"He's smitten." Loco took a drink of milk before digging back into his meal.
Spoon rolled his eyes. "This coming from a love sick fool." When Loco asked him to join them for brunch, he should have declined politely and stayed in bed.
Oakley tittered. Loco joined her, a wide smile on his face. "Love sick, yes. Fool, never."
"Awww." She leaned in to kiss Loco on the chin. "Thanks."
A stab of envy shot through him at the easygoing demeanor between his best friend and Loco's fiancée. Although cliché, he could actually say they were made for one another. Sure, they had their issues, but who didn't?
Once again he considered Riley and realized how he longed for the companionship and bright aura of love similar to what existed between Oakley and Loco. Deep down, he knew she completed him, fit into his life like a key into a lock. If only he could remedy his prior fumble and coax her into making a place for him in her heart and life.
He made headway with the small niceties he bestowed on her now and again. While definitely adding up on his overall batting average, he could never quite hit a home run with her. Determined not to rush her, he bided his time, declining the urge to nudge her along at a faster pace, reminding himself often that just because he knew what he wanted with Riley didn't mean she saw the same path ahead for the both of them.
Drinking his juice, he contemplated opening the discussion further for input. While he didn't expect his best friend to come up with a great romantic feat, his fiancée sure might. Releasing a pent up breath, he waded into the water.
"I've been thinking about doing something special for Riley."
Both Loco and Riley turned their attention to him. "Such as?"
He shrugged. "I don't know for sure. Something to show her I really care. That I'm not just after her for shits and grins."
"Ahh. I think I see." Oakley patted her mouth with a paper towel. "You've fallen for her and want to show her how you really feel."
"She's still a bit hesitant around me. I need it to sink in that I'm serious about her and about us, that she's not just another notch on the bedpost."
"Is she already a notch on your bedpost?" Loco asked.
Spoon flicked his gaze to Loco and frowned. "No. She wants to keep a slow pace with our relationship before getting that far. I can respect that."
Oakley and Loco shared a grin, which immediately prickled him with annoyance. "What?"
"I think Riley's a lucky woman." Oakley sipped her juice. "And, you're right. We need to come up with the perfect romantic evening to show her how valuable she is to you."
"We?" Loco's eyebrow shot up.
Her brows furrowed at her fiancé. "Yes, Rambo. We."
Biting back a grin, Spoon waited patiently for Oakley to divulge some secret feminine knowledge to them.
She pinned him with a look. "You've read her books, right?"
He nodded sheepishly, then smacked Loco in the upper arm when he snickered.
Oakley waved her hand at them both. "I would think an author writes romance as they would like to be romanced themselves. That makes sense that they would use their daydreams in their stories, in some sense fulfilling their own fantasies while sharing them with others."
Thoughtfully, he tapped a finger on his chin. "I never considered that."
"Yep. Just pick out a feasible and particularly wonderful scene from one of her novels and re-enact it." She drained the rest of the juice from her glass. "I think she'll be moved by it."
He considered the books he'd recently read. One stood out above the rest. "I have an idea. Just have to go home to read over it again, then set things up." Excited about the prospect, he began collecting his dirty dishes.
"If you need any help, let me know," she offered, her lips curling up at the corners.
Loco shoved the last bite of breakfast into his mouth. "We did a good job."
She snorted. "Like you had any ideas."
"Oh, but I do. Lots and lots of ideas. They all revolve around you. Naked. In the bed." His low voice turned teasing and sensual.
"Hey. I'm still here. Can't you at least wait until I walk out the door to get busy?"
Tugging his shirt off, Loco grinned. "How soon can you be gone?"
Oakley stood, carrying her plate to stick in the dishwasher. Spoon followed suit, handing the dishes over when her hands were empty once more.
"Don't listen to that overzealous horny toad. The table has to be cleared, dishes put safely in the dishwasher, and trash in the bin before we can even consider anything else." She eyed the extra-large black and white spotted Great Dane stretched out on a bed mattress in the middle of the floor. "If we don't, he will knock everything off and make a horrible mess in his quest for treats."
Loco opened the refrigerator, replacing the milk and juice.
Spoon grinned. "I don't think Achilles has that problem. At least, Riley's not mentioned it."
"Achilles?" Loco shook his head. "What is wrong with you people naming your dogs after Greek gods?"
"What? You expected her to name him after you?" Spoon teased his best friend. "I can see it now. Here, Tanner. Don't pee on that tree, Tanner. Get off that poodle, Tanner. Don't eat your own poop, Tanner." Tanner was Loco's given name, though no one called him that.
Oakley burst out laughing while Loco grumbled under his breath. "Funny."
Spoon chuckled and checked his watch. "Thanks for breakfast." He gave Oakley a hug. "Don't let this big baboon push you around."
"As if."
Spoon gave Loco a quick hug, too. When Loco looked askance, he shrugged. "I didn't want you to feel left out."
With a short laugh, Loco gave him a shove. "Get out of here. I have a mighty fine woman to play with and you have a date to plan."
Saluting, Spoon made a hasty exit, his mind already turning to details of the impending date.
