Chapter Twenty-One
Letty had noidea what she was doing.She just knew that she couldn’t leave things between her and Riley as they were.She took off her coat and hung it up.She hated that she’d hurt him.Val had accused her of ‘breaking’ him.While she didn’t believe that, she knew that Riley thought he was in love with her.She could still see his face when he’d said they were through.Beneath the anger was a world of hurt.
And she’d done that to him.
When she agreed to a fling, she’d had no idea she would begin to feel so strongly about him.Or that he’d fall in love with her.
Admit it, you’re in love with him.
But it didn’t matter.She couldn’t allow it to matter.What if he—
“All right,” Riley said when she let him in.“I’m here.What’s so important?”
“Can we sit down?And can you take off your coat?”
Riley took off his coat and tossed it over a chair.Then he sat, but grudgingly.
“I, uh, I don’t like the way we left things.Why can’t we be friends?”
He looked at her like she was crazy.“We broke up.We’re over.Done.How can I be friends with you when every time I see you, I want to take you to bed?”
“So we’re just supposed to ignore each other?That’s impossible in Marietta.”He didn’t say anything.“I—I miss you.”
“Damn it, Letty, I miss you too.”
“Then why are we avoiding each other?We said we’d be together until after New Year’s.”
“And then like magic we’ll break up and all will be well?Do you really have no clue how I feel about you?I want to marry you, Letty.I have almost from the first.”
She sucked in a breath, realizing he spoke the truth.“Why did you agree to a fling, then?”
“Because that was the only way you’d be with me.Besides, I thought—hoped—you’d change your mind.”
She wanted to.But she was scared.Riley had no idea what it was like to lose the two most important people in your life.If she let herself love him, then he’d become the most important person in her life.If she’d learned anything from losing her parents so young it was that you couldn’t depend on those you love always being there.Bad things happened.
She realized she wasn’t quite rational on the subject.She’d had enough counseling to know that.But she still couldn’t take the risk.She didn’t believe in happily ever after.That sure hadn’t worked out for her parents.
Still, she wanted him.So badly.One last time?
He stood.“What are you doing?”she asked.
“I’m leaving.”
She stood as well.Put her hand on his arm.“Don’t go.Stay with me.”
He rubbed his jaw.“You know what will happen if I do.”
“I know.I’m counting on it.”
“It’s a bad idea.A really bad idea.”
“Why?”
“Having sex will just make things harder in the long run.”
“I don’t care.Stay with me, Riley.Please.”
*
