When her lips brushed his, Liam froze. Had he been hit harder than he realized? Was he hallucinating now? But the pressure came again, her hand sliding around to cup his nape as she settled her mouth more firmly over his.
“Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit.”
Riley shot away from him as if she’d been electrocuted.
“Mom. You’re back.”
Chapter 7
He didn’t kiss me back.
Mortification burned through Riley so hot and fast, she wondered the floor didn’t collapse beneath her feet. Except, of course, it didn’t. Because that would mean the Universe was giving her some kind of an escape from this God-awful situation. She hadn’t earned enough good karma in this lifetime for that.
Her mother stood in the open doorway, expression bright with curiosity as her gaze flickered between Riley and Liam. Riley didn’t meet her eyes, and she
sure as hell didn’t look at Liam.
He slid off the desk. “Mrs. Gower. Welcome home.”
“I think I should be saying that to you.” Sharilyn stepped forward to give him a quick hug. “I’m sorry I missed your party back in December. I know your mama’s so glad to have you home.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ve been steady working my way through her backlogged honey-do list. Speaking of, I should get back to it.”
In her periphery, Riley saw him lift his bandaged hand in her direction.
“Thanks for fixing me up.”
She kept her eyes on the door frame and wrapped both arms around her middle. “Sure.”
He hesitated for a moment, and Riley could feel him looking at her, but she simply couldn’t bear to look back and see the awkward or the embarrassment or the what the hell were you thinking, you crazy woman? After a couple of eternal beats, he nodded a polite goodbye to her mother, who stepped out of his way, and beat a hasty retreat. Riley watched him go, the big bad Marine she’d taken a chance on, who’d let her fall flat on her face. Because she’d listened to Autumn’s optimism and misread him.
Her lip wanted to tremble. Aware of her mother’s attention, Riley bit the inside to keep it still.
“I never thought I’d see the day you’d go for a military man.”
Riley closed her eyes and counted to ten, waiting for the muscles in her back to loosen. They didn’t. “I’m not going for a military man, Mom.”
“Then what was that?”
“That was—” A mistake. An aberration. “—nothing.”
“Uh huh.” Sharilyn crossed her arms, her lips twitching in amusement.
“How did you get here, Mom?” Riley asked, determined to change the subject. “I expected you to call me to come pick you up from the bus station in Lawley.”
“I didn’t take the bus.”
Riley frowned. “Then how did you get home?”
“I hitched a ride with a trucker.”
“You did what?” Riley’s voice shot high with disbelief as she imagined all the worst iterations of that scenario, most of which ended with Sharilyn dead in a ditch and Riley left alone.
“I was working third shift at an all-night diner to earn my bus fare. Which was taking a while, since I had to pay for living expenses meanwhile.”
Riley ignored that subtle jab. “And, what? You decided you were tired of waiting, so you hitchhiked?”
“I got to talking to one of my customers and noticed her southern accent. Turned out she’s from Alabama and was headed home to Dothan. She offered me a ride, and I took it.”