Riley

4

“WELL, AREN’T YOU a Dicky Dazzler.”

Riley gave his older brother, Kellan, a pointed glare, then turned to Danny, who stood behind the bar at the pub. “Go find me a good bottle or two of wine,” he said. “Not the cheap stuff. And bring up three or four bottles of that Belgian ale.”

“Red or white, yer royal bog-trotter?” Danny asked.

Kellan slapped his younger brother’s hand. “Good one, Danny. Clever and cutting all at once.”

“Funny,” Riley muttered. “And give me a whiskey while I wait.”

His brother poured him two fingers and slid the glass across the bar. “So what’s the special occasion? You’re wearing a shirt that’s been pressed and a jacket you only take out at Christmas. And why is it you always dress like a culchie but you have more money than God?”

Though Kellan made a fine living as an architect and Danny did well as an artisan blacksmith and metal sculptor, Riley had been the most fortunate financially. The royalties from his CDs brought in a third of his annual income and performing made up the other two-thirds.

Still, both Danny and Kellan had a solid future in front of them. The one thing about fame was that it could be fleeting. Riley never knew when the crowds would move on to someone else, when the offers of work would dry up and he’d become just another washed-up pub singer who’d made a few decent CDs.

It had never really bothered him until now. Riley had always put off the worry until it actually came about. But now, thoughts of his future had been pushed into his head and he couldn’t seem to rid himself of them. Was it Nan who had brought on the confusion?

It was far too early to think about a future with her. And who said he couldn’t find more profitable and dependable work if he needed to? He could write pop songs or produce other singers. Or he could go to university and study something completely unrelated to music. He was a clever lad. He had plenty of options.

“Well, are you going to tell us, or are you planning to spend the night staring into your glass of whiskey?” Kellan asked.

“I have a date. A dinner date.”

“With the American?” Kellan asked. “When do I get a look at this girl?”

“Oh, she’s grand,” Danny assured him. “Though why she’s wasting her time with Riley is a question that’s been plaguing my mind. It’s keeping me up at night.”

Kellan arched his brow. “That so? Well, at least something is keeping you up at night because it sure isn’t a woman.”

“I like her,” Riley said. “I’ll admit it. And I haven’t a clue why. She’s pretty enough, but she’s not like any other girl I’ve dated. She’s just really…sweet.”

“I’ve heard American girls are wild as banshees in the bedroom,” Danny said. “What say you, Riley? Is it true?”

“I’ve known her for a day and a half,” he said. “We haven’t had the pleasure yet. Not that I’d be telling you if we had.”

Kellan shook his head. “You’re movin’ too slow, brother.” His smile faded. “She’ll go home. They all go home. That’s the advantage of snogging a tourist. But don’t let yourself fall too hard, boyo. It’s not worth it.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Riley said. He gulped down his whiskey. “I know.” Setting the glass down, he stared into it for a long moment. “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to stop myself on this one, though. It’s feeling different than the rest.”

“Why is that?” Kellan asked.

“I couldn’t tell you,” he said, shaking his head. “She’s just going through some things now and I feel like I can at least help her out.”

“You’re going to rescue her,” Danny said. “Just like Da rescued Ma. You know what that means, don’t you?”

“Yes, I’ll be getting my own wine and beer,” Riley said, pushing away from the bar.

“Hey, you’re still playing here Saturday night, right?”

“Yeah,” Riley said. “The band and me have rehearsal that afternoon at three, so make sure you post that we’re closed. We’ll play at nine. Maggie Griffith called and said she’d open for us at seven.”

“And what about Dublin?” Danny asked. “Aren’t you supposed to be in the studio next week working on your new CD?”

“I don’t need a feckin’ social secretary, Danny. I know where I’m supposed to be and when.”

“Just askin’,” Danny said.

Riley cursed beneath his breath as he walked back into the kitchen and down the steps to the cellar. He pulled a bottle of red and one of white and put them in an old basket, then added six bottles of beer.

Yes, he was supposed to be in Dublin next week, recording vocals for the band’s new CD. And he’d had every intention of going, until Nan showed up in town. Now, he was searching for excuses to make, anything to delay for another week. He settled on a sore throat, brought on by a wicked summer cold. It sounded plausible enough. And though studio time was tricky to schedule, the delay would be worth it.

Riley snuck out the back door of the kitchen, unwilling to suffer any more of his brothers’ taunting. They were the ones to talk, he mused. Neither Kellan nor Danny had had a woman in their lives for months. Who was to say that they wouldn’t turn their lives upside down for the right one?

