Just a Kiss Read Free Page B

eyes. “You’re the same person you’ve always been, Riley.”
    Not even close. Not on the outside, and sure as heck not on the inside. He pressed his lips tight before it came spilling out. Nothing would ever be the same. Paige deserved the best, and that sure wasn’t him.
    Zac’s gray eyes narrowed as he studied Riley. “What happened to the big smile, bro?”
    Riley clenched his jaw, turning to watch the belt as it squeaked its way around an endless circle. “Move the chair over here.”
    “Why am I getting the feeling you’re not half as ‘wicked awesome’ as you claim to be?”
    Riley took a long second to compose himself. “I’m fine. I just—I was planning to put some space between me and Paige. Now I’m stuck.” He gave Zac a flinty look. “If I try and get out of it, it’s going to hurt her feelings. Or worse, she’ll know something’s up.”
    The suspicion on Zac’s face cleared as he moved the chair and set the brakes. “Wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.”
    “Not happening.”
    He was just going to have to suck it up. Work his butt off with exercises and therapy until he could get his prosthesis and manage on his own. Because the sooner he was independent, the sooner he could get out of Paige’s life—out of Summer Harbor—for good.

Chapter 3
    P aige turned off the TV and crept toward Riley’s wheelchair. After a loud, celebratory supper the family had cleared out pretty quickly. Maybe they’d sensed Riley’s exhaustion, despite his valiant attempt at lively conversation.
    The topics had centered around life here in Summer Harbor: Zac’s restaurant, the brothers’ quickly evolving love lives, the family Christmas tree farm. Paige had glossed over the recent financial difficulties at the shelter. He didn’t need to worry about Perfect Paws or her livelihood. He needed to focus on his recovery.
    She stopped beside his chair, squatting down, taking in his handsome face, not quite relaxed, even in sleep. Twin furrows crouched between his brows, and his lips remained together. He’d changed in the fifteen months he’d been gone. She’d noticed the evolution on Skype, but it was more obvious in real life.
    The planes of his face were more angled, his jaw more square. Harder. She supposed war had a way of changing a man, inside and out. His dark lashes fanned across his skin, the only thing even remotely soft or boyish about him.
    She’d known him so long. Knew him so well. Maybe that was why she wasn’t quite buying the jubilant act. He’d avoided talking about everything he’d been through the past several weeks. His injury had been the elephant in the room tonight.
    Her cat, Dasher, slinked by, rubbing against her, her gray tail swishing, her nose twitching toward Riley.
    “It’s good to have him back home, isn’t it, baby?”
    She studied Riley’s forearms; they looked hard as steel, leading down to strong, calloused hands and thick fingers. She’d always liked his hands. Manly hands. Lobstering had always kept him in good shape. He was happiest when he was out on the water, the wind in his hair, the waves rolling beneath the boat’s hull. That’s why she’d been so surprised when he’d enlisted.
    Surprised and dismayed. And yes, she admitted to herself, angry. He’d dropped it on her like a hot brick, after the fact. He was leaving her, and she’d felt abandoned—an all-too-familiar feeling.
    But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. He was back, and he needed her.
    “Riley.”
    The furrows deepened. His head rolled to the side.
    She hated to wake him, but there was no other way to get him into bed, and his dressing needed to be changed. She’d already turned down his covers and made sure the path to his bed was clear. There was a glass of water on his nightstand beside his bottle of pills, and the crutches she’d picked up for him were within reach of his bed.
    She set her hand on his arm, her fingers brushing lightly over the dark hairs. “Riley,