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Just when I think I might be getting a bit light-headed from our kiss, Riley pulls back and draws in a deep, shaky breath. Her eyes glisten. Her lips are swollen.

A smile plays over my mouth and I drag a hand through my hair. “That was…” My voice comes out husky.

“Mmm,” she replies.

Clearly, we’re not operating at full capacity here.

Tentatively, I reach out and twine my fingers through hers, feeling a jolt when we touch. Riley’s stunning when she’s flushed and breathless, and it’s even better knowing it’s kissing me that has her like this.

I can’t wait to do it again.

Obviously, she’s thinking the same thing. Her gaze drops to my mouth and then back up to my eyes.

My heart races and fireworks explode in my veins. “So…” I push a strand of hair over her cheek and tuck it behind her ear. “We should probably have that talk now, huh?”

“Probably,” she says.

But talking isn’t what either of us really wants to do.

This time, it’s her mouth that finds mine first. She reaches up and presses her hands against my chest and I feel my heart hammer beneath her palms. My hands gently cup the sides of her face as I deepen our kiss.

When we both come up for air, Riley leans back in my arms and grins. “Who knew that kissing Tall, Dark, and Definitely Not-So-Irksome would be so incredible?”

That’s it.

I’m completely done for.

CHAPTER 31

Riley

BY THE TIME dinner is served in Ketcham’s Tavern, Colton and I have wandered to every corner of Fort Bellows. We never did get around to having that talk. Much like the main characters in a period piece, we’ve been reduced to quick grazes of our hands as we walk along the dirt lanes and stolen kisses in the stable when we went to check on Chance. He didn’t seem to mind, since we bought his silence with a handful of carrots.

After we make our way into the tavern, it takes a moment for me to spot Mom and Dad deep in discussion in the back corner. Colton and I start toward their table, but something about the seriousness of their expressions brings me up short. My legs go leaden and it’s like my feet have been superglued to the rough wooden floorboards.

“Is everything okay?” Colton glances down at me with concern.

My gut says no, but what am I supposed to say? I’ve got a weird feeling that my parents are about to drop yet another huge bombshell on me.

Paranoid much?

I swallow down the discomfort. “There’s only one empty seat at the table.” I look around to see if maybe there’s an extra chair we can drag over so we can sit together. Colton would be the perfect buffer between me and my parents. Unfortunately, it seems that every seat in this place is already taken.

“Oh, right.” Colton nods. “I forgot that everyone’s assigned a spot at a table, since I hardly ever come to these things. It’s hard to shift things around. I’ll just grab dinner over there with the rest of the staff.”

So much for thinking that we could eat together. My heart pangs with disappointment.

“Or we could go? You could show me how to forage for wild edibles in the prairie. How far away is the nearest fishing spot? Maybe I could teach you a thing or two,” I tease, taking a step backward toward the door.

Colton stops me by cupping my elbow. My skin sizzles under his touch.

“And have you miss out on Chef Ignatius’s authentic 1850s-style homestead cooking?” He gives me a playfully stern look and drops his hand. “That would be a real shame.”

I glance over at my parents, debating whether to bail on dinner, when my mom turns to face me. The minute we make eye contact, I know I’ll have to stay and tough it out. She waves me over while flashing a plastic smile. I hold up a hand to let her know I’ll be a minute.

Or two. Or five.

I wonder how long I can stretch it out.