by Janice Lynn
Thankful that she’d not clammed up, Justin felt his lips twitch at her reply. “How’s that working out?”
“Not as well as I’d like—obviously. And I find no humor in it. Not everyone can look as good as you, Mr. Washboard Abs. Some of us have to torture ourselves just to maintain a semi-healthy weight.”
“Thanks.” Trying not to puff out his chest at her compliment, he grinned. “For the record, I think you look amazing.”
She rolled her eyes. “Flattery will get you nowhere. I have eyes, a mirror, and thighs that are more flab than fab. But I’m working on that.” She let out a sigh. “Thus the torture.”
He gave her a skeptical look. “What exactly is it you’re hoping to accomplish with all this torture?”
“To drop fifteen pounds.”
From his vantage point beside her he let his gaze travel down her body, then shook his head. “You don’t need to do that. You look great just as you are.”
“Yeah, if you like chunky.”
Did she really believe that? Despite her light tone, he realized that she did. She was always so confident at the hospital, and had seemed so in charge on Saturday night, that to hear the very real vulnerability shocked him.
“I don’t know why you’re under the impression you’re chunky. Take it from me—your curves are sexy as hell.”
“I...um...thank you.”
She didn’t say any more, just ran in silence, but he could tell his compliment had both pleased and disconcerted her. Was it her ex who’d put the crazy notion that she was overweight in her head?
Justin wished she could see herself through his eyes—then she’d know how beautiful she was.
“Daisy does like jogging, doesn’t she?”
Having teased her about the dog for months, he deemed that the safest topic. Not that he necessarily wanted safe conversation, but he’d tried being direct earlier and that had gotten him nowhere.
“I told you,” she reminded him, smiling as her gaze dropped to where the dog was happily keeping up. “She’s a good girl—aren’t you?” She baby talked to the dog. “Of course she prefers riding to exercising, and I’ll be having to carry her before we’re done. Takes after her mama, don’t you?”
Justin laughed. Riley obviously loved her dog. She talked about her at work often enough. He’d teased her into telling him about Daisy’s adventures numerous times since learning of her pet. Seeing her with the dog now, introduced another side of Riley.
“How long have you had Daisy?”
“I adopted her from a local shelter after...last year. I went to the shelter planning to get a guard dog.” She gave a self-derisive laugh. “I left with this sweetheart instead.”
“So when I tease you and say that you should have gotten a bigger dog I’m not far off the mark?”
“I’ve no regrets over my choice.”
Too bad she couldn’t, or wouldn’t, say the same about Saturday night.
“What about you?” she asked. “Do you have a dog? Or are you more a cat kind of guy?”
He shook his head. “No pets—which you know. You’ve been to my place.”
There he went, reminding her of Saturday night again. If he really wanted to keep the tension down he was going to have to do better.
“True. I...” She winced. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“No problem. Maybe I should get one, though—so I can train it to wake me up when beautiful women sneak out of my bed.”
What was wrong with him? He wasn’t supposed to be poking the subject with a stick.
“You foresee women sneaking out of your bed as a recurring event?”
“I didn’t foresee it being an event ever,” he admitted, hoping she wouldn’t freeze. “I’d like to think any woman I’d invited into my bed wouldn’t want to sneak out.”
She gave a little shrug. “I woke up and thought leaving was the best thing for both of us.”
“You were wrong. At least from my perspective.”
She jogged beside him in silence for a few minutes. Then, “What would be different had I stayed there?”
Her question caught him off-guard. More the fact that she’d asked than the fact that he hadn’t considered it. He had.
“I’d like to think you’d have given our coworkers a different response to their asking about us today.”
She kept her gaze focused on the path ahead of them. “What kind of different response?”
Did she really not know? Or did she just want to hear him say the words out loud?
“I’ve not kept it a secret that I want to date you, Riley.”
She turned toward him, stumbled a bit, causing him to reach out to steady her. She shook his hand away, then resumed her previous slow but steady pace.
“I didn’t take you seriously.”
“Way to deflate a guy’s ego...” he half-teased.
“That’s not what I meant. I—I meant the opposite, really. I’m surprised you want to date me.”
Once again the vulnerability in her voice surprised him. It was what he’d seen glimmering in the depths of her eyes so brightly at Cheyenne and Paul’s party—what had lured him to her despite his determination to stay away since she’d shot down his dinner offers.
“Why would that surprise you? You’re smart, funny, beautiful...we enjoy talking with one another.” Enjoy so much more with one another.“We have great chemistry. Why wouldn’t I want to date you?”
She hesitated long enough to reinforce the fact that his response truly had caught her off-guard.
“I’m not like the women you usually date,” she said finally.
He didn’t see the connection between that and her saying no. That she wasn’t like other women he’d dated was a huge plus in his eyes.
“I haven’t dated anyone in a couple of months,” he pointed out, “and the reason I want to date you is that you’re different.”
