Just a Kiss (15 page)

P
aige approached the gleaming entryway of Hotel Tourmaline. She'd only seen the place from a distance, but up close it was even more impressive. The gray stone walls and mullioned windows of the hotel faced the windswept shoreline of Folly Shoals, competing in grandeur.

Once inside the lobby Dylan set a hand at the small of her back, directing her toward the Sea Room, the hotel's fancy restaurant. Their shoes clacked on the pink marble tiles, the sound echoing off the gilt-covered dome overhead.

“You did not have to do this,” she said. “It's way too expensive.”

“After you spent over two hundred bucks rescuing me, it's the least I could do.”

“I'm sure Millie Parker would've been a delightful date.”

He sent her a wry look. “She would've been sizing me up for a wedding band all night.”

“Wedding band? Please. When Beau went out with her she was naming their babies on the first date.”

The look on Dylan's face was priceless.

They'd cleared the air about Sunday when he'd called to make
arrangements for tonight. She'd apologized for deserting him, and he'd been very gracious.

“It's not like you were the one who invited me,” he'd said. “Look, Paige, I know you and I aren't going anywhere, romantically speaking. So let's just go out Saturday and have a nice time.”

His words had sent a flood of relief through her. She was afraid her bid had led him on, but clearly he'd seen through her somewhat mixed signals. Someday some woman would appreciate how kind and perceptive he was.

While they waited a moment at the host stand, Paige's mind drifted to Riley. Specifically to Riley and Roxy. He'd left while she was getting ready, calling good-bye up the stairs. She hadn't even put down her mascara wand to see what he was wearing. Or asked where they were going. The less she knew the better. She could already envision much more than she wanted to.

“Right this way,” the well-dressed host said, pulling her mind back to the present.

They followed him into the main dining room where opulent chandeliers hung over intimate table settings. The atmosphere was romantic, candles flickering on the tables, the last of daylight filtering through the large windows. Delicious aromas wafted through the room, making her stomach growl.

Dylan pulled out her chair, and she sat at the table for two that was situated by an old brick wall. The place settings were like works of art, the china glistening, and the silverware lined up at the sides and tops of the plates. It looked so perfect she was afraid to mess it up.

A waiter poured ice water into their goblets as she picked up the menu and surveyed the tasty-sounding options. “How will I ever make up my mind?” she said when the server disappeared. “Everything looks so good.”

“Well, the lobster bisque is to die for, and the seafood sampler is not to be missed. Maybe we can start with those.”

“I'm allergic to shellfish, remember?”

“Oh, that's right. We'll try the mushroom caps or the escargot then. Save room for dessert though, because the cheesecake will make you cry.”

“Ugh! I've gained five pounds just thinking about it.”

He smiled. “I have to make sure you get your money's worth.”

“By the time we're done, you might have spent more than I did.”

“All for a good cause.”

She couldn't deny that. Or the fact that she'd rather be here in this luxurious restaurant than at home obsessing over Riley and Roxy.

Riley and Roxy. Even their names sounded good together.

Shaking the thought, she settled on her main course, and when the server came, they ordered. As soon as they finished, another waiter came by and topped off their water glasses.

“It's a good thing I skipped lunch,” she said. Dylan had ordered two appetizers besides their main courses.

“It's the Sea Room. We have to do it up right.”

As they made small talk her eyes drifted over the opulent dining room, taking in all the details. The white linens, the red velvet chairs, the heavy draperies stretching from ceiling to floor and pulled back with tasseled ropes.

A family of five gathered around a large center table. The boys looked cute in their suits and carefully combed hair. Other families were present, too, but most of the patrons were couples. Her eyes followed the line of tables along the opposite wall. It was fun trying to guess whether the couples were on first dates, were newlyweds, or had been married for years.

Her eyes swept over an older pair and down the row before darting back. Her heart stuttered in her chest as she recognized Riley's familiar face.

Her chest tightened. Seriously? He'd brought her here, of all places?