As he walked, he passed his car by, choosing to hike the two kilometers up to the cottage. If he did spend the night with Nan, Riley didn’t want to give the village gossips something to talk about for the rest of the week. Although, word had probably gotten out already, after the rather passionate and very public kiss they’d shared in the pub the night before.

Several cars passed by him on the road and honked their horns in greeting. Halfway up to the cottage, he ran into Fergus O’Malley and his six dogs. “Good evening to you, Riley Quinn,” Fergus called.

“Evening, Fergus.”

“Are you up to see your lady then?” he asked, pointing to the cottage.

Riley groaned inwardly. If Fergus O’Malley knew he and Nan were spending time together, then the gossip had spread much more quickly than he’d ever anticipated. “Just delivering some necessities,” Riley said, holding up the crate.

Fergus chuckled. “Oh, is that what they call it nowadays? Deliverin’ necessities.” He continued to laugh as he walked past, the dogs trotting dutifully behind him.

Picking up his pace, Riley strode up the hill, determined to avoid any other meetings with curious townsfolk. When he reached the front door of the cottage, he took a moment to catch his breath, then rapped on the door. A few seconds later it opened, to a sight that made his heart skip a beat.

She looked more beautiful that he’d ever imagined her to be. A pale blue dress, cut deep in the front and made of some silky fabric, clung to her slender body. Her arms were exposed and her feet and legs were bare beneath the flowing skirt.

Riley glanced up at her face to find her regarding him quizzically. “Sorry,” he said. “I was gawking. You look absolutely grand.”

This observation brought a beautiful smile to her face. “Thank you. So do you.”

“May I come in?” Riley asked.

She stepped aside. “You may. You do own the place.”

The cottage was filled with lovely smells. He wasn’t sure what it was she’d prepared, but Riley knew that even if it was inedible, he’d devour it with a smile. “I brought wine and beer,” he said.

Nan reached for the basket. “I’ll put the beer in the fridge.”

“I’ll do it. I know where it is.”

The kitchen was tiny, with barely enough room for the sink, the cooker and the refrigerator, never mind two people. Nan watched as he put the bottles in the freezer to chill. “We’re having spaghetti,” she said. “I hope you like Italian food.”

“I could eat,” he said. But he didn’t want to think about food. All he wanted at the moment was to pull her into his arms and kiss her. Riley followed her out of the kitchen and then, to his surprise, she turned around and threw herself into his arms, kissing him desperately.

With a low groan, Riley furrowed his fingers through her hair and her lips molded to his. A surge of desire washed through him, hot and liquid, a fire in his veins.

Kissing her wasn’t enough. He wanted to be closer, his desire consuming her body as well. His hands skimmed over her curves, kneading the soft flesh beneath the fabric of her dress. He fought the urge to tear the garment from her body, impatient with the pace of a proper seduction.

But Nan didn’t have the same concerns about the speed they were moving. Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt and when they were all undone, she yanked his shirttail out of his jeans. In one deft motion, she shoved the jacket and shirt off his shoulders, never once breaking the kiss they shared.

Riley struggled with the buttons on the cuffs before he was able to rid himself of the clothes. His hands immediately returned to her body in an unchecked exploration. He bunched her skirt in his fists and when it was up around her thighs, slid his hands beneath to cup her backside.

Through it all, they moved inexorably toward the bedroom, a step at a time. Dinner had been forgotten, life had been forgotten. All Riley could think about was the feel of her body beneath his hands. Anticipation built inside of him and he wondered if he’d even be able to stop now that they’d begun.

When Nan began to work on the button on his jeans, he decided it was time to dispose of her dress. He reached down and grabbed the hem, then pulled it off over her head, leaving her in just her lacy underwear.

Everywhere he touched was a new experience, each delicious curve and limb a revelation. Riley had always loved the female body and its ability to spark his desire, but there had never been such a deep need before. Though they’d only known each other two days, he was keenly aware of the connection growing between them.

When she’d finished with the zipper of his jeans, he kicked off his shoes. Without a pause, Nan slipped her palms beneath the waistband and skimmed the faded denim down over his hips. Finally, she broke the desperate kiss between them and smiled up at him.

“Better?” he asked, unable to keep from grinning himself.

“Much better.”

“If I’d have known this was appropriate dinner attire, I wouldn’t have bothered getting dressed at all. I could have walked up here starkers.”

