Proposals Who: Lia and Riley When: Afternoon Where: the ranch
As predicted, Lia and Sophia were both soaked by the time they made it to the ranch. Lia had enjoyed chatting with Savannah, but once they were inside, she made Sophia take her jacket off, and then her shoes and socks, as not to track water and mud through the house. It was awfully quiet, and Lia noted that Mrs. Haggerty didn’t come immediately to greet them. Sophia was bouncing on her toes while Lia stripped off her own jacket. The overnight bag she had packed was soaked too, and she was hoping she could toss the pajamas and clothes into the dryer. “Can I have a cookie?” Sophia asked, completely unfazed by her wet clothes and dripping hair.
“After we get dried off,” Lia said, “if there are any cookies to be had. Why don’t we go find Riley first?”
“Okay!” That was as cookie promise, in Sophia’s opinion and she took off running down the hall, in search of Riley, or some other familiar face. Lia followed, brushing damp tendrils away from her cheek and forehead. The storm’s intensity had taken Lia by surprise, though she supposed nothing inside the dome should have been shocking to her anymore.
Riley was dozing on the couch, having recovered mostly from his hangover and his encounter with Ember by now. He'd felt grumpy and wanted nothing to do with the weather so he'd had his staff feed the animals and then take the day off. Which meant they'd mostly scattered elsewhere off the ranch before the storm had gotten bad. Mrs. Haggerty had taken off for her sister's earlier and was probably waiting out the storm there. So the main rooms in the house were empty. He'd lit a fire before falling asleep, the ambience of it something he felt was required by the rain to dispel the gloom of it or something.
He didn't stay asleep long after Lia and their daughter arrived though. Sophia's running footsteps getting louder by the second until he saw her blonde head through his lashes. He was ready to be awake though so he opened his eyes and called to Sophia, holding open his arms for the hug he usually got whenever she came to visit. There was something that felt so good about holding the little squirming girl for as long as she'd stand it.
His eyes searched for Lia to join them but he whispered conspiratorially to Sophia about cookies and Ophelia while they waited the few seconds it took her mother to catch up.
Lia could tell Sophia had found Riley before she actually entered the room. And despite her misery at being cold and wet, she smiled at the sight of the two hugging one another. She was of the mind that if she hadn't been bitten by that wolf, Sophia would have already known that Riley was her father. Maybe they would all be living under the same roof. But then again, if she hadn't been bitten, maybe the conversation and progress she and Riley had the evening before would have yet to happen. She had to find the silver lining somewhere.
She could hear Riley whispering to Sophia as clearly as if he were talking in his normal volume, and Lia smiled as she walked closer to the fire, thankful for the warmth. "Now, see, I told her no cookies until we got dried off so we didn't make a mess of your house," Lia explained.
Riley smiled up at Lia as she walked in and it increased as she spoke. He looked at his daughter and he raised his brows authoritatively. He had no idea what he was doing but agreeing with her mother seemed the best route. "Oh, you'd better do as Mommy says then. Get dried and then the cookies are yours." He let the little girl go so she could obey and he stood up. He grabbed a couple towels from the little powder room off the left hall and handed them to Lia. He wanted to kiss her but he wasn't sure if that was okay yet in front of Sophia. So instead he said, "I'm glad you made it. I was worried you two would blow away!"
Setting the overnight bag down, Lia took the towels and knelt down to immediately start drying Sophia's hair. The little girl was antsy, and probably hungry, so Lia tried to make quick work of it. "We came close a couple times," Lia said with a soft laugh. "The umbrella was more than a little useless. I think it broke, actually."
"We walked with Miss Savannah!" Sophia declared, hopping from foot to foot before she shook her head, trying to dislodge Lia's hands and the towel from her head.
"We did," Lia confirmed with a small nod as she glanced up at Riley before wrapping the towel around Sophia tightly to warm her up. Obviously Riley would know Savannah, given the woman was a boarder at the ranch. "I had nearly forgotten she lived over here."
Riley noted the overnight bag and smiled. That boded well and he really did want them both to stay. He took himself to the kitchen to find the cookies and some milk. He didn’t feel like too bad a parent giving Sophia cookies when he knew there was at least one helping of vegetables in them thanks to Mrs. Haggerty’s need to look after him and see he ate properly. He liked his cookies a little too much and she knew it.
“Did you?” he asked, smiling a bit more at the little girl’s enthusiasm. He brought the cookies on a plate and the milk with three plastic cups tucked inside themselves and resting on the cap of the milk for convenience. He really didn’t mind crumbs or wet tracks through his house. He was just grateful his family was here. “I’ve hardly seen her lately myself,” he said though his tone wasn’t exactly regretful. He liked Savannah but she wasn’t part of his everyday life.
"Yeah!" Sophia was more interested in the cookies than chatting about Savannah, so Lia sat her down in front of the fire to help dry her more quickly. Lia had no doubt that once Sophia shoved one of the cookies in her mouth, she would start rambling on about school, and her friends, just as she always did around this time of day.
Lia grabbed the second towel and began to dry her own hair as she watched Riley. "She told me you've been really kind to her, so she offered to babysit Sophia sometime, if we wanted to go out." She tried to suppress a teasing smile. "She thinks you're a really great guy, by the way." So maybe there was the tiniest, tiniest spark of jealousy there, but like before, Lia attributed it to the changes she had gone through since becoming a werewolf.
Riley laughed lightly as he watched Sophia with her cookies. He poured her a glass of milk and then stole one of the cookies for himself. For which he got an exaggerated stink eye he'd told her reminded him of his mother. "No more for you, Mister Riled Up!" chirped the little voice. That got another laugh out of Riley because that was something from their evening together on the full moon. It felt like an entire lifetime had passed since then but the bond they'd forged was still holding solid.
