It didn’t take long to fill him in on her, her new fiancé, and her major avoidance issues in regard to what happened with Riley’s dad.
With the exception of her part-time relationship with Riley, for her mom, it was as if the thirty-year marriage to a thief never happened. She was perfectly content with leaving that part of her life in the rearview and moving on with another wealthy man half-again her age.
Riley didn’t ask about Eric’s family, because she already knew pretty much everything there was to know.
His dad was a retired sheriff’s deputy, and his mom was a retired high school English teacher. They lived in a small town located between Dallas and the Gulf of Mexico, which was where Eric and his twin brother Derek grew up.
When they graduated high school, Derek went into the Navy and became a SEAL while Eric chose to become a Special Reaction Team Commander for the Marines.
Not surprising, given the man’s propensity to uphold the law and seek justice for those who’ve been wronged.
What she didn’t understand, what she couldn’t seem to comprehend, was why he’d chosenher.
So she decided to bite the bullet and ask him.
With her gaze locked with his—and feeling vulnerable as hell—Riley whispered, “Why me?”
His dark brows pushed together. “What do you mean?”
“You said you hadn’t slept with anyone since you saw me. Why? I mean, it’s not like I was super friendly to you or anything.”
Not even close.
“No.” His deep chuckle made her head bob up and down. “No, you weren’t. But to be fair, I wasn’t at the top of my game back then, either.”
“Nooo...” Her tone oozed with sarcasm. But then she got serious. “Why was that, exactly”
Sliding to his side, Eric positioned them so they were facing each other directly. Raising a hand to her face, he tucked some wayward strands behind her ear and smiled.
“The truth?” He gave her a boyish grin. “I didn’t know how to act around you.”
Yeah, right.“You didn’t know how to handle yourself around women? I find that very hard to believe.”
“Women in general, sure. But you...you were different.” He leaned in for a kiss. “Youaredifferent.”
“How?” Her heart raced as she waited for his response.
“Easy.” One of his muscled shoulders lifted with a shrug. “You take my breath away.”
Like he just did hers.
“What are we doing, Eric?” she whispered the daring question before she could stop herself.
Better to know now than six months down the road.
“I told you, baby. I want it all.” He pulled her closer. “I know we agreed on no strings, but...I find myself tripping over them every time you’re around.”
Oh, god.
Could he hear her heart racing? That he couldn’t seemed impossible.
“They’re everywhere.” Riley admitted quietly. “I tried to ignore them at first, but it’s no use. Every time I look at you, I feel them tightening all around me.”
“In a good way, I hope?” One corner of his tempting mouth rose in a sexy smirk.
“In the very best of ways.” She smiled back, realizing those strings she’d spent years avoiding felt really damn good. A few seconds passed before she added, “I didn’t expect it to be like this.”
His fingers led a trail of goosebumps down her arm. “Me neither.”
