“He’s something.” And as soon as she got ahold of him, his ass was grass. That overbearing, meddling… Unless her mother was behind this, which was equally possible. She knew exactly how to play a natural caretaker like Liam.
Mrs. Wofford continued, oblivious to Riley’s rising blood pressure. “Listen to me chattering on. You’re obviously headed somewhere to deliver those coffees. Give your mama my best.”
“I will.” Ears ringing and half blind, Riley moved to doctor her coffee.
She’d told him. Explicitly forbade him from getting involved with this. And he’d gone behind her back.
“Well, if it isn’t Riley Gower.”
Riley closed her eyes. Just fucking perfect. It was beyond her capabilities to manage a polite smile, but she thought she managed not to grimace as she looked up to see Amber Hopper Butts.
“Amber.”
“How are things?”
Riley didn’t trust that cheerful smile for a moment. This woman was a shark. “Things are great Couldn’t be better.” Go away.
“No, I don’t suppose they could. Taking the old dog’s tricks and adding some of your own, I see.”
Her hands curled to fists. “I beg your pardon?”
“You’ve got Liam Montgomery on the hook to pick up the tab for you and your mother. That’s a pretty trick. But then your mom always excelled at that, so I guess you had a good teacher.”
Through a red haze, Riley was dimly aware of the coffee inches from her hands. She imagined grabbing a cup, hurling the scalding contents into Amber’s face, listening to her scream. Another more rational part of her mind pointed out that Amber was the type to sue, and Riley really couldn’t afford an attorney right now, even if a jury of her actual peers would never convict her.
Amber was still talking. “You may as well enjoy him while you can. He’ll tire of you soon enough and walk away, just like all your mother’s men. He’s far too smart to stand for being used by a needy woman.”
Riley opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She tried to reel the humiliation in, to remain impassive, but her face suffused with heat and her hands began to tremble. How could she be just as trapped, just as helpless now as she had been as a child?
Amber’s lips curved in satisfaction. “Still tongue-tied? It’s no wonder. There’s no real defense for being a gold digger.” Without another word, Amber strolled away, unhurried, as if she hadn’t just shivved Riley between the ribs.
Even knowing Amber’s perspective was skewed, Riley couldn’t stop herself from seeing the situation through her murk-colored glasses. And she felt dirty. Did people really think it was like that? That she was using Liam for his generosity? That she was stringing him along on her behalf and her mother’s? Shame and humiliation washed through her, kerosene to the flame of temper already licking up her spine.
She couldn’t do anything about Amber, but she could sure as hell confront the most recent source of the problem.
~*~
Liam’s back ached and his head throbbed after hours of ripping up flooring. Whoever had laid the original planks had never intended them to come up. Ever. An hour in, he’d been forced to call for reinforcements. Mitch had managed to round up a few guys, but Liam had let them go a couple hours ago to get on home to their families. He could finish up the last little bit. And then, God willing, he’d get a nice cold beer and something to fill the gnawing in his belly. Lunch was way too many hours past.
He wondered how Riley was getting on with her presentation and whether she was getting close to a stopping point herself.
As if summoned by his thoughts, she walked through the door. His heart give a happy little bump.
“Well you’re a sight for sore eyes.” He started to lean in to kiss her, but she lifted the caddy of coffees she carried.
“I brought drinks. Cold brew?”
He plucked it out of the carrier. “Don’t mind if I do. Thanks.”
“Chai tea for you, Molly.” She set the drinks on the counter, but didn’t pick up her own.
Molly grabbed hers. “Mmm, with the cinnamon on top, just like I like it. You’re a sweetheart.”
Riley folded her arms and surveyed the progress, her face strangely blank, the way it got when she was trying not to look upset. “You’ve been very, very busy.”
Liam wanted to smooth out those ripples he knew were underneath. “I know it’s a mess right now, but once the new floors are in, you won’t even be able to tell it happened.”
“I’ve got a long memory. It’ll take me a while to get past it.”