The Christmas Pact(8)
“I can see that.”
She took a deep breath and turned to face me. “Okay. I’m ready to do this.”
A snowflake the size of a quarter landed right on her eyelashes. It made me smile. “I don’t actually think you are ready yet, Riles.”
“No?”
I shook my head. “If we’re supposed to be a couple, you can’t be jumping every time I put a hand on you.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “You’re right. I’ll try to remember that.”
Her cute little pert nose was pink from the cold, and she pulled her jacket tighter.
I opened my arms. “Come here.”
“Pardon?”
“Let me hold you for a minute. You know…to get you used to my touch. So you don’t jump while we’re pretending.”
“Oh. Okay. That makes sense.” She took two hesitant steps toward me, and I wrapped her in my arms. After maybe thirty seconds I felt her shoulders relax.
Without giving it any thought, I kissed the top of her head. “You good?”
She nodded. I wasn’t sure if it was her shampoo or perfume, but a waft of something floral hit me, and I inhaled deeply to capture it all. How could she smell so good after a 6AM flight?
Riley tilted her head up to look at me, but made no attempt to leave my arms. “So how did we meet?”
I smiled. “I guess you’ll find out when someone asks us. That’s half the fun of it. We’re going to ad lib the entire thing.”
She laughed nervously. “I’m totally going to get caught. I just know it.”
“Not if you trust me and just follow my lead. Can you do that, Riley?”
She didn’t seem so sure of herself, but she nodded nonetheless.
My eyes dropped to her mouth. “I’m not so certain you can. Are you sure?”
She swallowed.
Did her lips get fuller since the flight?
I found myself thinking that maybe I should kiss her. I mean, what if the circumstances called for it during the party and she flinched at my touch or something? A warmup would be totally justified. Wouldn’t it?
I lifted one hand and cupped her cheek while my other glided down to rest on her hip. Even through her thick winter coat, I could feel the start of her curves. Riley’s body trembled as I slowly lowered my face to hers. It was going to take everything in my power to kiss her gently and not suck the lips right off her face right there in the driveway in front of her mother’s house.
She licked her lips, and I nearly groaned. The warmth of her breath met the cold air and formed a misty cloud between us as our lips moved closer. God I wanted to devour that damn mouth. And I was just about to. Until…
“Riley! Is that you, sweetheart?”
Riley
Instinctively, I pushed back away from Kennedy. “Mom!” I forced a smile, hoping she didn’t notice how frazzled I was.
My mother looked between us, a tentative smile curving her lips. “Riley, you didn’t tell me you were bringing someone.”
Kennedy shrugged. “Surprise?”
“Well, yes, but a wonderful surprise! Let’s get you two inside where it’s warmer.”
As we entered the house, Mom insisted that we stop in the foyer so Kennedy could admire her decorations. She had really gone all out with the garland and red bows this year. A battery-operated Santa playing “Jingle Bell Rock” was shaking its hips in the corner.
“Who is this handsome man, Riley?”
Kennedy extended his hand to her. “Kennedy Riley. Very nice to meet you, Mrs. Kennedy.”
“Did I hear correctly? Your name is…Kennedy...Riley?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“What a crazy coincidence.”
“Is it?” Kennedy grinned and looked down at me. His face went soft as he said, “Or maybe meeting your daughter was written in the stars. I like to believe the latter.”
My mother’s eyes gleamed as she turned to me. “Charming one, he is. And how long have you been dating my daughter, Kennedy?”
“A few months now. But it seems like forever in some ways. I’ve been really enjoying getting to know your wonderful daughter.”
Determined to stay in character, I beamed at him before turning my attention back to my mother. “I’m sorry I never mentioned it, Mom.”
“Despite the fact that you know little about me, Mrs. Kennedy, Riley has certainly told me so much about you.”
“All good things, I hope.”
“Of course.”
My mother waved her hand, prompting us to move into the living room. “Well, come meet everyone, then.” As we followed her, she said, “Unfortunately, Kyle didn’t make it home this year. He’s doing much more important things in Africa.”
I felt Kennedy’s eyes on me, but I just kept walking.
My sister, Abby, was practically being attacked by her two-year-old twin girls, Naomi and Nina, when we entered the room.
When she spotted me, she wiped her hand on her dress before standing up to greet us. “Welcome home, Riley! You didn’t tell me you were dating someone.”
“Well, now you know,” I said as I hugged her. She gave me a look that said you’d better fill me in later.
“Great to meet you, Abby,” Kennedy said as he shook her hand. “How are things at the Philharmonic? What instrument is it again that you play?”