He turned his attention back to Lia as he poured himself his own glass of milk, asking Lia with his eyes if she wanted one herself. "Savannah's a good boarder. How she and Frankie stand all the men, especially Tom, I will never know." He shook his head, his expression amused. He took a sip, giving himself a milk mustache to make Sophia giggle before he licked it off. "I think that's a very nice offer. We should take her up on that soon, what do you think?" he asked Lia.
“Well, I’m sure if they had real issues, they would come to you about them.” Lia nodded once at the silent offer of milk. Riley had a good heart, and she couldn’t deny that he would probably assume the role of white knight, if he felt he had to. A platonic white knight, of course, but still. But Savannah seemed like a capable woman, and while Lia didn’t know Frankie terribly well, she could only assume the same. “I think we should,” Lia said after a moment. “I don’t really know the last time we had a proper date.” One that didn’t end in an argument, or a long discussion about their past, and present. She wanted something fun, and mindless, just to remind her of what they had before everything started to unravel.
Riley nodded in response to her statement as he poured her a cup of milk and handed it to her. “Oh yeah, they’re not shy women with that by any chance. Frankie especially. But she’s scrappy. I think she gives as good as she gets. Or at least that’s my take.” He chuckled, imagining the talkative redhead running off Tom’s ear. He really had it in for the guy today, sending Ember after him too. Riley couldn’t remember when they’d had a proper date either though his mind went to the time they’d wandered the festival and made out very dangerously close to public indiscretion. He grinned at the memory because that was his idea of a proper date. Albeit with somewhere to fall down into instead of having to stop. “I’m going to venture to say the last time was the night before I went to Iraq.” And the tips of his ears went red at that memory because it had probably been the most erotic night he’d ever spent with her.
Lia laughed a little and took the milk. "Scrappy. I like that adjective." She was a fan of any woman who could hold her own against the big boys. Or the men who thought themselves to the big boys. The only way to survive in this world anymore was to be strong and hold one's ground. She prayed every day that she could teach Sophia that lesson. Lifting a delicate brow at Riley's mention of that night, Lia glanced at Sophia, who was still munching away on her cookie and wiggling her feet in front of the fire. Her own cheeks flushed a little, because she would have been lying if she claimed she didn't revisit that night often in her mind. "You're probably right," she said finally, once she was sure she could speak properly. Her eyes found his eyes. "That had been... an amazing night."
Riley smiled over at Lia. It made sense she’d like it. He’d maybe call her that in her own right. Though he didn’t quite yet see her punching people in the nose the way he imagined Frankie might if pushed. He liked the way her cheeks changed color at the memory of that night. It was sort of thrilling in a way to talk about that without saying anything that would alert the little girl to what was being discussed in reality. “It was. I think we should find a way to duplicate it,” he suggested though his ears went even more red at the thought. It was strange to feel so much her husband and yet also still have the lingering shyness of the high school boy who couldn’t believe his lot in life included a girl like Lia Ryan.
Lia tried to fight back the smile threatening at her lips, but it was damn near impossible. She loved how his face turned pink as he spoke. The two of them had spent so much of their free time as teenagers naked. Or partially naked, depending on where they were at the time. Riley had more than memorized her body, and vice versa, and there really wasn't much the two of them hadn't tried in the past. So it was as amusing as it was endearing that he still seemed a bit shy about suggesting the two of them replicate an intensely passionate night they shared years ago. Setting the cup of milk on the table in front of her, Lia reached for their overnight bag to unzip so she could pull out the damp clothes and get them into the dryer. "I think that sounds like the perfect date night, if you ask me. Are you sure you could handle it?" Lia asked teasingly as she pulled Sophia's pajamas from the bag. "You're not as young as you used to be."
Riley was pretty sure he was going to always be in awe of Lia’s beauty. It simply permeated her entire being. Inside and out she was lovely and he felt like the luckiest man alive to have found her again. To have her back after years of missing her until his heart ached. Now it ached for other reasons. Wanting to hold her, kiss her, reclaim some of those days they’d lost. He set his milk aside and stood when she pulled out the damp clothes. “Why don’t I take care of these, yeah?” He should take a little husbandly responsibility, right? Sticking clothes in the dryer seemed easy enough. He stuck his tongue into his cheek at her question and it’s following statement. He leaned close to her, mindful that Sophia was still focused on cookies, and said quietly near her ear, “You’re fortunate small eyes and ears are open or I’d have to show you exactly what I can handle.”
Lia looked up when Riley stood, surprised that he was offering to dry their clothes. She handed them over with a smile of gratitude. Then she flushed when he leaned in close, and Lia smiled for completely different reasons. "She's usually in bed by eight thirty, so I suppose I'll have to wait until then." Because she was pretty sure she couldn't sneak off with Riley beforehand, not if Mrs. Haggerty wasn't around to keep an eye on Sophia. And because she couldn't help herself, regardless of little eyes and ears, Lia turned her face just enough to press a kiss against his jaw. How she would be able to keep her hands off of him for the next several hours, she didn't know. It felt impossible.
Riley took the clothes she’d handed him, thinking on the fastest route to the laundry room so he could get there and back quickly. He glanced over to Sophia who looked like she might be finishing up her snack then back at Lia. “I’ve got to say, eight thirty sounds like a lifetime from now.” He said it quietly because at no time did he want Sophia to think he’d like to rush her off to bed. He wanted to spend time with her too. Though it was going to be difficult to keep his hands to himself as well. Especially after she kissed him. It sent a little spark of pleasure through him and he winked at her. Then he was off, making quick work of getting their clothing into the dryer before returning to them. “About half an hour in that old clunker, I’d say.”
