Chapter Seven

Riley woke up. Something didn’t quite feel right. Actually, it felt perfect but it was different. A while later, he realized that he was sleeping next to Tania, their bodies spooned against each other as if they were meant to be. He took a few moments to enjoy the blissful feeling.

 

Her hair smelt so nice. He inhaled deeply. Although he was reluctant to move and end this pleasure, he rolled out of bed and marched into the bathroom. After a while, he got out, gathered all his clothes, and then walked out. He could leave just now and it would seem perfectly normal. He definitely didn’t want anything long-term to establish between them. She was just another woman and, although he was having fun, he didn’t intend to tie himself down to her, or to anyone else. He was a free agent, a wandering soul. Never did he ever feel the need to settle down with one woman and make a life together. Up until now.

 

For a few minutes, he stood still in her living room, waiting for his mind to clear. Surely, he wasn’t serious about this. He didn’t actually intend to have a life with her. What was he thinking? How did he feel about her? Love? The word was harsh and hit him like a punch in the gut. No way was he thinking along those lines. Love was such as alien concept, such a strange one, that his mind couldn’t comprehend it.

 

He should leave right now and never look back. The woman was a witch. She had ensnared him in some kind of a love spell that was bound to doom him. This was his chance to make a break. It was important that he not get trapped in this net that she was spreading around him.

 

His people could handle the rest of the deal. He didn’t need to be here. It was better to move far, far away in another town and take over some other deal. His work here was quite done.

 

When she sauntered out of the room an hour later, he was making pancakes in the kitchen. Bewildered, she stared at him. He could see the snap of anger in her eyes and the softening of her mouth as she saw him flip the pancake. “What are you doing?”

 

He should have gone. That would have been the best thing to do, but, of course, he couldn’t do it. He gave up his last chance for freedom for this opportunity to see the mistrust in her eyes as she walked forward and saw the full plate of hot pancakes.

 

He kept his tone light and easy. “I’m cooking breakfast. Do you want some?”

 

She settled on the stool. “Okay.”

 

Taking out a clean plate from the cupboard, he arranged two on it and presented them to her. The maple syrup and pot of chocolate sauce was already on the counter. “You’ve a well stocked pantry and kitchen. I hope you don’t mind, but I took a good look around before settling on this. Felt like having something sweet for breakfast.”

 

Instead of answering, she picked up her fork and knife, cut off a piece, and put it in her mouth. She chewed. He saw the delight in her eyes. “This is good. Is there no end to your talents?”

 

“You haven’t tasted my smoked salmon and my Delicious Death chocolate cake yet. They will melt in your mouth.”

 

“So you cook?”

 

“I do what I can. Got tired of eating in the restaurants alone. It was better to learn the basics and, of course, once I started, there was no looking back.”

 

She ate her breakfast. Once all the pancakes were ready, he poured two cups of coffee. What the hell was he doing here? The scene was far more domesticated than anything he ever experienced before. There were few opportunities for him to wake up next to a beautiful woman, and fewer instances when he lingered long enough to share a meal. Riley was choosy – and that was the reason why his heart was still intact. This woman was going to change things, though – and he wasn’t quite sure how he felt about that premonition.

 

“Sugar?” he asked, giving her no hint about the conflict that raged in his heart. He didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing that she had wrapped him around her finger.

 

This woman was dangerous. If she ever got to know that she held so much power over him, she wouldn’t hesitate to use it to manipulate him, and he couldn’t allow that. This was a treacherous, risky game and, even though he quite enjoyed it, Riley was a bit rattled by it.

 

“I don’t take sugar,” she said as she took a sip.

 

He could see the speculative gleam in her eyes as she viewed him from above the rim of her cup but he didn’t give any indication that he was aware of her gaze. Instead, he set a plate for himself and joined her on the counter. For a while, they ate in silence. It felt perfect, right, but he was aware that this was just a lull in the storm. There were too many differences between them. She was dynamite, a woman who could take care of herself and her needs. She wouldn’t just allow him to creep into her life without a fight, but he was determined to stay.

 

“This was pretty good.” Picking up her empty plate, she took it to the sink and washed it. “I can’t wait to taste your other delights.”

