by Lori Foster
“Earl! My name’s Earl.”
“Earl what?”
Rather than answer, he groaned in agony.
“Just Earl, huh?” Approaching sirens split the air. Riley said, “Well, Earl, you want to tell me what you were doing in the apartment?”
Sweat beaded on the man’s forehead. “Saw it was open. Just wanted to have a look around.”
“Right. Let’s try again. What were you looking for?”
“Nothing.” His head dropped forward to the ground and he panted. “It’s the truth, damn it.”
“So you’re just a regular, run-of-the-mill burglar? You weren’t here earlier, tossing rocks?”
“Rocks? No.”
Maintaining his hold on Earl’s arm, Riley came to his feet and hauled the other man upright. Earl tried to jerk away, but only managed to cause himself more pain. “Buck, check his pockets.”
Earl kicked and fought, prompting Riley to add a little more pressure. The man’s back bowed with a rank curse.
Ethan showed up then. He looked far more disgruntled and angry than Riley. “What the hell are you doing, Riley?”
Buck dug in the man’s pockets and produced a pack of cigarettes, loose change, and a knife. “Sorry, Riley, no wallet, no I.D.”
“Shake out a cigarette.”
Buck sent him a look. “It’s a hell of a time to start smoking.” He smacked the pack until one cigarette emerged, saying to Earl, “Nasty habit, bud. Smoking can kill you.”
Earl tried to kick out at Buck and with little effort, Riley forced him to his knees.
Ethan crossed his arms over his chest. “The cops are here. Should you be abusing him that way?”
“Since he keeps fighting me, he’s lucky I don’t tear him to pieces.”
As luck would have it, Dermot and Lanny rounded the corner. They stiffened when they caught the occupants of the scene. “Christ almighty, Riley. What the hell is going on?”
Riley forced the big man flat again, put a knee between his shoulder blades and said to Dermot, “Give me some cuffs.”
Dermot rolled his eyes, but did as told. After the restraints were in place, Riley did a quick search of his captive, but found no other weapons. He released Earl into Lanny’s legal hands. “Read him his rights.”
“I know my job, Riley. You want to tell me what the hell we’re arresting him for?”
“Sure thing. He was in Red’s apartment when I showed up.” Riley handed Lanny the cigarettes. “And he smokes the same brand I found on the ground below her balcony.”
“Well, I’ll be damned. What’d he do inside? Did he steal anything?”
Indicating the contents of his pockets, which Buck still held, Riley said, “That’s all he had on him, and I don’t think the blade is Red’s, so it must be his own. You can add concealed weapon to illegal entry. I think we interrupted things, but I’ve yet to have a look around inside. You can go on. I’ll be down to the station in a little while.” Then Riley thought to add, “Hang on to him, okay?”
Dermot grinned. “Judge Ryder is on a fishing trip, not due back till Monday. I’d say it’s a safe bet we’ll have him till then.”
Lanny and Dermot each took an arm while Lanny started the familiar litany on rights. They led Earl to the cruiser. Riley watched, still tensed, until the big man was folded into the backseat and the door securely closed.
Then he became aware of the silence around him. He looked at Harris, who had his brows raised, Buck who grinned and Ethan who stared at Riley so long, Riley finally said, “What?”
“You’re a regular savage, Riley, you know that?”
Riley shoved his way past his friend. “Screw you, Ethan.”
Ethan laughed. Buck stepped up and drew Riley to a halt so he could squeeze his biceps. “Pure steel,” he crowed to his friends. “Like a real-life action hero, he is.”
Harris tucked his hands beneath his chin and said in a falsetto voice, “My hero.”
Grumbling under his breath, Riley jerked free and went to the balcony. Damned idiots. When he jumped up and grabbed the railing, all three of his foolish friends started joking again. Riley did his best to ignore them as he swung a leg up and pulled himself over the railing. He noticed Ethan, Harris and Buck followed suit, climbing the balcony rather than taking the long walk around the complex to the front door.
Several neighbors were out, watching the proceedings with great curiosity. Once he’d regained his feet, Riley waved down to them. “A minor break-in, folks.”