This was so much nicer, being able to be around Riley without the tension. The negative tension, anyway. Because there was definitely tension, but it made her blood hot and her pulse race, and Lia felt like she was seventeen again. Even when they had gone to parties together, or had dinner at Lia's parents house, they had always found one another's gaze across the room, or the dinner table, that unspoken, impatient need to be alone. It was amazing that even after so many years she could feel that spike of anticipation. She moved to the floor to sit with Sophia by the fire, brushing her fingers through her daughter's damp hair when Riley entered the room. "Thank you," she said with a soft smile.
Sophia twisted around to look at Riley now that her cookie was gone. "I like games. We play games at school and mommy has some at home. Do you have games?"
Riley returned her smile when and settled on a chair near the two. He watched Lia with their daughter and he couldn’t help but appreciate how motherhood and maturity had only made her more attractive. He was certainly still head over heels for her which was probably a good thing since fate had decided to send them off on wildly different paths only to bring them back together in the most unexpected of places. He was pretty much as in love with the little girl too. She had his heart wrapped around her tiny little finger. He couldn’t help but grin when she asked about games. “Let’s see. I think I might have a couple board games somewhere. And a pack of cards. Do you know how to play poker?” he asked though his eyes flicked toward Lia because he was more teasing her with that one than being serious with Sophia.
Sophia grinned and got to her feet, her towel still wrapped around her shoulders as she moved to stand in front of Riley. "I can play poker!"
"Sophia, you've never played poker," Lia said with a laugh, leaning back on her palms to watch the two. She was beginning to think maybe she should talk to Sophia tonight, about Riley and who he was. It seemed like the right time at least, now that she and Riley had talked through some of their issues, and the ranch was nearly empty of people. She just wanted to make sure Riley was all right with it first.
"I know Go Fish," Sophia exclaimed quickly, her eyes hopeful as they locked onto Riley's face. "Do you like Go Fish? I'll let you win, if you want to play with me."
Riley chuckled at the little girl’s enthusiasm. It never failed to warm his heart. He’d never thought much about being a father when he’d been younger. He hadn’t even given it much thought when he’d gotten the news from Lia while he’d been overseas. He’d been busy, of course, but he still thought about being a husband during the long stints in barracks and foxholes. So it surprised him every single time he realized just how much he loved Sophia already. “Ah well, we’ll have to teach you poker one of these days. Then you can beat Tom at it and take his shirt.” He reached out to tickle Sophia’s ribs. “I can definitely play Go Fish with you. But don’t you dare let me win! Does Mommy want to play with us?” he asked, standing up to go into the kitchen, fishing in the junk drawer for an old, battered but useable deck of cards.
"But I have my own shirts," Sophia said, following on Riley's heel. "I don't want to make Tom cold or nothing. But I like his hat!"
Lia pushed herself to her feet, amused at the idea of Riley teaching their daughter poker. Sophia was clever enough that Lia wouldn't be surprised if she was running the poker table with a bunch of men someday. "Absolutely, I'll play. I'm horrible at Go Fish, as Sophia will tell you. She's won every single time we've played." Of course, Lia let Sophia win most of the time, but Sophia didn't need to know that. "Winner gets another cookie. Loser has to make dinner." Which no doubt would be either she or Riley, and with that in mind, Lia figured she would try to lose because Riley had never been a master in the kitchen.
Riley couldn’t help but continue to laugh happily as Sophia chirped. “Yes, his shirt would be way too big for you anyway. But let’s see if we can’t get you playing poker so good you can take his hat!” He grinned as he set the pack of cards on the kitchen counter that faced the fireplace, stools set up against one side. He chose it because it was closer to the fire than the kitchen table and because it was also closer to the cookies. He glanced amusedly at Lia when she suggested loser make dinner. He supposed she was counting on continuing her losing streak because she was well aware that he could burn water. “Oh then I’m going to win, of course. Because I only got one cookie!” he said, his tone playfully challenging as he eyed his daughter.
Lia helped Sophia onto one of the stools, smiling at Riley. Sophia giggled and shook her head. "Not uh! I always win. But I'll share my cookie with you, so you can have some more too." Lia slipped onto the stool beside Sophia and rested her elbow on the counter, brushing her hair back behind her ear. "Be careful, Sophia. Your daddy is likely to serve us burnt chicken and soggy vegetables if he ends up in the kitchen!"
She barely noticed her slip up until Sophia looked up at Lia with her eyebrows drawn together in confusion. "Mr. Riley is my daddy?" Lia blinked rapidly and then looked over at Riley, feeling her stomach bottom out. Well, that had been poorly timed, hadn't it?
Riley decided to stay on his side of the counter, standing and leaning against it. It helped with the last leavings of his hangover which was almost entirely gone. He began dealing the cards, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. “Well aren’t you sweet? I accept. Thank you,” he said to Sophia when she offered to share her cookie.
Riley hadn’t actually noticed Lia’s slip either as he was busy getting his fingers play-slapped for teasing Sophia by touching all the cookies on the plate. He watched Sophia’s expression change and heard her question and his own brows went up slightly. He hadn’t realized Lia was ready to discuss this let alone spring it on him, but he didn’t mind. Though, by the look on her face she hadn’t exactly planned this. Maybe he should let Lia explain but the question left his mouth before he gave it enough thought. “Would it be okay with you if I was your daddy?”
For a split second, Lia wanted to backtrack and make up something silly so that Sophia wasn't looking at her with that kind of curiosity. Then she thought she should just be honest. It was that brief delay that gave Riley enough time to speak up first. Swallowing softly, Lia looked at Riley before her gaze shifted back to Sophia. Her daughter looked perplexed for a brief moment before her expression turned thoughtful again, her lips twitched to the side before she nodded and smiled. "Yeah. Molly at school has a daddy who comes to pick her up. Will you pick me up from school?"
