Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 33445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33445 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“To be honest, I don’t think I am going back to Denver. It doesn’t hold the appeal it used to. I’d rather stay in Burkett where I can be close to you guys.” It was the honest truth. Tallin and Riley were her rocks, and she knew that without them, this situation would have broken her.
“Really?”
There was surprise in his voice, and she glanced up again. She beamed at the happiness that shone on his face. “Yeah, seriously.”
His smile was broad.
“I’m glad my decision makes you happy. My feelings might have been hurt if you had suggested I go back.”
His face had gone serious, all hints of the previous happiness gone. “Why would I do that?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. During Christian’s wake, a lot of people were telling me I should go back to Denver. They told me staying in Burkett might be too hard. I know they meant well and didn’t want to see me in pain, but the more I thought about it, the more the idea of leaving hurt.” She heard his chair scrape across the floor a second before she was being pulled out of hers and wrapped in his warm embrace.
He just held her, neither one of them speaking as he led her into the living room, their dishes forgotten.
Chapter Eight
Something more
The fire crackled and popped, and she felt the cushion beside her dip as Riley sat next to her. Shoulder to shoulder, they watched the flames silently.
“It makes me immensely pleased that you’re deciding to stay in Burkett.”
She drew her gaze away from the flames and looked over at Riley. “I like staying here and being with you guys.”
They sat for several moments in silence before he spoke again.
“I don’t want to lie to you. It was hell while you were away. I hated it.”
“I was only a phone call and drive away.”
He was shaking his head before she even finished. “No, you know it isn’t the same. I missed giving you hugs, having lunch with you. Just being with you.”
Tears started to well in her eyes as he spoke such soft and loving words. She reached her hand out and cupped his cheek. He leaned into her embrace, his eyes closing momentarily before opening again as he looked down at her.
She let her hand fall, swallowing as their gazes continued to stay locked. He lifted his hand and trailed his finger along her jaw.
This isn’t right. Stop thinking about Riley like that. He’s your best friend.
“Do you know how much I care about you, Lilly?”
She nodded. “I love you, too.”
“No.” He stopped speaking for a second and just looked into her eyes. “Do you really know how much I love you?”
She swallowed from the intensity of his voice. “I love you, too, Riley,” she said again. He gave a humorless laugh and shook his head, running his hand over his hair. The short strands stuck up haphazardly, but it looked good on him.
“It’s hard, Lilly.”
Her brows knitted as she stared his profile. “What’s hard?” She had a feeling he wasn’t talking about Christian’s death.
He glanced at her again with an emotion she couldn’t quite place. “Loving you—wanting you when I know I can’t have you.”
Her mouth opened slightly at his admission because she knew the love he was talking about had nothing to do with the love two friends shared. “What?”
Oh, she had heard him, but her mind was reeling with what he had just revealed. She blinked a few times as both of them stared at each other. Her heart started to pound frantically when he slowly moved forward.
Oh God, he’s going to kiss me.
“Stop me, Lilly. If you truly don’t feel the same way, then stop me.”
He sounded strangled, haggard. His mouth was an inch away from hers, his sweet breath brushing along her lips in a sensuous way. Even though she knew she shouldn’t do it because they were friends, lifelong ones at that, she couldn’t help the rush of emotions that filled her by Riley’s admission.
She did love him, was so in love with him that her heart hurt with the pent-up emotions. Even though what they were about to do may not be right, she was helpless to stop it.
He gently cupped her cheek as he tilted his head and pressed his mouth against hers. The kiss was soft and tentative, his lips so smooth and warm that they instantly had her body lighting up.
He started to move his lips along hers, his tongue tentatively stroking along the seam of her mouth until she opened and let him inside. He tasted like syrup, sweet and addictive and making her erogenous zones tingle with awareness.
She brought her hands up and gripped his biceps, the muscles beneath her fingers flexing as he moved closer to her. His other hand cupped her waist, his mouth still working slowly against hers.