheerleader when he got into high school football. That I'd made it to med school—and not working with Adam at one of the car dealerships our father owned in Reno—was the greatest trick I'd everpulledoff.
"This property was meant for entertaining," Riley said. He leaned closer, and his breath tickled against my neck. "And I know I'm not supposed to tell you, or any other woman, to smile, but do it. You look like you're being held against your will, and I'm not in the mood to get arrestedtonight."
I'd missed everything he said because I was busy suppressing a whole-body shiver. He was so close and smelled so good and it had been so long since anyone's anything had stirred a systemic reaction from me, and I almost wanted it. The shiver. Thecloseness.Him.
"What did you say?" Iasked.
"Smile," he said, brushing my hair over my shoulder. "Pretend you want tobehere."
"I don't," I repliedautomatically.
"Trust me, I know," he said with a laugh. "But we'll do what we have to do, and then we'll get out of here and have somenachos."
"Nachos?" I repeated. "Thank you for the invitation, but I don't really think I want nachos tonight. I've had a longweekand—"
And then hishandwas onmyass.
"Look alive, Gastro Girl," he whispered. He was way,waytoo close for me to hold back the shiver this time. And that hand. Well. It did things to me. "It'sshowtime."
By the time I'd recovered from the feel of his long fingers pressing against my backside, it was too late to school my dazed expression when Mrs. Chapelton spotted us from across the patio. She was headed straight in this direction, all curious, smiling eyes and relieved glances, as if it was a real weight off her shoulders to see me withaman.
"Shit, what am I supposed to call you?" Iwhispered.
"Riley would be fine," hereplied.
"That's not what I meant," I hissed, bumping his side with my elbow for emphasis. "What are we? Are youmy,uh—"
He replied with a sharp slap tomyass.
"Doctor Emmerling, I'm tickled to see you this evening," she said. She shifted toward Riley of the Ass-Grabbers, who didn't limit himself to grabbing. Not when he could pat and squeeze. "Vivianne Chapelton. Welcome toourhome."
"Riley Walsh. Thank you for having me," hereplied.
Her white hair glittering in the evening light, she was holding the cut crystal tumbler with both hands and pressing the glass to her chest as if she was worried someone would snatch the precious away. "Are you also a physician?" sheaskedhim.
Another squeeze, another shiver. "No, ma'am," he replied. "I'm anarchitect—"
"An architect!" she cooed. "That's fascinating. Have you designed anythingI'dknow?"
The hand on my ass urged me closer, and the position forced my arm around his waist. I didn't need to reach under his suit coat to do it, but that was how it went with slippery slopes. Inch by inch until it was simple enough to rationalize falling for a man who wanted anotherwoman.
He pointed over the thick line of shrubs bordering the yard to the neighboring house. "I believe my partners worked on that home for several years," he said. "Do the Castavechias still livethere?"
This extricated one hand from the glass as she waved at Riley. "Yes! I had lunch with Rosemary just last week and she was telling me about wanting to hire the team who handled her remodel to work on her new cottage on the Cape." Mrs. Chapelton turned to me, her eyes twinkling. "Where did you and Mr. Walsh meet? You must tell meeverything,dear."
"I—uh—Imean,we—"
"We met at a dinner party," he replied. "Mutual friends were hosting a small gathering, and that's where I had the pleasure of making Alexandra'sacquaintance."
I would've been fine with Riley's hand on my rear end. Really. I would've gotten through this exchange without too much trouble. But then he decided to turn his face and kiss my temple, and I was done. Down for the count.Finished.
Mrs. Chapelton gave him a deep, appreciative smile. "Aren't you a delight," she said, glancing at me forconfirmation.
"He is," I said through gritted teeth. I couldn't relax while he explored the terrain of my ass. Not unless I wanted to dissolve into a moany-needy-swoony puddle. And I wasn't interested in that.Not here. If he wanted to get me behind closed doors, he couldexploreto his heart's content. "Such adelight."
"And will you be able to join us for this autumn's gala?" she asked him. "I do hope so. Handsome young men like you make tuxedos worthwearing."
Riley laughed and took the compliment like a champ. Bashful enough to be humble, but smart enough to know he wasn't to contradict this woman. "Yes, ma'am," he said. "I'm looking forward to it, but for entirely differentreasons."
