Page 145 of River Wild

I kiss him again because I can. One last lingering kiss to keep me going until he comes over.

“I’ll be over in fifteen,” he tells me as I start to walk away.

Turning, I walk backward and smile at him. “How about ten?”

He smiles. “Ten it is.”

I blow him a kiss and then face forward, so I don’t fall over on my ass in those heels.

I reach my front garden and walk up the path.

Out of nowhere, I feel a chill on the back of my neck. I glance around, only to see darkness.

I look back, and River is still standing at his door. Watching and waiting.

I get my front door key from my clutch and push it in the lock, turning. I lift my hand in a wave to let River know I’m going in.

He lifts his hand back in return.

I push open the door and let myself inside the warmth and brightness of my house.

“Hey. Sorry I’m late,” I say to Sadie as I enter, closing the door behind me.

She’s sitting on the sofa, watching some medical drama on TV. Buddy is curled up beside her.

He clambers down at seeing me and wanders over. I pick him up and kiss his head.

“You’re hardly late.” Sadie chuckles. “And you could’ve stayed out longer. It’s not exactly a hardship, being here with the cutest and world’s best-behaved baby and my little Buddy here. And then there are the cupcakes.”

“Can’t forget those.”

“Did you make them?” she asks, getting to her feet.

I nod, suddenly feeling shy.

“They’re really good, Carrie. You’ll have to make them for the diner sometime.”

“I’d like that. How was Hope?” I change the subject. Not because I don’t want to bake food for the diner, but it’s still hard for me to receive compliments. Seven years of being told I was useless made sure of that.

But I’m learning slowly.

“She was perfect, of course. She had a bottle and then passed right out. I put her down in her room and brought the monitor in with me.” She gestures to the baby monitor sitting on the coffee table. “I checked in on her about thirty minutes ago, and she was fast asleep. Haven’t heard a peep from her.” Sadie slips her shoes onto her feet and picks up her car keys from the coffee table. “So … how was the date?” Her eyes gleam at me.

I bite the corner of my lip. “Good.” I nod, feeling a blush creep up my neck. “Really good.”

She smiles widely. “I’ll ask no more.” She winks. “I’m just glad you and River are together. You two both deserve happiness.”

“As do you,” I remind her.

I’m not the only one with a bad past. Sadie had her very own Neil, too. She deserves all the good the world has to give her.

She shrugs, pulling her jacket on. “My time will come.”

I put Buddy down to the floor and walk Sadie to the door. Giving her a hug and kiss on the cheek, I thank her again for watching Hope.

Buddy and I stand in the doorway and watch Sadie walk the short distance to her car. She gets in and turns on the engine. She gives me a wave before pulling away.

I glance over at River’s house, seeing it all lit up. Knowing that, right now, he’s in the shower, all soapy and wet.