For weeks afterward, Jeanette had slept in his bed. It’d broken his heart to see her in such pain. He never wanted to see her that way again. His heart couldn’t take it.
“Since you plan to babysit me, then, I suppose I could rustle up some breakfast.”
Reilly perked up at the mention of food. “If you weren’t my twin, I’d kiss you, tongue and all.”
River shook his head and glanced at the clock on the stove. It was nearly six now. Seven hours until he could see her and know for himself that she was okay. Ah hell, it was going to be a long-ass day.
Chapter Two
I’M COMING OVER. SEE YA IN A BIT.
Jeanette’s heart sped up. River was on his way. She’d gotten the text from him twenty minutes ago. God, would she always feel this instant jolt of electricity whenever the man’s name came to mind? It infuriated her that she couldn’t stop wishing for something more than friendship with him. No matter what she did, no matter how hard she tried to avoid him, River still invaded her daytime thoughts and nighttime dreams.
“Reilly says River’s been worried sick for you,” Lucy said as she sat up straighter in the chair and crossed her legs. “He cares about you a great deal.” Lucy smiled as if she knew how much Jeanette needed to hear that. “Although I’m not sure he knows it.”
Jeanette’s stomach knotted, and she shifted around on the couch to get more comfortable. Her body ached from being thrown to the concrete sidewalk last night, and she had a mild concussion. From the moment she’d opened her eyes earlier in that morning, it’d felt like someone was using a jackham
mer against the inside of her skull. But she took heart in the knowledge that she’d gotten in at least one swift knee to the mugger’s groin. It hadn’t been a total loss. “Maybe he does care, as a friend, but it’s not meant to be more than that between us.”
Lucy frowned and flipped her long, black hair over her shoulder. “What do you mean?”
The image of River with the redhead sprang to mind, and her head began to pound even harder. “I’ve had a small glimpse of what River really wants in a woman. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s me.”
“You seem so sure, but isn’t it possible you’re wrong?” Lucy shrugged. “I mean, I wasn’t exactly expecting Reilly to come barreling into my life. Honestly, that’s half the fun, though.”
Jeanette was genuinely puzzled by that remark. “What do you mean?”
“I rather like the idea that he came along when I least expected to find love. Not knowing what’s going to happen between us is thrilling.”
“Reilly isn’t River, though.” Lucy had a valid point, but there was one problem with her logic. Reilly had been ready for love. He’d been ready for Lucy and the twin babies. Jeanette didn’t think River would ever be ready to settle down. God, he needed a swift kick in the ass.
Lucy crossed her arms over her chest. “So, you don’t think we’re in control of our own fate, is that it?”
Jeanette wasn’t sure what she believed. Not anymore. At one time, she’d had all the confidence in the world that River would someday belong to her. Now… “I think fate is leading River and me down different paths. Clearly, fate hates my guts. The bitch.”
She chuckled. “Wow, I never knew you were such a cynic.”
The words hurt more than she let on. “It’s not cynicism. Merely instinct.”
“You’re condemning the relationship before it even has a chance to take seed.” Lucy paused, then added, “Or could this be more like self-preservation?”
She shook her head adamantly. “It’s called facing reality, Lucy.”
Lucy let out a deep breath. “Look, I know that I’m being annoying here, and you probably don’t want to deal with this right now, not with that knot on your head, but you’re too intelligent to simply give up.” In a gentler tone, she said, “You love him very much, but it seems to me that you’re being too hard on River. You don’t really expect him to be celibate do you?”
Jeanette bit her lip in frustration. She couldn’t let Lucy’s words take root, because pursuing River at this point felt too much like banging her head against a brick wall. A big, stubborn, gorgeous and annoying brick wall. “You’re right, I’m being unfair. But I’m also through pining for a man who sees me as an inexperienced child.”
“Isn’t it possible that your mind is in a different place right now?” She indicated Jeanette’s injured body. “You’ve been through something very traumatic. Give yourself a break here.”
Jeanette considered that a moment. She had always prided herself on being an open-minded person, accepting of new possibilities. Why then was she so anxious to close her mind to a relationship with River? “I don’t know. Maybe you’re right.”
She smiled and patted her hand. “Of course I am.”
God, Jeanette was so confused. She didn’t know which end was up. She sighed and rubbed her eyes; then pain shot through her hand. “Ouch.” She held up her palm, remembering too late the skin on her left hand was scraped raw. The pain meds the doctor gave her weren’t quite cutting it.
“I guess I’m not really thinking straight right now,” Jeanette admitted, wanting to put an end to the conversation. “I should give River and me a chance.”
“Damn right you should.”