Her mother set the magazine aside and began grating some cheese. “Well, dear
… you are a tiny bit of a prude.”
Riley’s jaw dropped. She pointed at the headline. “Did you read that? I talked
about spanking.”
There. That should rile her mother.
But Erin merely lifted a slim shoulder and tucked a stray red hair back into her
bun. “Yes, yes, the article was all very edgy, but it lacked passion. That tells me
the story wasn’t personal for you.”
“This is not happening,” Riley muttered, glancing at the ceiling. “My mother is not
telling me my spanking article lacked passion.”
And what was with her mother’s timing? Was the entire universe conspiring to
help Riley get some?
“You never texted me back. How was your date with that boy? The one you met
at that bank.”
“That boy was thirty-seven years old, and he was—”
“Oh dear.”
Riley threw her hands in the air at her mother’s doomsday tone. “I haven’t said
anything yet.”
“But you’re using past tense. Which means he won’t be coming over for tacos
anytime soon.”
Lucky guy. “He was no good, Ma.”
Her mother was silent as the pile of grated cheese grew higher and higher.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Riley finally said, prodding. “Lecture me on
how I’m too picky and I didn’t give him a chance?”
Her mother set the grater aside and moved to the fridge. “Oh, honey. When you
know, you’ll know.”
Riley blinked in surprise.
What the heck is happening here? Where was the lecture? The reminder to be
patient and kind and open-minded?
“Did Father Sellars give some sort of homily on being more accepting of your
adult children or something?”
“No, dear. I just want my kids to be happy is all.”
A new voice joined the conversation. “Well, rest easy, Mama McKenna, because
this kid is happy.”
Riley froze. Sam. Immediately her shoulders went back and her spine
straightened as she armed herself for the inevitable sparring.
To say nothing of the protection she needed from the thick layer of lust that
threatened to choke her whenever Sam Compton was around.
Their regular Wednesday-night dinner guest had the opposite effect on her
mother, turning the usually implacable Erin into a pile of goo. It was disgusting.
The woman already had two sons of her own, but to the casual spectator you’d
think this semi-adopted one was her favorite.
“Sammy. You came,” Erin said, scooting around the counter to give him a hug. “I
thought you had a date tonight.”
Riley didn’t turn around. She’d have to deal with him eventually—she did every
week. But after the unexpected spanking conversation with her mother, she
needed an extra minute to build up her defenses.
Because while she couldn’t say she’d ever really been intrigued by the spanking
thing, there was no telling what her loins would do in the presence of this guy.
But quickly she was realizing that keeping her back to him wasn’t nearly enough.
She could still feel him. She’d always been able to feel him, starting with that day
he’d walked into this very kitchen, where she’d been sitting on this very stool.
That had been over ten years ago, and nothing had changed.
Well, except for pesky little things.
Like his marriage. And his divorce. And the fact that he’d never so much as tried
to kiss her.
“Angela can’t make it,” Sam said in his low, don’t-give-a-shit growl. “She’s a nurse
and had to take an extra shift at the hospital.”
A nurse. That was new. Usually they were waitresses and actresses and singer-
songwriters.
“An extra shift, huh?” Riley asked innocently, pretending fascination with the
cable bill that her parents had left out on the white tile counter. You’re sure it had
nothing to do with her suspicion of you having genital warts?
“That’s what I said.” His voice was easy. Clearly they weren’t going to discuss her
stunt with the STD pamphlets in front of her mother. Fine with Riley.
Her mother clucked. “Well, that’s a shame.”
“Yes. Shame,” Riley said.
Her mother ignored her.
Sam didn’t. “Hey, Ri.”
“Hey.”
“Saw your most recent article. Heady stuff.”
She didn’t let herself respond to the mockery in his tone.
“I’d say I liked it less than the whips-and-chains piece, but more than the one
about the gin-and-tonic-flavored lube.”
Riley carefully let her eyes go sleepy and her lips pouty before giving him a slow