Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41351 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41351 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 207(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Megan snorted. “You may be just friends with her but she clearly wants more. Don’t fall into that trap again.”
He flinched at the reminder of his stupidity. “I’ll take care of it.”
She nodded in what seemed like approval. “Good. But don’t think I didn’t notice you evading my question. Anyway, what are you going to do about Riley?”
“There you two are!” Andrea entered the kitchen with a triumphant smile bearing a cocktail glass in each hand. “I was beginning to think we’d have to send a search party for you. Here you go darling, I got you a martini, just the way you like it, extra dry.”
Ethan took the offered drink from Andrea but he didn’t miss the meaningful look his sister shot him.
“Well, I better go back out to my guests. Ethan, I’ll catch up with you later.” Megan nodded in Andrea’s direction before turning to leave.
He had a feeling she’d want to continue their conversation later. In a way, he was glad they’d been interrupted because he always preferred to play his cards close to his chest. The second he saw Riley, looking more beautiful than he remembered, her curves popping in all the right places, his body called out to hers. Things might have ended between them abruptly, seven years ago, but there was no changing the fact that she still belonged to him.
And Ethan had every intention of reclaiming his woman.
2
Rachel opened the door and stepped back just enough to let Riley pass. “I guess you didn’t get my message.”
Riley frowned, stepping into the house. “What’s the matter? What message?”
Rachel sighed. “I called about a half an hour ago, hoping to catch you. But when you didn’t answer, I left a message. I guess you didn’t get it. I decided not to attend the mixer.”
“I’m sorry I missed your call. I was on the road when my phone rang which is why I didn’t answer. I intended to check my messages when I got here. What happened? I thought you were looking forward to this outing.”
Rachel shrugged with a sigh. “I just didn’t feel up to it. Since you’re already here, stay for dinner. I’m reheating a lasagna I made last night.”
“Sounds good.” Riley shrugged out of her jacket and hung it up on the coat rack. “Where’s Eli?” Rachel rarely asked her sister to babysit so Riley had been looking forward to spending time with her nephew.
“He’s in the den working on his science fair project. Something about electromagnetic fields. The kid is nine years old for crying out loud. When I was his age, my experiment consisted on making a potato battery.”
Riley chuckled. “Well, you did give birth to a genius.”
“Tell me about it. It’s so embarrassing to acknowledge that your kid is smarter than you.” Rachel sighed. “Let’s go to the kitchen and I’ll fix us a cup of coffee while dinner is in the oven.”
“Sure, I just want to say hello to Eli first and then you’re going to tell me why you changed your mind about the mixer.”
Rachel narrowed her eyes and firmed her lips, not looking in the least bit as if she wanted to discuss her decision. But she didn’t say anything as she headed toward the kitchen.
Just as Rachel said he’d be, Eli was engrossed in his work. He had a bunch of magnets spread out on the coffee table while he jotted down something in a composition notebook. “Hey kiddo.”
The little boy raised his head as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Hi, Aunt Riley. Mom said you might not come.”
“I didn’t get her message on time but I’m going to stay for dinner.”
“That’s great.” He gave her a faint smile before turning back to his work.
“Your mom says you’re doing something with electromagnetic fields. That sounds pretty challenging.”
He shrugged. “Technically, I’m researching the type of electromagnetic waves that are used in medical treatment. I think it can be more efficient. I can explain it to you later but I really need to get as much done as possible before dinner.”
“I understand.” She walked over and dropped a kiss on top of his head. He didn’t seem to notice as he was once again engrossed in his task.
When Riley joined her sister in the kitchen, Rachel had already taken out two coffee cups and placed the pot on the table.
“Eli is going to change the world one day,” Riley noted as she sat down.
Rachel smiled over her mug, her eyes brimming with pride. “There’s no doubt about it. I don’t know what I did in a past life to get a kid like him but he’s amazing. Speaking of which, remember that school for the talented and gifted I’d looked into enrolling him in?”
“Yes, but you said the tuition was more than you could afford.”