And just like that, Sophia had a daddy, and had accepted it. Lia found it hard to breathe, and she wanted to reach over and hug her daughter tight, wishing Sophia would always be able to make those choices so easily in life. Reaching out, she brushed her hand over Sophia's hair again and looked at Riley with a small, apologetic smile.
Riley looked rather sheepishly at Lia for having just jumped right in. He’d known it was a better idea to let Lia deal with this but he couldn’t help himself for some reason. He was having such a great time with the little girl and he was hoping that she would even want him for a daddy. Not that she had a choice and he wasn’t sure what he’d do if she said no. But thank goodness for the simpleness of the six year old thinking process. He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding with her easy acceptance.
Riley shook his head at Lia’s smile. Nothing to be apologetic about. It was going to happen at some point. And this had actually been so much less stressful than the build up of worry he was sure would have followed a conversation with Lia deciding to finally break the news beforehand. “Maybe I could pick you up from school, sure,” he said, keeping his tone low key, tossing down pairs he’d already found in his hand.
It would figure that Lia would build up such a monumental revelation in her head, only let it slip out accidentally. But Sophia didn't seem traumatized, or upset and from what Lia could tell, Riley didn't seem angry about it either,, so Lia tried to relax some as she stared at the cards in her hand. Sophia, however was already smiling, watching Riley with renewed interest. "Molly's dad lets get stay up past ten o'clock!"
"Sophia," Lia warned, setting down four sixes she had before glancing at her daughter. "Riley being your daddy doesn't mean you get to start asking him for things. You know your bedtime, especially when you have school."
"Yeah, but what about Friday? I could stay up late on Friday, right?" Her brown eyes shifted to Riley again, wide and hopeful.
Riley nodded solemnly at Sophia as her mother laid down the law. “That’s right. Mommy knows best for you and you still have to follow her rules. But the good thing is that maybe we can have more times together like we had the other night when it was just the two of us.”
He was going to stand one hundred percent behind Lia with parenting. At least, that was how he felt. He didn’t know what that was going to be like but he didn’t feel he had a place yet. Still, Lia had had to be both parents for years and she deserved the break from always having to be the bad guy too. But he’d talk to her about that and figure out a way to ease into this properly and in the best way for their daughter. Right now? Riley was just happy to know his daughter liked him enough to accept him in that role. Six years was sufficient enough to change adults and create tensions and misgivings and all manner of troublesome additives to a marriage. But for a child? Six years meant that things like opening your heart to the guy who gave you cookies and a horse was an easy choice. That and her mother had raised her very well.
Sophia seemed happy enough with that promise, and she looked down at her cards to play. Lia felt relief, but she couldn't help but wonder what would happen now. Obviously Riley deserved to have more say in how they raised Sophia. The problem was, Lia had been a single mother for six plus years. She was used to making the decisions.would she be able to accept Riley's opinion without feeling defensive or ignoring it? She was going to have to try. Lia wanted this to work. She wanted Riley to be Sophia's father in every sense of the word. It was just going to take some adjusting. Like everything else.
After a few rounds of the card game, Sophia looked up at Riley again. "Do I get my own room too? 'Cause then I could stay and see Ophelia all the time!" Lia glanced up from her cards, her gaze drifting from Sophia to Riley. Moving in together was on the agenda of things to talk about. Just...not yet. But she didn't want answer for Riley.
Riley’s eyes flicked upward to Lia as he lost yet another round of Go Fish to his daughter and she asked about her own room. That was definitely something he wanted to discuss with Lia and probably tonight was the best time to do it. They were in a good place, or at least the best place they’d been in since re-finding each other here in Delphi. He gave Lia a smile as he realized it was falling on him to answer and that was fine.
“Well, that’s something Mommy and I have to talk about. But you are always welcome to stay in my guest room and see Ophelia whenever Mommy says so.” Which was true. He wanted them around as much as Lia wanted to be around. And he knew that the boarders and Mrs. Haggerty especially would love to have both of them there as well. Mrs. Haggerty having expressed her concern the day before when she brought him a glass of water after Lia left. “Why do you let her leave?” the woman had asked. To which Riley had no good answer.
“I have a horrible feeling, my ladies, that I am your cook this evening.”
Lia gave him another small smile. He seemed to be handling himself well, not allowing Sophia's blunt questions to fluster him. They would probably have to talk about their living situation soon. It seemed ridiculous to her, especially now, to live apart when they were working on their marriage. And frankly, Lia wanted to be closer to him. Blinking at Riley's next comment, Lia looked down at the cards strewn about the counter, her lips parting in surprise. "Oh! How did that... I..." Wrinkling her nose a bit, Lia looked up and struggled not to laugh. "I'll be glad to help you. I like this place, I would hate to see it get burned down."
To Riley these were easy questions. There was nothing difficult about saying, “We’re going to do what Mommy says,” because that was how it had been a minute ago before Lia had slipped that Riley was Sophia’s dad. It was going to be other things later on that would be difficult. He was sure of it even if he didn’t know what those things were yet. But raising a child was not easy, he’d been told a number of times. He chuckled at Lia’s reaction to his statement. That had happened because he’d wanted to see that look on her face when he announced he’d be cooking. “Well maybe you can cook and I can wash dishes afterward,” he offered.
"Yes, I think that would be best for everyone involved. The ranch will remain in one piece, and there won’t be a chance of food poisoning later," Lia said with a laugh before she slipped from the stool. "As long as Mrs. Haggerty won't mind me messing about in her kitchen. But I want to get Sophia in some dry clothes first, before I get distracted with dinner. Then she needs to do her homework. Do you mind checking on the clothes in the dryer?" And then maybe while Sophia was focused on math and writing, Lia could talk to Riley a bit in private.
