Read Just One Night: Sex, Love & Stiletto Series for Free Online Page B

article was all very edgy, but it lacked passion. That tells me the story wasn’t personal for you.”
    “This is not happening,” Riley muttered, glancing at the ceiling. “My mother is not telling me my spanking article lacked
passion
.”
    And what was with her mother’s timing? Was the entire universe conspiring to help Riley get some?
    “You never texted me back. How was your date with that boy? The one you met at that bank.”
    “That
boy
was thirty-seven years old, and he was—”
    “Oh dear.”
    Riley threw her hands in the air at her mother’s doomsday tone. “I haven’t said anything yet.”
    “But you’re using past tense. Which means he won’t be coming over for tacos anytime soon.”
    Lucky guy
. “He was no good, Ma.”
    Her mother was silent as the pile of grated cheese grew higher and higher.
    “Aren’t you going to say anything?” Riley finally said, prodding. “Lecture me on how I’m too picky and I didn’t give him a chance?”
    Her mother set the grater aside and moved to the fridge. “Oh, honey. When you know, you’ll know.”
    Riley blinked in surprise.
    What the heck is happening here?
Where was the lecture? The reminder to be patient and kind and open-minded?
    “Did Father Sellars give some sort of homily on being more accepting of your adultchildren or something?”
    “No, dear. I just want my kids to be happy is all.”
    A new voice joined the conversation. “Well, rest easy, Mama McKenna, because
this
kid is happy.”
    Riley froze.
Sam
. Immediately her shoulders went back and her spine straightened as she armed herself for the inevitable sparring.
    To say nothing of the protection she needed from the thick layer of lust that threatened to choke her whenever Sam Compton was around.
    Their regular Wednesday-night dinner guest had the opposite effect on her mother, turning the usually implacable Erin into a pile of goo. It was disgusting. The woman already had two sons of her own, but to the casual spectator you’d think this semi-adopted one was her favorite.
    “Sammy. You came,” Erin said, scooting around the counter to give him a hug. “I thought you had a date tonight.”
    Riley didn’t turn around. She’d have to deal with him eventually—she did every week. But after the unexpected
spanking
conversation with her mother, she needed an extra minute to build up her defenses.
    Because while she couldn’t say she’d ever really been intrigued by the spanking thing, there was no telling what her loins would do in the presence of this guy.
    But quickly she was realizing that keeping her back to him wasn’t nearly enough. She could still
feel
him. She’d
always
been able to feel him, starting with that day he’d walked into this very kitchen, where she’d been sitting on this very stool.
    That had been over ten years ago, and nothing had changed.
    Well, except for pesky little things.
    Like his marriage. And his divorce. And the fact that he’d never so much as tried to kiss her.
    “Angela can’t make it,” Sam said in his low, don’t-give-a-shit growl. “She’s a nurse and had to take an extra shift at the hospital.”
    A nurse. That was new. Usually they were waitresses and actresses and singer-songwriters.
    “An extra shift, huh?” Riley asked innocently, pretending fascination with the cable billthat her parents had left out on the white tile counter.
You’re sure it had nothing to do with her suspicion of you having genital warts?
    “That’s what I said.” His voice was easy. Clearly they weren’t going to discuss her stunt with the STD pamphlets in front of her mother. Fine with Riley.
    Her mother clucked. “Well, that’s a shame.”
    “Yes.
Shame
,” Riley said.
    Her mother ignored her.
    Sam didn’t. “Hey, Ri.”
    “Hey.”
    “Saw your most recent article. Heady stuff.”
    She didn’t let herself respond to the mockery in his tone.
    “I’d say I liked it
less
than the whips-and-chains piece, but
more
than the one about the