Emily entered the kitchen through the swinging door as they walked through the mud room. Like Jake, she searched Riley’s andDaniel’s faces, her eyes full of concern. “How did you two fair last night?”
Daniel grinned and gave her two thumbs up.
Riley settled for a genuine smile. “We had a good night.”
Emily studied their faces a little longer before her own lips turned up. “I’m glad.”
Riley had just finished washing her hands when Lottie got her attention. “Look what arrived for you about ten minutes ago.” The housekeeper pulled a small card from a massive arrangement of red roses and baby’s breath in a crystal vase. She held it out to Riley.
A cold chill swept over Riley as the blood drained from her face. Her good mood plummeted right alongside her stomach. She grabbed the counter behind her to steady herself.
They’re from him. Why won’t that scumbag leave me alone?
She didn’t need to read the card to know the flowers were from Collin.
Lottie wiggled the card when Riley made no move to take it. “I think you have a secret admirer.”
“Who delivered them?” Her words were sharp enough to cause Lottie to fall back a step.
Lottie frowned as she shrugged her shoulders. “A delivery guy from the florist in town.”
Riley tamped down the fear that reared its ugly head every time Collin intruded into her life. Anger rushed in on its heels, and she fanned the flames. She was sick and tired of letting that man intrude in her life.
Swearing out loud, she grabbed the bouquet—vase and all—and shoved it into the trash can, sending a few errant leaves and rose petals flying.
“Why did you do that?” Lottie’s mouth dropped open, and her eyebrows shot up almost to her hairline.
Riley spun around and found Daniel wearing a sympathetic expression. “Tell her! Tell all of them!” She waved a hand encompassing everyone in the kitchen. “Call my mom and Robert. I want everyone to know. I don’t want anyone to accept a delivery like thisagain.” Then she turned and stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her.
She’d barely hit the lane when Daniel raced out of the house behind her. “Riley, wait!”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m coming with you.”
She stomped her foot on the pavement. “I don’t even know where I’m going.”
“Well, wherever it is, I’m going with you. You shouldn’t have to be alone right now.”
“What if I want to be alone?”
She didn’t. It allowed her to get too much inside her own head where she second guessed every interaction with Collin and made her question, “Why me?” It also made her feel bad for being so affected by what happened to her when it wasn’t nearly as bad as what some women experienced.
“You don’t.”
“How can you tell?”
“Because you stopped walking when I called your name.”
Huffing, she folded her arms and turned away from him. Deep down, she’d been hoping he would follow her, even though she’d told him to tell the others what happened to her.
“But I need you to tell the others.” She shook her head in frustration. “I can’t keep reliving it over and over, but I think I want everyone to know.”
“You think?”
“I don’t want people to look at me differently. What if they don’t believe me, or think I’m seeking attention? They might think I brought it on myself.”
“This is your family, Pockets. Of course, they’ll believe you.” He stepped closer and took her hand. “They all know if you wanted attention, you would do it in some loud, sensational way. Not with something like this.”
