Lakeshore Candy: The McAdams Sisters (By The Lake Book 4) Page 22

  The conversation around the table was light, mostly Izzy inquiring about the city, Avery inquiring about the label and Cece complaining about the smell of the essential oils.

  After supper was finished, they all gathered on the rather stiff cushions of the contemporary white, square couch in the living room. Abby curled up beside Riley, nuzzling her side directly against his and enjoying his arm hanging around her shoulders making a circular motion against her skin. She could get used to this too...snuggling after supper...it would be better if they were alone instead of their three guests taking the three oversized chairs across from them, but it would do for now. Cece filled up the brandy glasses she’d retrieved from behind the glass bar and set them on the glass table.

  Riley waved his free hand over the glass when Cece held the bottle to his. “No thanks,” he said. “I don’t drink.”

  “Since when?”

  “Since rehab.”

  “Oh.” There was another thing Cece was learning about Riley and Abby hated that Cece’s blue eyes darted up to Abby as if accusing her for his lack of the drink, before she poured her glass and crossed her legs as she sat down.

  Maybe they shouldn’t show off their relationship so much by cuddling. Abby tried to move, but Riley’s strong grip kept her in place.

  Yeah, like you tried so hard. She didn’t want to leave the comfort of his embrace.

  “So Riley, where do I send my demo?” Avery asked.

  “Avery,” Abby scolded.

  Cece was going to dislike them even more if she suspected they were using Riley to further Avery’s career.

  “Just because Riley owns Torsten Label doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting a label deal.” Her brother getting a record deal would be awesome, amazing, incredible, but she didn’t feel discussing it in front of Cece was a great idea.

  “I didn’t assume any such sort. I just need a hook up with a R&A.”

  Abby glared at him. “Just need?”

  He ignored her and looked at Riley. “Who’s your best?” How embarrassing.

  “I am,” Riley said.

  “Is that an invite?” Avery asked, and Abby wished she could melt away from the scrutiny Cece was sending between the three of them.

  “I wouldn’t need to hear your music, I’ve heard it plenty. It’s a staple in Abby’s music lists.” Riley squeezed her shoulder. “Every music list,” he added.

  “What do you think?” Avery asked, and suddenly his wit and joke was gone. He grew serious wanting Riley’s feedback.

  Riley indulged in the topic with Avery, just as he had at the Cliff House and Abby relaxed, enjoying her brother getting along with the man of her dreams.

  Man of her dreams?

  It sounded like such a corny, fairytale, dreamland sort of thing and yet that was exactly how Abby felt about Riley.

  “Why don’t you come to the party on Friday and mingle,” Cece suggested.

  That was a nice invitation from a woman who could hardly stand any of them...well not exactly any of them. Abby caught Cece stealing glances at Avery. She was more subtle than Avery about it.

  “Riley will be there,” Cece said, before turning to Abby. “If that’s alright with you.”

  Alright with me? What was she insinuating.

  “Riley doesn’t have to ask my permission.”

  Riley squeezed her shoulder. “It’s the party of the year and all the labels bands, employees and other contacts attend with their families. It’s a huge event,” Riley explained, like he was obligated. “Cece mentioned it this morning. Would you be my date?”

  This was their first official date! “Of course.”

  He kissed her.

  “Cece can show you the best dress shops on Audrey Ave. Right Cece?”

  Cece stiffly nodded.

  “Awesome!” Avery said. “I will be back.” He jumped off the chair and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, disappearing out the back door.

  “Abby, what did you decide about staying?” Cece inquired.

  “We talked about staying till Friday so another night is no big deal.” Besides, with the ideas flowing through her for the soap she had over half a dozen already so she would be done with the line before they left.

  “I meant after that.”

  “After that? I don’t understand.”

  “You and Riley. What did you decide? Are you living here or living in Willow Valley?”

  What was she talking about?

  “Cece, we haven’t discussed any of that.” Riley said, and Abby recognized a tone she’d so often heard which meant, end of discussion.

