Part 15 (1/2)

By the time they finished for the day, Riley owned a dress so high-end she didn't recognize the name of the designer, shoes so expensive the bill could pay her rent for two months, and a Judith Lieber purse in the shape of peac.o.c.k, glittering with brightly colored jewels.

Before they parted for the evening, Olivia informed her she'd be picking her up first thing in the morning for part two of their excursion.

”Part two?”

The other woman grinned, her eyes glittering with excitement. ”It's a surprise,” she insisted in that tone that told Riley no amount of prodding would get her to reveal what she planned.

After shopping, Riley arrived home, arms loaded with packages. Her dress would be delivered by four p.m. tomorrow. Her phone was ringing as she fumbled for her keys. She found them, unlocked her door, and ran inside, dropping the bags onto the couch.

She grabbed for the receiver. ”h.e.l.lo?” she asked, out of breath.

Click.

Whoever it was hung up on her. ”Dammit!”

Her mouth ran dry. Before she could think about it, the phone rang again.

Riley answered it, yelling into the receiver. ”I swear to G.o.d, if you don't stop calling me, I'll-”

”Riley? What's wrong?”

”Alex?” Relieved, she lowered herself next to her purchases.

”Yeah. Talk to me.”

She sighed. ”Nothing. I just came home from shopping, and the phone was ringing, my hands were full...everything's fine.”

”That's why you were threatening me before you even knew who was on the other end of the line?”

She swallowed hard. ”I heard from my father,” she said, knowing better than to lie to him.

Alex swore loudly. ”What did he say?”

”He left a message with my secretary when I was out of town. The note just said, 'you owe me.'” She repeated the words written on the pink paper.

”I'll kill him.”

”It's not worth it. You were a kid last time you dealt with him. You have a career to worry about now. Just stay away from him. Promise me. I'm sure he's all talk,” Riley said, praying she was right.

It didn't make any sense. He'd been out of her life for years. Why surface now?

”Not making any promises. I'm still in Tampa, but I'll be back tomorrow. I'll see what I can dig up on your old man. See what he's been up to.”

”Thanks, Alex.” She opted not to argue with him.

Still shaken up, she knew better than to call Ian. He'd know immediately that something was wrong, so instead, she texted him her thanks for the dress and the rest of her new things.

He wrote back immediately. Seeing you in them will be thanks enough.

She smiled and managed to go to bed happy, but her dreams kept her tossing and turning and on edge. Her childhood wasn't a happy one, and she couldn't think of one good reason for her father to surface, or what he could imagine she owed him.

ELEVEN.

The next morning, no sooner had Olivia picked up Riley than she informed her they were spending the day being pampered. She should have said pampered, ma.s.saged and hot-stoned, plucked, waxed, blow-dried, and made-up. Her nails and toes were soaked and perfectly painted, a far more perfect job than she did herself. Olivia, it seemed, treated herself to this often. For Riley, it was a brand-new experience, and she surprised herself by enjoying every minute.

Before she knew it, she was dressed and ready and allowing Ian's driver to help her into the limousine. Ian waited in the back seat, looking extremely handsome in his black tuxedo. Clothes didn't make this man; he was too imposing not to be noticed, no matter what he wore. But with his hair perfectly styled, his silver-gray eyes focused on her, he was every inch the man she couldn't get out of her mind...or, she feared, her heart.

”You take my breath away,” he said, his eyes darkening with his words.

Never before had she been the focus of such intense scrutiny.

”Thank you,” she murmured. ”You look pretty hot yourself.”

”I'm not the one they won't be able to take their eyes off of.”

She ducked her head and felt herself blush.

He lifted her chin with one hand. ”I'll be the luckiest man there tonight. I want you to know that.”

He trailed a finger down her neck and across her collarbone, his touch intimate and seductive. Her nipples beaded, and she trembled.

”I think that dress needs a little something more.” With his free hand, he reached behind him and held out a long box.

”Ian, no.” She'd already compromised her usual beliefs by letting him buy her this dress and the shoes, not to mention the complete spa day.

His eyes lost some of their earlier sparkle. ”Let me give you this, please. It makes me happy. I want you to have something that...when you wear it, you think of me.”

She swallowed hard. ”I always think of you.”

”Then let me in.” He leaned in and pressed his lips against that sweet spot behind her ear, and she let out a soft moan. ”Let me do things for you.” He took her hand and placed it on the box. ”Please.”

She could see and feel how much this meant to him. It was a gift, and she'd hurt him if she didn't accept it. ”Okay.”

His expression transformed, his pleased smile making her happy she'd given in.

He snapped open the box, revealing a delicate, teardrop-shaped, diamond necklace set in white gold.

She sucked in a breath, overwhelmed by the piece. It wasn't ostentatious or over-the-top. It didn't make a statement or scream money, though she had no doubt the item had cost him a lot. Instead, it was simple, elegant, and every inch something she'd not only pick out herself but wear. And not just tonight at the fundraising gala, but every day.

He'd chosen the perfect gift, picked with her taste and feelings in mind.

”It's beautiful,” she whispered.

”You'll wear it?” he asked.