“You’ll have to try that next time,” she teased. Nan ran her hand down his chest, letting a finger hook the elastic of his boxers. She gave it a snap. “We’re all undressed and no place to go.”

“Oh, I think I know where we can go,” he said.

She laughed. “I’ll race you.” With that, she turned and ran toward the bedroom. It took him two quick steps to catch her around the waist. Riley picked her up off her feet and carried her into the bedroom, then tumbled onto the bed with her. Then he remembered the condoms he’d put in his jacket pocket.

“Bloody hell,” he muttered. “I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“For some necessities,” he said. When he returned, she was stretched out on the bed, her elbows braced behind her. He held up the string of five condoms. “Wouldn’t want to be without these,” he said.

She arched her eyebrow. “Only five? Stingy boy.”

“Cheeky bird,” he countered. Riley jumped onto the bed and stretched out above her, pinning her hands on either side of her head.

He’d been hard since he’d pulled off her dress and now, his shaft pressed against her hips, fully aroused and ready. Leaning in, he softly touched his mouth to hers, then tasted more deeply. Slowly, he thought to himself. They’d already raced through the first part of foreplay and he wanted the anticipation to last as long as possible.

But Nan had other ideas. She twisted beneath him as he kissed her, trying to free her hands and creating an irresistible friction between their bodies. He moaned as her hand finally slid beneath his boxers.

Riley wanted her fingers wrapped around him if only to experience the sensations her touch created. He grabbed her waist and rolled her on top of him, giving her complete freedom to do what she wanted.

“No more clothes,” she whispered, reaching back to unhook her bra. Taking her cue, he tugged her panties down, but they got tangled between them. She stood up on the bed, then slowly drew them down, watching him with a teasing smile.

“You are very naughty,” he said.

Nan pointed to his boxers. Chuckling, he pulled them off, then tossed them to her. “Better?”

She let her gaze slowly drift down the length of his body, then back again. “Yes. Much better.” As she dropped back down, straddling his hips, Riley couldn’t help but wonder if she were deliberately tormenting him. Everything she did seemed designed to push him closer and closer to the edge.

He spanned her waist with his hands, holding her still as she leaned down to kiss him again. She had the perfect body, made for his touch. Everything fit, everything worked. She shifted above him and he nearly slipped inside of her.

Groaning, Riley reached out for the condoms, but she took them out of his hand and tore one of the packages open. With deft fingers, she smoothed the latex over his shaft. And then, she was above him, wet and ready.

Riley wanted to slow down, but Nan would have none of it. Slowly, she took him inside her, inch by inch, until he was completely buried. A sigh slipped from her lips and she closed her eyes. Riley watched her and waited for her to move again, but she seemed content to revel in the quiet power of their joined bodies.

When she began to move, Riley groaned, drawing her into a long, deep kiss. But the taste of her mouth was not enough to distract from the feel of her body surrounding him. Nan seemed to follow her instincts, moving with him and then against him, as they both moved toward their release.

And then, she was there, tensing above him, her head thrown back, her eyes closed. Her body stiffened before she dissolved into soft shudders of pleasure. Riley held back, watching and waiting until she was nearly spent. He drove into her, holding tight to her hips.

His orgasm hit him like a bolt of lightning, electrifying every nerve in his body. One moment, he was rational and aware, and then the next, he was lost in an exquisite release. Wave after wave of pleasure coursed through him.

When it was over, he opened his eyes and found her looking down at him, a satisfied smile twitching at her lips. With a lazy groan, she stretched out on top of him, nuzzling her face into his chest. “Forget about dinner,” she said. “I’m not even hungry anymore.”

“Maybe if we just rest a bit we’ll regain our appetite,” he said.

“For sex or food?” she asked, looking up at him.

“Sex. And then maybe food.”

“Or food and then sex,” she suggested.

“So you’re hungry?”

“Famished,” she said.

“Then I think we’d better take care of that right away.”

BETWEEN THE SEX and the food, Nan wasn’t sure that there was anything else in the world she required at the moment. After an hour of lying in bed, recovering from their rather impetuous encounter, Riley decided he needed nourishment.

They laid out an erotic picnic in the middle of Nan’s bed, the tangled sheets serving as their table linens. Nan prepared two bowls with the pasta and sauce and Riley opened the wine and filled two coffee mugs.

Sex had always been such a nerve-racking experience in the past. She’d always wondered if she was doing everything she was supposed to do, whether she was pleasing the man she was with. But with Riley, there were no questions. It all felt perfectly natural.

