And I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure she never has to feel that desperate or alone again.
CHAPTER 7
KieraEmmerson
Monday, May 31
I unlockmy car with a beep that echoes in River’s quiet driveway, and he slides into the passenger seat while I circle around to the driver’s side. The late afternoon sun is warm on my shoulders, and there’s this flutter of nervous excitement in my chest that I can’t quite suppress.
This is it. I’m actually going to look at an apartment. My own space. The first real step toward not being a burden on anyone.
I drop into the driver’s seat and reach for my keys, but before I can start the ignition, movement catches my eye. A blonde woman in tight athletic wear is jogging down the sidewalk toward us, and she slows to a stop right beside River’s window.
River glances over and his expression shifts into something polite but guarded. He rolls down the window.
“River!” The woman’s voice is bright and breathless, though I have a feeling it has less to do with the jogging and more to do with who she’s talking to. “I didn’t know you were home. I haven’t seen you around in a few days.”
“Hey, Shelly.” River’s smile is friendly but doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, I’ve been pretty buried in work.”
“Oh, that’s such a shame.” Shelly leans against the car door, bending slightly so her tank top dips lower. She’s completely ignoring my existence in the driver’s seat, acting like River is alone in the car. “You know, I was thinking we should grab dinner sometime. There’s this new seafood place on the mainland I’ve been dying to try.”
I grip the steering wheel tighter than necessary. Why does this woman assume River has nothing better to do than take her to dinner? And why is she pressed up against my car like she owns it?
River shifts in his seat. “That’s nice of you to think of me, but I’m pretty swamped with editing deadlines right now.”
“Oh, come on.” Shelly laughs, and it’s this high, tinkling sound that grates on my nerves. “Everyone has to eat, right? You can’t just work all the time. You need to have some fun.” She reaches through the window and touches his arm, her fingers lingering on his bicep. “I could help you relax.”
My jaw clenches. The audacity of this woman. She’s practically throwing herself at him, and she still hasn’t even glanced in my direction.
“I appreciate the offer,” River says, gently pulling his arm back, “but I really do have a lot going on.”
Shelly pouts and her eyes flick toward me. She looks me up and down with a dismissive once-over that makes my skin prickle with irritation.
“Oh.” Her tone suggests she’s just noticed something unpleasant on the bottom of her shoe. “You have company.”
“Yeah.” River glances at me, and there’s something apologetic in his expression. “We’re actually on our way out.”
“Where are you headed?” Shelly straightens up but doesn’t move away from the car. “Anywhere fun?”
The nosiness is astounding. Does this woman not understand social cues?
“Just running some errands,” River says vaguely. “We really need to get going, though. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
Shelly’s pout deepens, but she finally steps back from the car. “All right, fine. But you owe me that dinner, River Stone. Don’t think I’m going to forget.”
She gives him what I’m sure she thinks is a seductive wink, then starts jogging away down the street, her blonde ponytail swishing behind her.
I wait until she’s a reasonable distance away before I start the car and back out of the driveway. “Who was that?”
“My neighbor.” River runs a hand through his hair, and I catch a hint of embarrassment in the gesture. “She lives in the house next door.”
Of course she does. Because having a gorgeous neighbor who jogs by in strategically tight athletic wear and flirts shamelessly isn’t convenient enough—she has to liveright next door.
“How nice for you,” I say, and even I can hear the edge in my voice. “You have a very friendly neighbor. Who wants to take you to dinner. And help you relax.”
River glances at me, and there’s amusement in his eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I focus on the road, turning onto Main Street. “It’s just fascinating how some people have zero concept of personal space. Or reading social cues. Or noticing that there’s another person in the car.”
