Text Appeal (15 page)

***

Charlie didn’t know what the hell he was doing. He didn’t have anything to offer Riley. He’d show her respect and affection, sure, but for what? A week before he left town again? On the other hand, any internal conflict he had about talking Riley out of marrying
Chaz
was laid to rest when he remembered the way
Chaz
had acted at the Black Diamond yesterday.

Charlie might not know much about love and lasting relationships, but he knew that if Riley was going to have one, she deserved someone a hell of a lot better than that.

His phone beeped and he found himself half-surprised she’d responded. Newly engaged, she wouldn’t have been wrong to ignore him.
Which part?

He winced. He wanted to believe the whole night had meant something to her, but maybe for Riley their messages had been nothing but cheap, modern day phone
sex. If their erotic texts had meant nothing, he didn’t want to know it.
Start with dinner.

It was supposed to be innocent. But then it became something more. That’s why I can’t wear that ring.

Charlie straightened.
Holy shit.
She wasn’t wearing the ring. Had she refused
Chaz
? And had she done it for Charlie?

He should call her. This conversation was too important to have over text messages. No, even the phone wasn’t good enough.

I think we should talk.

I just need time. I’m not ready to make a decision yet.

Charlie closed his eyes. There was a God.
Good. You should take your time. The man who marries you is the luckiest guy on earth. You should make sure he’s worthy.

Your texts are so sweet and…sexy. This decision would be easier if I believed we could be like this face to face.

Come over and let me prove we can.
He was sure there was a special place in hell for men preparing to seduce another man’s almost-fiancé, but Charlie would happily burn there to spend a night
proving  to
Riley that she deserved better than
Chaz
.

I’m just confused right now,
her next message said, and Charlie figured that made two of them. The message after that knocked him on his ass.

I love you.

Chapter Ten

Riley took a fortifying breath when she reached
Chaz’s
condo. He’d never responded to her last text.

I love you
.

She wasn’t even sure if she meant the words anymore, but saying them—typing them—had been a testament to her decision to give their relationship a chance until she could make a decision about his proposal. Why did he seem like a completely different person when they exchanged text messages? And why couldn’t he be more of that person when they were together?

She rolled back her shoulders. Just because things had never been hot between her and
Chaz
didn’t mean they couldn’t be. She’d never fought to make their sex life better than it was. She’d been a coward, but not anymore.

She knocked and waited.
Nothing.

The windows were dark. Should she have called? Had he gone to bed? She’d wanted to surprise him. She’d dressed in a black skirt and halter, an outfit that revealed more than her normal choices. She’d never dressed like this for him because she hadn’t thought he’d like it. But then she hadn’t thought he’d like black leather lingerie either and look where that had gotten them.

She knocked again and put her ear by the door, listening for the sound of footsteps.
Nothing.

She could call him. But maybe he’d gone to bed and this was her chance to slip under the sheets with him and wake him up in a much more interesting way. Why didn’t the idea appeal to her more? This was her potential future-fiancé. She shouldn’t be mildly put-off by the idea of waking him up with her body.

She held her breath and turned the knob, hoping he might have kept it unlocked.

When it turned and the door opened, apprehension rose up in her. She was really going to do this.

She and
Chaz
had had sex plenty of times, but this was different. This would change everything between them. At least she hoped…

From the door, she could hear the music pulsing from the bedroom. She frowned and followed the sound, walking through the great room. Maybe he’d been getting things ready for her and hadn’t heard her knock. She turned into the bedroom and froze.

A blonde was on all fours in the middle of the bed and
Chaz
was behind her, guiding her hips as he took her from behind. He was so lost in his own pleasure, he didn’t even notice Riley until the laughter bubbled from her lips.

She didn’t bother watching him scramble as she let herself out, giggles wracking her body, edging closer to hysteria with every step. She’d wanted some excitement in their love life and her wish had been granted.

“Riley!”

She’d almost made it out the door when his fingers wrapped around her arm. “Fuck off,
Chaz
.” The words felt strange in her mouth—foreign—but delicious.

“I can explain.”

