Best Of My Love (Home to Green Valley Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page A

She would have known Riley’s voice anywhere, even if he hadn’t identified himself.
    She glanced down, making sure she looked presentable. She was wearing a t-shirt, shorts, and silly Christmas socks, even though it was early May. Presentable, but not exactly how she wanted Riley to see her the first time she ever got him in her bedroom.
    She thought about pulling off her socks or hurriedly trying to change, but decided that would be silly. This was Riley, she told herself. Her friend , no matter how she wished he could be more. She bit her lip before finally saying, “Sure, come on in.”
    When he opened the door and she got her first glimpse at him, she shivered.
    “What are you doing here?” Shoot, is he here to fire me? She knew she shouldn’t have left early. Quinn had been too nice to say no, and too nice to let her go, so he’d asked his brother to handle it instead. Her heart raced, and she swallowed back the bile in her throat.
    “Calm down,” he murmured, holding up his hands. “I’m not here with bad news. Sheesh.”
    “Then what are you here for?” She realized how rude that sounded only after it was too late to take it back. “I mean, why did you come here? At this time of night, especially?”
    “I apologize for disturbing you.” He looked around the room from his spot in the doorway then stepped inside. Which she’d told him he could do, of course, so why was she suddenly feeling like prey to his predator.
    While he turned to shut the door, she peeked over the side of the bed to be sure there was no underwear laying around.
    Her heart still raced, though no longer from fear. He was actually in her bedroom! Where she’d had one fantasy about him after another since the day they’d met.
    “Cute socks,” he murmured, pointing at her knee-high Christmas tree socks.
    “Whatever. I like Christmas.”
    “So I guessed.” He grinned, taking a seat at the desk, beside the bed. “We didn’t get a chance to catch up at the pub yesterday.”
    “You left in a hurry.”
    “You seemed…busy. Plus, I had things to do. I went there straight from the airport.”
    “You didn’t stop at home, first?”
    “Nah. I wanted to see my brothers.”
    She still loved hearing him talk. His brogue was so thick at times, she thought she could cut it with a knife.
    “And you, too, of course.”
    She smiled, knowing he was just saying that to be polite. “You don’t have to say that.”
    “What do you mean?
    “I mean, we’re friends, Riley, but I know I’m not special enough to warrant you seeking me out as soon as you got back.”
    “Yeah. I know you think that. Thought that , given you managed to hook up with Rob while I was gone.”
    She frowned, even as her insides began to tremble. What was he saying? And why did he suddenly sound jealous? Like he actually cared that she’d “hooked up” with Rob at all? “I don’t understand,” she finally said.
    “That’s my fault. I never let you see how much I liked you, Erica. But I’ve thought about you a lot. Both before I left, and while I was gone.”
    The trembling in her body was turning into a full-on earthquake. “What are you saying, Riley?”
    “I’m saying I wished you weren’t dating Rob. I’m saying I want you to tell me whether you’re serious about him, and if you’d consider going out with me.”
    She must have sat there speechless for a long time before he prompted, “Erica?” but her head was spinning. “I’m sorry. I’m just…surprised.”
    He nodded. “I understand.” He winked at her. “Take your time answering me.” He looked around, then seemed to notice the music she had playing at low volume. “You’re a Queen fan?”
    “Um, yeah. For most of my life.”
    “How did I never know that?” He grinned with what looked like genuine pleasure.
    “I have no idea. I guess it never came up.” Was this really happening? Had he really told her he wanted to date her, then proceeded to engage her in a conversation about