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But Craig was not letting this go. “So, why is he touching you?”
“He was saying good-bye. That’s it. Come say hi to Dylan; he’s missed you.”
“Remember the hard time you gave me about Annie? I’m watching you.” With another fierce glance in his direction, Craig stomped past Mitch into the house.
“See what you’ve done?” Riley whispered. “The last thing I need is my brother and cousin on my back about you. Let’s just forget about this.”
Mitch put his hands in his pockets; he didn’t trust they wouldn’t reach out to Riley again without any message from his brain. “It’s been four months, Riley. I haven’t been able to forget a single thing about you.”
She caught her breath, her eyes darkened. He waited.
“Nothing can come of it, Mitch, you know that. Having been jilted at the altar has cured me of ever going down the relationship and marriage road again. I also have a son to think of.”
“So, what? I’m just supposed to forget what has happened between us?”
“People kiss all the—”
Before she could finish her sentence, he pulled her closer and kissed her again. Only when she melted against him, her body pliant and shivering, did he lift his head.
“Not like this they don’t,” he growled before he turned away and walked toward his car.
What the hell was he doing? He had no business lusting after Riley O’Sullivan of all people. His two sisters were married to Riley’s brother and cousin. It made the whole thing even more complicated.
She was right—this should end right here.
He glanced back toward the front door. Riley was still standing there, her fingers on her lips—how was he supposed to forget this picture?
Cussing, he stepped on the gas. What happened between him and Riley when they were together wasn’t that easy to ignore. What was more—he wasn’t the only one who thought so.
*
Riley’s insides werestill shivering by the time Aunt Janice stopped on Main Street, and it wasn’t from the cold. What Mitch’s kisses did to her…
“Ooh, Mommy, look at all the Christmas lights!” Dylan called out.
Blinking, Riley tried to focus on what was going on around her. The previous times she’d been in Marietta, she’d been fascinated by the beautiful Old West ambience of the town. With classic western storefronts, the magnificent mountains surrounding it, Marietta was indeed a beautiful place.
And now, for Christmas, the town had been transformed into a winter wonderland. Every single store along the street was lit up by Christmas lights and decorations.
“Come on, you two,” Aunt Janice called out as she got out of the car. “The parade is about to start. There’s Annie and Vivian!”
Riley made sure Dylan’s jacket was buttoned up; he had his gloves on, and his knitted ear-flap hat was covering his ears. As she got out of the car, she gasped. “Wow, it’s cold!” She crouched down and helped her son out of the car. “Come on, sweetie, let’s go say hi to Aunt Annie and Aunt Vivian.”
Dylan looked wide-eyed at everything around them. “So many lights,” he breathed, apparently not even aware of the cold.
“Aunt Janice, Riley!” called Annie as she and Vivian hurried over to meet them.
Smiling broadly, Annie hugged Riley. “I’m so, so happy you’re here!” she called out before she bent down to pick up Dylan. She kissed him on the cheeks until he laughed before she put him down again.
Chuckling, Vivian also hugged Riley. “I believe we have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Ask her about kissing Mitch,” Aiden said as he and Craig also reached them.
Ignoring her brother’s words, Riley looked around them. “Any place close-by where we can get something hot to drink? It’s freezing!”
“Sage Carrigan’s chocolate shop is just ahead,” Vivian said, pointing down the road. “You haven’t tasted chocolate until you’ve tasted her hot chocolate.”
“Oh, look, here’s the parade!” Aunt Janice’s voice was nearly drowned by the noise.
