Lie, Lie Again(79)

“Okay. I think you’re right.” She drew her gaze to his. “Thank you for being so nice.”

“I’m just being human. You deserve better than your ex.” His lips quivered like he wanted to say more. How sweet. He rubbed a hand on her arm as they stood. “You’re shivering. I’d offer you my coat if I had one. I thought we were on a warming trend.”

She slid her hand to his as they reached her car. She’d found a great spot on the street a block from the restaurant. “This is me,” she said, giving his hand a squeeze.

“VIP parking, huh? Lucky you.”

“Someone was pulling out just as I was pulling in. Sometimes I get lucky.”

He chuckled, and she hoped he was imagining getting lucky with her. “I was the lucky one tonight. Thanks for having dinner with me.” He paused, circling his arms around her waist. “I can honestly say this was one of the best dates I’ve had in ages.”

She was wearing heels, so she didn’t need to stand on tiptoe. She closed her eyes and brushed her lips against his. It was a light touch, more of a sweep than a kiss. She caressed a hand down the side of his face as she did. There was magic in the right touch. She pulled back, and his mouth was still slightly open, and his eyes were hooded, sexy. “I had a wonderful time with you.”

He touched a hand to his mouth. “I’ll call you soon. And be safe, okay? I mean it. If he texts you again, I want you to call me.”

She nodded and slid into her car, turning up the music on her favorite jazz station. Relaxing into the seat, she took out her phone and responded to “Hugh’s” text. The key was making things appear real, even when they weren’t. No loose ends.

Don’t! I swear I won’t tell Lily. I wish I had never met you.

That done, she pulled onto the street toward home. All in all, the night had been a success.





CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

It had been years since Riki set foot in the snow. The last time was on a family trip to Park City.

Chris’s hands were suddenly around her waist. “It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I was just thinking that.” They stared out the condo window, watching the falling snow. “Thanks for bringing me with you.”

“No one I’d rather spend the weekend with.” He brushed her hair to the side and kissed her neck. “Why don’t you get unpacked, and I’ll go with the guys to pick up food.”

She turned to him. “It’s really late. Is anything still open?”

“The pizza place is.”

“Perfect! I’m starving.”

He kissed her nose. “Me too. We’ll be back soon. Cal already called in an order.”

After their bags were in the room, Chris shrugged on his jacket and headed out with the guys. Riki watched as they left. Should she have gone with them? Evelyn and Shannon were settled on the sofa looking at something on one of their phones, their heads close. She knew Shannon only casually and had met Evelyn just the one time at the Lantern, but the two of them seemed, as her mom would say, “thick as thieves.” She headed for the kitchen as though she had a plan. Is everyone this awkward? Taking a glass from a cupboard, she inspected it before rinsing it under the tap, just in case invisible germs were clinging to it.

“Hey, Riki,” Shannon called casually. “I brought a couple of bottles of pinot. They’re chilling in the fridge. Open one if you’d like. I know I’m ready for some wine.”

“Sure. That sounds great.” And it was just that easy. Why couldn’t she be more like Shannon—totally comfortable in her own skin and seemingly not at all awkward around girls she didn’t know well?

Rowan would give her such grief if she knew Riki was worried about a social situation. You’re such a little dork, she’d say, even though Riki stood two inches taller. Every time she was near Rowan, she felt smaller. Littler. Dorkier. She found three wineglasses, giving them a quick rinse and drying them with a paper towel before setting them on the counter.

Shannon shuffled into the kitchen, readjusting her ponytail. She’d changed her clothes since they’d arrived and was now clad in black leggings, an oversize sweatshirt, and fuzzy socks. “Hey, I’ll help.”

For a moment, she was reminded of Embry. It wasn’t because they resembled each other—they didn’t. Shannon had thick brown hair and dark eyes compared to Embry’s pale hair and light eyes, but the clothing was similar. Well, sort of. Maybe she was just wishing Embry were here instead of the others. It would be much easier sitting with Embry in front of a roaring fire sipping tea rather than drinking wine with women she barely knew. She could practically see her here, bustling in the kitchen as though she owned it, her ponytail bouncing as she chatted happily about the snow outside, the kids . . . it didn’t really matter. She was just invigorating to be around.

Riki sat across from Evelyn, sighed, and tucked her legs beneath her in the oversize chair. If she looked cozy and casual, maybe she would feel that way.

Shannon settled into the sofa, wineglass in hand. “Sorry Cal was acting so weird about making a mess when we first got here. I think he has a little crush on his boss.”

Evelyn, who had been leisurely sipping her wine, set her glass on the table. “Seriously?”

“It’s not a big deal. She’s married and has a kid. Maybe crush is too strong a word. It’s more like he admires her. Maybe he wants to be a-male-version-of-her kind of thing. Bottom line is, he doesn’t want anything to go wrong here that’ll screw things up at work.”