“Planning on it.My ranch manager is going to be around until late.So even though I can’t stay overnight, I won’t have to rush home.Want to get some dinner?”
“Okay.Where?”
“I’ll see if I can get a reservation at Rocco’s.If not we’ll figure out something else.”
“Sounds good.I’ll see you later.”
*
Riley didn’t eatat Rocco’s often.If he ate in town it was usually at Grey’s or the Main Street Diner.But Rocco’s was special.Romantic, quiet, good food, dimly lit, candles on the tables, classical music playing, beautifully decorated.It wasn’t really his type of place, but he wanted to take Letty somewhere special.He’d already told her he didn’t want to break up after New Year’s.She hadn’t really answered.
He knew he should probably leave it alone.But damn it, he was in love with her, and he didn’t believe she didn’t love him too.Even if she wouldn’t admit it.Maybe he should wait until after Christmas.He’d bought her a beautiful necklace.Her birthstone set in a circle of tiny diamonds.She would probably freak over it but she’d have to deal with it.He really wanted to give her an engagement ring but it was way too soon for that.Especially since she still hadn’t said whether they were breaking up or not.
“You look beautiful,” he told Letty when he picked her up.She wore a red dress that skimmed her figure and stopped well short of her knees.
“Thanks.You clean up nice too.”
He was wearing dress slacks and a button-down shirt under a blue sweater he hardly ever wore but he’d been told before it brought out the color of his eyes so he figured it wouldn’t hurt.
The hostess led them to a small table in a corner.Letty ordered a glass of white wine, and he ordered a beer.He’d thought about having wine with her but the only alcohol he really liked was beer and he didn’t drink a lot of it.
“The library is closed for Christmas and the day after,” Letty said.
“Good.I might be able to come over the day after.My parents are happy you’re coming for Christmas dinner.Mom is depressed since she can’t see Val, Liam, and the baby.The doctors still don’t want her around a lot of other people, especially kids.”
“Your poor mom.I’m sure it kills her not to see Vivian at her first Christmas.”
“Do you ever think about it?”
“Think about what?”
“Having kids.”
The waitress chose that moment to take their order—lasagna for him and chicken Parmesan for Letty.Once they’d ordered the subject changed.Just as well, Riley thought.Judging from her startled—or was it panicked—expression, he wasn’t sure he’d have liked her answer.
He’d planned to give her the present at dinner, but he decided to wait until they were back at her apartment.For whatever reason, he was nervous about her reaction.He suspected she’d refuse it, at least at first.
“I have your Christmas present,” he told her once they were sitting on her couch.
“It’s not Christmas yet.”
“I know but I don’t want to wait.”He got up and pulled the long, slim jewelry box out of his coat pocket.“Merry Christmas.”
“Riley, you shouldn’t have done this.”
“You don’t even know what it is.”
“It’s jewelry.You don’t need to buy me jewelry.”
“Relax.It’s not a ring.”
“I can see that.”Reluctantly, she opened the box.He heard her suck in her breath and she simply stared at it.“It’s beautiful.”
“It’s your birthstone.”
“I know.This is so sweet of you.”She closed the box and handed it back to him.“But I can’t accept it.”
“Why not?”
“You know why.It’s too much.It’s not—It’s not a gift you give to a woman you’re having a fling with.”
“Is that what we’re having?Because that’s not what it feels like to me.”
