After the Christmas Party(87)

Leaning against the deck railing, she shook her head. “I do have to wonder how old you are sometimes.”

A breeze ruffling his hair, he glanced up from where he stood at the grill. “A person is only as old as they feel so I’m about…thirteen.”

Smiling, she glanced through the glass windows making up the back of his house and door leading into his open living and dining area again. Her eyes caught on the toy train set on the floor beneath the Christmas tree. Her lips twitched. “Gee, I was thinking more along the lines of six. Maybe seven.”

“Nah.” He shook his head, moved away from the grill long enough to plop a kiss on her lips. “Six-and seven-year-old boys couldn’t care less about girls and I definitely am into girls. Specifically, I’m into you.”

Trinity’s belly did a few somersaults. “Point taken, and I’m glad.”

Because as scared as she was of getting hurt, she was honest enough to admit that she wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on being the center of his attention. For however long it lasted, Riley was into her and that was a glorious thing. Her defenses might warn she should run while she still could but another part of her admitted that it was already too late.

Perhaps it had been too late from the moment at the Christmas party when she’d looked into those devilish blue eyes and he’d assured her he was a man who aimed to please. No one had ever made her feel the way he did. Worthwhile. Wanted.

“You look beautiful, by the way.”

Point in case. Trinity’s cheeks burned. He was always complimenting her, making her look in the mirror and wonder what he saw that she didn’t. That no one other than him had ever seen. Because despite their nine-month relationship, Chase had never called her beautiful. Neither had he ever made her feel as if she was.

Why had she fancied herself in love with him?

Because she hadn’t known any better? Hadn’t known what a good man was really like and she’d been settling for what had been right in front of her rather than looking for something more? Something real?

Something like Riley.

No, she wasn’t in love with him, although it would be so easy to fall in love with him. The man was a phenom. She didn’t know how any woman could spend any amount of time with him and not fancy herself in love with him. He was that kind, that considerate, that witty, that sexy, that everything.

“I hope you’re hungry, princess.” He lifted a tin-foil-wrapped salmon fillet off the grill.

“Starved.”

Starved for food, but maybe for much more than she’d bargained for. Nothing in her life had prepared her for Riley. She was supposed to be taking charge of her life, learning to deal with her Christmas aversion. She was not supposed to be becoming so entangled with a man she’d have a difficult time ever letting go of, and yet she didn’t regret being here with him. She cherished every precious second of his company, of his attention.

She’d given up pretending otherwise.

“Starved?” He grinned. “That’s my girl.”

His girl. He didn’t care who knew, who saw them together, or who saw him brushing his knuckles across her cheek or just giving her hand a quick squeeze. If anything, he acted possessive, as if he wanted everyone who saw them to know they were together. As if he was proud she was with him.

It had been months before Chase had wanted anyone at the hospital to be aware that they were dating and then he’d acted more embarrassed than proud.

“Why are you so nice to me?” she mused out loud.

“Huh?” Obviously, he had no clue what she meant. Which made her happy inside. He wasn’t putting on airs or trying to impress her, just being himself.

“I’m just curious why you’re so nice to me.”

“I already told you the answer to that, princess. More than once.”

“What’s that?”

“I like you.” He smiled and she deep-down knew he believed what he said. He liked her. “A lot.”

“This is good,” Trinity praised twenty minutes later, the lemony grilled salmon practically melting in her mouth. “Much better than my grilled cheese the other night. I think you missed your calling.”

“I happened to like your grilled cheese the other night, although perhaps not the butt-kicking at chess that followed.” He grinned. “You really think I should give up cardiology and cook for a living?”

She snorted. “When you word it that way, probably not, but you are a very talented man and I am well aware that I barely won that chess game.”

“Glad you noticed and appreciate my efforts.”

“Oh, I notice.” Every detail about him. She took another bite. “You have a beautiful place, Riley.”