Chapter 16
Riley watched Achilles lope around the large enclosure at the dog park, stretching his long legs while sniffing the air as he explored the area. His smooth gait covered great chunks of ground even if he wasn't near the speed of the more streamlined and smaller breeds. Still, in her opinion, a bit thin, he continued to fill out nicely, no longer the gaunt, forgotten dog. Instead, he embraced the rags to riches story in true doggie fashion. Not that she was rich, but with Spoon footing the bills on the canine's toys and supplies, he lacked for nothing. She showered him with love and affection, realizing how much she'd missed having a pet in her life.
"Riley?"
Turning, she spied a young, athletic looking woman with waist length dark hair pulled into a long braid, wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. "Oakley?"
The other woman nodded with a grin. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"Same here." Oakley had called her last night out of the blue. After introducing herself, she asked if they could meet and get to know one another a little better. Since Riley and Achilles had never been to the local dog park, Oakley declared it a perfect opportunity to let the dogs run as they chatted.
Shifting over, Riley made room along a shady section of fence so Oakley could join her. "Is that Hercules?" She pointed to a long legged Great Dane busily sniffing the rear of a husky mix.
Oakley chuckled. "That's him. Friendly as ever."
Riley smiled, already liking Loco's fiancée. "Achilles hasn't really interacted with the other dogs yet. I think he's a bit unsure what they are." Her eyes locked on the huge tan canine hanging out in the shady section, simply watching the action.
"Give him time. From what the guys told me, he didn't have the best life by the little they saw."
"Poor thing. I still can't understand how anyone can just toss a dog outside and ignore them."
"At least his story has a happy ending." Oakley turned her head to look at Riley. "Speaking of happy endings… how are you and Spoon getting along?"
Not surprised at the topic, Riley shrugged. "Good, I guess. We've been casually dating for a bit and it's gone well thus far."
> "Just good, huh?"
Not sure where the conversation was headed, Riley blinked at the brunette. "You sound disappointed."
Oakley waved her hand. "Not at all. It's just that I thought you two clicked right off the bat. For some reason I figured that meant you and he were well on your way to a long term relationship if not a commitment."
Blinking again, she opened her mouth, then closed it. "I'm not sure what his intentions and wishes are. Heck, I'm not even sure how I feel." Puffing out a breath, she explained. "We did hit it off, were on the express lane, until a make out session smacked me in the face with the realization of how quickly we were progressing."
"Too much, too fast?"
"Definitely. Not that I didn't want to. It's just when I had a moment to think, I knew that it was going at blazing speed, one that I didn't feel comfortable with. When and if I sleep with a man, I want to make sure it's the right one and he's in the correct frame of mind for something more than a fling."
A slow grin appeared on Oakley's face before she turned her attention back to the dogs running amok in the fenced in area. "I felt the same way."
"You did?" Astonishment washed over Riley as what Oakley said sank in. She would never have expected someone of such beauty to withhold herself from the sexual side of life.
"Yep. For reasons I won't bore you with, I opted to wait for the right man to come along. Perfectly content if he didn't, I never thought about it much until Tanner came into my life. Then, not only did I think about it, I longed for it."
"I take it you took the fast track?"
"You could say that. But, I knew deep down first that he was the one for me. Nah, he's not perfect, but neither am I. Together though, we're happy."
"So, you're saying…" Riley trailed off, a bit perplexed why the woman she just met stood there sharing such intimate details about herself.
Spinning around, Oakley faced her. "I'm saying that Spoon really cares for you. You're all he talks about and he's pulling his hair out trying to make up for his supposed faux pas."
Riley's face heated at the reminder of that night even as a hefty layer of guilt settled on her shoulders. "It's not his fault."
"Not what I heard. He blames himself for pushing too hard and is trying his darnedest to make things right, to earn your trust again."
"But I do trust him. How could he think otherwise?"
"Perhaps because you haven't told him?"
Riley sighed. Oakley was right. What did she expect Spoon to think if she never told him diddly squat? Probably the same way he expected to read her mind through her actions. Which meant both of them hadn't a single clue and would be chasing the truth around like a dog after his tail.
"He's not the most vocal guy and tends to keep his feelings to himself. I imagine all the Wind Warriors are that same way. But, from what I've seen, that man loves you, whether he admits it or not."
Love? Spoon loved her?
Joy and happiness surged through her, lifting her spirits, and painting a bright canvas over her previous bleak picture full of self-doubts and insecurities.
"Are you sure? He's not said anything…"
Oakley shrugged. "Actions speak louder than words sometimes. If you haven't noticed he's a bit frugal with his money. Always has been from what I gather. Saving up for retirement. Yet, he didn't blink about taking in Achilles, bringing him to you, and providing all the supplies necessary. I know for a fact that cost a pretty penny. He also worries that you don't eat enough either when at work or at home while you're busy writing. Told Tanner that your refrigerator is pretty bare at times. He's concerned about that and makes sure to bring you food now and again to make sure you have a decent meal. Let's see. What else? Oh, yeah. I'm sure you're aware that he never stayed with the same woman for more than a few days. Felt the world held too much temptation and the grass was always grew greener on the other side. Yet, he's given up the playboy lifestyle since meeting you. Preferring to take long walks with an oversized canine and simply talk to you." She sucked in a breath. "Considering you guys haven't been intimate yet and the way he's talking about the future and earning your trust, I would wager its more love than misplaced lust. Don't you think?"