  “Well I’m talking to her now and since you said ultimately it’s her decision where you live...”

  Riley was thinking about moving back?

  “Since Riley has already started taking back on as CEO today.” He had? “Since he owns the business, it’s going to take hours for him to get caught up.”

  Abby didn’t even know he was thinking about leaving Mrs. Calvert, but I guess it made sense. Didn’t it?

  “Cece.” Another warning tone. “I said we haven’t discussed it yet.”

  Abby sat up. Why hadn’t they discussed it yet if that’s what he was thinking of doing? “Are you thinking about moving back here?”

  “We can talk about it later.”

  “Would you move here Abby?” Cece pried. “What do you do in Willow Valley?” She was acting as though she cared, but Abby caught her game.

  Abby didn’t have the opportunity to answer when Riley again stepped in. “Abby opened a soap business with her sisters this year so you can see why we have to discuss our future. Privately.”

  “That’s wonderful. I was at Riley’s side for his opening of the label. I was five years younger, so I wasn’t as motivated as him. Riley got his first successful bands, invested his money and made it one of the largest independent record labels. In fact, it’s so big that while he was gone I had multiple corporations try and buy us out. Does your business bring in multi-million dollar revenue?”

  Not even close! And there was her prying.

  Abby looked at Riley. “Multi-million?”

  “Nice Riley,” Izzy said. “Wish I’d snapped you up myself,” she teased.

  “Lots of women wish they’d snapped Riley up, but it only seems to be the Willow Valley girls that catch his attention and bring him down.”

  Willow Valley girl? Bring him down?

  Abby felt sick.

  Riley stood up, grabbing Abby’s hand. “Abby isn’t just some girl from Willow Valley and I certainly won’t tolerate you disrespecting her. I love her.”

  Izzy gasped.

  Abby’s heart swelled.

  “That’s why we will discuss our future together in private.”

  Our future? Our future!

  The condescending look fell across Cece’s face and she stared at them, surprised. “You’re right.” She stood. “I’m sorry Abby. I haven’t seen my brother for three years and I feel protective and scared. And, honestly I liked Dani.”

  Everyone was dealing with emotions tied to Riley’s past. “It’s alright.” This time.

  “I should go,” Cece said.

  When Riley didn’t stop her, Abby stepped in front of her. “No stay. Please. Riley made dessert...” she braved the next sentence. “One of Mrs. Calvert’s recipes.”

  Abby caught Izzy shaking her head over the invite, but this was Riley’s sister and family was important. More than understanding that, Abby related to how it felt when a sibling left. Kate left Willow Valley six years ago and Abby had held a grudge from the moment she left until she returned last November...and Kate had only went to school and started a job that wasn’t in Willow Valley. They had still talked and saw each other. It wasn’t anything like the gap between Riley and Cece.

  “Okay.” She finally agreed. “I’ve never tasted anything Riley’s ever baked.”

  Avery came back out and looked around at the awkward faces. “What did I miss?”

 
; ***

  “I’m so sorry about my sister,” Riley apologized once Cece had left and they’d retired to his master bedroom. He pulled her into his embrace. This was where he wanted to be.

  “It’s okay.”

  “No. It’s not okay. I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you and Mrs. C. Cece is very angry with me, not you.”

  Abby smiled a tender smile. “I understand. Tell me about the label. Please. Tell me everything that happened today that brought you home in such a good mood.”

  “I was in a good mood because I came home to you.”

  She laughed then. Her loud, throw your head back, laugh that made him smirk.

  “Is that funny?”

  “No. It’s sweet.” She kissed his lips quickly before continuing. “But sometimes I just remember old Riley and he would never say that.”

  “He always thought it.”

  “Awe...” Abby kissed him again, but this time she kept her lips against him as she spoke. “I brought a bubble bar with me. A new scent I’ve been wanting to try.” Bubble bath invitation, he liked it.

