Oh, my. She was definitely going to need to add 'biceps' to the long and ever-growing list of things that she was going to miss about Riley.
He didn’t look down at her, just stared straight ahead at the space that Alex had just occupied.
“Riley?”
For a few moments he didn’t move, didn’t even acknowledge that she had spoken.
Chelle just waited, her hand still resting on his arm, unable to pull it away.
Finally he looked down at her and although she had expected to see anger in his eyes what she saw instead was pain. Pain and confusion.
Not knowing what else to do she wrapped her arms around him. His arms immediately encircled her and he held her tightly. She felt him breathing rapidly.
“What’s wrong, Riley?” She asked, compassion and emotion welling up as she continued to hold him. She felt the intensity of their connection, palpable between them as they stood, encircled in one another's arms.
He didn’t answer.
She knew she should probably just be silent and hold him for as long as he would let her, but she needed to know he was okay. “Are you upset about Alex?”
“No,” he answered, holding her even tighter.
She pulled back her head slightly so she could look into his eyes, “What is it, then? What’s wrong?”
His eyes flared with heat as he leaned down closer to her, resting his forehead against hers. Their labored breathing was the only sound in the quiet kitchen.
She knew it was probably wrong of her to be so turned on when he was obviously so upset. But with the way he was looking at her, so primal, so intense – well, she really couldn’t help herself. Not to mention, she had been craving his touch for days now, so standing in his arms, his body pressed tightly against hers…well, how could she not be affected? She was only human.
“What the hell?” An angry voice interrupted their intimate moment.
Oh great…Eddie.
Before she had a chance to turn toward the source of that outraged exclamation, she felt herself being bodily spun around. The next thing she knew, she was standing behind Riley, his arm holding her protectively in place.
She peeked around Riley’s sheltering hold and saw her brother at the other end of the kitchen. His face was red and he looked like his head was going to explode. She thought that, like in cartoons, she could almost see the steam rising from his ears.
Chelle wasn’t really sure why Riley had pulled her behind him. Her brother would never hurt her. If anybody needed protecting, it was Riley!
Eddie’s stood, steaming, hands flexing open and shut. She was no body language expert, but...yeah. She didn’t think that was a good sign.
“I’ll kill you,” Eddie said, low and intense, as he stepped toward her human shield.
“Eddie, stop it!” Chelle heard herself say, sounding much more authoritative than she had ever been in the past.
She pulled away from Riley’s hold and stepped in front of him.
“Nothing is going on,” she explained.
Again...why poke the bear?
Eddie didn’t even glance her way, he merely continued staring at Riley.
“Is that true?” He asked Riley, “Is nothing going on?”
Chelle couldn’t see Riley’s face because she was standing directly in front of him, but she felt his body tense up. Oh no!
“It’s none of your business.” Riley’s tone was eerily calm.
Anger flared in Eddie’s eyes.
“That’s what I thought,” Eddie said as he fisted up his hand and took another step toward Riley.
Chelle reached out and pushed Eddie’s chest as hard as she could.
“Stop it, just stop!” she pleaded.
“What’s all this commotion?” Grandpa J asked sternly as he walked in through the swinging doors. Chelle thought it was entirely possible that she had never been so happy to see anyone in her whole life!
The energy in the room immediately changed the second the Colonel walked in. The men both relaxed their tense postures and took a step back from each other.
Neither said anything.
Chelle was so relieved that he had come in when he did, and broken up a confrontation that could have gotten ugly…well, she could just kiss him!
“Everything’s fine Grandpa J. Just a misunderstanding.” Her voice sounded stronger than she felt.
Grandpa J looked at both Eddie and Riley, clearly aware that something had just transpired. She didn’t know what was being communicated between the three silent men, but she was sure that a message was being sent.
After a few silent moments, Grandpa J nodded at her brother and Riley and then turned to her. He smiled and said, “Now pretty lady, why don’t you come on out and enjoy the party with me?”
Chelle was still breathing hard, from adrenaline this time, not arousal. She looked at both Riley and Eddie and figured - screw it, if they wanted to be idiots... so be it. She was done babysitting.