Was this normal? Nan wondered. Had those others simply been the wrong person at the wrong time? Or had her inhibitions held her back from really enjoying herself?

“This is really good,” he said, twirling the spaghetti around his fork.

“It’s not,” she said. “I’m not much of a cook. Pasta is the limit of my gourmet skills. But if you add enough Parmesan cheese, anything tastes good.”

“We don’t serve pasta at the pub. We’re meat-and-potatoes kind of guys.”

“Meat and potatoes and more potatoes,” she said.

“Yeah, well, if you can’t decide what kind of potato you’d like with your meal, we give you three choices on the plate.” He pointed to a basket near her foot. “Can I have more of that bread?”

“I was going to make garlic bread, but I thought it best to leave off the garlic.” She sent him a coy smile. “I thought we might be doing some kissing.”

“And heavy breathing,” he said.

Riley set his bowl down and reached out to grab her foot, gently massaging it. “I thought this was going to happen, but I didn’t think it would be quite so…intense.”

Nan breathed a silent sigh of relief. He’d been pleased. The five lovers she’d had in her life hadn’t been particularly adventuresome when it came to sex. But she’d decided before Riley arrived that she wasn’t going to let anything that happened in the past get in the way of what she wanted with him.

Now that their first time was over, she felt like a different woman. With Riley, she was free to explore her desires. He didn’t know her well enough to judge her or to question her experience.

“It was good,” she said, unable to suppress a smile.

He kissed the arch of her foot. “I love to see you smile.”

“I’m happy,” she said. “I’m having a very good vacation.”

“We haven’t talked about your snapshot. Did you decide what you wanted to do?”

“I haven’t thought about it,” she said. “I came here looking for my mother, but I think I’m finding myself instead.”

He met her gaze with a serious expression. “Really?”

“So much of who we become as adults has to do with our parents. I don’t remember much of my mother so sometimes I feel like I don’t really know how to be a woman. I know it doesn’t make sense because I am a woman. But there are pieces missing. And I’m not sure what they are.”

“I don’t understand,” he said.

Nan looked at him for a long moment, her brow furrowed, wondering if she was ready to reveal something so intimate. “Sex, for one. I’ve had lovers, but I never really felt anything. I knew how it worked, but it didn’t really make sense. Until now.”

“And what did you feel?”

“Free,” she said. “Completely free. I didn’t have to think, I just felt. And it was perfect. I know it sounds silly, but it’s important. And a bit unexpected.”

“I’m glad I could be of service,” he said, a teasing smile curling the corners of his mouth. He leaned over and kissed her breast. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Well, I am. Sure, that is. I’m absolutely certain that I want to spend the next eight days and nights in this cottage with you.”

“Don’t you have to work?”

“My brothers and cousin will cover the shifts at the pub. I have to sing on Saturday night, but you can come along for that. I’m completely yours. So, what should we do for your third day in Ireland? And please note, that spending the day in bed would be my number-one choice.”

“I think we should plan to sleep in tomorrow morning,” she said. “And then we should find a wonderful place for lunch and see something interesting.”

“We have food in the refrigerator and I think your body is very interesting.”

“I’m not spending the whole day in bed,” she said. “I’m supposed to go see things and do things. I have it all planned out.”

“And what were you supposed to be doing tonight?”

“A stroll through Ballykirk, exploring the harbor and then dinner at a picturesque Irish pub.”

“Yet, this is so much better,” he said. “Naked Italian picnic followed by incredible sex with a handsome Irish bloke.”

“I didn’t come here for sex,” Nan said. In truth, she’d expected her vacation to be interesting and illuminating. But this had completely exceeded expectations.

He handed her his mug. “All right, then we’ll stop doing this. Full stop. Right now.” He crawled out of bed and began to gather their clothes. “We’d best get dressed or the temptation might become too much to deny.”

“No,” Nan protested. “Come back to bed.”

With a satisfied smile, he flopped back down on the bed and continued to massage her foot. “Well, I’m glad we’ve gotten that out of the way, aren’t you?”

“You think you’re all that, don’t you,” Nan teased. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve always had your way with girls and I’m just another name on the list?”

His expression clouded over and he sat up and grabbed his empty bowl and his mug of wine, placing them on the floor beside the bed. Bracing his hands on either side of her body, he leaned forward, his lips just inches from hers.