  “I’ve always wanted to try a bubble bar. With you.” Riley lifted Abby and she wrapped her legs around his middle, laughing as he carried her into the bathroom.

  Riley filled the tub while Abby dug in her suitcase for the bar of bubbles, then crushed it under the streaming tap. They stripped naked and Riley stepped into the hot, silky water swirling with essential oils, his eyes never leaving Abby’s. As he sat down, he held his hand out to her and she stepped inside. Abby sat on his lap, legs on either side of him, straddling his growing manhood. This woman loved to straddle. She bent down and her tongue dipped into his mouth to find the warmth of his tongue, swipe his teeth and bite his lip at she pulled away. She leaned back with her hands laced around the back of his neck.

  “Tell me about your return to the label.”

  Riley would much rather show her how much he missed her but he was excited to share the details of his day.

  “After my parents died, Cece and I moved in with my Uncle Jack and he was a wealthy hard-ass who was always on us to complete university, not college. Whereas my parents were more laid back and wanted us to just be happy. They loved music, all music where my uncle wouldn’t tolerate it. I rebelled, while Cece did exactly what he expected.”

  “You rebel? No.”

  He kissed her to shush her up and continued. “I was in my early twenties when Jack died and everything was left to me and Cece. I ignored his dreams and followed my own, investing in bands. Bands from the Oakston Corner Grill. I was always in and out of that place and I knew a lot of guys who couldn’t catch a break. That’s when I created the Torsten label.”

  “That’s amazing. You must be proud of yourself. I’m proud of you.”

  “Thanks. I started out small, just Cece and me. Together we did everything. We would find the talent, sign them on, and record the track. We stuck our foot in every door to get them promotions on radio stations, in-store promotions, television shows, everything. We grew fast. We had the money from Uncle Jack to invest. We picked the right bands that had booming success and our name grew. We were able hire vice presidents for every department, and expand our space all in under ten years...” He sent her a grim. “Which brings me to a question you asked me once, that I didn’t answer.”

  Abby sucked in a deep over-exaggerated breath. “There have been so many...where will you even start.”

  “I’m thirty-two.”

  Abby’s eyes widened and she laughed. “Oh my God, you’re almost ten years older than me!”

  “It would seem that way...”

  She slanted her own devious grin at him. He loved her devious grins that only led to devious remarks. “I always wondered what it would be like to bang an older man...”

  Riley laughed then. He wanted to seduce her at her own game, but sometimes she was just too much.

  After they both stopped laughing he continued. “I left Cece with everything after Dani died and she didn’t ever want to take all that on. So I want to relieve her of the duties so she can go back to managing. She loved managing and she was good at it.”

  Abby reached for a washcloth and lathered it with soap, without moving except for a little wiggle under the bubbles. “What does that mean?” she asked in a weary tone, but kept her eyes fixated on the washcloth.

  “It means I will have to catch up and put in a lot of hours and time until I’m up to date on every band.”

  Abby started washing his shoulders, moving down his chest and then paused and looked up at him. “You’re moving back here, aren’t you?”

  “I don’t want it to be one or the other. Willow Valley or Oakston. You or my business.” He touched her warm, silky, soft arms and moved his wet fingers up and across her shoulders.

  “How can it be both? It’s a three hour distance.”

  He cupped her face. “I don’t want to do it without you. I won’t do it without you. If it comes down to you or the label, it’s you,” he said it so forcefully that there was no mistaking his feelings.

  “Riley...”

  “I know you just started the soap store with your sisters and they’re all back in Willow Valley. So if it comes to it I would rather sell and be with you.”

  “Riley!” Abby looked mortified.

  “That’s why I didn’t want to discuss it in front of Cece. She’s important and she will always be a part of my life but it’s you I need.”

  “I don’t want you to sell your business.”

  Riley took the washcloth and started at her tense shoulders, trying to ease her worry away. “Do you think it has to be one or the other?” he asked, wishing this conversation wasn’t even an issue and she was pushing her body into his hand instead of pulling away.

