I studied Riley’s face, watching the flicker of emotions dance across her eyes, anger, defiance, but also something else. Something she was desperately trying to hide. Her lips were pressed into a firm line, but I wasn’t fooled. I saw the faintest tremor in her fingers, the way her chest rose and fell just a little too quickly, as though she were struggling to keep herself under control.
She was trying so hard to appear unaffected, but I could hear her heartbeat pounding against her ribcage, that subtle, betraying rhythm thrumming louder than she probably realized.
“If you’re worried I have ulterior motives for staying the night,” I said, letting amusement drip from my tone, “you shouldn’t be.” I held her gaze, my voice dropping just a fraction lower. “I’m not the one whose heart is raci
