Riley’s Billionaire by Sunny Cole Page B

He looked past her, reached, and produced a small bottle of shampoo.
    Open-mouthed, Riley allowed him to squeeze several drops onto her head.
    ‘Massage.’ He still spoke in clipped sentences.
    He’s probably as tired as I am and could care less that we’re naked. She scrubbed her head, working in the citrus smell of shampoo.
    Jack didn’t appear to be through barking orders. ‘Exchange places with me so I can shower.’
    She obliged, smiling through her tiredness. They weren’t precisely in tandem, but somehow their disjointed system worked, for they both got clean. Jack helped her apply conditioner into her hair, switched places with her, helped her rinse. Then he held the shower curtain aside and asked her to step out so he could finish showering.
    The shower couldn’t have taken longer than ten minutes. Riley sat on the bed, unsure of her next move. She couldn’t wear the wet towel to bed — she’d dampen the sheets. She sure wasn’t willing to sleep in the nude.
    A knock at the door startled her, and Jack appeared in the doorway from the bathroom. ‘Stay there.’ He tucked the towel about his waist and answered the call. It was room service with a pile of clothing, a cart of coffee and cups, and some bread. Jack signed the bill and turned to her.
    ‘Want something clean to wear to bed?’ He tossed her a large tee-shirt. ‘Sorry. I didn’t check to see if they had any underwear.’
    Riley was tired but had a moment of clarity and light heartedness. She grabbed her shoulder bag from the floor. ‘Women sometimes carry an extra pair.’ She pulled out the thin strip of material and dangled them on a finger.
    Jack shook his head. ‘I’m not asking why. So long as you’re comfortable, I’m happy.’
    Riley took her knickers, bag, and tee, and passed him to get back into the bathroom. Emerging within a few seconds, she felt better than she had since they’d left their starlit hill.
    Jack had turned down the bed. ‘Pick a side.’
    Riley jumped on the one nearest the bathroom and quickly settled against her pillows.
    Her husband went to the cart. ‘I don’t expect you’re hungry, but in case you are, there’s some bread and jam.’ He poured himself a cup of coffee. ‘Want some?’
    ‘Yes, please.’ She tucked her legs under her and leaned forward to receive it.
    ‘Careful — it’s hot.’
    Riley rose to get the milk and sugar. He might enjoy his coffee black, but she didn’t. Once she had the liquid the precise shade of brown that appealed to her, she noticed Jack had opened their sliding glass door and stepped onto the balcony.
    Their leather jackets were hanging from the backs of the room chairs, and he’d emptied the contents of his pockets. Riley approached carefully.
    ‘Not to help you foster a bad habit, but would you like a smoke?’
    He grinned. ‘I would indeed. You’re welcome to join me.’
    ‘No, thanks, but I’ll sit out here with you if you like.’
    Jack grabbed a blanket from the foot of their bed and wrapped it around her. ‘To keep you from getting wet.’
    Riley pulled it off. ‘We’ll both use it.’ She flattened it on the balcony and sat, patting a place beside her for him to sit.
    ‘Some honeymoon I’ve given you.’ Jack lit his cigarette. ‘I’m sorry about the rain.’
    ‘Ah, like you’re some god who controls the weather?’ Riley snuggled against him. ‘I had a wonderful time.’
    ‘Really?’ He looked down at her, a question in his dark eyes.
    ‘Yes. Not what I’d anticipated but more than I’d hoped tonight would be.’
    They sat hip to hip but not quite shoulder to shoulder, considering he was so much bigger than her, but Riley was comfortable, content once again.
    ‘For a while,’ she told him, ‘it didn’t seem you were stopping.’
    Jack agreed. ‘Believe it or not, Newcastle was closer than home, so I took a chance we’d find accommodation.’
    They were settling into a warm space, watching as the eastern sky grew lighter with the