Across the table from him, Roxy's bare shoulders shimmered under the chandelier, her wavy brown hair tumbling over them.

Paige's heart squeezed.

“Paige?”

Her eyes darted back to Dylan. “Sorry. I, uh, I missed that.” She struggled to get her brain back into gear.

“I was just talking about the shelter. Greg, one of my work buddies, came in this week to look at the dogs.”

“Oh, Greg.” She straightened the salad fork she'd knocked askew. “Yes, he went home with a little terrier.”

“His wife's in love with her. Last I saw the pup, she had a big pink bow on her head.”

“Oh my. Well, I'm glad they're happy. She's a sweetie. Somebody dumped her, we think. We found her over by the Crofton Street Bridge, just as skinny as can be.”

“It's hard to believe people do that.”

“It's awful.”

Dylan started talking about his childhood dog, a mutt his family had found on vacation, and she tried to listen as her eyes drifted to Riley. He was at least thirty feet away on the opposite side of the room. And very engaged in his conversation.

He looked so handsome, the candlelight shedding a golden light over his face. A white dress shirt stretched across the breadth of his shoulders, and a dark tie hung from his neck. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing his lower arms. He nodded at something
Roxy said. Smiled. The real kind. Not one of those strained things she'd been seeing so much of lately.

She found herself strangely relieved he'd be leaving town soon.

Nice, Paige. If you can't have him, no one else can either?

Maybe it was selfish, but yes. That was exactly how she felt.

She curled her arms around herself. What was wrong with her? She should want Riley to be happy. He'd been through so much. No one deserved it more.

But as Roxy reached across the table and touched his arm, she wanted to smack the woman's hand away.

A few minutes later the server delivered their appetizers, and they dug in. The mushroom caps, which looked so succulent, went down her throat like sawdust. She oohed and aahed over the food even while her stomach tightened in rebellion.

She managed to hold up her end of the conversation through the remainder of dinner, but her heart wasn't in it. She couldn't seem to stop herself from glancing at Riley. Couldn't seem to stop tormenting herself with the way they seemed so absorbed in each other. With the way Roxy touched him, the way he leaned toward her, the way he laughed so often.

The server delivered their bill to the table with a flourish.

Dylan tucked cash into the leather folder and pocketed his wallet. “We're all set. Do you want to go say hi, or are you just going to pretend you didn't see them?”

Her eyes snapped back to Dylan. “What?”

He gave her a look that made heat wash into her cheeks. She was getting pretty good at pretending. Or maybe she wasn't, since Dylan had seen right through her.

“I'm so sorry. I've been terrible company. And after you've gone to all this expense.”

“Not at all.” He covered her clenched fist. “We could've gone somewhere else, you know.”

“I didn't know he'd be here.” Her love for Riley must be scrawled across her forehead. It was a wonder Riley hadn't noticed. Or maybe he had. Maybe that's why he was leaving town. Everyone she loved left. Why should he be any different?

Her chest tightened at the thought. Suddenly her eyes ached, and sitting up straight seemed like too much work. “I'm such an idiot.”

“You're not an idiot.
He
is, if he finds Roxy Franke more appealing than you.”

She gave him a thin smile. “You're very sweet.” She didn't feel like explaining their long history as BFFs or Riley's history with Roxy. He couldn't help it that his feelings for Paige hadn't shifted any more than she could help that hers had.

Her eyes drifted once more to Riley's table, just in time to see Roxy glide her fingers down his forearm and tangle them with the hands Paige loved so much.

Those were
her
hands. She'd seen them first. Her stomach clenched into a hard knot as heat suffused her face.

She swallowed hard and pulled her eyes from the scene. “Can we just leave now?”

Riley was reaching for his dessert fork when he saw her. Across the room, engaged in conversation with Dylan, looking like an angel in her white, shimmery top.

