“Glad to hear you’ve finally grown up.”
That cut deep. Heat suffused her cheeks and she was glad for her dark skin that would mask the blush she felt. “Well, it was bound to happen. Look, I have to go. I don’t want to keep Elliot waiting.”
“You do know of his reputation don’t you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“He’s one of the city’s most eligible bachelors as well as being the biggest playboy. Sure you’re mature enough to handle someone like him?”
She resented the hell out of his implication. Narrowing her eyes, she backed away from him. “Like I said, I’ve grown up. I’m not the same insecure basket case you once knew. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going. I’m sure your date is probably wondering where you are.” She sidestepped him before he could get another word in and was out of the door.
Riley took several deep breaths to calm her nerves.
“Everything okay?”
She jumped, startled at the sound of Elliot’s voice. She’d forgotten he was waiting for her. “I’m sorry. Yes, I’m fine.”
“Are we still on for that coffee?”
What she really wanted to do was go home, take a hot shower, crawl into bed and forget this night ever happened. But he had helped her out of a tight spot. The least she owed him was a couple hours of her time. “I guess so.”
Elliot chuckled, “Not the most gracious of acceptances, but from a pretty little lady like you I’ll take it. Shall we go?”
“Yes. I drove though. My car is just down the street.”
“Okay, I’ll walk you to it. I know a little place not far from here. It’s a bit of a dive but they make the best coffee this side of Baltimore. You can follow me there.”
She smiled up at him. Elliot seemed like a nice guy. Plus he was Jackson’s cousin, so what would the harm be? He couldn’t be any more dangerous than Ethan. A shiver swam through her body at the thought of that man. She wouldn’t allow him to get under her skin ever again. Because she didn’t think she’d survive the second time around.
He knew she’d be at the party. Ethan left nothing to chance; it had made him one of the most successful trial lawyers in the country. He’d prepared himself for the confrontation that was long overdue. What he didn’t expect however was being knocked back by the new sophisticated Riley. Gone was the gauche girl who’d been so insecure in herself that it had driven a wedge between them the size of the Grand Canyon.
In her place was a self-assured woman. A very sexy one at that. Those big brown eyes and rich espresso skin still had the power to make his heart race, and her curves could make his dick rock hard. She’d filled out quite nicely over the years. Riley’s once shoulder-length hair was now shorn close to her scalp, but she managed to pull the style off. It accentuated her high cheekbones and the slight tilt of her eyes. He wondered if she still wore the gloss over her lipstick that tasted like fruit or if she still preferred the same scent. He’d been prepared to see her again tonight, had even planned on it, but what he didn’t expect was to see her with a date.
Sure it was presumptuous of him to think she’d come to the party alone but a twinge of disappointment tweaked inside his chest at the sight of another man standing close and touching her so intimately as if he had the right. Ethan realized he was being irrational but it didn’t matter. She’d belonged to him first. No matter the problems that had existed between them, sex hadn’t been one of them.
“Is everything okay?” Andrea, his date for the night placed her hand on his shoulder.
It took a considerable amount of his concentration to remain focused on Andrea when what he really wanted was to follow Riley outside. He turned his head to see Andrea batting her eyelashes and clinging to his arm like she had no intention of letting go. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?”
She pouted as she ran a lacquered nail down the length of his arm. “I was saying your sister is a sweetheart. I’m looking forward to meeting your parents tonight as well.”
“She is. My parents however weren’t able to make it. My father hasn’t been in the best of health lately and the winter we’ve had in Baltimore would do him no good. They plan on flying out from Arizona a few weeks before the wedding and alternately staying with me and Megan until the actual ceremony.”
She smiled. “Well I guess I’ll have to meet them then.”
Ethan realized his mistake in inviting her along. Andrea had insisted she understood all he had to offer her was friendship but now he wasn’t so sure if she’d been honest. Not wanting to cause a scene, he moved his lips in what he hoped was a smile as he made a mental note to establish more boundaries between them. He happened to glance across the room and saw his sister shooting daggers in his direction. She’d been pleased enough when he’d showed up but not so much that he’d brought a guest.