[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
time. Can we go now?
Trace was silent for a long moment and when he finally spoke, his voice was
resigned. Sure. We can go now.
Riley nodded, not meeting Trace s eyes as they left the house and got into the truck,
keeping his teeth clenched so he didn t speak and make a bigger fool of himself. He
turned to look out the window, eyes fixed unseeingly on the midnight blue sky, to have
something to look at that would keep his eyes off Trace.
In a back corner of his mind, Riley recognized that he was being immature and that
he ought to let this go but he couldn t do it. He didn t know how to be rational when
he d wanted to believe so much that everything Trace said was true and the first time
he really took a chance on letting the man in, he got shot down. He supposed the silver
lining was that his hurt feelings would remind him just how bad an idea it was to get
involved any further.
Finally, Trace pulled into the parking lot of Riley s apartment building and Riley let
out a sigh of relief, digging for his keys.
Trace frowned, reaching a hand out to touch Riley s shoulder but Riley slid out of
the truck too fast, bag over his shoulder, and slammed the door shut without a
backward glance. He stalked up the walk and took the steps two at a time, aware that
Trace still sat in his truck, watching. Riley let the door close behind him, pitching his
keys across the room with a scowl. Asshole. Whether he meant himself or Trace, Riley
didn t know.
85
Fae Sutherland & Chelsea James
Chapter Seven
Trace sighed, turning his cell phone over in his hands. It was Thursday, three days
since he d left Riley at his apartment and so far he hadn t heard from him once. Riley
wasn t answering his calls, wasn t returning his messages and Trace was reluctant to
just show up at his apartment or at the club. He wasn t sure what to do next and it was
driving him a little crazy.
He left tomorrow for Chicago and he was beginning to think he wasn t going to get
to talk to Riley before then, smooth things out. He realized what a shit feeling it must be
for Riley. He knew it d been a big risk for him to invite Trace to the party and for it not
to work out& well, he knew it d hurt Riley. Had he any choice, Trace would have
forgotten about his trip and stayed.
With a heavy sigh, he flipped his phone open and dialed Riley s number from
memory, pacing the length of his living room as it rang once, twice, three times and
resigned himself to leaving yet another message that would go ignored.
Just as he was beginning to mentally put together a voice mail message he hoped
might convince Riley to speak to him, the ringing stopped and so did his heart.
Okay, I m answering. Go ahead and talk.
Trace blinked, the acid tone surprising him. He hadn t been expecting it. He hurried
to gather himself and took a breath. I ve missed you. It was the foremost thought on
his mind how damn hard it had been to go these three days without seeing or
speaking to Riley. And I m sorry I hurt you, it wasn t my intention at all.
He sat on the arm of the couch, fingers idly toying with the fringe on his
grandmother s blanket. Damn, darlin , I missed you something terrible. Why haven t
you returned my calls? He tried for a teasing tone. Haven t you figured out yet that
ignoring me doesn t work very well?
I ve been busy. You re not my whole life, you know.
Trace winced but held his ground because he knew Riley was lashing out at his
own preconceived notions of a Trace who didn t exist. One who wanted to take
advantage of Riley, though how the other man was managing to convince himself that
Trace was out to take advantage of him, Trace wasn t quite sure. If he d wanted sex he
could have had it from the beginning. Riley knew that.
All right. You re angry. He got a disgusted snort for that and his lips twitched in
amusement. Even pissed off, Riley was enough to bring Trace more joy than anyone or
anything else. Would it help if I said I ve been miserable the past few days? I ve been
pining, darlin , really. It s pitiful. You should see. I think tomorrow I might try ashes on [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl szkicerysunki.xlx.pl
time. Can we go now?
Trace was silent for a long moment and when he finally spoke, his voice was
resigned. Sure. We can go now.
Riley nodded, not meeting Trace s eyes as they left the house and got into the truck,
keeping his teeth clenched so he didn t speak and make a bigger fool of himself. He
turned to look out the window, eyes fixed unseeingly on the midnight blue sky, to have
something to look at that would keep his eyes off Trace.
In a back corner of his mind, Riley recognized that he was being immature and that
he ought to let this go but he couldn t do it. He didn t know how to be rational when
he d wanted to believe so much that everything Trace said was true and the first time
he really took a chance on letting the man in, he got shot down. He supposed the silver
lining was that his hurt feelings would remind him just how bad an idea it was to get
involved any further.
Finally, Trace pulled into the parking lot of Riley s apartment building and Riley let
out a sigh of relief, digging for his keys.
Trace frowned, reaching a hand out to touch Riley s shoulder but Riley slid out of
the truck too fast, bag over his shoulder, and slammed the door shut without a
backward glance. He stalked up the walk and took the steps two at a time, aware that
Trace still sat in his truck, watching. Riley let the door close behind him, pitching his
keys across the room with a scowl. Asshole. Whether he meant himself or Trace, Riley
didn t know.
85
Fae Sutherland & Chelsea James
Chapter Seven
Trace sighed, turning his cell phone over in his hands. It was Thursday, three days
since he d left Riley at his apartment and so far he hadn t heard from him once. Riley
wasn t answering his calls, wasn t returning his messages and Trace was reluctant to
just show up at his apartment or at the club. He wasn t sure what to do next and it was
driving him a little crazy.
He left tomorrow for Chicago and he was beginning to think he wasn t going to get
to talk to Riley before then, smooth things out. He realized what a shit feeling it must be
for Riley. He knew it d been a big risk for him to invite Trace to the party and for it not
to work out& well, he knew it d hurt Riley. Had he any choice, Trace would have
forgotten about his trip and stayed.
With a heavy sigh, he flipped his phone open and dialed Riley s number from
memory, pacing the length of his living room as it rang once, twice, three times and
resigned himself to leaving yet another message that would go ignored.
Just as he was beginning to mentally put together a voice mail message he hoped
might convince Riley to speak to him, the ringing stopped and so did his heart.
Okay, I m answering. Go ahead and talk.
Trace blinked, the acid tone surprising him. He hadn t been expecting it. He hurried
to gather himself and took a breath. I ve missed you. It was the foremost thought on
his mind how damn hard it had been to go these three days without seeing or
speaking to Riley. And I m sorry I hurt you, it wasn t my intention at all.
He sat on the arm of the couch, fingers idly toying with the fringe on his
grandmother s blanket. Damn, darlin , I missed you something terrible. Why haven t
you returned my calls? He tried for a teasing tone. Haven t you figured out yet that
ignoring me doesn t work very well?
I ve been busy. You re not my whole life, you know.
Trace winced but held his ground because he knew Riley was lashing out at his
own preconceived notions of a Trace who didn t exist. One who wanted to take
advantage of Riley, though how the other man was managing to convince himself that
Trace was out to take advantage of him, Trace wasn t quite sure. If he d wanted sex he
could have had it from the beginning. Riley knew that.
All right. You re angry. He got a disgusted snort for that and his lips twitched in
amusement. Even pissed off, Riley was enough to bring Trace more joy than anyone or
anything else. Would it help if I said I ve been miserable the past few days? I ve been
pining, darlin , really. It s pitiful. You should see. I think tomorrow I might try ashes on [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]