“It’s ceramic. It’s not as dangerous as glass.”
“I don’t care what it is. I can’t stand the thought of you getting hurt.”
She swallows audibly.
I set Riley down on top of the counter and give her a warning look. “Don’t get any ideas. I’ll clean this up.”
She nods mutely.
Since I cleaned her apartment last night, I know where the broom is kept. I retrieve what I need and return quickly because I don’t trust that Riley will stay put.
Thankfully, she’s still on the counter where I left her. Her fingers are digging into the cheap, laminate material of the counter and she’s staring straight ahead with a dazed look.
“When was the last time you used that pan, Riles?” I ask, picking up the bigger pieces of the mug.
She shrugs and offers, “I got it as a gift three years ago. I think today was the first time anyone’s ever touched it.”
That explains why the handle broke after one touch.
“I guess you don’t cook often.” I dispose of the bigger pieces and grab the broom so I can sweep the area.
“No, I don’t cook. And like you saw last night, I’m not that great at housekeeping. And I hate doing laundry. And I don’t wear dresses unless I have to. And the only makeup I know how to apply is eyeliner and lipstick. I don’t do my hair much either.I always wear a ponytail. And I don’t wear jewelry because it gets in the way when I’m doing repair work.”
She’s rambling.
I stop sweeping and look up at her. “Why are you telling me that?”
Riley’s staring back at me with a slightly panicked expression. “I saw you with Layla last night.”
My eyebrows climb and I rest my hand on top of the broomstick. I didn’t notice Riley looking my way last night and I was sending a whole wave of telepathic communication her way, begging her to notice me.
“If you plan on getting back with your ex, then I’d appreciate if you didn’t make things confusing,” Riley says. She inhales, seems to dig deep for courage and continues, “And if you’re just being nice because of Chris, then I’d appreciate if you’d stop it even more. And if… I mean, on the off chance that you… maybe… are doing this because you like me, then I need you to think about what that means because I am not like Layla. I’m probably not like any woman you’ve dated. Not that we’re dating. Or that I think you want to date me. I’m just… I mean…”
My lips quirk.
Wow. She’s adorable.
And beautiful.
And awkward just like me.
“Why are you smiling?”
I let the broom drop and bypass the crash zone of pottery pieces until I get to Riley. She leans back when I step close to her. Those beautiful chocolate eyes can barely maintain eye contact.
“Riles,” I say gently.
She chews on her bottom lip and painstakingly brings her gaze to mine.
“I like you.”
Her entire body stiffens in shock and she blinks rapidly.
“I like you,” I say again. “A lot.”
Her nostrils flare and her chest pumps up and down as if she’s seconds away from bolting.
“I like that you don’t cook and that you’re not good at housekeeping. I like your face, whether or not it has makeup on it. And I like your body, whatever clothes you’re wearing—dresses or pants, overalls or T-shirts. And… I don’t remember everything—you said something about jewelry? Doesn’t matter. I like you. Everything about you. For no other reason than because it’syou.”