Riley grinned at Lia, putting the cards back in their box. “No, Mrs. Haggerty’s used to everyone being in and out of the kitchen. The only thing off limits is her breadmaker but I doubt we need to use that. There’s bread already made.” He nodded as he put the cards back in the drawer he’d taken them from. “Yep, I’ll go check and see how they’re going. They’re probably done by now, it’s been long enough.” He passed by Sophia and kissed the girl on the top of the head and even brushed a quick, secretive kiss to Lia’s cheek as he wandered toward the laundry room. He was back fairly fast with the now dry clothes.
While Riley was gone, Lia turned to Sophia and pushed some of the little girl's damp hair back behind her ear. "Are you sure you're okay with Riley being your daddy?" Because Sophia seemed completely accepting, which was wonderful, but Lia knew that it was something Sophia could still be processing. Sophia nodded and swung her legs back and forth, shivering a bit despite the towel around her body.
"He's nice," Sophia said, as if that were more than enough reason to want him as a father. "Does that mean you love Mr. Riley and he loves you too?" Lia smiled a little. "Yes, that's what it means. Would that be okay too?" Sophia grinned and nodded again. "But no kissing! Kisses are icky!" Lia laughed and hugged Sophia tight, pressing playful kisses along her head and making her giggle. Then Riley returned and Lia released Sophia, walking over to take the clothes from his arms. "Thank you. We'll go upstairs and change and be back in a few. I would kiss you, but Sophia's specifically stated kisses are icky, so it's going to have to wait."
Riley heard the tail end of their conversation as he returned and couldn’t help grinning at the little girl’s stipulation of no kissing. He nodded to Lia and then laughed as she reiterated Sophia’s no kissing policy. “But that’s not fair. Can we at least kiss when you’re not looking?” he asked, teasing the little girl just a bit to which he got a wrinkled nose. Riley turned his eyes toward Lia, he looked very solemnly at her as though he would be dutiful and never ever kiss her again. “Okay, okay,” he said sadly.
"We'll see if we can't sneak a few in before eight thirty," Lia whispered before she turned away to Sophia. "Let's go change," she said, waiting until Sophia slipped off the stool and hopped across the floor to Lia's side. "In the mean time, why don't you decide what you want for dinner, and I'll see if I can't whip it together." Almost belatedly, Lia wondered how Riley was feeling. If he had to deal with a hangover earlier, or if maybe he was still feeling poorly and trying to hide it from her. She would have to ask, once Sophia was sitting somewhere with her homework.
Riley smiled at her with his eyes and nodded. The idea of having to sneak a little bit reminding him of their teenage years, sneaking around to the various outbuildings on his family’s ranch or the hayloft. It gave him a small thrill and he watched Sophia join her mother. “I’ll take a look at what we have and figure something out. Just don’t take too long or I’ll start cooking,” he threatened playfully and wandered into the kitchen to see what other than steak he had in his fridge. He called after them, “Sophia can use the desk in my office if you like. You could still see her around the corner from here.” Which was true because the kitchen windows peeked into the all-glass room that he’d converted into his office.
"That sounds great," Lia said before ushering Sophia upstairs. They changed and dried their hair more thoroughly and while Sophia tried to buy some more time before having to sit down with her homework, Lia held fast. Sophia could be incredibly persuasive when she wanted to be, but Lia learned if she didn't hold her ground, Sophia would pout far more often. After several minutes, they returned downstairs, Sophia with her school bag. Lia led her into Riley's office to sit her down at the desk, pulling out her homework and pencil. They went over the instructions, Lia sat with her for a bit until she was sure Sophia understood the assignment, then she returned to the kitchen to Riley. "So? What are you hungry for tonight?"
Riley had discovered some sliced chicken breast that had been frozen, some vegetables, the makings of a salad, and other things which he’d pulled out onto the counter. He knew he couldn’t hurt salad too much so he’d begun chopping and tearing veggies and putting them in a large wooden bowl. He’d just been pulling things from the fridge and cupboard to make salad dressing when he heard Lia return with Sophia downstairs and establish their daughter in his office. He was shaking the dressing when Lia came back to the kitchen. He set the shaker down and put his arms around her. He kissed her softly, probably tasting of the earthy greens he’d sampled as he’d made the salad. “That,” was his answer with a smile.
Lia smiled against his mouth before lifting her arms around his neck. “I’m pretty sure Sophia was very firm on no kisses, but I like that you’re a rule breaker.” She pressed another brief kiss to his mouth before opening her eyes to look at him. “I’m sorry for that. I had spent so long trying to think of the best way to tell Sophia who you were, and I screwed it all up because I wasn’t thinking.”
Riley grinned, his hands rubbing her back gently as she stayed close. “She’s not the boss of me, the little kissing tyrant,” he said with great affection. He made a soft sound of enjoyment as she kissed him again, feeling so grateful for this woman. He shook his head as she apologized. “I kind of like that you’re so okay with me being a part of your lives that you said something like that automatically. And, since she took it so well, we’re all on the same page and that’s good. I’m sorry for last night.”
There had been a chance that Sophia wouldn't take it well, and Lia had simply gotten lucky that her daughter was so accepting. It probably helped that she liked Riley already. Lia lifted her hands to brush them through Riley's hair gently. "Well, now she knows her daddy has a lot of horses. What more could a girl want?" she teased lightly. "Don't apologize for last night. Obviously I wish that conversation would have happened under different circumstances, but I'm glad we were able to talk anyway." She very nearly suggested that Riley apologize to Micah, instead of her, but Lia bit her tongue, not wanting to create any friction between them tonight. And she would rather talk to Micah first before deciding how to handle it.
