Riley frowned. “She’s struggling. She has Parkinson’s and it took a turn.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I moved back in with her to help out around the house and do her grocery shopping and stuff, just until we get services set up.” He watched her with an enigmatic expression she found hard to read. “What about you? Are you working in the city?”
“Yeah. I’m a mechanic.”
She nodded. “Not surprised. Didn’t you hate every subject in high school except shop?”
He chuckled. “Something like that. What are you doing for work?”
Sore subject. “Substituting at the high school for now. And giving piano lessons on the side.”
“I have to admit,” he said, looking suddenly sheepish, “I kind of stalked you when you finished Julliard. I looked for your name in concert halls and stuff. I half-expected you to be touring the world with some big symphony.”
She grimaced but then shrugged and smiled slightly. “Yeah. Turns out it’s hard to get jobs as a concert pianist. Who knew?” She chuckled humorlessly.
It was silent a moment then he said, “You’re good, Riley. Don’t give up on what you want to do. I still listen to your CDs from high school.”
“You do not!”
“I do. You were always gifted. The CDs the school put out to raise money for the music program are beautiful, even if their recording studio sucked.”
A warm feeling swept over her.
He cleared his throat. “So did you come here tonight to play or watch?”
She blinked. “Oh. Um, play I guess.”
“I’m free,” he said simply. “If you’re interested.” He paused then when she hesitated, he added, “No would be a perfectly understandable answer. I won’t be insulted.”
“Won’t playing together be awkward?”
“Awkward?” He chuckled in that sexy, dominant way. “I knew you when you were a virgin.” He winked.
She smirked. “Funny, I’m pretty sure you were a virgin at that point too, buddy.”
“But we fixed that.”
“Oh, we sure did.”
Chapter 2
Nate couldn’t tell how desperate he looked, but Riley showing up at Fitte seven years after giving him an “I want to take a break” line, then ghosting him, was too good a chance to pass up. It was like fate had given him the chance to get the closure he’d needed so desperately, years after he’d needed it.
He’d had so many fantasies of this moment – of what he’d do to be petty and prove she’d never meant anything to him. Yet his first instinct when he’d laid eyes on her tonight was to try to impress her. They weren’t eighteen anymore, but he felt awkward and stupid talking to her. It’d been years since he felt that way around anyone.
Vulnerable.
He didn’t do that pathetic “please notice me” shit anymore.
Not even for Riley fucking Dawson.
And how had she gotten hotter, for fuck’s sake? How was that even fair?
Part of him had thought he’d glorified the memories of her – but that beautiful oval face and expressive eyes. If anything, he’d forgotten how mischievous she looked when she smiled, and the way she bit her lip when she was horny.
Just like she was doing now, with her gaze stuck to his face but trying to drift down his naked torso. She wasn’t letting herself check him out. He was trying not to check her out and failing miserably.