After parking his car, he turned off the engine. “I’ll walk you to your door, of course. I’m curious to see how things went while we were gone.”
“Yes, so am I.”
She reached for her door handle, but Riley stopped her by placing a hand on her shoulder. “You’re sure you’re okay about what happened tonight? With Beatrice, I mean.”
“I’m really okay,” she answered firmly. “I haven’t given it another thought.”
“You won’t let her attitude keep you from attending more local events like this in the future?”
“Riley—have I ever given you the impression that I’m either shy or lacking in self-esteem?”
He considered that for a moment before replying. “No, actually. I’d say you seem quite comfortable with who you are.”
“Exactly. I’ll attend any future event that interests me—and I’ll tell anyone who asks that I’m a waitress at the popular Rainbow Café. If Beatrice would rather be served by me than dine with me—tough. That’s her problem, not mine.”
The smile he gave her expressed his approval. “Good for you.”
She expected him to release her and move away. Instead, he remained where he was, his hand lying warmly on her shoulder, his face only inches from hers. The inside of the little sports car seemed suddenly smaller, the shadows surrounding them deeper. Funny how quiet it had suddenly become. She could almost hear her own heartbeat—and it wasn’t a reassuringly steady sound.
She cleared her throat. “I suppose we should go inside.”
“Yeah. We should.” But he didn’t move.
Swallowing hard, she tried again. “You were going to walk me to my door?”
“Yeah. In a minute.”
“There’s something else you want to say first?”
“In a way. I’m trying to talk myself out of it.”
“Why? What is it you want to say?”
He took her completely by surprise when he sl
ipped a hand around the back of her neck. “This,” he murmured—and covered her mouth with his.
The kiss didn’t last long—which didn’t mean it wasn’t powerful. Whether because it was so unexpected or simply because it was from Riley, that firm press of lips left Teresa’s head spinning and her heart pounding.
She drew back with a faint gasp. “Why did you do that?”
“Call it an impulse. Or maybe a response to your challenge.”
“I didn’t challenge you,” she retorted gruffly. “And we agreed we would keep our friendship strictly platonic.”
“I know. But you really could tempt a saint, Teresa. And I think we both know I’m no saint.”
He found her tempting? She had enough feminine ego to be secretly pleased by that admission, even though she immediately chided herself for her weakness. “Just…don’t do it again,” she said, and maybe she was talking to herself as much as to Riley.
“I’m not sure I can promise that.” He was wearing his mischievous grin again, the one that dared her to try to put him in his place. “But I will promise that I won’t kiss you again unless you want me to.”
That brought her chin up. “Don’t hold your breath.”
He ran a fingertip across her still-tingling lower lip. “I don’t have to. You want me to kiss you again right now. But I’ll wait.”
The arrogance of this man flabbergasted her. Even if he considered himself teasing her—and with Riley it was hard to tell—that statement was outrageous. “I’m going in,” she said, reaching for her door handle.
“Probably a good idea.” He opened his door. “Who knows what would happen between us if we stay out here much longer. Considering your problem with willpower when it comes to me, of course.”