They looked skeptical.
Of course, Buck was still scaling the balcony and Harris had only one leg caught awkwardly over the top rail. Riley shook his head and went inside. When Ethan started to follow, Riley warned him off. “Stay put a minute, okay? I want to have a look around. There’s less chance of anything being disturbed if it’s just me.”
“If you need anything, give a yell.”
Riley went to the bedroom first. He knew better than to tamper with evidence or disrupt a crime scene, but this wouldn’t be the first time he’d ignored his conscience to do what he thought was best.
In this case, they weren’t dealing with a death. More important, Red’s feelings were at stake.
If anything would embarrass her, he wanted to know about it and, if possible, spare her. His intentions were altruistic—as unselfish as they’d been the first time he’d broken his own code of honor.
He saw right off that her dresser drawers had been dumped. Lacy panties and bras littered the floor in haphazard disarray, looking like a flock of fallen butterflies. Her pajamas and T-shirts had also been dumped.
Everything from her dresser top had been shoved to the floor, including hair combs, jewelry and perfume. Items from her closet had been sloppily rearranged and her bedding pulled apart.
What really caught Riley’s eye, though, were the damn rubbers tossed everywhere. Dragging a hand over his face, Riley considered the situation, but he gave in before he had time to really think it through. Rushing, he gathered up the condoms and stuffed them into his pockets. He had more than one reason for doing so.
If his friends saw them, they might think they were his and the teasing would be endless, considering the size of the damn things. In fact, he intended to dispose of them posthaste so he didn’t get caught with them in his pockets. It would give him a reputation he’d never live down.
But the biggest reason was that Red would be appalled if anyone knew she had them. Obviously, they had nothing to do with whatever Earl—if that was even his real name, which Riley doubted—was looking for.
Her nightstand drawers were now empty. Riley looked around the carnage, but didn’t see the photo of Welling or the damn books anywhere. Earl hadn’t had them on him, and what would he want with them anyway? That had to mean that Red had taken them with her.
He didn’t mind the books—hell, he’d be happy to read them with her. But the last thing he wanted in his home was Xavier Welling’s smiling face. Especially since he knew Red saw the man as some sort of paragon of goodness, a damned representation of what men should be. If she expected him to measure up to a precisely staged public persona, she was sure to be let down.
Ethan said, “Everything okay, Riley?”
With the condoms out of sight, Riley called back, “Yeah. You can come in.”
Ethan entered the room, followed by Harris and Buck. “Damn, someone is definitely looking for something.”
Harris stared toward her underwear. Using only his pinkie, he lifted a teeny tiny thong of shimmery pale pink. “I thought redheads weren’t supposed to wear pink.”
Riley grabbed the garment from him and stuffed it in his pocket—with the condoms. Hell, it was hard enough for him picturing Red in the sexy bottoms. He’d be damned if he wanted Harris doing the same.
Buck propped his hands on his hips. “Do we clean this up or leave it?”
Riley shook his head. “I have a camera in my truck. I’ll take some photos then we’ll tidy up before Regina sees it. I
t’d only upset her.”
Ethan crossed his arms over his chest. “All things considered, I want to give Rosie a call. We’re going to be a while and I want to make sure she’s okay.”
“Tell her to get a list of groceries from Regina. I’ll stop at the store on my way home.”
Harris grinned. “Why, don’t you just sound so domesticated?” He started to reach for a satin demibra, and Buck grabbed his arm, but he was laughing, too.
“Leave the unmentionables to Riley before he twists your arm behind your neck.”
Riley glared at them both before heading out to his truck, but his thoughts soon left his goofy friends. He had a man in custody. He had Red in his apartment.
Things were moving right along.
* * *
REGINA HEARD the front door opening and her heart shot into her throat. Jumping to her feet, she ran to greet Riley.
With his tongue hanging out, Butch kept pace, pretending they were in a race. She knew it was idiotic, knew that Ethan said Riley was fine, but she wanted to see him for herself, to be sure.
He’d just stepped inside the door, awkwardly holding his keys in one hand while juggling grocery bags with his other. Regina halted in front of him.
