“I have great memories.” It’s then I remember she probably doesn’t. “Do you remember your parents?”
“No.” She pulls her hand back and I hate the cold that replaces it. “I don’t even have a photo. The only thing they left me was the ornament that got broken.”
I find that hard to believe. Especially after hearing what Uncle Granger said. “I can try to repair it. I had a look and the pieces are big enough that I should be able to put it back together with glue.”
She gives me a small smile but remains silent while I put all the ingredients in a pot and get it on the stove. Washing my hands at the sink, I turn to find her right behind me, dirty prep dishes piled up in her hands ready to be washed.
Stepping aside, I let her place them on the counter and watch as she fills the sink with water. She quickly gets to work scrubbing the chopping board, and I can’t stop myself from wishing this was my life. That Riley was here all the time. As my wife.
“Felix.”
Her voice snaps me out of my daydream, and I meet her gaze over her shoulder. “Yeah.”
“Did you really want a wife?”
We haven’t talked about this, not really, because I didn’t want to pressure her, but I promised myself I wouldn’t lie to her. “Yes.”
“Why?” Her gaze moves from mine, takes in the room behind me. “You don’t want to leave here.”
“No. I don’t. But I won’t make my wife stay if she wants to go.” My words have a double meaning. I’d never keep my wife trapped on this property, she’d be free to come and go. And I’d never make my wife stay with me if she wasn’t happy.
What I don’t say is that I wish that wife was her.
RILEY
Felix has been in his office for over an hour.
I should be occupied. He set me up with a laptop and not one but two streaming options before he locked himself away. The number of things I can watch is mind boggling. I’ve bounced around to so many options, I’m sure I’ve checked out a few at least twice.
And there is dinner to keep an eye on too.
Except I’m restless. Can’t concentrate. Keep looking over at the closed office door.
I miss him.
Miss his presence in the room.
How can I miss a man I’ve known for less than twenty-four hours?
And why do I want to know everything about him?
What does he do that requires a closed door?
Would he close the door if I wasn’t here?
So many questions swirling in my head. It’s no wonder I can’t concentrate on any of the movies I’ve tried.
I feel like Felix has been part of my life forever and now that he’s not within sight, I feel lost. I could knock on the door andI know he’d answer, but I don’t want to interfere with his work. It’s been less than a day—I shouldn’t feel this dependent on a man who didn’t expect me.
I’m just someone who is passing through, moving on as soon as I can.
When he talked about his mom, about the accident that changed both their lives, I wanted to hug him, hold him close, and promise nothing bad would happen again. Except I can’t make that promise. I’m nothing to him. I’m definitely not what he expected.
I didn’t mean to ask him about his search for a wife, but the more time I spend with him, the more we talk, the closer I feel and the more I want to be that wife. Maybe.
I know I don’t want some other woman here with him.
He picked me!
