Chapter Three
“Hi, Riley,” Valsaid.“Were you looking for me?”
“No, but I think Liam could use some help.”
“What’s wrong?Is it the baby?”
“She’s fine.Well, sorta.I just left your place, and Liam was having a hell of a time trying to stop Vivian’s meltdown.”He didn’t want to worry her, just get rid of her.Having a meltdown seemed harmless enough.Besides, it could be true.
“Oh, no.I’d better go.Poor Liam flips out at that sort of thing.”She turned to Letty.“Thanks for making the pies.I’ll see you then, if not before.”
“You’re making pies for Thanksgiving?”Riley asked as she left.
“Yes.What are you doing here?”
“Can you take a break and go get a cup of coffee?”
“Depends on what you want.”
“To talk to you.”
“Talk to me or lecture me?”
“Still pissed about last night, huh?”
“Ya think?You were a jerk.”
“Guilty as charged.Let me make it up to you.See if you can take a break.”
One of the other librarians had walked up in time to hear him and said, “I’ll cover for you, Letty.”
Letty frowned.“Thanks, but—”
Riley interrupted.“She’d love that.Thanks a lot.”
Letty sighed but gave in.She picked up her jacket and they chose to walk since it was a mild day.“Want some help with your pies?”
Her head whipped around, and she stared at him.“Since when did you learn how to cook?”
“I haven’t but I can help if you tell me what to do.”
She snorted but didn’t comment.After they got to the Java Café and ordered—black coffee for him and a white chocolate mocha latte for Letty—he found a seat at a table by the window.
“All right, I’m here.Now, what do you want?”
“There’s a country music concert in Livingston tomorrow night.”He named a singer he knew she liked.“Want to go with me?”
“Are you asking me on a date?”She looked utterly incredulous.
“Yeah.Why is that so hard to believe?”
Letty leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest.“Oh, I don’t know.Maybe because in all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never asked me out.”
“I’m asking now.”
She stared at him, her expression unreadable.Finally she said, “No.I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’m not buying.”
“It’s not a game.I want to take you to a concert.You’re not involved with anyone, and neither am I.There’s nothing stopping us.”
