"You look like you sweated off enough calories this morning to eat whatever you want. Don't tell me you rode that bike of yours all the way over here?"
"Okay, I won't tell you."
Nan sat down across from him. "'What's wrong?"
"Everything," he said heavily.
"It's Paige, isn't it? I knew you liked her."
"Yeah, well, it doesn't much matter."
"Why not?"
"It's a long story, but let's just say that Paige will protect her family's reputation no matter who else gets hurt in the process."
Nan's eyes sharpened. "Who else is going to get hurt?"
"Maybe Grandpa."
"Oh, honey, I don't think your Grandpa could get hurt right now."
"Wallace Hathaway claims that Grandpa stole that dragon from him and tried to burn down the store fifty years ago. It's crazy, I know. Grandpa would not do any of that. And I know they don't have any proof, or they would have done something before now. But I don't want your name being dragged through the mud."
Nan's expression grew troubled. "Oh, dear. That doesn't sound good."
"You don't sound as shocked as I thought you would be." An uneasy feeling ran through him.
"I don't know anything about what you just said, honey, but I know Ned had a bit of a temper when he was younger. And he could be a show-off, a braggart. He liked to impress people. I thought it was rather charming. I kind of liked his bad boy image to tell you the truth."
Riley's eyes widened. " 'His bad boy image'?"
"He drank quite a bit when I first met him. He was always hanging out at the Irish pubs, telling stories. He was a little wild back then. All the girls loved him, but he didn't always treat them right. Until he met me, of course. Then he changed. Not all the way, though—there was always a toughness about him " She paused. "Life wasn't that easy for Ned. He grew up poor, got drafted when he was eighteen, went to war, almost got killed from what I understand. Then when he came back, he had to find work in a city that didn't think much of Irishmen. He always struggled. But he always found a way to survive."
"Do you think he could have stolen something from Hathaway's?"
"No," she said quickly. "He wasn't a thief."
"I didn't think so," Riley said, much relieved.
"But there could have been a misunderstanding," she continued.
And just like that his relief fled. "What kind of misunderstanding?"
"I couldn't say. But now that we're talking about all this, I do remember that Ned was very upset after the fire at Hathaway's. I thought it was because he would be out of a job for a few months. Maybe there was more to it. I don't know. We didn't talk about his work much. I do know this. Your grandfather wasn't perfect. He made mistakes. He was human. I know you love and respect him, Riley, but don't put him up on a pedestal or under a microscope. Not many of us could withstand such scrutiny."
"It might not be my choice."
"Paige won't hurt you. She likes you too much. I saw it in her eyes." She smiled at him. "And I am never wrong."
"You might be this time."
"We'll see. I have faith in that girl. She'll come through. She'll do the right thing."
He had a feeling that Paige's idea of the "right thing" would be vastly different from his own.
"We need to do this," Alyssa told her mother as Jasmine prepared breakfast for them in her apartment.
"We are not invited to the New Year's Eve celebration."
"It's a family party, and we're family. I say we go."
"Why?"
"Because this is the most important holiday of the year. It's a time when families are supposed to be together, and I feel a strange and intense need to be with my family this year."
"You do?" Jasmine asked with surprise.
"Yes. I want you to come with me. I don't care what Grandmother has to say about it, or anyone else for that matter. Just this once, Ma. Please say you'll come with me."
"You're up to something," Jasmine said. "What is it? What are you planning?"
"Nothing," Alyssa lied. Actually, her plan was only half formed at the moment. She knew one thing for certain, though. She needed to stop running away from who she was and face up to it. Ben was right about that. Tonight would change that. Tonight would
be a step forward for all of them. "Will you come?" she asked again. "I won't take no for an answer."
"I will bring dishonor to the occasion."
"No, you will bring pride and strength and love." Alyssa got to her feet and kissed her mother on the cheek. "It's about time the rest of the family sees what I have always known."
"You have such faith in me. I don't deserve it."
"Yes, you do. And you deserve a lot more. This past week has made me realize so many things."
"You are not still angry with me about your father?"
"Well, I wouldn't go that far," she said with a gentle smile. "Which brings me to my next request. I want you to ask him to come over here before we go to Grandmother's tonight. I want to meet him face-to-face."
"Oh, Alyssa, I don't know if that is wise. And he may not be strong enough. He just got out of the hospital."
"Ask him and see."
"I don't call him. I never call him."
"If you don't, I will. And I'll leave a message with his wife, if I have to."
Jasmine frowned. "I think I like it better when you stay away from Chinatown, when you want nothing to do with family."
"You're never happy. I'll see you after work. We have a new year to welcome in."
"Are you sure you won't change your mind?"
"I'm sure. Call my father. Tell him it's about time he saw his daughter."
* * *
Paige had plenty of time to change her mind on her way to Riley's apartment. In fact, she drove around the block twice before pulling into a parking spot and shutting off the engine. It was after nine on a Monday morning. He might not be home. But she'd already checked the office, and his secretary had said he hadn't come in yet. He could be on a bike ride. She'd have to check the highest hills in San Francisco next. But maybe she'd get lucky and find him at home.
As she walked down the street toward his building, she realized his garage door was open. Bypassing the front door, she slipped into the garage and saw that both bikes were there. Since she doubted he'd leave his garage open if he wasn't there, she went through the door leading up the stairs into his laundry room.
"Riley?" she called. There was no answer. Venturing farther into his apartment, she heard water running. He was in the shower.