Her intake of breath was her answer. She hadn’t considered that her being different was a good thing. How could she not see how crazy he was about her?
“You are different, Riley,” he assured her. “In a great way. That’s why I want to spend time with you.”
Giving a warning to Daisy, she came to a halt, put her hands on her hips and regarded him. “Let’s be real,” she said a bit breathily. “Most women are different from the real-life Barbie dolls you date.”
Jogging in place, he looked back at her. “I haven’t dated a woman solely based upon her looks since I was a teenager.” Had he even then? “Any woman I’ve dated has had more going for her than just looks.”
But even if looks were a qualifier Riley had nothing to worry about. Everything about her appearance appealed to him. Her eyes sparked with a green fire that would dull any gem. A soft sheen of sweat glistened over her skin, giving it a healthy glow. And her body... Well, he knew how her curves fit perfectly against him.
Still, he wanted her to understand about Saturday night—that he hadn’t meant things to proceed as fast as they had, that she was more to him than a one-night stand. How did a man go about saying that to a woman who seemed not to want any more than that without coming across all wrong?
“Such as?” she asked, and then, having obviously caught her breath, took off down the trail again, Daisy quickly taking a slight lead.
“The last woman I dated was a veterinarian who volunteers with a local Spay Your Pet program,” he pointed out as he fell into step beside her, not wanting her to think he was a total loser.
But he didn’t really want to discuss his exes. At some point he’d explain about Ashley, but he got the impression Riley would add his failed relationship with her to what she perceived as his revolving dating door.
“If I’d had a dog,” he continued, “she’d have been handy to have around.”
“You don’t have a dog, though,
so that couldn’t have been your reasoning.”
He might almost believe that was jealousy tingeing Riley’s reply.
“Stacey was a nice woman,” he defended. She had been. She’d also been in love with someone else. “My mother still volunteers at her Spay Your Pet program a couple of times a month.”
“Does your family live close, then?”
“My parents live just south of Columbia. The rest of our wild bunch are scattered within a thirty-mile radius. We get together every week or two for dinner.”
“You’ve always lived here, then?”
He nodded. He’d been lucky when he’d been placed with the Brothers family at such a young age and they’d adopted him. So many kids never got any family—much less one like he’d had.
“My family is close.” In more ways than one. “I’ve no desire to move away. What about you?”
She hesitated a few seconds before answering. “I moved to Columbia for university, but I grew up in a small town close to the Florida state line.”
“You never thought of going back after graduation?”
She shook her head.
“I’m glad you stayed. Otherwise we wouldn’t have met.”
She rolled her eyes. “You sure you’re used to running? You may be suffering from lack of oxygen.”
“Because I’m glad we met?”
She stared straight ahead, but rather than answer came to another stop.
“Need a break?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Going to give Daisy a drink. I should have when we stopped a few minutes ago. You go ahead—don’t let us hold you up.”
“I’m in no rush.”
He knew better. If he took off he wouldn’t see her again until they were back at their vehicles. If then. He wouldn’t put it past her to find a way to leave without his knowing again...
CHAPTER FOUR
DAISY HAD BEEN as good an excuse as any to put a halt to their conversation. Riley recognized her action for what it was.
She couldn’t figure Justin out. If she took him at face value he seemed too good to be true. And things that were too good to be true were exactly that. Not true.
Unzipping her pouch, Riley took out a small container of water and let Daisy lap from the lid. When she was done drinking the dog sat down and stared up at Riley with big eyes.
“Had enough, girl? I don’t blame you. If I looked as good as you I’d demand to be carried too,” she cooed, earning a few hand-licks as she picked her up and cuddled her in her arms.
“All you have to do is say the word?”
Riley blinked at Justin. “Pardon?”
“I’ll carry you anywhere you want to go,” he offered, his eyes full of challenge.
“You’ll carry me?”
Grin on his face, he nodded.
“That would be humorous. Not that I’d do it to you,” she added quickly, patting her thighs. “Wouldn’t want to hurt the hospital’s best orthopedic surgeon’s back.”
His smile fading a little, he met her gaze. “Don’t do that.”
“What?” she asked, not following what he meant.
“Insult yourself or imply that you aren’t perfect.”
Heat flooded her face, but she stood her ground as she stroked Daisy’s fur. “Stating facts isn’t insulting oneself and no one is perfect—least of all me.”
“Then you were insulting me when you implied I’d hurt my back if I carried you?”
“I—Can we just get back to jogging?”
He studied her a moment, then challenged, “Hop on, Riley.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I need to prove that carrying you is no big deal. My man card demands it.”
She looked toward the evening sky and shook her head. “You’re crazy.”
“Think of it as part of my workout,” he teased, leaning forward a little and lowering himself for her to hop on.
She rolled her eyes. “I should—just to teach you a lesson.”
His eyes sparkled. “I’m always up for learning a new trick.”
Something in the way his eyes glittered, as if he didn’t think she’d do it, had her contemplating taking his challenge. Made her want to. How rebelliously teenagerish of her.
