She averted her gaze, embarrassed. She figured he’d pulled the danger card and then she’d have no choice but to drive to the stadium with him, allowing him to put his stamp all over her at work.
“I may not have given you any reason to trust me, but I said I’d compromise. And I’m doing it.”
She heard the hurt in his tone. “You are. I’m sorry I’m such a bitch,” she said.
“As long as you’re my bitch.” He grinned, swatted her on the ass, and walked away, leaving her with her mouth open in surprise.
THIRTEEN
Riley arrived at work on Monday morning to find Dylan wanted them to take a quick trip to Manhattan to check out a city hotel owned by the same company as the place in Phoenix. Forty-eight hours, in and out. She agreed to head home and pack.
She called Ian first, knowing he’d appreciate the gesture. Although he was in a meeting across town, he took her call immediately. He wasn’t pleased they’d be apart so soon after she’d moved in, but he didn’t ask her not to go or interfere. He couldn’t leave the meeting he was in and instead insisted she take a car service to her apartment, charge it to the company, and make sure the driver walked her up to her door and waited for her to return to the car. He didn’t want her alone.
She didn’t argue, not wanting to add pressure to his day. She already knew how difficult he found it to let her go on these trips, and she understood so much more now, especially since many of his father’s business trips had been a cover for time with Savannah and his other family.
While away, Riley made sure to call him often, and though her room was full of flowers, Dylan had no complaints about phone calls from Ian.
In other words, Ian was living up to his word. In return, she picked up souvenirs, silly things like a miniature Empire State Building and an I Love NY hat just to show Ian she thought of him too.
She arrived home Wednesday morning, heading straight from the airport to work.
Angie greeted her with a smile and her messages.
“You’re amazing,” Riley told the other woman.
“Thanks! Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will.”
“Oh! There’s a package for you on your desk,” Angie added.
“Got it!” Riley said as she entered her office.
She parked her small travel suitcase in the corner and flopped into her chair. “Home sweet home away from home,” she muttered, kicking off her shoes beneath her desk.
She might have work to do, but she wanted to see Ian first. Still, the package in brown wrapping called to her. She wondered if he’d bought her something while she was away. She immediately touched the pendant he’d given her. She only removed it to shower then put it back on to sleep.
She wasn’t stupid, knew it was ridiculously expensive, but its worth wasn’t in its dollar value. For Riley, the necklace was Ian’s statement, proof of how well he knew her taste and what she meant to him. She didn’t want or need anything else from him, she thought, as she ripped into the package.
Inside was a box and inside that, a picture frame. Had the silly man framed the picture of them from the newspaper? That was something she’d cherish, their first photograph together.
She turned over the rectangular frame, took one look at the picture, and screamed, dropping it onto her desk. “Oh my God!”
“Riley, are you okay?” Angie popped around the doorframe.
“I’m fine,” she lied.
The other woman narrowed her gaze. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
Angie left, and Riley turned over the offending picture. Riley’s beautiful mother, her face bruised and battered, stared back at her. Obviously an old photo, it was faded and had been crumpled and straightened again to be sent here.
Ian. She had to show Ian. Not because she’d promised him, but because he was the only person she wanted now.
She held the frame against her chest, not wanting anyone else to see, and ran for his office.
His secretary smiled when she saw Riley.
“Is he in?” she asked.
The older woman nodded. “But he’s on a call.”
Riley didn’t care. She passed by the woman’s desk and let herself into his office.
He looked up when she burst in, his serious expression transforming into a smile. “I have to go,” he said to whomever was on the phone, disconnecting the call.
Ian rose and started toward her, stopping when he caught sight of her pale face and wide, panicked eyes. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, and he realized she was clutching something close to her heart. He wrapped his hands around hers. “Can I see?”
She released her grip. “It’s my mother,” she said in a pain-wracked voice.
He looked down at the gruesome reminder of her past pain, and a combination of nausea and rage filled him. “Where did you get this?”
“The package was delivered here,” she said, her voice dull.
Ian narrowed his gaze, trying to decide what concerned him more. The delivered photograph or Riley’s reaction. “Come sit.”
He led her to his leather couch and eased her down, setting the picture facedown on the table in front of them. “Riley?”
“I’m going to kill him,” she said, color returning to her cheeks.
Not if Ian got to the son of a bitch first.
“We need to call the police. They need to document what’s been happening, okay?”
She nodded. “My mother never did. I want it on record,” she said, sounding stronger.
He let out the breath he’d been holding, relieved she seemed to be coming back to herself.
“Have you been home yet?”
She shook her head. “Dylan was coming straight here, so I did too. I wanted to see you.”
He smiled at that, touching his forehead to hers. “I’m right here.”
“I came straight to you,” she said, her gaze on the picture frame. “I opened it up and came right to you.”
He gathered her hair and pulled it back, off her face. “You did good. And I’m going to take care of it,” he promised her.
She blinked at that, her posture stiffening.
Wrong direction, he thought. She didn’t want him fighting her battles or acting like she couldn’t take care of herself. He got that about her.
“I missed you,” he said, changing the subject.
“Me too. I brought you presents.”
His heart warmed at the gesture. “How about we take the day off?” he suggested, needing to be alone with her. He needed to slide deep inside her willing body and know she was safe. And his.