Damn. She wanted to get this over with, wanted to apologize to him, beg his forgiveness, claim a moment of temporary insanity, and hope he was willing to meet her halfway. She had hurt him,and she regretted everything she had said. She knew the truth about her family now. And she knew that the man in the shower was the most honorable man she had ever met. The father she had adored was weak. The grandfather she had admired was a ruthless liar. But Riley—a man who came from nothing, who had struggled to survive a neglected childhood, who had served his country, who had come back to support his grandmother—was a strong, courageous man, an incredible human being. He was the man she really loved. And she hoped to God she hadn't lost him forever.
She walked into the bedroom and saw the open bathroom door, wisps of steam coming from the shower like tantalizing fingers beckoning her forward. She couldn't do that, could she? A knot of desire grabbed hold of her as she thought about stripping off all of her clothes and joining him. He'd be shocked. She'd be shocked. It was not Hathaway behavior at all. But then, Hathaway behavior wasn't what it used to be.
She unzipped her high-heeled boots and slipped them off. Her jeans and shirt followed. Standing in his bedroom in nothing but a bra and panties, she had more second thoughts. He'd been so angry with her last night. He was probably still furious. Maybe he wouldn't want her. Or maybe he would. Maybe they could connect in a physical way even if they couldn't connect on any other level. It was worth a shot. She was desperate.
She unhooked her bra and slid off her panties. She heard the shower being turned off. The shower door opened.
Damn, she was too late. She wanted to grab something to cover herself, but she'd made the dramatic point of tossing her clothes across the room.
Riley walked into the bedroom with a towel in his hand and nothing else on his body. He stopped in surprise when he saw her. "Paige'?"
"You weren't supposed to get out of the shower yet."
"I was done."
"I guess I'm too late then."
"That depends on what you want. I'm all out of hot water."
She took a deep breath. "I wasn't really looking for hot water. I was looking for you." “Why?"
"You're not going to make this easy, are you?"
"No way."
"I'm sorry, Riley. I was wrong. My family is basically pretty sick. I shouldn't have defended them. I shouldn't have asked you to leave. I was afraid." She drew in a deep breath. "I hope that maybe you can forgive me."
"Why? Because Paige Hathaway always gets what she wants?"
"No, because Paige Hathaway has finally found a man worth loving, and she really doesn't want to lose him because she was stupid."
His mouth tightened, and she could see a battle going on in his eyes. She didn't know if he was fighting himself or her. "You should have left well enough alone," he said harshly. "I told you before this wasn't going anywhere."
"I can't accept that," she said simply. "I love you, Riley. You don't have to say it back. You don't even have to feel it. I'm feeling enough for both of us right now. Just give me a chance to show you what kind of person I really am." She crossed her arms in front of her breasts. "Did you happen to notice that I'm naked?"
"I noticed."
"What do you think about that?"
"I think you're pulling out all the stops."
"That's right. Whatever it takes, I'm willing to do it."
"Anything I want, huh?"
She swallowed back a knot of nervousness. "Anything. I'm just hoping that anything includes making love to you."
"Oh, it definitely includes that."
"Good." She saw a teasing light blossom in his eyes and felt the ugly tension between them dissolve. "Now, let's see how willing you are." She walked over and grabbed the towel he was holding in front of himself. "Not bad. I know you're a guy, and it doesn't take much."
"Just you," he said on a husky note.
She tossed the towel on the floor with her clothes, liking the way it fell on top of her bra and panties. That's where she wanted Riley to be—on top of her, inside of her, all around her. Their eyes locked in a moment of complete and utter intimacy.
His arms came around her body. His mouth claimed hers in a hard, passionate kiss. His hands cupped her bottom, puffing her into the heat she was craving. She was on fire, one burning need fueling every action. She wanted to get closer, but instead of letting her pull him into her very willing body, Riley took a step back, his breath ragged.
"We gotta slow down."
"No." She reached for him again, but he sidestepped.
"Patience, princess." He reached into the drawer by his bed and pulled out a foil-wrapped square packet. "Why don't you open this for me?"
She'd never done that before. What an odd realization that was. She smiled at Riley, then ripped open the foil packet with her teeth. She laughed at the astonished expression on his face, then moved forward until her body was only inches from his. She cupped him, hearing a deep groan of appreciation as she slid the condom on. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" she whispered.
"Hell, yes." He backed her up against the wall, gripped her bottom with his hands, and raised her until she could slide right down on top of him, taking him deep inside.
He filled her completely—and not just her body but her heart and her soul. She closed her eyes as they began to move in absolutely perfect unison.
* * *
Paige was sleeping on him, her head on his chest, her arm flung across his waist, her leg over his, as if she wasn't planning to let him go any time soon. And that certainly wasn't a problem, since he didn't want to let her go, either. He couldn't believe she'd come into his apartment, stripped down, and offered herself to him. He'd spent most of the previous night trying to convince himself she was all wrong, and here they were—back where they'd been yesterday. Because she was a beautiful, generous person, he realized. Because he cared about her more than he had ever thought possible.
"I can hear you thinking," Paige whispered. "Your heart started beating a little faster. What are you thinking about?"
"You," he muttered.
She raised her head and looked into his eyes. "Really?"
"You had a hell of a lot of nerve coming here like you did. How did you get in, anyway?"
"For a security expert, you don't keep your apartment very secure. I came in through the garage. It was wide open."