Runaway Wolfes of Manhattan Three - Helen Hardt Page 0,56
fall in love with Riley Wolfe. You fell in love with Riley Mansfield, and she’s an illusion.”
“She’s not an illusion. She’s standing right in front of me and she’s just as beautiful as I remember her.”
“Only on the outside,” she said.
I grabbed both her cheeks, her skin warm against my palms. “Damn it. I don’t fall in love with paper dolls. I fall in love with good hearts. And I love you, Riley. I love you so much.” I crushed my mouth to hers.
She opened briefly, and the sweetness of her tongue against mine filled me with hope…until she pushed at my chest and broke away.
“I can’t. I just can’t.”
“Why? We had so much fun together. We made love, Riley. Are you saying it didn’t mean anything to you?”
She closed her eyes for a few seconds and inhaled. Then, “I wish I could lie to you, Matt. It’d make things a lot easier for you. But I can’t. I’m done lying. And the truth is that it meant the world to me.”
Again, I breathed a sigh in relief. “Do you love me?”
She closed her eyes once more.
“It’s a simple question, Riley. Either you do or you don’t. Either way, I can live with it. If you do, we make a life together. If you don’t, we can begin a relationship, see where it leads. You already said your time with me meant the world to you, so we have a foundation. We have a start.”
She bit her lower lip. “That’s the problem, Matt. We don’t have a start.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t want me.”
“Bullshit.”
“You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know—”
“Stop.” She placed two fingers over my lips. “Just stop. You know what the internet tells you. That’s all you know.”
“I know you’re a mess right now because your father died. I know you’re mourning.”
“See?” She shook her head, her lips trembling. “That’s just it. You don’t know me at all. I’m not mourning. I’m glad the asshole is dead!”
35
Riley
I pounded on the elevator button once more. I drew in a breath, except my lungs didn’t expand. No air went in, and my heart pounded like someone was punching to the beat of a bass drum.
“Damn!” I cried. “Come on!”
“Easy.” Matt took my hand from the button once again. He didn’t kiss it this time. Instead, he covered it with his own and then entwined our fingers together. “Let me help you. Please.”
I shook my head. “No one can help me.”
“I can.”
Maybe he could. Indeed, he already had. Those few days in Montana had been bliss. Bliss I’d never felt in my young life.
A man who wanted me, who treated me well. Who was tender with me. Who gave me a rose. Who wanted to give me a beautiful pendant.
And I’d rebuffed him.
Was it possible? Though I hadn’t been around to witness it, both my brothers had fallen in love quickly, and they seemed happy.
Bullshit. No “seemed” about it. They were happy. Blissfully happy, despite the turmoil in our lives. Despite being persons of interest in our father’s murder.
Could I be happy with Matt?
God, yes, I could.
I did love him. No two ways about it. I was hopelessly in love with Matteo Rossi.
Which was why I couldn’t drag him into this clusterfuck.
But I was done lying, so the truth tumbled out of me.
“I do love you, Matt. I do.”
That gorgeous smile split his sculpted face.
“But—”
This time he placed two fingers on my lips. “No buts. Whatever it is, we can handle it.”
“You shouldn’t have to handle anything. Loving me shouldn’t be like serving a sentence, but I’m afraid that’s how it would be.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “I already love you, and I can’t change that. What’s more, I don’t want to change it, Riley. I want to be with you. I want to make a life with you.”
“We barely know each other.”
“So we get to know each other. Who says we have to run out and get married tomorrow? We take our time. Learn about each other. Make love with each other. Enjoy each other.”
I sighed, resisting the urge to melt into his arms. “You don’t know how much I wish I could do all of that.”
“You can.”
“I—”
Rock walked toward us quickly. “People are asking about you, Ry.” He turned to Matt. “Good. You found her.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You two know each other?”
“We gave him a ride in the limo,” Rock said. “We waited as long as we could for you. Where have you been?”