“A little. You have to admit we both had a good run and a nice talk.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, we did. But...”
“But what?”
“There has to be a consequence for your action.”
He started to back away, half grinning. “I don’t like the sound of this.”
Before he could get out of reach, she stood on her tiptoes and dumped the rest of her water on top of his head.
“Whoa!” His eyes grew wide. “That’s cold!” Then he grinned and took a step toward her. “And refreshing.”
The teasing glint in his eyes told her she was next. “No, you don’t,” she said, turning to dash off.
But he grabbed her around the waist, holding the water bottle above her head. Then he stilled. Droplets dripped from his hair, running down the side of his face and cheeks. One landed on the top of his lip, and she couldn’t resist wiping it away.
He held her close to him, water poised above her head, for what seemed like forever. At any moment he would dump the water on her. Her heart slammed in her chest. Why didn’t he? She was leaning back from him, which meant he was supporting a good bit of her body weight, but he didn’t seem to struggle with it at all.
“Hayden,” she whispered.
“Yes?” His eyes didn’t leave hers.
The attraction, the desire she saw in his eyes stirred her. Was this part of getting to know Hayden better? She knew it wasn’t, not in the casual way she and Mimi had discussed.
No, there was nothing casual about this moment.
Even if she wanted to stop herself, she couldn’t... and she absolutely did not want to stop. She slid her arms around his neck, threaded her fingers through the damp ends of his hair, and tilted her face to his.
Then she kissed him.
Chapter13
Hayden couldn’t think. He threw the water bottle to the side and pressed Riley against him, accepting the gift of her kiss while trying to hold himself back. It wasn’t easy, but he managed, letting her take the lead as she explored his mouth with hers. Heaven. This was pure heaven.
When she eventually pulled away, he searched her face, unsure what to expect. Her kissing him hadn’t even been on his radar. He told her the truth about using the talk with his parents about the store as a ruse to see her again, and he’d intended their run to be relaxed and friendly. But holding her in his arms, reeling from a kiss he hadn’t wanted to end... He had no idea how to react.
“Riley,” he murmured.
“I...” Her eyes were wide with shock, but she didn’t move away. He could also see the satisfaction on her face.
That boosted his ego. “What?” he asked, running the back of his fingers over her hot cheek.
“I’m all sweaty and stinky and—”
“I don’t care.”
She couldn’t face him. “I don’t know why I did that.” When she started to squirm in his arms, he reluctantly let her go.
“I hope it was because you wanted to.” He held his breath, because there was a chance she could devastate him now and not even realize it. When Riley had her guard up, she couldn’t be budged.
But that guard was nowhere to be seen. “I don’t like being confused. I don’t like not understanding how to act or react. But I do like how I feel with you.” She shook her head. “You probably think I’m crazy or silly. Or both.”
“How about neither? This is new territory for me, too, Riley. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”
“Then you’re not confused like I am.”
“I didn’t say that.” He put his hands on his waist. “How about we stop analyzing this and just live in the moment? Why don’t we just enjoy the time we spend together, without worrying about what comes next?”