Riley glanced at her in surprise. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
A little embarrassed but still anxious, Regina blurted, “I was worried.”
His gaze lingered on her face, his mouth curled. “About me?”
“Yes. And don’t be insulted. I know you can take care of yourself.”
“And you still worried?”
She nodded, which made his expression warm all the more.
Without looking away from her, Riley kicked the door shut and shifted both bags into one arm. Reaching out, he snagged her close and his mouth brushed hers. “Thanks, Red. But you don’t need to fret, okay?”
She sighed. He sounded like the idea was unheard of. “You aren’t invincible, Riley. And Ethan called and told Rosie what happened and—”
“And I’m fine.” He gave her a squeeze. His hand started down her back toward her bottom, then he looked beyond her. His hand stopped at the base of her spine and he nodded. “Hey, Rosie. Ethan’s right behind me.”
“I figured as much.” She sauntered forward, grinning. “So, hero, how you doing?”
Riley rolled his eyes and allowed Regina to take one of the bags. Suddenly Butch let out a demanding, yodeling howl, and when Riley looked down at him, he came up on his hind legs, dancing in excitement.
“Well, what a greeting.” Riley lifted the little dog to eye level. “Met at the door by a beautiful woman and a faithful Chihuahua. What more could a man ask for?”
Regina wanted to smack him. “Riley, please tell me you didn’t tackle some maniac who broke into my apartment.”
He winked and, still holding Butch close, walked around her to the kitchen. She looked at Rosie, who shrugged, then she stalked after him. “Riley.”
“Yes, dear.” He was in the kitchen, Butch over his shoulder while he unloaded groceries one-handed. “Since you cooked last night, I’ll do the deed tonight. Steaks on the grill or spaghetti? They’re my two specialties, my only specialties really, so I bought both. Or we can go simple and just have sandwiches. What’s your pleasure?”
Regina held on to her temper by a thin thread. She was in his house, and he wanted to help her. She drew a breath. “Do you or do you not have a man in custody?”
“Yeah, we do. Thing is, the bastard isn’t talking. We don’t even have his name yet. But, luckily, Judge Ryder is out fishing.”
Regina shook her head in confusion. “So?”
“So this is a small town, not the big city. Things are done differently here. Ryder’s been around forever because no one cares to run against him. Because of that, he feels comfortable taking off for days at a time when the weather looks right to catch a big bass.” He winked at her. “The weather looks right.”
“What does some judge fishing have to do with the guy who broke in?”
“He can’t be arraigned until the judge comes back. That gives us more time to check him out. I have a gut feeling that once we turn him loose on bail, he’ll disappear.”
Nervousness made her voice tremble. She clasped her hands together tightly, trying to calm herself. “What are you holding him for?”
“Illegal entry and concealed weapon for starters. He ransacked your bedroom, honey, but he didn’t steal anything and nothing was really damaged.”
The ramifications hit her. “So he was looking for something.”
“I’d say so. Whatever it is, he hadn’t found it before we interrupted.” Riley gave Butch an absent pat as he moved from the cabinet to the refrigerator. “The guys helped me clean up the mess.”
The guys. Aware of Rosie lounging in the doorway, Regina eased closer. Her heart slammed in her chest and her palms were damp. “He, uh, trashed my bedroom?”
Riley turned toward her. After a long look, he leaned down and whispered near her ear, “Hey, it’s all right, babe. I confiscated the rubbers before anyone could see.”
Her relief was overwhelming. “Thank you.”
His grin gave her fair warning. “Harris gathered up your panties. Sexy stuff.” His gaze dipped down her body. “Makes me wonder what you’re wearing right now.”
Rosie cleared her throat. “It’s rude to whisper in front of guests.”
Riley straightened with a sigh. “Since when are you a guest?” He glanced at his watch in a show of impatience. “Shouldn’t Ethan be here by now?”
“Trying to get rid of me?” Rosie laughed. “And here I was ready to vote for steaks.”
Riley looked pained, which mirrored how Regina felt. She wanted to be alone with him, to ask him details on what had happened.