  Abby tilted her head to one side and he ran the washcloth up her neck. “I don’t want it to be.”

  “Then let’s not let it. Let’s figure out a plan that will work.”

  “What are you thinking?” She slowly tilted her head to the other side and as he moved the washcloth over, noticing he was slowly rubbing away her stress. He said, “I will work the rest of the week and see where I stand with the company. It’s not going to be overnight but it is my company. I started it. I know how to run it. We head home on Sunday and you can finish your soap line with your sisters. Depending on how much I accomplish, and how fast I may have to come to Oakston a few days a week but once I’m sorted I can commute.”

  “From Willow Valley?”

  “I can work nine-to-four, five days a week. I would be back home to you after normal work time.”

  “That’s a lot of driving.”

  “It will be amazing on my bike.”

  She laughed, but it wasn’t as relaxed as earlier. “CEO arrives on bike...”

  He shrugged. “They’re all used to it. Nothing is set in stone. We will figure it out as we go. As long as we’re together.”

  Abby turned her body and pressed her back against his front. She pulled his arms around her middle. “I could move here. To Oakston.”

  If anything, he knew how important her family was.

  “I’ve never lived anywhere else like the twins...It would be fun. Adventurous and new and I would get to do it all with you.”

  “I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”

  “I was offering. I could be your housewife.”

  He chuckled. “That would bore you.”

  Her hands wrapped around his and started guiding him down her middle and between her legs. “You could come home from a long day and I would be in the kitchen...wearing only an apron.”

  She slowly rubbed against his arousal and he groaned. “We haven’t had sex in the kitchen yet. Twice interrupted.”

  He agreed with a low noise as his fingers touched her waiting throbbing warmth.

  “I can’t wait to try our luck at the third time. I can find fun in anything,” she said.

  “I don’t doubt it,” he said.

  Chapter
Thirty

  ABBY RIFLED THROUGH racks of gorgeous jet-black posh dresses ignoring the lace, sequins, or even the material she usually chose to highlight her body. Instead, she was trying to decide if Cece really didn’t like her or if she was normally this quiet? She hadn’t spoken much more than directions for the driver to the upscale boutiques down Oakston’s Main Street.

  Alright, truthfully Abby already knew Cece wasn’t her favorite fan, she’d made that crystal clear over dinner two nights ago, but afterwards Abby thought there was flash of a friendlier side...sort of...maybe only when Riley was looking.

  Was it only when Riley was looking? Had she really been glaring at her over lunch today in the restaurant but not at breakfast at Riley’s house?

  There was no need to debate, it was crystal clear that Cece didn’t like her.

  That bothered Abby. Why does it bother me so much? Normally Abby would give a hater the kiss-my-black-designer-heels-bitch attitude and move on, however in this case, Cece owned way more pairs of designer heels and she was shoving them straight in front of Abby. The woman seemed to have a new pair every time Abby saw her. It was a little ridiculous, and almost worse than Izzy.

  Cece was Riley’s sister and Abby was trying her damndest to relate to what she might be feeling: jealousy, concern, and a deep down hatred. But the hatred seemed to outweigh the rest and it was leaving Abby conflicted. As if she didn’t already have enough on her plate supporting Riley, understanding everything he’d been through, finishing her soap line, and having to tell her sister she and Riley would be going back and forth from Willow Valley to Oakston...for what...forever? Don’t think that way. Riley was so positive that everything between them would work out and Abby was convinced until she was alone and the how’s it going to work? started to run through her head. Abby didn’t have the space in her head to keep up with Cece.

  “I’ve done this a hundred times,” Cece’s crisp, clean, city voice sliced the air and left Abby struggling to make sure she hadn’t missed the beginning of a conversation. When she continued, she realized she was caught up. “Seriously stop looking at the price tags and Ry will pay for it.”

  Was I looking at the price tags? And what did she mean a hundred times? With women? Of course with women. Does that bother me? Why would that bother me? Why are you debating this instead of putting this princess in her spot!