Riley’s Billionaire by Sunny Cole

spectacular view up here.’
    Janet had included enough veggies, cheeses, and meats that their feast was more of a Ploughman’s Lunch than a snack. There were even slices of tomato and avocado.
    They made their sandwiches in silence, but Riley was acutely aware of every brush of Jack’s skin against hers, the back of his hand rubbing her thigh as he replaced lids on dishes.
    He didn’t appear to notice she’d become nervous. It seemed this was like any other night he’d been on top of the world. For Riley, it was romantic bliss with one exception. Her sudden need for him was hardly peaceful, and romance would soon be out the window if she didn’t get a grip on herself. Animalistic wasn’t her style, but something about being outdoors, in a slice of the wild, with the sexiest man she’d known worked on her libido. Hormones fired like pistons, and for a moment she wondered if she was a lunatic or sex fiend. Jack had been the perfect gentleman, had made no overt moves, no innuendo. She’d even sworn not to have sex with him! What was wrong with her?
    She leaned against him, almost subconsciously, and stared at the rivers below.
    Jack had no idea what prompted him to share this private place with Riley, and at such a late hour. She was probably exhausted — she’d said as much at the reception. She seemed to enjoy herself, though.
    He smiled to himself. Nothing like a good bike ride to work up an appetite. He was just surprised to find Riley in sync with him. More surprised she didn’t chatter incessantly like most women he knew. That she was comfortable in a shared silence made him glad. He didn’t have to entertain her — the view took care of that. She didn’t need reassurance. She’d taken the ride like a pro once they were on a smooth stretch of highway.
    So why the electricity in the air between them? He’d been careful not to say or do anything that might make her jittery. He was still confused as to her reaction when he’d left the room the night before, but he had reservations about believing she’d wanted him to stay so she could make love to him. No. She’d just had her pride wounded somehow. Women were funny like that. If he’d learned anything growing up with women in the house, it was that the female species could find fault and slights in any situation, and a smart man took it all in stride without asking a lot of questions or trying to fix things that didn’t need repairing. If Riley needed his help, she’d ask for it.
    He’d had an epiphany or two during the past twenty-four hours. One: his wife was a complex mixture of innocence and womanly wiles. Two: he was definitely attracted to her, so this marriage of convenience was crap. It was no longer convenient for him — it was downright demented to think he could keep his hands off her without a strong conviction, and it wasn’t like there was a big green light giving him the go-ahead to claim her.
    Damn him for ever having her sign that contract. She’d be offended if he didn’t appear to find her desirable. She’d hate him if he seduced her after she’d remarked she wouldn’t bear him children. Sure, she’d mentioned they use birth control, but Jack doubted she was serious.
    Perhaps she’d realise he was offering up this place, not to seduce her, but so he might share a bit of himself with her. He’d not ridden with another female since his teens, and he’d never been to this lookout point with anyone else. Maybe Riley would sense that. It wasn’t something he discussed anyway. Women had their ‘secret garden’ niches in their private thoughts. He had his. Some places were more sacred when not discussed.
    He was distracted from his own thoughts by the soft sound of...snoring. When he looked down, there was Riley, one hand clasping an empty coffee mug, the other curled around his arm, her small fingers touching his wrist.
    Another dilemma arose. They couldn’t stay; they’d be food for ants and other creatures before long.