“You are unlike any other woman I’ve known, Nan Galvin,” he said. “And if you think I’m taking this lightly, you’re quite mistaken.”

A tremor raced through her. His words were so direct, so heartfelt, that Nan had no choice but to believe them. And yet, she knew Riley was an accomplished flirt. Men like him could make a woman believe anything.

“And what will you do when I leave?” she murmured.

“You haven’t left yet. And I expect I’ll deal with that when you do.” Riley held out his hand. “Give me that bowl. And your mug.”

“Why?” she asked, holding the bowl just out of his reach. “I’m not sharing. I’m still hungry.”

“Trust me. This will be better than pasta.”

She handed him the bowl and mug and he set it on the bedside table. Then, he reached out and pulled her naked body beneath his, their limbs tangling in the sheets. “Time for dessert,” he said with a low growl. He kissed her, a long, lingering kiss meant to provoke her passion.

“This is supposed to be better than my pasta?” she laughed. “Oh, please. I’ve had stale brownies out of a vending machine that were tastier.”

“You eat brownies?” He frowned. “How does one-”

“Not brownies, like elves,” she explained. “Brownies are little squares of chocolate cake, only better than cake.”

“That makes more sense,” he said, cupping her breast with his palm. He teased the nipple, rubbing his thumb over the hard peak. “There’s this.”

“Still not as good as the stale brownie. But slightly better than two-month-old ice cream.”

He replaced his thumb with his tongue, sucking gently until Nan giggled. “Oh, now that’s better. Now we’re talking about caramel corn-without peanuts.”

“What is this obsession that Americans have with peanuts?” he asked, slowly kissing his way down her belly. When he found the crease between her legs, he slowly teased at it with his tongue.

“Oh, that’s quite lovely,” she said, arching back on the bed, clutching at the sheets. “Tiramisu.”

He teased until she spread her legs, giving him complete control of her body. She found it amazing how uninhibited she became when she was with Riley. In all her prior relationships, she’d been afraid to expose the depth of her need, thinking she might push the boundaries of propriety.

But Riley had taught her that when it came to sex, at least with an Irishman, there were no rules. And enjoying herself was a requirement, not just a possibility.

Nan was quick to reach the edge, but Riley had already learned to read the signs of her impending orgasm. He carefully brought her close again and again and each time, she felt her frustration growing. But it wasn’t impatience holding her back. She wanted to know how far outside herself he could take her, how it would feel to completely and utterly surrender to him.

She tangled her fingers in his hair, whispering his name, waves of sensation racing through her body. But Riley took his time, as if he wanted to prove to her that he could give her something no other man could. She would remember him and their time together, not just for the places they saw and the people they met, but for this.

Again and again, she hurdled toward the edge, only to have him gently draw her back again. But then, when she thought she might never find release, he let her go. The sheer exhilaration was enough to leave her gasping for breath and she felt herself falling and falling. The impact hit suddenly, her body exploding into long, intense spasms of pleasure.

Nan couldn’t think, and for a moment, she lost touch with everything around her, focusing on the contact of his tongue as he continued to torment her. Finally, she pushed him away, unable to take any more, her body trembling and her nerves electrified.

He slowly kissed his way up her body, then curled against her, his head resting on her arm. “You’ll never eat a stale brownie again without thinking of me,” he murmured.

Nan laughed, then turned on her side and playfully slapped his chest. “It won’t be just brownies. Every time I eat dessert, I’ll think of you. Crème brûlée. Lemon meringue pie. Three-layer chocolate cake with mocha buttercream icing. And memories of Riley Quinn.”

They lay in bed for a long time, talking and laughing. And then they made love again, this time slowly and deliberately, until they were both completely spent. And as Nan drifted off to sleep, she wondered if the next time she crawled into her bed at home, she would be wishing that Riley was right there with her.

MOONLIGHT POURED through the window of the bedroom, throwing a shaft of light onto the old quilt. They’d turned off the lamp hours ago and Riley had been left to look at her with only the faintest illumination.

She lay beside him, stretched out on her side, the sheet twisted around her waist, offering a tempting view of her naked body. He’d already memorized every beautiful feature of her face, every intriguing detail of her form, and yet he still wanted to just sit and stare.

He’d expected to fall into a deep sleep after another two hours of sex. But the exhaustion he usually felt had been replaced with a strange restlessness. He was energized, his thoughts more focused than at anytime during the day.