 

He finished his pancakes. His heart beat with joy to hear her say that. Although he could tell that she was shocked to find him in her house in the morning, he could tell that she was pleased, too. Maybe she wanted this as much as him but didn’t quite know how to express herself. That was the problem with independent, strong people – they got so used to being on their own that it was impossible to admit that it would be nice to have someone else in their lives once in a while. But he wasn’t thinking about short term. He wanted to be with her for as long as he could – for as long as his heart desired and until one of them drove apart the other.

 

But what if this was true love? No way. He didn’t know her well enough to fall for her. This wasn’t some movie in which people spent a little bit of time together and then couldn’t imagine their lives without each other. He didn’t feel like that. Not a chance in hell.

 

Picking up his plate, he carried it over to the sink. She took it from his hand. “Thanks,” he said and turned away. The scent of her, the sight of her, was enough to send desire careening through his heart. He wanted to carry her back to bed and make love to her. His body ached to feel her skin, her hands, and her delicious curves.

 

“No problem. After all, you are the one who cooked me a breakfast. I don’t remember the last time someone did that for me.”

 

Good. That meant that it wasn’t often that she woke up with a man in her house. He liked it. “Any time, sweetheart.”

 

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

 

Riley raised an eyebrow. Why, indeed? Sure, it was a term of endearment that he used sometimes, but he never actually did so for any of his girlfriends or the women he slept with. But he couldn’t admit that to her without confessing that the way he felt towards her was so much more different than his feelings for other women who came before her. “It’s because you are sweet, and because you are after my heart.”

 

“You can keep your heart,” she snapped. Startled by her tone, he turned to face her. She didn’t look up. Instead, she washed her hands and then wiped them on a towel. Carefully, she glanced at him. “Sorry. It’s just…this whole thing is making me nervous.”

 

He knew exactly what she meant but he wanted her to say it. “What thing?”

 

She glowered as if she could tell that he was being deliberately obtuse on purpose. “You and me…this thing. This strange relationship that we have developed.”

 

“There is nothing strange about it.”

 

“Maybe you are in the habit of falling in bed with strangers, but I am not,” she said in an abrupt manner. “This is new territory for me and, frankly, I don’t like it.”

 

Delighted as he was by her words, Riley couldn’t take too much pleasure in them. He felt pretty much the same. “I don’t pick up women at random. You’re…a different ballgame even for me.”

 

“So what are we going to do?”

 

A good question, indeed. His instinct was to tell her that they should call it quits. Nothing good could come out of it. “The easiest thing would be to not see each other again. You don’t have complications, and neither do it.” Was that disappointment that gleamed in her eyes? Or perhaps relief? He couldn’t be sure. “I’ve steered clear of such issues all my life. You can say that I’ve made a career out of it.”

 

She put a hand on the counter. “So have I.”

 

He stared at her, not sure what she was really thinking. If he put his heart out there and she stomped on it, he would lose his dignity along with his sanity. But the woman was well worth the pain. He would never ever find someone quite like her. It wasn’t just her beauty that held him captive, but also her inner strength, her sharp mind, and her attitude. If there was someone for whom he could risk his independence and freedom, she was the one.

 

“But if we were to try and see how this ended, it would be far more exciting.” There he said it. She didn’t speak. He felt compelled to add something. “Not that I am sure where it would lead us, but I am just saying that it might be a good idea to continue to be together for some time. What do you think?”

 

The silence stretched out, long and heartbreaking. Maybe she thought that he was an idiot. Perhaps inside, she was laughing at his audacity. He gave up hope as she didn’t say anything. It was a mistake. He should leave now while he still had some shreds of his ego.

 

As he turned to collect his things, she spoke. “I think it’s a good idea.”

 

He whirled to face her. What did she just say? “You do?”

 

She nodded, and he could the see the amusement that lurked in her eyes. She could sense that he was desperate to hear this. Was she toying with him? “I want to see how this ends. I like you, Riley. A lot. It’s kind of crazy because I’ve never let a man become so important to me, but, now that we’ve reached this juncture, I want to continue the journey.”

 

He whooped, picked her up, and twirled her around. “Sweetheart, you’re not going to regret this.”

 

Although he meant those words, Riley didn’t know that he would soon feel sorry that he ever uttered them. Being with him wasn’t good for Tania – but she didn’t know it, and neither did he.