"You stay there," he argued. "I have a better angle. I'llgetit."
We bent to free the button at the same moment, and in the process, Riley's elbow upended my drink. The pink liquid splashed down over my legs and doused myshoes.
"Oh, shit." He shucked his coat—still hooked on my dress—and draped it over my arm. "Hold this and stay right there. And do as you're told this time,Alexandra."
He dropped to the grass, set his beer bottle down and mopped vodka from my legs with the same soggy napkin he'd offered earlier. It was indecent, really, watching this man tend to me from hisknees.
I didn't want himtostop.
"It's fine," I said, reaching for his shoulder. "I don't even like those shoes. Obviously. They'rebeige."
He went right on hunting for stray vodka, with one big palm curled around my calf to hold me in place. Or maybe he was trying to steady himself? I wasn't sure, but I did know this had to stop. I crouched down, hoping to get him off the ground, and that was the exact moment his head snapped up…and connected withmyface.
"Ohshit," he said as my hand flew to mywoundedlip.
The quick burst of pain sent tears prickling my eyes, and I fought to blink them away. I wasn't crying in front of this guy, and definitely not with my colleagues and boss nearby. Didn't need to add Emotional Woman to my list of professionalfaults.
Riley's eyes were wide and panicked, and he shot to his feet. He brought both hands to my face. "I'm so sorry. Are you allright?"
I nodded. "Just a fat lip," I said from behind myfingers.
"Oh my fucking god, you can't take me anywhere." With a sigh, he turned his attention to freeing my dress from his coat. It took only a moment, and he blew out another breath when it was fixed. Dragging his knuckles down my chin, he said, "I want to see. Show me whatIdid."
I pulled my fingers away, wiping the spots of blood on my skirt. "It's fine. A little ice and it will gorightdown."
Riley stared at me, his brows pinched together as he traced the swollen line of my lower lip with the pad of his thumb. "Let's get out of here," he whispered. "Are you still up fornachos?"
No. I want to go home, take off my soaked shoes, and sleepfordays.
I almost said that. The words were right there on my tongue, ready to jump off and shut down this evening. But his forehead was crinkled with concern and his palms were cupping my cheeks and I didn't want to stoppretendingyet.
"Only if they come with plenty of beer," I said. I shifted toward the side yard that led to the driveway, and promptly knocked over Riley's forgotten beer. Groaning as the frothy liquid splashed on my skin and trickled down to my toes, I shook my head. "Stupid beigeshoes."
"I'm guessing you'd rather drink the beer than wear it," he said, hooking his arm around my shoulders. "That can be arranged, you know. I'm familiar with many establishments that specialize in delivering beer in glassesandbottles. Would youlikethat?"
Again, Riley was holding me close, my cheek on his chest and his scent going to work on my hormones, and I was sliding down that slope. I didn't know how many inches I'd slip before this arrangement ended or I slid all thewaydown.
"Yeah," I said. "I'dlikethat."
His expression was tight as he studied my lips, but he dragged his gaze up to my eyes and smiled. "That's convenient," he said. "I want more Alex time. You haven't insulted me nearly enoughtonight."
All the way down. I was going to find the bottom of this slope, and if Riley had a mind to continue smelling like such a—aman—I was findingitsoon.
ChapterTen
Riley
"And you knew the neighbors,"Alex said, slapping her free hand on the table. The other hand was occupied holding a towel-wrapped chunk of ice to her bottom lip. "You knew the damn neighbors and you'd remodeled their damnkitchen,too."
I shook a tortilla chip at her. "Someone had to carry that conversation,"Isaid.
"Becausesomeonewas groping someone else's ass," shecried.
"And I'd do it again." I shrugged as I piled chicken atop my chip. There were buffalo nachos for me, the good, old-fashioned chili version for her, and a collection of empty beer bottles between us. "It's afabulousass."
Fabulouswas inadequate. Alex's ass was meant to be squeezed, spanked, licked, bitten. Fucked. That I'd managed to speak to a white-haired lady who seemed irrationally protective of her gin and tonic while touching that ass was proof of the higher powers. And that I'd refrained from touching that ass in the past hour was proof that I was, at heart, a hero with superhumanqualities.
"Thank you for…everything," Alex said carefully. "You were amazing with Mrs. Chapelton. I'm surprised she didn't drag you inside and get your professional advice on a few things." She looked away, frowning. "Nevermind. That didn't soundright."