His mind whirled with ideas for lyrics and he pushed them aside, determined to fall asleep. Yet everything he’d felt and experienced that night had turned itself into music in his head. It had been so long since he experienced a burst like this and he’d wondered if his passion for songwriting had waned.

But now it was back, full force, and he felt the need to express himself, to pour everything onto the page before it was lost. Riley sat up in bed and ran his fingers through his messy hair.

He was twenty-eight and fast approaching thirty. Most singer-songwriters had made a name for themselves at this point. And if they hadn’t, they’d made plans for the rest of their life. But thoughts of Nan had also brought thoughts of marriage and a family. Someday, he’d want that, but the life of a musician made family life doubly difficult.

His parents had offered to sell him the pub. None of his siblings wanted to run the Hound and Riley seemed like the logical choice since it would give him a permanent venue for his music. But it would also tie him to Ballykirk.

He’d always wanted the life of an itinerant Irish singer. It had always been enough, until now. But was it enough to convince a woman to cast her lot with him? He reached out and smoothed his hand over Nan’s bare arm. She stirred, then slipped back into a deep sleep. Meeting Nan had taught him one thing: someday, there would be a woman he wanted to spend his life with. And he needed to be ready to offer her a future.

Riley sighed. He wanted to wake her, to continue their conversations, to learn everything he could about her. Was she the one he’d been waiting for? How would he know given their limited time together? And what if he let Nan leave, only to find that she had been the perfect woman for him?

Riley carefully rolled out of bed and pulled on his jeans. He walked, barefoot, to the front door, then slipped outside.

The wind off the sea buffeted his body and whipped at his hair. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to clear his head. A melody drifted through his head and suddenly, there were words to go with it. He slowly walked down the garden path to the gate, then back again.

It was a good idea, something he ought to write down before he forgot it. Wasn’t this a laugh, he thought to himself. He hadn’t written a decent tune in months and now, a night of good sex had turned that all around. Hell, if he continued on with Nan, he might have a whole new album by the end of the week.

When he got back inside, he searched through the top drawer in a chest, pulling out a small pad of paper and a pen. He flipped on a lamp near the sofa and sat down, determined to write all his ideas out and then put the pad away and go back to bed.

But an hour later, when the clock on the mantel struck four, Riley realized that he was glad he hadn’t been able to sleep. Lyrics had poured onto the page, line after line, and each with a melody to go with it. When the lyrics were complete, he went back and added harmonies, sketching out the guitar chords above the words.

He thought about putting on a pot of coffee, but decided to keep working until exhaustion set in naturally. Instead, he got up and fetched a beer from the refrigerator, twisting the cap off as he walked back to the sofa. He spread the three songs out on the floor in front of him, studying them for a long time.

They were good. Really, really good. And they needed to go on the new CD. He had his reason to delay recording. Who knew what he’d come up with in the next week? And the band would have to have time to practice these.

“What are you doing out here?”

The sound of her voice startled him and he glanced over his shoulder to find Nan standing in the bedroom door, her naked body wrapped in the quilt from the bed. “Hey,” he said. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t sleep.”

She walked over to him and plopped down beside him on the sofa. “Are you writing?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I’m not sure where the inspiration came from but-no, that’s not true. I think I know where the inspiration came from.”

“Where?”

“From what went on in that bedroom,” he said. “I just felt this need to write about it.”

“About sex?”

“No, just about men and women. Passion. Love. All of those things that singers sing about.”

She pulled her feet up on the sofa and snuggled up against him. “Sing me one of them,” she murmured, closing her eyes.

“They’re not ready yet,” he said, turning to drop a kiss on the top of her head. Riley sat back, resting his cheek on her soft hair. “But when they’re ready, you’ll be the first one I sing them to.”

“Mmm,” she said. “That’s nice. I like your voice.”

She nestled closer and a few minutes later, her breathing slowed and she fell asleep. Riley reached for the notepad and pen, then let his mind wander again. He’d never believed in the concept of an artistic muse. But maybe that’s what Nan was for him-a source of inspiration in human form.

Riley ran his hand over her silken hair and down her arm. He’d spent a lot of his life searching, looking for that one thing that would guarantee him complete happiness. And as he sat in this simple cottage, with Nan beside him, Riley couldn’t think of anything else in the world he wanted.

Right now, for this single moment in time, he was completely and utterly happy. And if he could stop time in its place, he would. But Riley couldn’t forget that Nan would be leaving him. When that time came, he wondered if he’d ever experience such pure contentment again.