Riley wasn’t so full of himself that he figured the little girl would automatically want him as her daddy but he was so glad that she had. He smiled a bit thoughtfully as she ran her fingers through his hair. “And she has her own among them already so what’s not to love?” he said with a soft laugh. She was right about the conversation. It had needed to happen and it might not have if he hadn’t been in a state of lacking inhibition due to alcohol. “I’m not proud of myself last night but I am glad we talked.” He paused and then added, “There are a few people I owe apologies to for yesterday.” Patrick O’Reilly, Micah. He’d been unprofessional with the former at the very least and he’d been beyond embarrassing to the latter. The way he’d confronted the man had been inappropriate. He knew what he needed to do and he was glad Lia didn’t try to tell him.
It was something of a relief that Riley could acknowledge that he probably owed apologies. Lia knew he could be stubborn, but if he recognized that his behavior was less than favorable, that was a start. Maybe she wouldn’t have to nudge him to contact Micah. Maybe he would do it on his own. Keeping her arms around his neck, Lia lifted a brow curiously. “A few? Like who?” Because she knew he had spoken to Micah, but that was all. It worried her some that there could be others.
Riley liked that she stayed close even as they talked about this. He was slowly shedding the feeling of shame associated with yesterday but he knew it would hang around until he made things right with others. "Well, obviously Micah. Going off at him half-cocked was the wrong way to handle that. I hope that I didn't damage your friendship any though he seems pretty level-headed and steadfast." A good Alpha if she had to have one. "And then there's Patrick O'Reilly. I'm not sure I offended him but I was talking with him in a way about things in the dome that seemed to make him uncomfortable in hindsight. Probably should go make sure our professional relationship isn't dented." He sighed and smiled a bit at her and kissed her forehead. "I'm a mad arse, I know."
"Well, Patrick O'Reilly is a werewolf too," Lia said, closing her eyes briefly when Riley kissed her forehead. "I don't know if you knew that, or not. A lot of familiar faces were at the encampment, actually. Lochlan O'Reilly, Justin from the diner, Mannix's brother..." She hadn't had a chance to say hello to Mannix, or think much about the fact that she had been able to sense he was different. Not human. Strange things were definitely afoot within Delphi. Lia kissed Riley's cheek before pulling away to start on dinner. "I'm sure Patrick will understand your conversation, if he realizes we're married. I'm not sure he saw me there or not, but he can put two and two together."
"I had a feeling he was. I heard him or his cousin pestering a nurse for a spongebath when I was on my way into the hospital to see you once," he said with a chuckle. "Judging by our conversation yesterday it must've been his cousin. But yeah, he had no reason to know I knew about werewolves so he was guarded. I talked to Justin about it earlier in the day." He let her go with a smile at her kiss and watched her start working on dinner. "I don't think he knows we're married. Or, if he does, he doesn't like talking about that stuff in public settings. Still I'd like to at least make sure there's no weirdness between us, y'know?"
Lia didn’t know Patrick O’Reilly very well, but he didn’t strike her as the type to aski a nurse for a spongebath in any kind of manner, so Riley was probably right. “I’m sure everything will be fine,” Lia said, working on opening the package of chicken. “If you have to explain that we’re married, so you’re in the know, so to speak, I won’t mind it. I’m sure he’ll understand. But try not to worry about it too much tonight.” She glanced at Riley. “I’m going to have coffee with Micah tomorrow. Is that all right?” She wanted to talk to her friend, but at the same time, she didn’t want Riley to start feeling any kind of jealousy or irritation if she did.
"You're probably right," Riley said and held a spoon up to her mouth for her to taste the salad dressing he'd made. "I did happen to mention this morning to a ghost that I was married to a werewolf. Telling the local pub owner shouldn't be more difficult, right?" He went back to chopping vegetables, tensing when she mentioned Micah. He felt a twinge of annoyance but it was an old feeling, programmed in over the past few days. He didn't really feel that way anymore and he was going to trust her. His eyes flicked up toward her and he shrugged. "Of course, he's your Alpha and I just royally made an ass out myself to him. You probably should talk to him."
Lia tasted the salad dressing, giving him a nod of approval before she went back to the chicken. Then she paused, as if comprehending his words a bit belatedly. Lia looked at Riley, both brows raised in surprise. “Hold on. A ghost?” Was it Cody, the ghost Gin grew her recent inspiration from? “There was a ghost here?”
Riley smiled at her reaction, pleased with himself for not having missed the mark on the salad dressing. He kissed her temple and moved away again. “Oh right, I didn’t tell you about her before because she first came the day of the full moon when I was supposed to have Sophia here. That’s why we ended up at your place that night. I didn’t want her to scare Sophia. And she came back this morning to make my life hell all over again.” He smiled slightly though because he didn’t entirely dislike Ember. She had her merits even if she was a rascal.
That was a little unnerving. Lia momentarily forgot about the chicken as she turned to Riley, one hand still placed on the counter top. She recalled Gin telling her about another female ghost, but who knew how many were actually around. "What was she doing?" Lia asked. "Do you think she's dangerous?" Because she didn't really like the idea of Sophia being scared by a host that could pop in and out.
Riley thought about her question and almost laughed. “I don’t think she’s dangerous the way you mean. She hangs around to try to mess with my head. She popped up when I was sleeping and decided to nickname my abs Rilettes. Basically she’s a ghost whose main goal seems to be to sexually harass me.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “But she’s got a sad tale so I’m guessing mostly she’s just lonely. Though I did tell her to go freak out Tom because that man deserves it. Such an ass.” He covered his mouth with a sheepish glance toward Sophia’s direction for having used that word. “Sorry.”
