probably bump right into her.”
“Maybe so,” Tristan agreed, grateful she didn’t rub salt in his damaged pride. “I think I’ll do that.”
“Have a nice night, Brother Daniels. I promise I’ll try to do better next week.” Billy disconnected the call while her laughter still rang through the line. He wasn’t too worried about it. It was worth it to finally know Riley was okay and where he could find her. Crazy or not, he was about to bump into her in the middle of the woods. God help him.
He found her at the edge of the pond. Her light-pink t-shirt and white shorts made her stand out in the moonlight. She was staring at the water. He was standing mere inches from her before she noticed his presence. It took him a minute to realize she’d been drinking. She startled at his arrival clutching her chest, and losing her balance. He snagged her upper arm, steadying her.
“I missed you at church this morning.”
“Is that disappointment I hear in your voice?” There was a slight slur to her words. She stepped out his hold, losing her balance again but waving away his help. She turned back to face the water. “Get used to it. That’s what I do. I let people down.”
He had no idea what was going on. In all the time he’d known Riley, he’d never seen her like this. “I think I’ll survive it,” he said, attempting to read her mood. “Maybe next week.”
She shot him an exasperated look. “Quit trying to save me, Tristan.” Before he had time to argue that he was doing no such thing, Riley spread her arms wide and tilted her head back. “I don’t need to be rescued,” she yelled. The words echoed across the field and water before being carried away on the breeze. “And why is it so hot?” she growled, tugging at the neck of her shirt. “It’s nighttime for fuck’s sake.”
“I imagine the liquor has something to do with it,” Tristan muttered under his breath. With her fingers still curled around her collar, Riley froze. Her slightly unfocused gaze met his.
“I’ve just realized something. You don’t think much of me.” It hadn’t been a question, but a statement of fact. The hurt in her voice let him know, even though it was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard, she’d already made up her mind. He opened his mouth, intent on telling her he thought she was the best person he’d met in a long time. She whipped her shirt over her head and unsnapped her bra, causing the words to die on his lips. Snapping his teeth together, Tristan tore his gaze away, but he could still see her wiggling out of her shorts from the corner of his eye. The split second of pure decadence, before he’d turned his head, would forever be seared into his mind.
“You should save me then if you’re so determined,” she said, sounding unnaturally calm for such a ridiculous moment. “There’s water right here. Baptize me, Mr. Holier-than-thou. Save me from myself. Come on, Tristan. Don’t back down now. Do your Christian duty by me.” He couldn’t speak. His throat wouldn’t work. The pain in her tone tore at his heart in a way he couldn’t describe, but he couldn’t be a part of whatever self-destruction she had going on. He didn’t have the strength to withstand that bullshit twice in one lifetime. When he didn’t speak, she huffed. “Fine then. I’ll do it myself.” The splashing of water followed her statement.
In spite of his best efforts, Tristan wasn’t strong enough to stop his head from turning in her direction. She was floating in the water, silently staring at the sky. Her gorgeous breasts were bathed in moonlight. His cock lengthened. The sight was too much for a man too long starved. He gave up trying to look away. He moved closer to the water’s edge. Even though he wasn’t sure if she could hear him, Tristan still said her name. Either she was ignoring him or her ears were full of water, because she wouldn’t look at him.
“I have an issue with alcohol. I don’t deal
“Maybe so,” Tristan agreed, grateful she didn’t rub salt in his damaged pride. “I think I’ll do that.”
“Have a nice night, Brother Daniels. I promise I’ll try to do better next week.” Billy disconnected the call while her laughter still rang through the line. He wasn’t too worried about it. It was worth it to finally know Riley was okay and where he could find her. Crazy or not, he was about to bump into her in the middle of the woods. God help him.
He found her at the edge of the pond. Her light-pink t-shirt and white shorts made her stand out in the moonlight. She was staring at the water. He was standing mere inches from her before she noticed his presence. It took him a minute to realize she’d been drinking. She startled at his arrival clutching her chest, and losing her balance. He snagged her upper arm, steadying her.
“I missed you at church this morning.”
“Is that disappointment I hear in your voice?” There was a slight slur to her words. She stepped out his hold, losing her balance again but waving away his help. She turned back to face the water. “Get used to it. That’s what I do. I let people down.”
He had no idea what was going on. In all the time he’d known Riley, he’d never seen her like this. “I think I’ll survive it,” he said, attempting to read her mood. “Maybe next week.”
She shot him an exasperated look. “Quit trying to save me, Tristan.” Before he had time to argue that he was doing no such thing, Riley spread her arms wide and tilted her head back. “I don’t need to be rescued,” she yelled. The words echoed across the field and water before being carried away on the breeze. “And why is it so hot?” she growled, tugging at the neck of her shirt. “It’s nighttime for fuck’s sake.”
“I imagine the liquor has something to do with it,” Tristan muttered under his breath. With her fingers still curled around her collar, Riley froze. Her slightly unfocused gaze met his.
“I’ve just realized something. You don’t think much of me.” It hadn’t been a question, but a statement of fact. The hurt in her voice let him know, even though it was the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard, she’d already made up her mind. He opened his mouth, intent on telling her he thought she was the best person he’d met in a long time. She whipped her shirt over her head and unsnapped her bra, causing the words to die on his lips. Snapping his teeth together, Tristan tore his gaze away, but he could still see her wiggling out of her shorts from the corner of his eye. The split second of pure decadence, before he’d turned his head, would forever be seared into his mind.
“You should save me then if you’re so determined,” she said, sounding unnaturally calm for such a ridiculous moment. “There’s water right here. Baptize me, Mr. Holier-than-thou. Save me from myself. Come on, Tristan. Don’t back down now. Do your Christian duty by me.” He couldn’t speak. His throat wouldn’t work. The pain in her tone tore at his heart in a way he couldn’t describe, but he couldn’t be a part of whatever self-destruction she had going on. He didn’t have the strength to withstand that bullshit twice in one lifetime. When he didn’t speak, she huffed. “Fine then. I’ll do it myself.” The splashing of water followed her statement.
In spite of his best efforts, Tristan wasn’t strong enough to stop his head from turning in her direction. She was floating in the water, silently staring at the sky. Her gorgeous breasts were bathed in moonlight. His cock lengthened. The sight was too much for a man too long starved. He gave up trying to look away. He moved closer to the water’s edge. Even though he wasn’t sure if she could hear him, Tristan still said her name. Either she was ignoring him or her ears were full of water, because she wouldn’t look at him.
“I have an issue with alcohol. I don’t deal
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