He'd been struggling already. He didn't want to be on this date with Roxy. He sure didn't want her hands on him or her eyes
flirting with him. But after she'd paid four hundred bucks for the night, he felt obligated to at least pretend to enjoy it.

It was unsettling. And that was before he'd even seen Paige and Dylan across the room at the intimate table for two, looking totally absorbed in each other.

He continued eating his dessert. He wouldn't look over there again. Why fill his head with images that were only going to haunt him later?

A minute later he pushed back his plate, realizing he'd wolfed down dessert in an effort to rush the evening along. Roxy was only half finished with her crème brûlée. She paused between bites to draw her fingertip down his forearm. Again.

He managed to maintain eye contact with her, wondering why he couldn't feel something for his date. She was pretty enough, with her big brown eyes and dimples. She could keep a conversation going and expressed a polite interest in everything pertaining to him. She was positive and kindhearted and hadn't once mentioned his prosthesis. Her casseroles had been pretty tasty too.

Why couldn't
her
touch make his skin feel two sizes too small? Why did it have to be Paige? He yearned for her the way a castaway yearned for water. His spirit was dry and withering for want of her.

Wow, Callahan. Melodramatic much?

“Bite?” Roxy extended her spoon, filled with a quivering lump of the dessert.

As he opened his mouth to decline, she slid it in.

“Isn't it yummy? Crème brûlée's my favorite.”

He let the bite slide down his throat, repelled by the pudding-like texture. “Delicious.”

“We should go for a walk on the waterfront next.”

“Whatever you'd like to do.” It was her night.

But he was glad the ferry only ran till ten. He'd figured out early in the evening that she was after more than a single date. He'd made sure to work his move to Georgia into the conversation right away. He'd meant to ward her off, but she seemed to take it as some kind of challenge.

But then, Roxy always had been eager to escape Summer Harbor. His moving probably only made him seem more appealing.

“Another bite?” She extended the spoon.

He backed away before she could hit her target. “No thanks. I'm stuffed.”

“Everything was really good. You do know how to spoil a girl.”

She began telling him about a restaurant she'd eaten at during her visit to New York, but Riley's eyes were drawn again across the restaurant. Dylan's hand was now resting on Paige's.

Riley's jaw went tight even as the back of his neck prickled with heat.

He forced his eyes away, resolving to be better disciplined. What was the point in torturing himself?

He tried to tune in to Roxy's lengthy story, but like a traitor, his mind went back to his kiss with Paige. To the feel of her supple lips on his, the softness of her delicate skin, the heady weight of her hand gliding up his arm.

His eyes drifted back over to her and Dylan. Was she really able to just pretend the kiss had never happened? Apparently.

“Awww . . . ,” Roxy whined, drawing his attention. She was staring over his shoulder out the window. “It's raining.” She gave a little pout that was probably supposed to be cute. “There goes our walk on the waterfront.”

Somehow Riley could only manage a deep sense of relief.

H
e didn't want to go home.

Riley pulled up to the overlook at Shadow Bay and shut off the engine, leaving the radio on. He'd borrowed Beau's old truck for the night. He had a feeling Roxy would've been glad to climb onboard his motorcycle, but given the way it was pouring now, the truck had been a wise decision.

His brother had taken the opportunity to apologize for his cruel words on Sunday. Riley knew he hadn't meant anything by it. He'd only been upset about Riley leaving again.

The bay was pitch black tonight, not even the moon or stars to light the sky. The kind of night he would've appreciated years ago when this was the local make-out spot. He'd even brought Roxy here a time or two and fogged up the windshields pretty good.

She would've been game for something similar tonight, but he'd put plenty of space between them on her doorstep and politely refused her offer of a nightcap.

He was going to have to move on at some point. But not tonight. Not with Roxy. Not when his heart still belonged to Paige.

He turned the station until he found the Red Sox game,
jacking it up so he could hear it over the rain pummeling the roof. It was in extra innings. He listened for a while, trying to give a flying fig, but really he just wanted the minutes to tick away so the night would be over.

