"No manatees today, though I think the last sighting was decades ago.But we saw Roland Sr.climbing the hotel," Riley laughed, thinking about his dedication to his training regimen.
"Oh, man!That guy's a legend!Gray, have you seen him training in the ocean?Total beast mode, and he's in his 60s!"Declan added, clearly impressed.
"I'd never seen him before today, but I'm definitely impressed.Meanwhile, I can barely rollerblade a few kilometres without feeling like I've run a marathon," Gray said, eyeing his salad.
"You did fine!Besides, you can't help but stay active living here.And now that we've possibly got you for a few more months, we'll whip you into shape!"Riley said, though she couldn't help but think he needed no more shaping.She had seen his abs, and the man was sculpted.She felt a sudden, inappropriate urge to touch those muscles, wanting to let her fingers slowly move along his washboard abs.
"Riley, are you okay?"Marta's question snapped Riley out of her thoughts, making all the men turn their heads to see what was wrong.
"Fine," Riley choked out, trying to talk and eat her salad, desperate to divert attention away from herself.She shouldn't be thinking about a half-naked Gray right now.
"Okay, girl, but you looked a bit lost in thought.Anyway, I need to grab some groceries and head home.Scoot," Marta motioned to Daniel to let her out of the booth."I'll see you all tomorrow, and I'm paying my bill at the till.None of you better try to stick me with it!"She shot a look at Declan.
"One time I forgot to pay, and you need to let it go, Marta!It'll eat you up inside.Plus, I'm the nicest and most handsomest guy you know, do you really want us to stop being best friends?"Declan grinned, fully aware she would forgive him.
"Yeah, yeah, with your excuses," Marta planted a quick kiss on Declan's cheek and playfully jabbed Daniel's shoulder.She knew better than to kiss Daniel on the cheek.With her luck, it'd turn into something more, and she wasn't ready for that.
"Marta, I need to grab a few things too.Can I bum a ride?I didn't drive today," Daniel asked, his voice neutral, but Marta's eyes widened slightly before she masked her reaction.
"Of course!Happy to help," she replied, spinning to the till.She and Daniel waved goodbye, leaving Riley, Gray, and Declan alone at the table.
Declan glanced between Gray and Riley, a knowing smile on his face."Well, I think I'll call it an early night.I've got morning duties tomorrow, and I need my beauty rest so all the ladies have something nice to look at!"He slid out of the booth and gave them a mock bow."I bid you adieu and goodnight!"winking as he left.
Gray moved to the other side of the booth, making it less awkward for them to sit together.Their fritters and fries arrived shortly after Declan left, and they ate in comfortable silence.Riley kept sneaking bites of Gray's extra hot sauce, which he pretended not to notice.
"You should get something on those shoulders.Do you have any aloe vera at your place?And a light cotton shirt for tomorrow so you don't get more sun?"Riley dipped another fry in the hot sauce.
"I actually don't.I'm usually good about sunscreen or wearing a shirt, but I was having so much fun today that I totally forgot," Gray caught her wrist, stopping her from stealing more sauce."And shouldn't you ask if I'm okay with sharing my hot sauce?"
Riley grinned, undeterred."I figured since you snuck a few kisses today, I could sneak some of this," dipping a bunch of fries at once.
"Oh no, my dear!You were the one stealing kisses.I was being a gentleman, but you threw yourself at me!There was no choice but to hold on for dear life while you ravaged me!"It wasn't entirely true, but Riley loved that he was funny.She wanted someone who made her laugh, and that he was this sexy, she was definitely winning.
"How about this?I've got aloe vera at my place.I'll give you a bottle, and you can keep it.Trust me, you'll want to slather it on for the next few days," Riley offered as they finished their meal and went to pay the bill.Gray agreed, secretly hoping for a goodnight kiss too.
Back at Riley's house, Gray was about to step inside when something barrelled into him.Without warning, a giant, slobbery tongue knocked him into the door, sweeping across his face.
"Good gawd, what the hell, Bear!"Gray exclaimed as the gangly puppy, still not out of his awkward phase, decided it was playtime.Bear's giant paws flailed as he tried to get Gray to play whatever game only Bear knew the rules to.
"Bear!Down!"Riley commanded, having gone inside to turn on the light, leaving Gray to fend for himself.She returned to the foyer, stifling a laugh."Oh my!Looks like he's got you pinned.Should I leave you two alone?"She teased, watching as Gray somehow ended up on the floor with Bear.
"No, please don't!Your dog's great, but I'd like to wash off whatever slobber he left on my face," Gray grimaced, suspecting Bear had been gnawing on a rawhide.Those things were gross, but Bear was teething, so Riley allowed it for now.
"Right this way!And we can grab the aloe vera while we're at it, it's in the bathroom cabinet," Riley said as they walked towards the bathroom.She suddenly felt self-conscious about the mess she'd left that morning.Bear's toys were strewn everywhere, and her tiny bungalow's kitchen still had dishes in the sink.But Gray didn't seem to mind; he even chuckled when he noticed the bright pink sponge with googly eyes on the counter.
"Have I ever seen your whole place before?"Gray asked as they got to the door to the washroom?And as they stepped in, Riley saw them, and she shrieked, running forward to grab all her underwear that were hanging to dry on the shower curtain rod.
"What the hell?What is it?A spider?If it is, I can't help you!"Gray was shielding his eyes from whatever she was screaming at, sure that a spider was in the shower.
"What?No, there's no spider in here.If there were, I'd feed you to the damn thing and save myself and Bear.Probably burn the house down on my way out!"Gray looked at her, shocked that she'd leave him, but he had been thinking the same thing save himself and probably the dog on the way out.The dog that was now standing at attention in the bedroom was trying to see what the commotion was.
Gray turned to see what had made Riley scream and realized she was frantically grabbing underwear and stuffing them into a drawer in the bathroom cabinet.He laughed and then couldn't contain himself, and the laughs turned into snorts.
"Are you seriously worried about your underwear?I've been to a department store before, you know.I know what they look like."He was still laughing.
"Yes, I know you know what they look like, but you don't know what mine look like, and I can't believe they're all out on show.I mean, honestly, how do I have this many pairs?They're multiplying!I can't think of any reason there's so many!"she was so flustered and he laughed another bellow and grabbed her shoulders to turn him towards her.
"Riley, you wear a bikini at work all day long.I'm pretty sure I've seen you in something smaller than your underwear."While she knew he was right, she didn't care.It seemed too personal, so she grabbed his shoulders to turn him, but he winced and pulled back.