Lia wasn’t terribly sure she liked that. She wasn’t going to throw a fit about it, obviously, because the girl was a ghost, but it made her slightly uneasy to know some ghost could just pop in whenever, and wherever. Lia pushed aside the insanely intense possessive feeling that began to surface, and instead went back to seasoning the chicken. “The Rilettes, huh? I suppose that fits.” She managed a smile and looked over at Riley. “I imagine most ghosts hanging around the dome now have a sad tale. As long as she didn’t pop at inopportune times… and keeps her hands to herself…don’t worry about Sophia. She’s heard me say worse, unfortunately.” Not often, really, but Lia tended to let certain curse words slip whenever she did something stupid, like stubbing her toe or cutting a finger with a knife. Sophia never repeated it, but she did giggle a lot.
Riley was sure it wasn’t fun for Lia to hear about Ember. But he kind of wanted her to have full disclosure too. Especially if the girl did decide to show up and stand over their bed when they were making love or something. “Oh does it?” he asked wryly. “I always thought Rilettes was some kind of mushy food. Are my abs mushy?” He lifted his shirt to look at them dubiously for a moment before letting his shirt drop. “I just wanted to be sure you knew about her so that it didn’t come out like a secret at some point but I hadn’t wanted to add to all of the tension around the full moon when it happened the first time.” He chuckled at the idea of Lia cussing. It had always made him laugh when they were younger because she was so pretty and refined and then out came a swear and it seemed so out of place that it made him laugh. “One day I’ll have to get you to cuss a blue streak again. That’s a great memory.”
“I’ve never even heard of food called rilettes,” Lia admitted with a laugh. “And I promise you, your abs are anything but mushy. I love your abs.” And every other part, honestly. She knew it was shallow of her, but Lia had always been partial to Riley’s body. Seeing it never failed to get her pulse going. “I appreciate you telling me about her. At least if she shows up while I’m around, I’m not taken by surprise. Is there a reason she’s latched onto you?” Lia hoped that this girl didn’t start showing up in Riley’s dreams the way Cody seemed to with Gin.
Riley nodded emphatically. “My mother used to make it. It’s the consistency of pate. I’m glad you don’t think they’re mushy.” The last part said with relief. He didn’t care what Ember thought but if his wife thought he was mushy he’d better find a way to beef up his routine somehow. Maybe he’d do it anyway even if Lia didn’t think he needed it. “You’ll know it’s her because her hair moves by itself. She tends to be very sarcastic and wears a schoolgirl outfit.” He rolled his eyes at that because he didn’t know she didn’t have a choice in what she wore. He figured it was meant to be alluring or something. “I think she enjoys annoying me. She gets off on it or something. Saying things to make me uncomfortable but I’m on to her.”
“A school girl outfit?” Lia looked over at Riley incredulously. “So, what, is she stuck in it, or is that some kind of nod to a typical male fantasy?” Even if Ember was a ghost, it still irritated Lia a little. She wasn’t sure she wanted some girl wandering around in a school girl outfit, purposely goading Riley to ‘get off on it’. “What does she say that makes you uncomfortable?” She was doing her best to keep her voice even and indifferent, but Lia started slicing through some of the chicken with firmer strokes of the knife in her hand.
Riley made a face and nodded. "Yeah, and she refuses to sit properly in it. Someone ought to maybe mentor her on appropriate behavior. But maybe, being a ghost, it wouldn't stick." He glanced around at that point, wondering if Ember was here and invisible at the moment. He refused to get paranoid about her though so he looked back at his wife. He could tell she was annoyed by what he was telling her so he tried to pull some punches because he'd told her the major information already. "I'm not uncomfortable by what she says but she'd like me to be. Like asking if she can say goodbye to my abs when she's leaving. That sort of thing. I said no, of course. I think the chicken is already dead, love."
That really wasn't helping much, because she didn't really want to think about a woman, ghost or not, being inappropriate around Riley. Lia breathed in when Riley seemed to notice her irritation, and she slowed her movements, realizing that she didn't want to end up in the hospital with a missing finger. "Sorry," Lia said, a faint smile on her lips. "I suppose it was one thing when it was just a ghost hanging around. It's another if she's, uh... flirting with you, for lack of a better term."
Again it was really in the nature of full disclosure that he’d told Lia any of this. He wanted her to see that he was already working on making sure he talked to her about things. “I know,” he said with a nod. “And I only mentioned it was so there wasn’t a secret between us. Perhaps one day she’ll show up when you’re here and you can attempt to eat her in your wolfy form.” He gave her a little encouraging smile. He’d probably enjoy very much seeing the fear put into Ember. Maybe she’d never come back. Or maybe she wouldn’t be scared at all and that would make it worse. He kept that to himself though. He doubted Lia would agree to try to eat anyone, let alone a ghost.
“I know. I’m not upset that you told me.” Lia relaxed some, clamping down again on the possessive streak that had started to build. It wasn’t fair to Riley to get angry when it wasn’t his fault. And really, how much trouble could a ghost be anyway? Besides just being a nuisance anyway. Lia knew she just needed to let it go and not worry about it. She just had to stop thinking about some strange girl making passes at her husband in an attempt to get a reaction from him. “As long as she doesn’t scare Sophia,” Lia added, finally finishing with the chicken and moving over to wash her hands.
Riley drifted toward her and gave her a sideways hug, staying out of the way of her knife. He kissed her temple and then let her go. “Good because the way you were going at that chicken was making me a little nervous,” he teased lightly. His expression shifted to a more serious one and he nodded. “That was brought up and I put my foot down. Even if it means she comes to harass me more I do not want her to scare Sophia or make her uncomfortable to be in this house under any circumstances. I’ll find a priest and get him to perform an exorcism if that ever happens.” Not that he figured there were actually any priests in Delphi but he’d find something or someone to get rid of Ember for all eternity of she scared Sophia. “Speaking of staying in this house. I’ll be right back,” he told her. Now as she was finishing prep for dinner and Sophia was still at her homework, he was going to enact something he’d planned earlier. He dashed up the stairs to his room and came back with his hand behind his back and a tentative smile on his face.
