Free After All These Years (One Pass Away #2) by Mary J. Williams Page B

on
    the back.
    “Good for her. I’m sure a year away will do her good.”
    Except it hadn’t been a year. Or two. It had been five. And
    now she was back.
    Sean hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about her. Every
    now and then—for no reason—he would wonder how she was doing. He knew that
    Gaige was in regular contact, even visiting from time to time.
    Occasionally, someone like Sol or Pete would ask how Riley
    was doing. Gaige didn’t supply very much information. The basics, nothing more.
    She loved Harvard. She graduated near the top of her class. No, she wasn’t
    coming back to Seattle.
    Sean lived his life. Riley lived hers. Separate and happy.
    At least, Sean was happy. He had to assume she was the same. Again, he didn’t
    give it much thought.
    When had that changed ? Sean wondered. He was still
    happy enough. However, there was a mildly unsettled feeling. A discontent with
    the status quo. He felt as if he were waiting for something big to happen. It
    was only a matter of what and when.
    Wondering about Riley on a regular basis had snuck up on
    him. That first mention of her return, almost six months ago, had started the
    ball rolling.
    “Did you see Riley Preston?” The comment had come from Bryce
    Anders. The weak side safety joined the team six years ago. Just before Riley
    had moved to Boston.
    “Preston? As in the owner?” Tony Long shoved a t-shirt into
    his bag. He had only been playing defensive tackle for the Knights for two
    years. “Is she a relative?”
    “Daughter. The last time I saw her, she was this skinny
    thing. Her hair was always pulled back into a ponytail and she wore no makeup.”
    “And now?”
    “Crazy good! Skinny no more. Great curves and an ass to be
    proud of.”
    “Wonder how she feels about sexy football players with
    tattoos?” Tony flexed his ink-covered bicep.
    “I saw her first,” Bryce said, giving his buddy a friendly
    shove.
    “Maybe we can tag-team her. That redhead from Hooters loved
    every minute.”
    “Let it go.” Gaige grabbed Sean’s arm when he would have
    followed the other men as they left the locker room.”
    “They shouldn’t talk about Riley that way. Hell, they
    shouldn’t talk about her at all.”
    “It doesn’t mean anything. How many times have you made
    comments about a random woman?”
    Sean opened his mouth to protest but nothing came out. He
    could argue that Riley was different. But was she? The women he spoke of were
    someone’s sister or friend or daughter. He hadn’t thought of that when he
    bragged up his many exploits. It wasn’t fair to expect his teammates to be any
    different. However, a little voice that he had never heard before made it
    clear.
    This was not a random woman. This was Riley.
    “You didn’t tell me she was back.”
    “Why would I?” Gaige grabbed his bag. “You didn’t show any
    interest while she was away. It didn’t occur to me that you would care what she
    was up to one way or the other.”
    “We talk about all kinds of shit.”
    “Not Riley.”
    “I know.” Sean walked out the door behind Gaige. “Why? I
    liked the kid. The only time you mention her is when one of the guys
    specifically asks.”
    “One of the guys. Not you. Nothing was stopping you, Sean.
    Unless it was guilt.”
    “Hey, you told me she didn’t leave town because of me.” Sean
    gave Gaige a sharp look. “Was that a lie?”
    “She left for the reasons I stated. This isn’t about her
    feelings. It’s about yours. Just because there is no reason to feel guilty,
    doesn’t mean the feeling isn’t there.”
    “It isn’t,” Sean stated firmly. And he meant it—mostly. “My
    conscience is clear.”
    “Fair enough.” Gaige disengaged the locks on his car. “Let’s
    stop at The Ridge . All I’ve been able to think about for the last hour
    is one of their thick, juicy steaks.”
    Sean slid into the passenger side. His car was in the
    shop—as usual. It was time to give up on the vintage Jag and go with