“That’s not surprising.She doesn’t exactly trust men, although I’d have thought she’d be okay with you.”
“You’d think.”
“I’ve been worried about Letty for a long time.I’m so glad she’s finally found a decent guy she can be with.”
“Thanks.”He asked his sister the question that had been bothering him from the first.“She said she’d only date me if I don’t plan to get serious.Do you know what that’s about?Is it the cowboy?”
“Him?I don’t think so.That was a long time ago and he was a jerk.”
“Something happened to make her that way.Maybe it soured her on cowboys.”
“True.I think it did.But she knows you.She doesn’t think of you as just any cowboy.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I know Letty.What’s going on?You’re acting like…Riley!Are you in love with Letty?”
“Say it a little louder, Val.I don’t think the entire party heard you.”
“No one else is around.Answer me.Are you?”
“It’s too soon for that.”But he was afraid he was falling.And if he couldn’t convince Letty that she wanted more as much as he did, that was going to be hell.
“That makes me so happy.You two are perfect for each other.I don’t know what took you so long to see it.”
He picked up his beer from the table and took a long sip.“Don’t get too excited.”
“Why?What’s the problem?”
“She only wants a fling.”
“Well, change her mind.”
Letty returned and said, “What are you two talking about?”
“Nothing,” Val said.“I need to go see what happened to Liam.Something tells me he’ll be at the food table.See you later.”
“You were talking about us, weren’t you?”she asked after Val left.
Riley shrugged.“You know Val.”
“I do.And she’s probably jumping to all the wrong conclusions.”
Probably.It was too bad those conclusions were the ones he wanted to jump to as well.
“Do you think so?”He put his arms around her and pulled her close.
“Riley, what are you doing?”
“Kissing you,” he said, and did so.
He felt her sigh and then her arms came around his neck and she kissed him back.“You’re dangerous,” she said.
“You’re one to talk.”
“I’m ready to go.Are you?”
He smiled.“You read my mind.”