Lia would rather not have a ghost at all, and hopefully Ember would get bored and stay away from the ranch. She didn't like knowing that a stranger was messing with Riley in any capacity, but Lia absolutely put her foot down where Sophia was concerned. It was bad enough Lia was a werewolf. There was plenty inside the dome to scare Sophia, and Lia wanted to do her best to protect her from all of them. Lia turned to watch Riley go. "Okay," she said curiously before getting a pan ready to cook the chicken. She kind of liked this. Having the kitchen to herself, knowing they could eat dinner as a family without other people coming in and out. The privacy was the one thing that Lia knew she would miss if and when she moved out of her own home and into the ranch with Riley. She had the chicken cooking when Riley returned and she lifted a brow at the look on his face. "What are you hiding?"
Riley stood watching Lia for a few moments before she realized he was back. She was so beautiful and watching her putter in the kitchen brought back memories of times they played house when his parents went away. He smiled as she caught him and asked what he was hiding. He crooked a finger at her, beckoning her out of the kitchen into the great room near the fire. He moved out to the large place rug in front of the fire and waited for her by getting down on one knee.
With a curious smile, Lia followed Riley from the kitchen. She slowed as she watched him lowered himself onto one knee, and Lia’s brow lifted as her smile widened. “Love, you know we’re already married, don’t you?” she asked, a tease lilting in her tone. Although seeing him there like that reminded her of when he actually proposed to her, so many years ago. It was a lovely memory, one that stayed with her in spite of all the bad ones.
Riley grinned up at her, feeling very boyish and nostalgic. “I know,” he said and then cleared his throat, turning his expression a bit more serious. “Now, I know it’s been a rough go so far but I know that we’re both in this for the long run. We both want this to work. I love you, body and soul, Lia. I love our daughter. I love our family. So what I want to ask you,” he said and pulled out a tiny box, much like the one he’d given her when he’d proposed. “Will you move in with me?” he asked with a hint of hesitation, a part of him suddenly wondering what he’d do if she said no. Nevertheless, inside the box, should she open it, would be a key to the house. She probably would never need it, the house was almost always open thanks to all the people who came in and out, but it was meant to be symbolic. Official.
Lia was sort of guessing that's where Riley was going with this whole thing, and she found it incredibly sweet. It warmed her, reminding her just how lucky she was to have found him again. And to have gotten another chance to make him happy. Lia knew there weren't many people around who had as much as she did at that moment. The smile on her face didn't falter for a second, and she gave him a nod before cupping his face and leaning over to kiss him. "Of course I will," she murmured against his mouth. "I belong anywhere you are."
A bit of relief washed over him when she said yes. It was nothing compared to the relief he’d felt when she’d accepted his proposal. He’d been so nervous that he almost fell over off his knee and then he’d almost thrown the ring trying to steady himself. He’d have loved to have been a smooth operator but it wasn’t entirely in him when it came to Lia. He loved her so much. He stood as she kissed him, and smiled against her lips. “You make me a very happy man,” he said quietly. He wasn’t sure why but this moment was incredibly emotionally charged and it was a good one. He didn’t want to move for a minute or two.
Lia didn't move away when he stood, wanting to be near him. She felt her own sense of relief when Riley told her that she made him happy. Sometimes, when things were rough between them, she wondered if she did. But right now, it finally felt like they were both feeling some semblance of contentment together. "You make me happy too," Lia said, slipping both arms around his waist and holding him close. Then she kissed him again, a soft, lingering kiss that had her vaguely wishing Sophia was upstairs sleeping so they could be alone. When she pulled back, Lia reached up with one hand to brush it through his dark hair. "I love you."
Riley was glad for this seeming peace between them at the moment. He wanted to make it last and he’d be working hard on doing just that. Talking to her and really appreciating what a gift it was to have her and Sophia in his life. He hummed a soft, pleased sound when she repeated his sentiment, tugging gently at the bottom of her hair as he kissed her back. His mind wandered toward wishing Sophia weren’t in the next room as well with that kiss and he was a little disappointed when it ended. But that could be remedied later. He’d make sure of that too. “I love you, too,” he said, lightly touching her cheek.
There was a little giggle somewhere behind them and then he heard, “Ewwww!” Riley glanced over his shoulder and saw Sophia peeking in at them. She quickly scampered back to her homework and Riley laughed. “Did we get too quiet for her?”
Lia glanced over her shoulder just in time to see the flash of blonde hair as Sophia hurried back to the desk. She smiled and brought her gaze back to Riley, kissing him again before nodding. "Apparently so. You're the first man she's ever seen her mother kiss, so of course it's bound to be traumatizing. Though apparently traumatic experiences make her giggle." She ran her hands up and down Riley's back before reluctantly pulling away, "We should finish dinner." And then occupy their daughter for a while. With any luck, bedtime would come quickly and Lia could drag Riley to their bedroom. She hadn't told him yet, but she fully planned on keeping him up for most of the night. "Or rather, I should finish dinner. Maybe you should go check on her homework, just to make sure she's doing it correctly and not doodling horses on the back of her papers."
Riley glanced back to where Sophia had been moments ago. "Maybe she just heard us declaring our love for each other," he offered. "Otherwise we would have gotten in trouble for breaking the rules!" He chuckled lightly, smiling in the direction of Sophia and then turning back to Lia. "I want to break all kinds of rules with you later. But, yes, dinner first." He kissed her once more before she stepped back. "I think I can do that but I was never a great student so I might think the doodles are her homework!" he joked and gave her one last lingering look, she had so much of his heart. Then he wandered off to find the little girl who had the rest of it.