Riley knew from experience the look Don was talking about. He'd been the recipient of "the look" several times himself this week. Riley wondered if his wife realized she possessed this amazing talent for inflicting guilt. It wasn't anything she said, or even did, but when she lowered her eyes and her bottom lip jerked, it was all he could do not to fall to his knees and beg her forgiveness. To his credit, he hadn't given in to the impulse. At least not yet.
"I think you ought to go talk to her. Clear the air about Judy before someone else makes the same mistake."
Riley nodded.
"We'll wait out here," Steve suggested. Since he was the only one of the four who was married, Riley readily agreed. Women were known to be unreasonable about the silliest things. He should have explained about Judy when Hannah had asked, but something inside him had hoped she might be a little jealous. Keeping her in the dark about an old girlfriend could help his cause. Apparently he was wrong again. Damn, but he wished he'd paid closer attention to women's feelings when he was young.
He found her in the kitchen, unpacking dishes. She glanced up at him, and her gaze narrowed into cold slits. Riley paused. He'd never seen her wear that particular look before, and instinct cautioned him.
"Hannah." He said her name gently.
She slammed a pan on the stove and winced at the crashing sound it made. For an instant he thought she was going to apologize, she looked so shocked. She surprised him once more by straightening out her arm and pointing at him as though he were in a police lineup and she was identifying him for the authorities. Her mouth opened and closed twice before she spoke.
"We might not be sleeping together, but there's something you'd best understand right now, Riley Murdock."
She braced her hands against her hips, digging her fists into her waist. Her slate-gray eyes flashed like nothing he'd ever seen. Her hair had pulled free of its tie and soft brown waves spilled haphazardly over her shoulders. Riley had seen Hannah frightened, humbled, browbeaten and mussed from lovemaking, but he'd never seen her like this. She was so damned beautiful, she took his breath away.
"Is something wrong?" he asked innocently, almost enjoying her outrage.
"Yes, something's very wrong. I want one thing understood: I will not tolerate infidelity. If you're in love with this Judy, then I'm sorry, but it's me you're married to and I fully expect… no, I demand that you respect our wedding vows."
To the best of his knowledge, Riley had never given her cause to believe he intended to do otherwise. He wasn't sure what Don or one of the others had implied, but he'd best clear up the misconception now, before matters got out of hand.
"I'll honor my vows."
She hesitated as if she weren't entirely sure she should trust him. After a long moment, she nodded once and mumbled something he couldn't hear.