Riley continued to smile down on her, and she knew he was thinking of that day long ago, just like she was. They were ten years old, on the playground near the monkey bars. She was wearing her Girl Scout uniformproudlybecause her troop had a meeting after school, when Riley and a bunch of boys laughed and told her she looked stupid. I'm a Scout, Kat had replied emphatically. You guys are the stupid ones. The name stuck. But as time went on, Riley decided he was the only one allowed to use it. Travis Butrick called her that once, by the water fountain, and Riley had decked him. They both got detention. /Travis Butrick? They used to call him Butt Head, didn't they?/ Kat blinked, dragging herself back to the present. You need to leave, she said.

Riley slid one of his sneakers over the threshold. I need to stay. We've got some serious catching up to do.

Kat tried to close the door, but his foot acted as a stopper. Please, Riley. Don't do this.

I just spent the whole day with our son, Kat.

All the strength drained from her arms. At that instant, Kat knew she would be letting Riley in, no matter how huge a mistake it was.

Fine. She backed away and gestured him inside, then stooped to pick up last week's Sunday Baltimore /Sun/, which she'd left scattered on the rug before she went to the Caymans. Obviously, I wasn't expecting company.

Riley stepped inside and she closed the door behind him. Have a seat.

She pointed to the armchair. Would you like some hot cocoa? Tea?

No, thanks. I'm good.

She watched Riley enter her home and stroll around the room, taking in the combination of secondhand and self-assembled furniture that made up the main room of her apartment. His first stop was the set of bookcases that took up the whole far wall. He ran his fingers along the spines of the books.

Eastern philosophy, archaeology, astronomy, Greek tragedies. He laughed softly. I see you're still a bookworm.

Next, Riley stopped at the fireplace mantel to examine a series of photos of Aidan, from babyhood on up. Riley picked up a framed snapshot of their son at the zoo as a three-year-old. He's so incredible, Riley whispered, placing the photo back where he found it and moving on to the next, and then the next.

We can get copies made of all the photos, Kat offered from the kitchen doorway.

That would be great. Riley moved toward the old chair where she'd been reading, the books scattered under the lamp on a side table. He selected the title on top, which Kat had left open, and flipped it over. A small piece of cardboard fluttered to the carpet.

Repressed memory? Riley frowned at her, then bent down to retrieve what had fallen. He read the print and his scowl deepened. Is Jeff someone you're dating?

No. He's just a friend. Kat decided to skip the teaand the small talkand just get this over with. She left the kitchen and plopped down on the couch. Riley, you shouldn't be here and you know it.

Riley returned Jeff's business card to between the pages and put down the book, but not before picking up the one underneath and reading the title aloud. /The Blunt Truth: How to Bust Your Life Wide Open with Honesty/. Hmm.

Riley set the paperback on the table and made himself comfortable in the armchair. Getting your degree in psychology?

Just getting my shit together. Kat told herself she would be all business with Riley, and in order to do that, she'd have to avoid looking at him, because every time she looked at him, her blood went hot and all she could think about was the hours they had spent tangled in the bed-and-breakfast sheets, his hard cock claiming its territorywhich was her. She took just a quick peekGod, that man looked good in a pair of jeans and a simple button-down shirt. Kat cleared her throat. So how's Aidan? He's still not talking to me.

Riley smiled thoughtfully, continuing to check out her small apartment from his seat. He's a wonderful young man, Kat. You should never have kept him from me, but you clearly were a good mom to him, and I thank you.

The sincerity in his voice made Kat soften. He was correctshe'd done many things right, and it was satisfying to hear him acknowledge it.

Thanks, Riley.

Now, let's just get to the point. Exactly why is it that I shouldn't be here? Riley rested his elbows on his knees and leaned in Kat's direction. Because you started this, Scout. You rolled into Persuasion last week, fucked my brains out, made me remember what it feels like to be alive, then just disappeared without a word.

Any softness inside her just hardened up again. What kind of lowlife would be acting like he wasn't engaged? What had happened to Riley's decency? Waitmaybe it was the same old storydespite appearances, Riley Bohland didn't have any decency.

And then you come back here to Baltimore and get so snooty that you won't even return my calls. You can't do that to people, Kat. You can't do that to /me/. And I don't know how far along you've gotten in this book right here, but we both know there isn't a speck of honesty in that bullshit, and I don't deserve it.

She stared blankly, not believing his audacity. Oh, reeeally?

Really.

Kat produced a sweet little smile. And what about your fiancйe? I'm sorry, but I didn't catch her name.

Riley's face froze for an instant, and all Kat could think was, /Gotcha/.

He breathed hard through his nose a few times. My /who/? he whispered.

The woman you're supposed to marry on Christmas Eve. That who.

Riley sat perfectly still, nothing moving but his Adam's apple.

C'mon now, Riley. You're a very smart manhaving gone through medical school and alland I bet if you try hard enough, you can remember your betrothed's name.

Kat watched Riley's spine stiffen. After a moment, he collapsed back into the chair and crossed his legs. An expression of disgust washed over his face. Where'd you get that information?

Does it matter? Kat was becoming more annoyed by the second. Was he really going to sit there and deny it? He had become the kind of person she didn't even want to know, let alone be involved with, and she was beginning to regret bringing him into Aidan's life.

Oh, it matters so much you wouldn't believe. It surprised Kat that Riley chose that moment to laugh, then shake his head. So you met Carrie?

I don't know anyone named Carrie, Kat spat out. Madeline Bowman told me about your wedding when I came in from a walk the morning after… after, well, after I fucked your brains out.

Riley looked stunned. Madeline?

Yes. She dropped the bomb on me in the dining room, and… look, this is ridiculous. Kat got up from the couch and moved to the door. What did I expect? I haven't spoken to you in twenty years, and it's not like all that stuff we used to tell each other as kids was /real/ or anything.

You're allowed to have a life. Now you're engaged. That's perfectly normal. I'm sure she's lovely. You don't owe me anything. It's no big deal. End of story.

Kat unlocked the door and cracked it open, then turned to him, suddenly energized. But I'll tell you what is not OK, and that's how it didn't even matter to you that you were engaged! You didn't care about your fiancйe /or/ me that night in that ridiculously huge bed. The only thing you cared about was getting your freak on, as Nola would say, and when I look back, my God… I was so stupid! That's what it's always been about for you, isn't it? Maybe that's how it is with all men. I'm sick of men!

Kat stopped, suddenly aware that Riley had left the chair and was standing near her at the door, glaring down at her. Without a word, he slapped his hand against the door and slammed it shut.

Where's your bedroom? he asked.

Kat couldn't breathe. Her head was spinning. She was so turned on that her legs were shaking. Why did this man turn her into human pudding like this? It wasn't fair.