Read Seduced in September (Spring River Valley Book 9) for Free Online Page B

kitchen table in their shared apartment and dug in while the last rays of sunshine fell victim to the gathering clouds outside. Ricki danced around the table legs, desperately hoping for a treat. “I’m sorry,” Lily told the dog. “No fattening people food for you until your mommy gets back.” She glanced out the kitchen window at the dark gray horizon. “I hope Aunt Madelyn’s flight home isn’t delayed because of the storm.”
    “The weather channel said it’s going to be pretty bad. I hope Ricki isn’t afraid of thunder.”
    “The only thing he’s afraid of is not getting enough doggy treats.”
    “Seriously,” Claudia said between bites, “How does Quinn not know who he was with? He was sober enough to walk and talk and make it to the bedroom.”
    “He was sober enough to do quite a bit,” Lily added, but rather than let her mind wander to the sexy details she couldn’t forget about that night, she dug into her ice cream with a singular determination. Clearly she knew Quinn Preston much better than he knew her, and clearly all her predictions about getting involved with someone like him were spot on. Why hadn’t she listened to her own instincts?
    “So what did he say when you told him who you were?”
    Lily swallowed hard. “I didn’t. I refuse to give him the satisfaction. Let him wonder.”
    Claudia raised a brow. “You’re not going to tell him?”
    “No. It’s probably better this way. It was just a one-night fantasy. Sure he said all the right things, and he was so sweet and so…” She shivered. He’d been perfect in every way, so therefore it had to have been a fantasy. And of course, she freely admitted she’d been more than a little tipsy herself, so she probably remembered things a little more rosy than they’d actually been.
    Claudia leaned in over her bowl, spoon poised above a whipped cream peak. “What things did he say?”
    Lily’s cheeks heated. “Nothing. Just…nice things. He was very charming and…” He’d told her all the things a woman liked to hear. And she’d fallen for every word. But in her own defense, it had been because she’d wanted to. It was her night to let go, to have a wild fling for once in her life, so how could she be angry that it had turned out exactly as she’d predicted it would?
    “And you’re sure he really didn’t mean any of it?”
    “I’ll never know, since he probably doesn’t remember it.”
    “What if you jogged his memory?” Claudia smirked. “After all, if it was as good as you remember, it might be worth repeating.”
    “No, absolutely not.”
    “So what happens when he runs into you at the hospital again? Or at the rec center? He may not remember your name, but I bet he’ll remember you when he sees you.”
    Lily cringed. She couldn’t decide which scenario would be more embarrassing, if they met face-to-face and he realized who she was or if he didn’t. “I’ll just keep a low profile. I can switch to your morning class on Thursdays, and I’ll never see him at the rec again. And at work, well, he and Tanner are usually in a hurry when they come in. If I see him, I’ll just make myself scarce until he’s gone.”
    “How long do you think you can keep that up?”
    Until it doesn’t hurt anymore. She shook off the self-pitying thought. “Long enough. It was what it was, and we both agreed that it was a no-strings-attached thing. He told me he wasn’t looking for anything serious, and I agreed with him.”
    Claudia met Lily’s gaze. “But what if he doesn’t remember that part either?”
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    “Carl, we can’t leave these carts here blocking the hallway.” Lily peered at the orderly through the mesh bars of a six-foot tall rolling storage cart which was currently blocking access to her desk.
    He shrugged. “Sorry, Lil. Gotta leave ‘em here for now. They’re clearing space in the nurses’ lounge for extra supplies for the storm, and they’re going to go in there.”
    “How