He tried not to think about what Paige might be doing right now. Tried not to think about her inviting Dylan into the house, or about his lips on hers, or the current location of his hands.

He checked the time and snapped the radio off. Eleven thirty was late enough, wasn't it? The last ferry was at ten, and the Roadhouse was the only place open this late. If she wasn't home when he got there, he'd just tell himself they were at the restaurant.

Yeah.

He reached for the key and turned it. The engine tried to turn over, a weak effort. He shut it off and gave it another try. Nothing. Worse than nothing. A third time produced a familiar ticking sound, indicating a dead battery.

Great. Just great. He'd only listened to the radio for half an hour. The battery must've been weak.

He dialed Beau, waiting through five rings before his voicemail kicked on. He and Eden were probably in bed. Of course they were. Rather than leave a message his brother wouldn't get till morning, Riley hung up. This was the way his night had gone. The way his life was going.

Can't one little thing go right, God? Just one thing.

At least Zac would be awake. He dialed the number. When he got voicemail he phoned the Roadhouse's main line.

“Roadhouse. How can I help you?”

He recognized his sister-in-law's drawl. “Hey, Lucy, it's Riley. Is Zac around?”

“Um, he's kinda putting out a fire at the moment. And I mean
that in a metaphorical way, thank the Lord. Is there something I can help you with?”

“Could you ask him to call me back when he gets a chance? No, scratch that. Just have him pick me up at Shadow Bay Ridge when he's got a minute. Beau's truck died.”

“Shadow Bay Ridge . . . the overlook?”

“Yeah, he'll know where.” Zac had spent an evening or two up here himself—not that Riley was telling Lucy that.

“Okay, will do. He shouldn't be long.”

“All right. Thanks.”

“Wait! Is Roxy still with you?”

“No, I already took her home.”

Riley ended the call and leaned back against the headrest. Guess he was going to be getting home plenty late after all.

Paige let her rain-splattered pants fall to the floor and slipped into her yoga pants and T-shirt. It was after eleven thirty, and Riley still wasn't home. Why would he be? He was a normal man, and he had a beautiful, super-eager date. She wasn't going to try to convince herself they were sitting at Roxy's kitchen table playing Scrabble.

Her heart gave a painful squeeze. Or maybe she would. A little denial never hurt anyone.

Unable to bear seeing her best pair of pants on the floor, she put them on a hanger and smoothed out the wrinkles. She was just hanging them in the closet when her phone buzzed. She checked the screen, wondering why Lucy was calling so late.

“Hey, girl. What's up?”

“How was your date?”

“Terrific. I had a front row seat to Riley's date, in fact.”

“What?”

“Yeah. We were both at the Sea Room. But he didn't see me, so you don't know that.”

“Aw, honey. I'm awful sorry. But hey, listen. You need to go pick him up at Shadow Bay Ridge. The truck won't start.”

“What? Shadow Bay Ridge . . .” Her lips clamped down. Seriously? He was still taking women to make-out point? What was he, fifteen?

“He needs a ride.”

“Oh no. I'm not crashing his date. Are you kidding me?”

“He already took Roxy home. He's alone.”

Even so. “I'm already in my pajamas, and frankly, this whole night has just left me mentally exhausted. Have Zac pick him up.”

“Um, Zac's busy with something. And I'm super busy too. Swamped. In the weeds.”

Paige smirked. Sure she was. “There can't be that many people there. It's going on midnight.”

“Did you say something, sugar? I'm afraid you're breaking up.”

“Lucy . . . don't do this to me.”

“I'm sorry, I can't hear a thing you're saying. So he's waiting . . . out at Shadow Bay. You should be getting along now.” The phone went dead.

She pulled her phone away from her ear and glared at it. “Really?”

Paige punched her phone off. Nice. It was pouring down rain. What was he even doing out there all alone anyway? Giving a hard sigh, she slid on her shoes and grabbed her keys. It looked like her difficult evening wasn't quite over yet.