Marry Me for Real, Cowboy - Valerie Comer Page 0,60

off the conveyor. Even with New Mexico’s warmer weather, there was no way Jodie could go through that much clothing in a few days. Wait. Was her sister running away from Mick? Planning to stay in Santa Fe? No, she wasn’t like Riley. Besides, Jodie would have required a moving truck.

“Jodie, we need out of here. Now.”

Her sister’s wide-eyed look caught on something behind Riley.

“Hi, Riley. Hi, Jodie. Here, let me get that.” Raul reached past Riley and tugged the telescoping handle to its full length. “Really, Jodie? Bright pink?” He laughed as he shook his head. “What a blow to my masculinity.”

Riley stared at him. “Why are you here?”

He kissed her cheek before she could react. “I’m happy to see you, too, sweetheart.”

She had not missed Raul’s mocking voice at all. What she missed was Adam. Not just his voice, but everything about him.

“You know what she meant,” said Jodie. “We were expecting our mother.”

“And, since it’s Christmas, I was expecting Santa Claus, but here we are.” He took Riley’s arm.

She yanked out of his grasp. “Don’t touch me.”

Raul grinned. “Oh, a little testy, are we?”

“Why are you here? Seriously. Mom said she’d meet our flight.”

“Your mom is consulting with the neurosurgeon. She asked me to come instead.” His eyebrows wobbled upward. “She seems to think we should patch up our differences.”

“Not a chance.”

“My sister is engaged to a hunky cowboy now. She’s out of your reach, creeper.”

“Oh, is that so?” He scanned Riley with a lazy smile. “Relationships on the rebound rarely work out well.”

Her dad’s aide had no idea how right he was, not that Riley would ever admit it. She held up her left hand. “Adam is amazing.” She wanted to call him honorable and a few other adjectives, but maybe that was laying it on too thick since she didn’t plan to return to Rockstead. Dad’s accident had only precipitated her departure. Too bad she’d never had a chance to say goodbye.

“Oh, Riley. You’re so naive.” Raul rolled his eyes, dismissing Adam in five patronizing words.

Not as naive as she had been. Adam was worth a thousand Rauls. The woman Adam finally married would be the luckiest, most treasured bride on the planet. He’d managed to make Riley feel that way even when it was all a sham. Think what he’d be like if everything were real.

Riley blinked back the emotion she was barely keeping in check. This was not how things should have gone down. Not with leaving Adam behind. Not with Raul meeting her here.

“The car’s right outside.” Raul pointed as he led them through the sliding glass doors into a chilly evening. Not sub-zero like she’d left behind in Montana, but not exactly balmy, either, courtesy of Santa Fe’s elevation.

Did she have any choice but to go with Raul? Sure, she could make a stink and call an Uber, but was she actually in any danger with this man? Her heart certainly wasn’t, not anymore. And, since Raul wanted nothing more than to rise politically, he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize a Senator’s daughter.

Just in case, though... Riley tapped her mom’s number. It went straight to voicemail. “Hi. How’s Dad? Jodie and I just arrived. Raul’s here to pick us up, so we’ll see you soon.” There’d be a timestamp on that, if needed.

Riley slid into the backseat of Raul’s sedan, leaving Jodie to ride up front. She didn’t miss Raul’s low chuckle as they pulled out of the lot.

Just try something, buster. I’m not the weak girl who ran away ten weeks ago. I’ve learned about honor and love since then. If only Adam loved her in return.

Adam tapped on the door to his mother’s suite. “Mom? It’s Adam.” He’d seen his sisters in the living room upstairs, which was perfect. He didn’t want to air everything in front of the twins.

“Come in, son.”

He breathed a prayer as he nudged the door open.

Ezra leaped off Mom’s lap from where she sat in her gray armchair, cocooned with a fuzzy blanket and her slippered feet propped on the ottoman.

Adam bent to ruffle the small dog’s ears then straightened to take in his mother’s face. Her eyes were brighter than they’d been in a while. Too bad he was here to undermine her interest in life. He took a deep breath as he sank to the sofa across from her.

“Merry Christmas, son.”

He removed his hat and lowered his head, rubbing both hands through his short hair. “Riley’s gone.”

“But just to see her father,