Free Riley by Liliana Hart Page A

getting ready for the storm. He pushed through the glass door and a warm rush of heat greeted him. He stuck his hat and gloves in his pockets and hung his coat and scarf up on the rack by the door.
    The interior was suited to the college crowd. Art deco posters framed with thick black wood hung on light colored walls. The lighting was dim and cozy. Overstuffed red chairs sat grouped around a coffee table in the corner, and a fireplace tiled with hunter green marble took up a good bit of the back wall. Riley found a booth closest to the fireplace, taking a moment to warm his hands in front of the fire.
    “Hey, Dr. MacKenzie,” Tyler Whidbey said from behind the counter. Tyler had been one of his intro archaeology students last spring. “I’ll have coffee out for you in just a second. Do you want food?”
    “You bet, Tyler. Thanks. I haven’t had a chance to eat today. Whatever you’ve got handy is fine.”
    “Good,” he said with obvious relief. “The manager closed the kitchen about an hour ago, so all we’ve got is stew on the stove and some bread.”
    “Sounds perfect.”
    Riley looked at his watch and frowned as he saw Ms. Lawrence was late. If she wasn’t there by the time he finished his meal, she’d have to find another expert or come all the way to Surrender. Spending the holidays with his family was the one thing he never missed. It was important to all of them, and this was the first Christmas they’d be spending at the MacKenzie house since his brother Dane had left Surrender more than ten years before.
    While Dane had been under his self-imposed exile from Surrender, the brothers spent their Christmases at different locations, usually the beach, where they had the sun, sand and their pick of willing women. But this Christmas was going to be different. It was going to be special. Especially now that two of his brothers had their own families.
    Dane’s wife, Charlie, as well as their son Jayden would be there, and come spring they’d be adding another MacKenzie to the family. His other brother Thomas had been head over heels in love ever since he’d laid eyes on his girlfriend Cat. It had taken a lot of persuasion of Thomas’s part, but Cat had finally agreed to marry him on New Year’s Eve.
    Yes, things were good for the MacKenzies. Better than they had been in a long while. They’d all been a little lost after both their parents had died too young, but the brothers were still closer than most of the families he knew. Family was everything .
    Riley’s thoughts shifted as the door of the coffee shop opened with a cold rush of frigid air. His breath caught in his throat as the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen walked through the door. He was suddenly as warm as he’d ever been, and his black sweater suddenly seemed like one too many layers of clothing.
    He watched with fascination as she pulled her hat off and a long fall of white-blond hair cascaded down her back. She unwound her scarf slowly, and he felt his cock swell behind the zipper of his chinos. Layer after layer of her outerwear came off, giving him a torturous strip tease that had desire coiling in his gut.
    Every inch of the woman screamed class. She wore a black turtleneck, stretched taut over generous breasts and tucked into skin tight jeans. Expensive low heeled boots covered her feet and a gold watch flashed at her wrist. Riley wanted to get on his knees and whimper.
    The woman glanced around the coffee shop, passing over the few customers that sat scattered around. And then her gaze locked onto his, and he was lucky he was able to keep his tongue from rolling out of his mouth like a cartoon character.
    Geez, MacKenzie. Man up. It’s just been too long since you got laid. She’s as beautiful as any woman.
    His subconscious protested the lie, and he purposefully made his expression one of skepticism and disinterest. He’d had plenty of practice at not letting government officials of other countries read his thoughts. He’d