Ethan sauntered in. “Soon as I get everything out of the truck, I’m taking you home, woman.”
Rosie turned to drape her arms around his neck. “Really? What for?”
It was Ethan’s turn to whisper, Rosie’s turn to blush. In a rush, she said, “I’ll help you unload.”
It was another half hour before Regina was finally able to corner Riley and get some answers.
Not once had Butch left his side. He’d followed Riley to the truck time and again, then around the apartment, watching while Riley helped to put her things away in various places. He hooked up her computer in the room he’d given her to use as an office. It was a guest bedroom, but Regina knew Riley didn’t want her using the bed.
With everything now in place, they sat on the back patio so Butch could run the length of the lead Riley had stretched between two trees. Regina stared at Riley, on the edge of her seat.
“What if he’d had a gun, Riley? What if he’d pulled that knife on you?”
Sprawled out on a chaise, his ankles crossed, Riley laid a forearm over his eyes to shield them from the late-afternoon sun. “If the dumb son of a bitch had dared to pull a knife on me, I’d have...” Belatedly, he lifted his arm to take in Regina’s expression of horror. His frown smoothed out. “I’d have disarmed him, honey. Okay?”
She couldn’t bear the thought of him being in danger because of her. “Are you really that good?”
He sat up and swung his legs around to face her. Treating her to a somber, very direct stare, he took her hands and said, “Yeah.”
He’d answered without boasting, just matter-of-factly stating what he saw as a truth. Regina shook her head at such confidence.
“Later,” he told her while giving her hands a squeeze, “I’m going to show you how good I am.”
Oh, the way he said that. His low tone and sensual smile left her uncertain to his meaning. Cautiously, she asked, “You are?”
“Might as well get started on your training, don’t you think?”
Well heck, so that’s how he meant it. Disappointment warred with common sense. Still, private self-defense lessons wouldn’t be at all the same as what they’d done in his gym. There, he’d been all business, politel
y distant, and a true gentleman given the other onlookers. Here, they’d be wrapped in privacy. The thought of being alone with Riley, feeling his body over hers, touching in all the most sexual places, made her breathless. “I suppose.”
“So much enthusiasm.” He pulled her off her seat and into his lap—something he never would have done in his gym. She thought he might kiss her, and truthfully, she wanted him to. In the short time he’d been at her apartment and then at the station, she’d missed him. She’d worried about him, too.
Instead he said, “Tell me the name of the guy who harassed you at work, and that ass you were engaged to.”
“Why?” She tried to twist around to see him, but he hugged her closer so she could barely move. The fact that she was thinking about intimacy, and he apparently wasn’t, left her flustered.
“I’m going to talk to them both. And no, don’t argue, Red. I won’t embarrass you. You have my promise on that.”
It wasn’t Riley she worried about. He’d already proven to have her best interests in mind. But her ex-fiancé... “I don’t know what you think they can add to the equation.”
Riley shrugged. “Maybe nothing. But it can’t hurt to ask them a few pertinent questions, now can it?”
Actually, it could probably hurt her pride a lot. She bit her lip, but finally nodded. Riley was a professional who knew his business inside and out. It would be ridiculous to contradict him. “The man I worked with is Carl Edmond. He’s a nice enough guy, just different. Sort of intense.”
“Intense how?”
“Not in a bad way. Just overzealous about everything, his work, his life—”
“And you?”
She couldn’t deny that. “For a while, maybe. He fixated on me. He told me he loved me, but I knew that wasn’t true. His courtship became a bother before he wised up, but he was never threatening.”
Riley didn’t seem convinced. “And the other guy?”
Regina hated to talk about him. She couldn’t mention his name without memories swamping her, leaving her hollowed out with humiliation.
But this time, seated on Riley’s lap, held in his arms, it was easier. “His name is Luther Finley.” She closed her eyes and prayed Luther wouldn’t reveal anything of their private past to Riley. Not that Luther considered anything private. She’d found that out too late. “I assume Carl still works at the paper. He loves his job a lot. And Luther should be in the insurance building across the street. He’s a salesman.” She drew a breath. “Want me to write the names down for you?”
