After the Christmas Party(40)

He closed his eyes, breathed in the salty scent of the sea.

Where was she? What was she doing?

Surely not mourning over the idiot who’d dumped her? Ever since he’d overheard her conversation he’d wanted to strangle the guy.

And to hold her tight and never let go.

At least he understood the walls she hid behind a bit better.

Raking his fingers through his hair, Riley sighed. He didn’t like feeling at a loose end. They’d only started spending time together two weeks ago. A single night away from her had him antsy?

Maybe Trinity was missing him as much as he was missing her. Only one way to find out.

He slid his hand into his pants pocket to call her. His phone started ringing before he could even press a single key.

The number on the screen had him letting out another sigh, this one full of relief and something akin to pleasure that she’d taken the initiative.

“Trinity.” No hello, just her name. “I need your help.”

His help? Panic hit him. Was she in trouble?

“Anything.” There were few things he wouldn’t do for this woman.

She told him what she needed and he burst into laughter.

“Okay, princess, I have everything you need. I’ll save your royal hind end.”

From the corner of her eye Trinity watched Riley trail a long curly ribbon across the floor, enticing Casper to pounce, which the cat quickly did, only to have Riley tug the string a little further away.

“She’ll never tire of that, you know,” she warned, liking it that he was a cat kind of man. That he hadn’t minded that she’d brought Casper with her. Chase had been more into dogs. She liked both. “She likes to play.”

“Smart cat.” He dangled the ribbon out in front of the cat, causing Casper to swat at a curl.

“Because she likes to play?”

“Every good girl should take time to play.”

“That a dig at me?”

“No, ma’am, but if the shoe fits.”

If the shoe fit? Ha, if he only knew that Jewel was hoping he’d shove her feet into a pair of glass slippers he wouldn’t be making jokes about shoes fitting.

He nodded then glanced at where she was attempting to fold wrapping paper around a box. “Are you sure you don’t want me to do that for you?”

“I can wrap a present.”

His gaze dropped to the box and he scratched his head. “I’m sure you can, but maybe I could help you. It’s not a crime to accept help from time to time.”

She glanced down at the bunched-up paper and then at the previous package she’d wrapped. “They certainly don’t look like the ones in the store,” she mused, casting a longing eye at his perfectly wrapped present then onward to his Christmas tree. “Or the ones under your tree.”

“They don’t have to look any certain way,” he assured her, helping her straighten the wrapping. He gently pushed Casper out of the way when the cat attempted to pounce on the paper, obviously not finished with having Riley’s attention. Her cat really was smart. Brilliant, even.

“It’s not the packaging that matters, Trinity,” he continued, smoothing the paper Casper had managed to crinkle. “Like a lot of things in life, it’s what’s inside that counts.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not sure about what’s inside either.” She gave the packages a skeptical look, handed him the string so he could occupy her cat while she attempted to wrap presentable gifts. “It wasn’t easy buying something for someone I’ve never met.”

“You did fine. My mom will love her gift and that you brought her something. She loves presents.” He tugged on the string again, sending Casper into another pouncing fit. “For that matter, she’s going to love you.”

“Let’s hope so.”

She was nervous about meeting his family, wanted them to like her, had gone out on the worst evening to Christmas shop and fought the crowds to buy them gifts. She’d even picked up little gifts for his nieces and nephews. Her, Christmas shopping. Whatever had come over her?

And then there was Riley’s gift. Something silly and ridiculous and so emotionally expensive she hadn’t been sure she could pay the price. Yet the moment the idea had struck her, she’d known that’s what she wanted to give him.

Something she hoped would have meaning to him and make him smile.

She pulled off a piece of tape and stuck it to the box she was working on. She managed to get all the box covered with paper, but she used a lot of tape in the process. At the rate she was going, they’d have to make a tape run soon.

Much to Casper’s delight, Riley tossed the curled string of ribbon onto the floor. Grinning, he scooted over beside her and cut a new sheet of the wrapping paper the stores she’d been at had sold out of. Thank goodness, he’d been more than willing to not only share, but to help out with all the other things she hadn’t even thought of asking him if he’d had, such as tape, name tags, and ribbons.