Thinking carefully for a moment, Riley soaked up all Oakley's words, sorting through them and analyzing for truth. She couldn't argue with anything said, because she saw the same caring qualities and behavior with everything Spoon did with and for her. Was that love? Or simply something he did out of concern for her wellbeing? Did the reason really matter? Honestly, she cared for him, more than she had for any other man. He brought out her sense of humor, made her feel beautiful, and supported her in her dreams and endeavors. She craved his presence and felt a loss when he left for home. Was that love? Having never been under the influence of such an emotion, she couldn't say for certain. Friends, definitely. Lovers, not yet, but perhaps soon. In love? Now that was the question. One she intended to discover the answer to soon.
She flashed Oakley a sincere smile. "Talk about can't see what's right in front of your face. Thank you for pointing out things I've overlooked."
"You've made a decision?"
"Sort of. I'm going to give it some serious thought, but I think everything you mentioned just might tip the scale in his favor."
Oakley grinned. "You love him." The tone and phrasing came across as a truthful statement.
"I'm not sure. I think maybe getting there, but it's hard to be certain."
"Go with your gut and your heart. I did. Now, I'm pretty darn happy."
Riley tilted her head, a small smile growing on her face. "I can see why Loco loves you."
"And I can see why Spoon loves you. You just have to promise one thing."
"What's that?"
"I want autographed copies of your new releases."
"Deal." With a chuckle, Riley turned her attention back to Achilles who lay panting in the shade with a cute solid black dog a few feet away. While not interacting per se, the mastiff appeared relaxed and perfectly comfortable with the new canine sharing his personal space. Maybe as she had learned to live with a dog the size of a pony, Achilles would learn to live with a canine friend, too, given a bit more time. Have someone to play with, to take naps with, and to share his life with.
Perhaps she should take a page from Achilles' book. With a bit of time and effort, she could learn to share her life with a man. Not just any man, but with the one of her dreams.
Chapter 17
"Where are we going again?" Riley asked, peering out the passenger side window.
Spoon grinned at her rampant curiosity, already bugging him at least a half dozen times as to the plans for the evening. Patience wasn't a virtue in Riley's world.
"It's a surprise. But we're just about there."
Turning into a parking lot, he quickly found an empty space.
She glanced around here and there, bewilderment written on her face. "I still don't get it."
He hopped out of the SUV, headed to her side in time to take her hand. Beeping the car locked, he led her around the corner. Crossing his fingers, he prayed the timing played out perfectly so they didn't have to stand around for twenty minutes shooting the breeze on the side of a fairly busy street.
"A bit longer and you'll see." He reassured her with a squeeze to their joined hands.
One more turn and he released a relieved breath.
"Oh, my." Her soft voice carried full of awe and disbelief. "A carriage ride?"
"Yep."
The pristine white carriage waited as promised. A tall black horse pawed the ground in impatience as the driver dressed in a full white tux and tails tipped his hat to Spoon.
"Good evening. I'm here to take you to your dinner reservations."
Riley slowly ambled up to the horse, running her hand over his smooth rump. "So beautiful."
"Yes, you are," Spoon whispered behind her as he ushered her to the step. The flirty navy blue long summer dress hinted at curves, wisping in the gentle breeze.
The color brought out her lighter complexion and accented her emerald green eyes. Black flats completed her wardrobe. Quietly beautiful, she garnered his undivided attention this evening.
His black slacks and matching shirt took a step down from formal, matching her clothing choice well. He'd advised her to wear comfortable clothes and shoes as a stroll could be in their future. Pleased that she'd listened and followed through, he eagerly awaited her reaction to each portion of the date he'd arranged.
Lifting her with ease, he soon had them both settled in the leather seats as the horse took off in a crisp trot.
"This is unbelievable." Riley turned her head this way and that, taking in the sights.
Unable to take his eyes off her, Spoon settled in for the short trip to the upscale restaurant. Her pretty face retained a bright smile while her eyes danced with delight, only adding to her unrivaled beauty. All concerns that she would balk at his attempt at romance fled like a lonesome rain shower in the desert. He knew in all his days he would never forget the sheer look of happiness on her face as she bubbled with joyful energy.
All too soon, they arrived at their destination. Spoon helped her out of the carriage, digging out a handsome tip to the carriage driver. After a gracious word of thanks, the man called to his horse and they headed on their way.
"We're eating here?" She extended her neck to read the sign above their heads, blinking in the sunset.
"I hope you like the food."
She glanced over at him. "You've eaten here before?"
"No. But, I've heard good things about it." Wrapping an arm around her waist, he escorted her through the front door and into the building.
"May I help you?" A hostess dressed in a long black dress greeted them immediately.
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