Hard To Leave - Riley Green

- 5 -

"Tommy, I gotta stay in Nashville for a couple more days." Lina sighs, running her fingers through her hair. "I know, I know. It's our anniversary tomorrow."

Tommy sighs back. "I get it. It's work."

Lina feels a tug in her heart. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah." He runs his hand over his face. "Hey, I'll see you when you get home." He sounds a little pissed but he gives her a smile as he hangs up.

"You okay?" Riley asks, sitting on the couch next to her with a bowl of gumbo in his hands.

Lina nods and taps a random key to keep her laptop awake. "It's our anniversary and I'm not with him. We haven't spent an anniversary together yet and we been dating for three years."

Three years.

Riley's brows shoot into his curls. "Three years. Has it really been that long?"

"We broke up before I went to college."

"How did- how did you and Tommy meet?"

She chuckles and blushes. "I needed my car worked on and Tommy was workin' at the shop and we just hit it off."

"He's from Jacksonville?"

"Yeah."

"Huh." Riley sighs to himself. Ever since he left, Lina has been on her mind. He always thought he'd be the one to marry her.

Hell, things aren't totally over between them.

If they really were, she wouldn't be at his house.

She's been sleeping in his bed while he's on the couch. The very couch she's sitting on.

She looks up from her laptop over at Riley who is watching some dog show intently. Her eyes trail over his profile; his beautiful brown curls peeking out from under a ball cap, his beard- his fucking beard, the chain around his neck that's barely visible under the pullover he's wearing, he's not wearing a shirt under it.

Lina is positive.

She stands and adjusts her cute pajama shorts as she steps closer to him.

"What's up?" Riley asks, looking up at her as he leans back against the couch.

Lina says nothing as she takes the bowl from him and sets it on the coffee table before she sits herself on his lap, her hands on his shoulders. She leans down and brushes her lips against his gently.

"What..." Riley trails off, his hands on her hips as she straddles his lap. He looses his patience and kisses her sweetly at first before something snaps in their heads and then they're kissing each other with such demand and fire it makes them dizzy.

Riley pins her against the couch, bringing one of her long tan legs over one of his hips as he traces her curves. She wraps an arm around the back of his neck, her breathing getting heavier the harder they kiss.

He scoops her up and blindly carries her to his bedroom, bumping into the occasional wall or piece of furniture on his way down the hall.

+++

"What about this pink?" Lina asks, a handful of fabric swatches in one hand and paint chips in the other. "Dolly Parton?"

"That'd be cute." A tall brunette says next to her. "Yeah, tall bar stools with pink- that'd be cute."

"Miss Marlowe?"

"Kat, how many times have to told you to call me Lina?" She chuckles, turning to face the receptionist of the hotel they're finishing. "What's up, babe?"

"There's a very handsome man askin' for you." She blushes.

"Oh?" Lina follows her out of the first conference room to the front desk where her surprise man is.

"Tommy!" She giggles and throws her arms around her blue collar boyfriend. "Oh- what're you doin' here?"

"It's our anniversary." He responds, hugging her close and taking in a deep breath with his nose in the crook of her neck.

She smells masculine, not like the Burberry Her perfume she always wears. It's not his smell, he doesn't usually wear cologne but he is today because today is a special occasion.

She's pulling away before his mind can wonder.

"How did you- how did you get time off?"

He chuckles awkwardly. "White lies." He responds, playing with the buttons of her sweater. "When're you off for lunch?"

"Noon." She mumbles back, watching his rough fingers fidget with the delicate buttons on her cardigan. "I have an hour f- for lunch."

He chuckles and nods. "Where're you stayin'? I'll take a shower 'fore lunch."

"The seventh floor, here. Room 723."

Tommy reaches into her back pocket and snatches her hotel key card. "Got it."

She blushes hard and looks at the Roll Tide print across his shirt. "I'll text you when lunch rolls around."

"Sounds good." He leans down and kisses her sweetly before he turns and picks up his duffle to head to the elevator.

"Who is that?" The tall brunette asks, holding a box in her tan arms.

"My boyfriend." Lina responds with a blush and a shy giggle. "Surprised me for our third anniversary."

"Oooh, sounds like he might be proposing." She beams. "Awe!"

"I doubt he's proposin'." Lina chuckles. "We're both too busy to be gettin' married right now."

"You'll make time." Caleigh playfully elbows her. "I'm gonna run to the restroom real quick."

Lina nods and flops on the pink couch behind her. She grabs her phone and texts Riley.

Lina Marlowe:
Tommy is here

Riley Green:
Ok

Lina runs her hand through her hair. She's not sure what she was expecting or why she texted Riley to tell him but she did. Tommy could propose today.

Why else would be come all the way to Nashville to be with Lina when she's going to be back home this weekend?