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I put the ball on the side table glancing out the window as I pass. A blue sedan is parked behind my car, but I’ve never seen it before. Then, I recognize the figure outside the door as he steps in front of the side window.
Flinging the door open, I throw my arms around Riker’s neck as he lifts me of my tiptoes. “What are you doing here?”
Spiegel lets out one more, less threatening bark as Riker sets me back on my feet.
“Spiegel, I presume.”
Upon hearing her name, her tail wags and she cautiously approaches Riker’s outstretched hand for a sniff.
I tapped his shoulder. “You still haven’t answered my question?”
Riker gives me a crooked grin. “Tacos?”
“Uh huh.” I place my hands on my hips and wait for a real answer, but when Riker stands, brushing his fingers along my jawline, my posture immediately relaxes.
“After everything that happened, I wanted to check on you.”
I purse my lips, trying to hold out just a little longer. “You have my number.”
“Can’t kiss you through a phone.”
No argument there.“I thought you were leaving for work?”
“In five days. I was instructed to get my head on straight before then.”
“Well, depending on which head you’re referring to, I might be able to help with that.”
Riker makes a brief stammering sound, then clears his throat. Before he can recover, I press my lips to his, and tug him toward the living room. As we take a seat on the couch Spiegel damn near jumps in Riker’s lap.
“Hey. you’re not shy, either are you?” he says, rubbing her neck and in between her ears.
“She wants the ball.” I point to the yellow ball I’d left next to the lamp, and Riker tosses it across the room.
Spiegel dashes after it, kicking it under the armchair in the corner. She stalks around, reaching her paw under and sniffing, looking for the best angle of attack.
“That should keep her entertained for five minutes.”
And I intend to use every second of them. I twist to sit on my knees so I can face Riker as I run my fingers over the short hair above his ear and down toward the back of his neck.
Riker turns his back to the arm of the chair, focusing the full intensity of his gaze on me.
The day I’d left Georgia, I’d shut down and curled up inside of my own thoughts and worries. Even our goodbye at the airport seemed unmanageable. I couldn’t face it, and since then, I’ve regretted not getting one more kiss and indulging in his touch.
Nothing else compares to the look in his eyes as he slides his hand up the back of my shirt. Tingling sparks spread through my body following his touch.
His lips part, and I lean over him. Our tongues tangle together as he pulls me closer, deepening the kiss. His beard is rough against my face, but this is what I need.
Everything I’ve been missing.
Another knock sends Spiegel into a frenzy. Riker sits back, and I roll off the couch. “If this isn’t important, someone is going to get punched.”
The blood drains from my face when I see Beckett standing on the porch with a bouquet in his arm.
What the actual fuck?
I’ve tried to call him twice this week to see if I could get any info about his strange disappearance—and gauge whether it had anything to do with my visitors in Georgia, but he’s avoided me each time. The first time, telling me he was on his way for a meeting, and the second, not even picking up.
Of course, he picks now to show up.