“Scared I’ll drop you?” he pushed.
“No, that didn’t cross my mind.” It hadn’t. “I just don’t think Daisy would like me riding on your back.”
“Think she’d be jealous? You could hold her.”
His grin was full of mischief—as if he could read her thoughts and knew she was tempted, as if he wanted to tempt her further.
“I’m all sweaty,” she warned him, not believing she was even considering taking up his offer.
“It’s summertime in South Carolina. Everyone is sweaty. Come on, Riley. Have some fun.”
A vision of Johnny telling her to do the same, to “have some fun,” echoed through her head. What was it he’d said? That she lacked spontaneity and he was glad he’d realized before it was too late?
She’d been grieving her mother’s death. Of course she’d been “uptight” and “dull.”
That didn’t mean she was now.
She narrowed her gaze at this grinning hunk, pushing her outside her comfort zone.
“If you drop me,” she warned, “‘fun’ isn’t the word I’m going to use.”
His eyes glittered. “If I drop you, you can use any word you like. Ready?”
It was probably because of Johnny’s taunts that the silliness of riding piggyback with Justin through the park, even if only for a few yards, tempted her so much. Maybe Johnny had been right. How long had it been since she’d done something carefree and out-of-character?
When had she become boring?
She was content with her life, or maybe she’d just been treading water. But something about Justin made her entertain things she wouldn’t otherwise consider.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, that nagging inner voice assured her.
Justin bent lower, so she could grab hold of him around his neck. “Your chariot awaits, ma’am.”
She shoved aside the last bit of doubt and instantly felt lighter.
“Hang on,” she told him, putting Daisy back on the ground. “I have to make sure we don’t tangle up her leash.”
“Can’t have that.”
“Now we’re ready.” She wrapped her arms around Justin’s neck and hopped a little, to make it easier for him to scoop her legs around his waist. Once he had her up Daisy gave a yap, clearly not liking that Riley was on his back.
“Shh, Daisy—stop that.”
But Daisy kept barking and Riley kept shushing.
“This may not work,” Riley warned Justin when the dog didn’t calm. “She’s small, but she can make a person wish he was deaf.”
“She won’t bite?”
“She never has before.”
“Then hang on.”
With Daisy still yapping at his feet, Justin took off in a playful trot.
They wouldn’t win any speed contests, but they weren’t trying to go full force—more just having fun. Being with Justin was fun. It was also a bit nerve-racking to have her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms wrapped around his neck, for his skin to be against hers, to feel his body heat, his strength against her...
She so shouldn’t be thinking the things she was thinking.
Daisy gave a few more yaps, but then settled, just looking up at them as she kept pace.
Justin made carrying her seem like nothing. But having her body wrapped around his, even in this innocent way, wasn’t nothing—not when he made her feel everything. When their skin-to-skin contact, even though innocent, felt nothing of the sort.
Her thighs tightened reflexively.
“Put me down,” she ordered aft
er he’d gone a couple dozen yards. How could she be battling the urge to lean in and kiss his neck at the same time as feeling so childlike in their antics? “You’ve proved your point.”
She might have worried that she was too heavy for him to carry, but he wasn’t huffing or puffing or straining in the slightest. Which added dainty to the list of things he was making her feel. Had she ever felt dainty?
Laughing, Justin kept on jogging, his hands securely holding her legs at his waist. “Hang on and let me make it to the bridge. Man card on the line, remember?”
His man card had never been on the line. She knew exactly how manly he was—was haunted by memories of his manliness. And he sure wasn’t laboring to carry her, which was a testament to how in shape he was.
Looking ahead, Riley eyed the bridge. It wasn’t that far away, and he was making good headway in its direction.
“Okay. Since Daisy has hushed, and you seem determined to do this, to the bridge it is. Can’t have your man card being revoked on my account.”
“Phew, thank goodness for that.”
“No one would believe this,” she mused.
She didn’t believe it. Who’d have thought earlier today that she’d be riding on Justin’s back?
“Take a picture for proof?” he suggested, giving her leg a squeeze.
“Yeah, right. A picture of this—that’s what I want. Not.”
“I want one,” he surprised her by saying. “Take one for me. I bet we look cute.”
“‘Cute’ is not the word I’m thinking.”
Being careful to hold on with one arm around his neck, she dug into the pocket at her waist to pull out her phone. She didn’t want a photo of them, but... But he said he did, so it would be rude not to take one, right?
He slowed to a stop as she held the phone up high, trying to get them at a decent angle.
“Here, let me.”
Riley tightened her legs at his waist as he took her phone, held it farther out in front of them.
“Say cheese.”
“Cheese!” she said, keeping her smile in place.
“Hmm, I couldn’t get Daisy in,” he said, holding the camera up again. “Let me try from a side angle.” He snapped a couple more shots, then surprised her further by saying, “Now a silly one.”
