"So Riley had to mark her territory," Chris said, grinning. "Classic move."
"I did not mark—" Riley stopped. "Okay, maybe a little."
"A lot," Hannah corrected. "You basically announced to the entire bar that Grant Lawson is off the market."
"Heisoff the market," Riley said. "We're together."
Grant's hand tightened slightly on her shoulder.
"You two look happy," Jenna said softly. "Really happy."
"We are," Grant said, and something in his voice made Riley's chest tight.
"Very," Riley agreed quietly.
The conversation shifted to other topics—Christmas plans, New Year's Eve parties, who was hosting what. But Riley was hyperaware of Grant beside her, the way his hand never left her shoulder, the way she kept unconsciously leaning into him.
This was getting dangerously comfortable.
An hour later, Riley found herself in the kitchen refilling her wine glass when Grant appeared in the doorway.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey yourself."
He crossed to her, close enough that she could smell his cologne. "Having fun?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Yeah." He grabbed a beer from the cooler. "Mark's getting competitive about Pictionary."
"Mark gets competitive about everything."
"Fair point." Grant took a sip, his eyes warm on hers. "You look good tonight."
Riley's face heated. "I'm wearing jeans and a sweater."
"I know what you're wearing."
The way he said it made Riley's stomach flip. "Grant?—"
"Want to get out of here soon?" he asked quietly. "Go for a drive?"
"What kind of drive?"
"The kind where we don't go straight home."
Riley's pulse kicked up. "Yeah. I'd like that."
"Good."
Hannah appeared in the doorway. "Pictionary time! You two ready to destroy everyone again?"
"We'll be right there," Grant said.
Hannah disappeared, and Riley exhaled slowly.
"We should—" she started.
