“Yes, but Liam is wonderful,” Val said with a happy sigh.“Not all men are.”She frowned and added, “But Riley is pretty great, even if he is my brother.”
“I know.But that night I just wanted someone who could help me forget and who I could forget just as quickly.”
“So, did it help you forget?”
“I don’t know.I never got the chance.Riley saw us and dragged me out of there before anything could happen.”
“That’s when you knew he was interested.”
“No.I just thought he was going all big brother on me.I’ll admit it surprised me because he hasn’t acted that way in a long time.So I yelled at him on the way to my place.Once there I told him I didn’t need a big brother interfering in my life.I’m thirty years old, for heaven’s sake.”
“What did he do?”
“Said he wasn’t my brother and kissed me.”
Her eyes widened.“Whoa!I’d say that was a big clue.”Eyebrows raised, she asked, “So how was it?”
“It was good.”Really, really good, to be honest.“Obviously he doesn’t think of me as a sister.It’s been a long time since I lived with your family, and he’s clearly gotten past that.”
“Have you?”
“You know I’ve never thought of Riley as a brother.Never mind that.Then he pissed me off and I threw him out.”
“What else did he do to make you so mad?”
She wished she’d thought before she mentioned that little gem.Oh, well, she might as well tell her.Val would just worm it out of her eventually.“He said if I was so determined to have sex, he was available.”
Val laughed out loud.“And yet, you let him live.”
“Yes, and he’s lucky I did.”
“I had no idea my brother was that clueless.”
“He sure was that night.”
“Wow.You and Riley,” Val said, shaking her head.“I remember when you had such a crush on him.”
“I was eighteen, Val.I’ve grown up since then.”
“So you have no romantic feelings toward him?None at all?”
“Oh, hell.I don’t know.I haven’t thought about him like that in years.I can’t figure out what brought this on.I mean, why me?Why now?”
“You’ll have to ask him.”
“There’s more.I could tell he wanted to kiss me again at Thanksgiving.But he didn’t.”Which was her fault.But damn, she couldn’t get involved with Riley.What if he really did want to settle down?She wasn’t the settling-down type.Falling in love was too dangerous.You could never depend that the one you loved wouldn’t be taken away from you.Like her parents.
“Can I say I would love it if you two got together?”
“I wouldn’t get too excited yet.”
“Why not?He’s single and interested and you’re single and…” She paused.“Look, I know he’s my brother, but Riley is a really good guy.”
“I know.He’s a good guy but when did he decide he wanted to settle down?”
“Recently, apparently.Has he asked you out?”
She nodded.“I said no.”
