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Why had Riley left?
She’d enjoyed their lovemaking. She hadn’t faked her responses. Not the first time or the second. She’d have told him if he wasn’t pleasing her. She’d not been shy in saying what she wanted, and he hadn’t hesitated in giving her that and more.
No matter. He’d thought she was through denying the sparks between them, but now she’d made how she felt clear enough. He didn’t need a flashing neon sign that her being gone this morning wasn’t the making of a promising relationship.
He couldn’t make someone want him when they didn’t. He’d learned that almost before he’d learned to walk.
Feeling a fool, he raked his fingers through his hair, stopped the blender, then poured his smoothie into a plastic cup.
Rather than head downstairs to the condo complex’s gym, he pulled out a chair at his kitchen bar and contemplated his relationship with Riley—starting from the moment they’d met. Even before then...
From the outside looking in, he and Ashley should have had it all had they married.
Only their idea of “family” had varied.
Justin had always wanted kids of his own, but planned to adopt as well. Ashley had known about the foster boys Justin was involved with, but the week before their wedding she’d told him she wouldn’t be raising someone else’s kids—not even his “little charity cases” whom she barely tolerated.
Justin had called off the wedding and several months later had relocated his job. He’d thought he’d focus on the boys until he met someone who wanted the same things he did—to have a big family, which included adopted and—Lord willing—birth children, and maybe a few foster kids along the way.
Then he’d met Riley.
An orthopedic nurse full of curves and sass who refused to date him but ruined his interest in every other woman.
They’d seen each other out socially a few times. But, determined not to let her get to him, as he had no desire to chase someone who claimed she wasn’t interested, he’d done his best to stay away and had brought a date to each group event.
For the past few weeks he’d not even bothered dating because he hadn’t been interested. And he’d known the reason.
Riley.
He’d enjoyed talking with her last night—enjoyed how, while the conversation had flowed vocally, their eyes and body had been communicating in a whole other language.
When he’d asked if she was ready to leave the party she’d not hesitated, immediately taking him up on his offer to drive her home.
Only the moment they were in his car he’d half-jokingly invited her to his place for drinks, to sit on his balcony and enjoy his view of the river.
He’d expected a flat-out no.
Instead, she’d agreed.
He should have known better. Maybe he had. But he’d been caught up in the way she’d been looking at him. And he’d barely gotten the engine turned off in the parking garage before they’d been all over each other, taking their garden kiss to another level of intensity.
Thinking back, he was surprised they’d made it to his bedroom. Had the elevator ride to his floor taken much longer they wouldn’t have. The chemistry had been that powerful.
Probably because of how long he’d wanted her. How much he’d wanted her.
Frustrated, Justin downed the rest of his breakfast, then walked back into his bedroom so he could jump in the shower.
He’d really thought they had something special.
Too bad Riley had left.
* * *
“I wasn’t expecting you to stay at Cheyenne’s party after Sam and I left. How late did you stay?”
“Not too late.”
Riley eyed Cassie from across the table and took a sip of her coffee. The hot liquid scalded her tongue, but she gulped the drink down rather than give any sign of unease.