She shook her head. “No need. What, did you want me to join you? Or am I just supposed to stand aside while you give
her
all your sexual energy and screw me like a puritan?” She yanked her arm from his grasp.

“You’re angry. I get that. But cool off, and tomorrow we’ll talk.”

Another bout of laughter seized her. She snorted. She didn’t realize she was crying until she felt the tears on her cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “She’s nothing to me. Just some woman I met in the casino. Just a good time to burn off some energy.”

Her laughter tasted bitter on her tongue.
“What about the texts, huh,
Chaz
?”

He pulled a hand through his dark hair.
“Seriously?
You’re angry that I forgot to send you a
text message
? I was busy tonight.”

She released a puff of air. “I can see that.”

“Listen, I’m not sure why you came over like this, but did you think maybe you should call first?”

Her jaw worked, but she couldn’t find words. He was angry. As if
he’d
been wronged.

“Riley, I proposed to you today and you turned me down, so don’t make me out to be some asshole.”

“I said I needed
time.
” She looked up, willing her tears to hold off another minute. “
Whatever
this was between us, it’s over.”

He pulled a hand through his dark hair. “You don’t understand. There are some things a man wants to do,
urges
that he has he doesn’t want to satisfy with the future mother of his children.”

She flinched at that twist of the knife. “Aren’t you talking out both sides of your mouth now? You did it because I won’t marry you, but I’m going to be the mother to your children?”

“Won’t you be, Riley?
Eventually?”

The blonde emerged from the bedroom, a gold satin robe wrapped around her.

“I can’t talk about this right now,” Riley said, because the last thing she wanted was to have this conversation while looking at the woman with whom
Chaz
wanted
to satisfy his “urges.”

She needed to call a cab. She was out on the sidewalk, reaching for her cell when it rang.
Call from Charles Spencer
.

“Leave me alone. I don’t want to talk to you right now.” She hated the sound of her voice—shaky and pathetic as her chest shook with her tears.

“Whoa! Hold up. What happened? Did I miss something?”

A sense of calm washed over her. That wasn’t
Chaz’s
voice. It was Charlie’s.

***

I love you.

Charlie frowned and paced through his suite. What the hell had just happened? Why was she pissed? “Riley, tell me what just happened.”

I love you.

She wasn’t the first woman to spring those words on him, so he shouldn’t be surprised.

She’s the first woman you
liked
hearing it from
, a voice in his mind nudged.

He shifted on the couch in his suite and waited for her explanation to the rapid change in her attitude. Maybe she was embarrassed she’d typed the words at all, and now she was taking that out on him.

“Charlie?” she said, and his name sounded like a question.

“What’s going on, Riley?”
Because, hell, he deserved to know.
He’d been pushing it by asking her to come to him, but he couldn’t go to her. He needed to know that
she
wanted this as much as he did. He’d needed her to make a move live and in-person because his male ego refused to continue playing second fiddle to some other guy.

I love you.

Fuck it. He needed her to come to him because he wanted to believe someone like Riley could love someone like him.

“Holy crap,” she whispered. “I—I’m sorry. I thought you were
Chaz
.”

“
Chaz
…your boyfriend?”
So that’s why she hadn’t come over. She was busy fighting with that idiot—a fight that had her in tears from the sound of it. That just went to show
Chaz
was too damn important to her for Charlie’s peace of mind.

“He’s not my boyfriend. Not anymore.”

He collapsed on the couch, leaning his head back and grinning. “Good to hear you say it.”

“Did you…” She took in a shaky breath. Tears were making her voice thick.
“Tonight?
Oh, Jesus,
last night.
Our text messages?
They were…”

“Special?” he supplied. “Sexy? Wicked hot?” He felt his lips twist into a grin. “And, tell me if I’m on target with this last one, but I was going for
orgasmic
.”

She laughed, and Charlie relaxed—
Chaz
or no, there was nothing he enjoyed more than making this woman smile.

“Tell me about your fight with
Chaz
,” he said,
then
wished he hadn’t. He didn’t need to get himself involved in their relationship. He didn’t have the heart not to paint
Chaz
as the bad guy in any scenario, partly because it was likely the truth and partly because Charlie was a selfish ass who wanted Riley to himself.