Reconsidering Riley by Lisa Plumley Read Free Book Online

Warily.
    "Well, I hope it, uh, helps. I mean, I don't
buy into the whole how-to guru thing, but whatever works,
right?"
    An awkward silence fell. Riley had the
uncomfortable sensation he hadn't chosen their topic of
conversation wisely. But he couldn't very well pretend he didn't
know what she was here for, could he? Whatever his other faults
might be, he considered himself an upfront guy. He offered his
opinions straight up and expected others to do the same.
    Jayne didn't disappoint. "I hear the
workshop leader is extremely talented," she disagreed.
"Wildly popular. I guess you're not familiar with her best-selling
book?"
    Her raised eyebrows dared him to bluff. He
couldn't.
    "No. I tend to stick to the non mumbo-jumbo section of the bookstore."
    "Hmmph."
    "But hey—" He spread his arms. "—if it helps
people, I'm all for it. Obviously, there are six women here who
believe in those anti-heartbreak techniques." Riley tilted his head
thoughtfully at her. "I just didn't think you'd be among them."
    Her temper flared. "Why? Because you didn't
think my heart could be broken?"
    "No, because I didn't think you'd ever let
yourself be less than twenty miles away from your hair
colorist."
    Jayne gawped at him. "These are only highlights !"
    He'd forgotten she was touchy about her
"natural blondeness."
    "Look," Riley said with a conciliatory
gesture. "You obviously don't want to be here. And I'm not crazy
about taking out your group tomorrow—"
    " You're our guide?"
    He nodded. She muttered and turned her face
heavenward, shaking her head.
    "—but we both have to do what we came here
to do. So we might as well make the best of it. Right?"
    He waited for her answer. A moment passed.
Another. It occurred to him that Jayne might be considering leaving
the retreat, rather than deal with his anti-psychobabble jibes. Had
he unknowingly hurt her feelings?
    Riley hunkered lower, angling his head to
look into her face. "No more self-help potshots. Okay? Truce?"
    Her gaze lifted. He could have lost himself
in her eyes, in her nearness, in her... hey . Knock it off,
you mushball .
    Jayne sighed. "Truce," she agreed.
    He wanted to whoop. Or at least give her a
we-have-a-truce kiss to seal the deal. But before he could, she got
to her feet, still clutching her wrapped towel.
    "But we have some things to talk about,
Riley," Jayne warned. "Some...issues that still aren't settled
between us. Getting some closure would do us both good."
    Geez, she'd already caved in to self-help
speak. He stood, too. "So let's talk."
    "Later. I'm not talking to you dressed—" She
gestured toward her towel-wrapped torso, bare feet, still-damp
skin, and mostly-upswept hair. "—like this."
    "So lose the towel." Riley waggled his
eyebrows.
    "That's not what I mean."
    "Then I'll even the odds." He reached for
the fly of his jeans. "Hand me that spare towel over there?"
    "Be serious."
    Feeling lighter than he had in months, he
put his hands on his hips and grinned. "I am serious."
    "You're never serious. Except about hitting
the trail. That's part of the problem."
    "Huh?"
    "Nothing." Turning away, Jayne opened the
bathroom door. She peeked outside, then angled her head toward the
doorway. "All clear. Let's talk later. After things settle down a
bit."
    Riley recognized an invitation to get the
hell out as well as the next guy. He headed for the door.
    "How about five minutes from now?" he asked.
"On the deck at the back of the lodge? We'll talk, we'll—"
    "Can't. Five minutes from now I'll be
talking to Gwen and Bud, asking for a reassigned trail guide."
    "Ouch. You really know how to hurt a
guy."
    Jayne's expression sobered. "No. I don't.
Maybe if I did, I wouldn't be in this predicament."
    Something in her face struck him. Silenced
him. He wished he could erase whatever hurts she'd suffered,
however they'd come about. Intending to console her, Riley reached
for her hand.
    At the same moment, she shoved him into the
hall.
    "Hey!"
    She shut the door behind him. He