Page 50 of Some Like It Hot

She tightened her lips. Whatever.

More silence between them. And she couldn’t stop herself. “Thorne is right. We’re all stuck, a little bit, in the valley between who we want to be and who we are.”

“The terrible reality of living in the shadow of who we could be,” Riley said quietly. He finally looked away from her. “I always told myself that this was the way God made me. Reckless, impulsive, headstrong.”

“Passionate.”

He looked at her, and a wry smile tugged at his mouth. “Uh huh.”

“And you told yourself that you weren’t anything like your dad. So you couldn’t possibly be a soldier, let alone a SEAL.”

His smile died, and he nodded.

“But according to Thorne, maybe you’re not so different.”

He breathed in, out. Swallowed. Looked away.

“I think you’ve believed less about yourself for so long, the idea that you could be more terrifies you.” And really, she couldn’t believe she said that, because…well, the words settled inside her.

She’d told herself she was lost and broken.

So, she became lost and broken.A blind person can’t lead themselves out of the darkness. You have to ask for help.

She glanced at Riley.I can be more, if that’s what you need.

She reached out her hand and touched his. “I don’t want to be stuck anymore.”

His fingers curled into hers. “Me either.”

“I…I think I want you to be more, Riley,” she said softly.

He looked at her, and suddenly, emotion touched his eyes, something deep and stirring, and his gaze practically clung to hers. He nodded. Swallowed.

“I just can’t handle it if…” She caught her lip. “Promise me you’ll stay alive?”

“You mentioned something about a kiss?”

She gave him a look.

He grinned, but it was sweet, and he looked away fast, blinking.

Look at that. Casanova McCord was a softie, deep inside.

His hand tightened on hers then. “Larke, we have a problem.”

She glanced over at him and beyond, to the smoke. And a fist slowly tightened in her gut. “That’s not just smoke—”

“No. That’s live fire. And it’s headed—”

“Right for Sky King ranch!” She put her foot down.

“Gimme your cell phone,” Riley said.

She worked it out of her pocket and handed it over. He dialed. Held the phone up.

“It’s Riley,” he said. “I’m headed back to the ranch. It looks like—”

Silence, and her periphery showed his jaw tightening.