Riley's Pond (New Adult Romance) Read Free Page A

sleep.”
    **
    Taking Dirk to school cut big time into my morning make-out session with Kaylee. By the time we arrived at school, we barely got in five minutes of tongue tagging before we’d be late for first period. Didn’t even steam up the windows, but worked me up enough I held my Chemistry book low and close. Girls had it easy. Kaylee ran her fingers through her hair and applied more strawberry flavored lip-gloss. My situation worsened, watching. A serious headache would start within the hour, pissing me off. Damn Jaxson. Even from his hospital bed, he messed with my life.
    I helped Kaylee out of the truck and eased my arm around her waist, trying to sneak a feel from one of my favorite places on earth.
    “Ouch!” She flinched, moving away from me.
    “What? Did I hurt you?”
    Her gaze fell. “No, I…um, tripped on the stairs this morning and fell.” She flipped her head of chestnut colored curls back. “I’m so clumsy, sometimes.”
    That’s when I saw it, in the bright sunlight, out of the shadow of my truck with my mind clear and eyes wide open—the bruise spreading over a lump above her left brow.
    “Kaylee?” When I reached out to touch it, she grabbed my hand.
    “I told you, it’s nothing . ” Her brown eyes peered from beneath her long lashes, her tongue easing out of her pink glossy lips and licking my palm, slowly . . . seductively. I forgot my name and no longer gave a damn about the mark.
    Pressing my Chemistry book tighter, I wrapped my free hand behind her neck and pulled her fruity glazed mouth onto mine. The outside bell rang and we jumped, raking teeth. I hissed, licking “Strawberry Delight” off my lips. Carefully, I tucked the loose curls covering her cheek behind her ear.
    “Baby, I’m sorry. It looks sore.” I pressed a gentle kiss to the shiner as if that would erase it and the pain. “Be careful. I love you.”
    She pulled the curls back over her face. “I will, I promise.” She didn’t say I love you back and my brows folded.
    “Kaylee, is everything okay?”
    “Yeah, silly, but we’re going to be late, so get your horny ass in class before we’re both in Detention.” She backed away, blowing me a kiss before crossing the parking lot to catch up with her girlfriend, Shar, waiting by the doors to the main building. I turned on my heel and headed in the opposite direction towards the gym. A dull headache already thumped in my brain.
    **
    A call from my mother summoned me out of second period to the principal’s office.
    “Riley, did you get Dirk to school on time?”
    “Yes, Mom . Seriously, is that why you called?” She sighed hard and guilt kicked my gut. Being our mother and the wife of the Sheriff brought her nothing but grief and many sleepless nights. “Sorry, I’m tired.” I blew a long breath. “How’s Jaxson?”
    “Surgery went well. His nose is straight again, and he only needed a few stitches for the cut on his stomach. The spleen is the main concern. It will be another twenty-four hours before he’s is out of the woods. The doctor said he’s in remarkable shape, considering.”
    “Great. A perfectly shaped nose. Just what he needs,” I sneered.
    Jaxson looked like one of those guys sculptors used to pose for bronze figures of Greek gods. He inherited the best genes, leaving me and Dirk with leftovers.
    “Riley!” Mom snapped. “Your brother is lucky to be alive and all you can think of is how jealous you are of his nose ? Shame on you. And for your information, young man, you are every bit as handsome as your brother.”
    “Geesh, enough already. So when will you be home?”
    “Well, that’s why I called.”
    Damn. Here it came… responsibility. “ I know. Pick up Dirk. Order a pizza. Do my homework. Make sure Dirk does his. No TV after nine. Anything else?” The secretary sitting at the desk across from the counter glowered.
    “You make me sound like a prison warden, Riley. However, yes. All of the above, plus one you forgot. No