“Probably not,” Sharilyn acknowledged. “But whether she’ll admit it or not, she wants someone to care. And you’re headstrong enough to do it for her own good.”
That was the absolute truth. He just hoped she ultimately thanked him for it.
Chapter 12
It was seven fifteen by the time Liam rolled up at Riley’s place, face freshly-shaved and hair still damp from his shower. He grabbed the envelope from the seat and stuffed it into his back pocket, then scooped up the flowers. He’d planned to wait until dinner to tell her, but as it was too damned hot for a coat, he had nowhere to put the thing and didn’t want to get distracted and leave it on the table at Tosca. If Riley was wearing The Dress, that was a distinct possibility.
She opened the door as he was climbing the steps. “Hey, Boy Scout.” The sultry smile softened as she took in the bouquet he carried. “You brought me flowers.”
“I did.” He passed them over, and she buried her face in the blooms with a distinctly feminine purr.
She was wearing The Dress. And those shoes that made her legs look long and luxurious. He got a good view of what those heels did for her backside as he followed her into the kitchen and waited while she put the flowers into water. Her makeup was a bit more subdued than the first time he’d seen her in this outfit and her hair was a bit less vintage, but she was no less a knockout. And this time he had the right to touch her. It was too damned bad they didn’t have the privacy for that.
“You’re stunning.” He lifted her hand to his lips, shifting at the last moment to press a kiss to her palm.
“You’re a charmer. I like it.” A faint blush streaked across Riley’s cheeks and down the column of her throat.
Liam wanted to follow that trail into the bodice of her dress to see if the rest of her flushed that gorgeous rosy color. “I aim to please.” And he really had to stop thinking about pleasuring her. They were about to be out in public and her mom could get home any minute. “You ready?”
“About that, is there a time attached to this surprise of yours? Reservations or anything?”
“No. Why?”
She stepped away and headed back to the front door. “Because we’re going to be late to dinner.”
“We are?” Were they about to have some serious Talk?
“See, I have a surprise for you, too, and you’re going to want to unwrap it here.” Her expression was very serious, but Liam could see the sparkle in her eyes and he relaxed.
“I am?” He made a show of looking around for a box. “Where is it?”
“Right here.” She locked the door and stepped into him, sliding her hands up his chest and around his neck. “My mother is out of town. For the entire weekend. We are finally, blessedly alone.”
In a second, Liam’s plans for the evening shifted and his body stirred. “There is a God.”
“There’s an Autumn, and I can’t even get annoyed at her interference. She’s Mom’s ride to Lawley, so there will be no interruptions.”
“Remind me to send her flowers next week.” He gripped her generous hips and pulled her closer to his growing arousal. “Is tomorrow Mom’s Saturday to work?”
With a hum of pleasure she rubbed against him. “It is.”
“Better and better. How do you feel about an entire weekend of debauchery and delivery food?”
Delight lit her face. “I love that idea almost as much as I love the fact that you just used the word debauchery.”
“Seems the appropriate term for what I have in mind.” He skimmed his hands over her curves. “I’ve given it a lot of thought since December.”
“Have you now?”
“Thorough, detailed thought.”
“Then you’d better come to bed and show me.” She rose to her toes and rubbed her lips over his—an invitation, a promise—before she took his hand and led him upstairs.
The bedroom was larger than he’d have expected, given the size of the other rooms in the duplex. It was a mishmash of furnishings, dominated by a queen-size bed and an assortment of wood pieces that matched only insofar as the distressed pale green paint. Mosquito netting was draped artfully around the head of the iron bed, which was already turned down, waiting. Liam sniffed, accustomed by now to the fact that she’d have some essential oil diffusing wherever she was. This one smelled sweet and exotic with an undertone of something woody.
“Ylang ylang and sandalwood,” she explained.
“You’re you, so I know they’re not just for atmosphere. What do they do?”