She sat down on the edge of a chair and motioned for Daisy to come to her. Daisy lifted her head, gave a look that said Whatever, then rested back against Justin.
“For the record, you’ve established that I’m the opposite of my very spoiled dog.”
He laughed. “Maybe with time you’ll let me spoil you.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” she warned him.
For dinner, they ended up at a Mexican place, and discovered they had similar tastes in food.
“I don’t eat out a lot, but I do love this yummy cheese sauce,” she admitted, dipping a chip into the creamy mixture.
He could tell. Her face showed pure pleasure with every bite, and left him more interested in watching her than in eating. Not that that was anything new.
They talked about nursing school, med school, how they’d both arrived where they were in life now.
Justin couldn’t recall a conversation he’d enjoyed more—not counting his talk with Riley at Paul and Cheyenne’s party.
“I think they’re going to throw us out of here if we don’t leave soon,” Riley mused.
Justin glanced around and realized they were the last customers in the restaurant, and that the staff were putting chairs up on empty tables.
“I guess more time has passed than I realized,” he admitted, standing and dropping some money onto the table.
“Our waiter was giving us the evil eye the last time he asked if we wanted anything else,” she teased. “There was still one other occupied table, so I didn’t respond.”
“I missed that.” Because he had been too caught up in the woman sitting across the booth from him.
Between their kayak trip, the yard work, and their long dinner, he’d spent most of the weekend with her. An unexpected pleasure, for sure. But he still didn’t want it to end.
When they pulled into Riley’s driveway she didn’t immediately get out of the Jeep, so neither did Justin.
Maybe she felt the same way he did.
“I—part of me wants to invite you in.”
His heart pounded at her admission. He wanted her to invite him in, but he also wanted her one hundred percent on board when that happened.
“I’ve mentioned how much I like that part of you. Still, I understand.” He did. Mostly. “I’ll walk you to the door, then leave.”
She picked up her purse from the floorboard, as if she was going to get out, but still hesitated. “I...maybe we could sit in the backyard for a while?”
Pleased by her suggestion, Justin jumped on the offer. “I’d love to. If you’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” She got out of the car, headed to the back of the house, then paused. “I’ll need to let Daisy out first, though.”
“It’s okay,” he assured. “I promise I won’t force my way into the house.”
Her gaze cut to his. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know. I’m teasing, Riley. I don’t want you so nervous about my being here tonight. I was trying to lighten the mood.”
“Sorry.”
“I don’t want you sorry, either.”
Her gaze lowered, as if she carried a heavy emotional burden, but then she smiled—albeit an obviously forced one. “Today was wonderful, but it may take me a while to get used to the idea of you at my house.”
Earlier, he’d wondered if she’d been the one to call off her engagement—now he asked himself what kind of a number her ex had done to her? He reached out to take her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze that he hoped conveyed she was safe with him. He’d never intentionally hurt her.