Riley

by Lori Foster

  Butch was on a thin leash, so Riley lifted him out of the car, then took Regina’s elbow to move her forward. He closed her car door. “You disappointed?”

  “That you don’t have your own house?” She glanced at him over her shoulder and smiled. “No, of course not.” Then she asked, “But why don’t you?”

  Riley shook his head. Before meeting Regina, he’d thought he had enough of hearth and home to last him a lifetime. He said only, “This is easier. Less maintenance.” He led her and Butch up the walkway. “I’ll show you around, then unload your stuff.”

  All she’d brought this trip were a few changes of clothes, her bedding—because she claimed she needed her own pillow to sleep—Butch’s belongings and the material for her current assignment. She’d packed up more stuff at the house and disconnected her computer, but Riley told her he’d get all of that when he returned to meet the glass repairmen. Everything else they could retrieve as needed.

  Since his place was on the ground floor, it’d be more convenient for Butch. He only hoped Butch liked the big golden retriever next door, since they’d be sharing yard space. He unlocked the door and pushed it open for Regina to enter.

  “Oh, Riley, this is very nice.”

  He watched her look around. Luckily, he was a tidy man, otherwise he couldn’t imagine her reaction. She touched her hand to the arm of a brown leather sofa, glided her fingers over a marble tabletop. “Did you decorate yourself?”

  “Yeah.” At the time, he’d taken enjoyment in only pleasing himself, with no one else to consider. He hadn’t expected ever again to want the approval of a woman. And Regina wasn’t just any woman, but an immaculate one at that.

  Only it looked as though Regina liked his choices. “There’s only one bath, but we’ll work that out.” Maybe they could share the shower? He grinned, then covered that reaction by discussing the dog. “I’ll hook a lead up for Butch so he can run a little more outside. Oh, and if you need me to pick up any groceries for you, just let me know. I tend to do a lot of fast food.”

  He tugged Butch inside and closed the door.

  Butch’s ears perked up with his first glimpse of the place, giving Riley warning. He leaned down to unleash the little rat. In a stern voice, his finger shaking in the dog’s face, Riley said, “Now listen up, bud. No piddling on the furniture, okay?”

  Rather than feeling intimidated, Butch snapped at his finger, making Riley grin. “I almost forgot, with all the excitement.” He pulled the stuffed Chihuahua from his pocket and tossed it toward the middle of the room. Butch jerked about to watch the stuffed animal land, then he reared back on his haunches, did a bunny hop to where the floppy toy lay—and attacked.

  Regina started laughing at his antics.

  Riley had to admit it was pretty cute the way he shook the toy, threw it this way and that. For such a small dog, he made feral sounds. Then as if expecting it to follow, Butch went into flight. It was so funny to watch him run. Somehow he managed to streamline himself, laying his ears back, tucking in his tail and dashing around furniture and corners so fast he was practically a blur.

  His tiny feet made a distinct patter on the wooden floor. He slid around the corner, took a second to get some traction, and was off again.

  Regina watched in wonder. “He doesn’t know your place yet. How can he be sure he won’t run into anything?”

  Riley slung his arm around her shoulders, already enjoying having her in his home. “Men have great reflexes.”

  She cocked a brow at him. “And women don’t?”

  “Some women do.” He pinched her chin, tipped up her face and kissed her mouth. “We’ll be working on yours, remember?”

  A knock sounded on his door. Regina pulled back in surprise, but Riley just shook his head. He opened the door and there stood Ethan, Rosie, Harris and Buck.

  As usual, Rosie was pinned up against Ethan’s side, and she appeared most comfortable there.

  Harris, a firefighter at the same station as Ethan, looked fatigued, a good indicator that he’d recently come off his shift. Though Riley knew he’d have showered, the scent of smoke still clung to him. He pushed his black hair back with a hand and lounged against the door frame, his blue eyes tired and a little red.

  Riley gave him the critical once-over. “Hell, Harris, you look like you should be in bed.”

  Harris yawned hugely. “Just left bed, actually.” His satisfied grin said he’d just left a woman, also.

  Riley grunted. “Maybe you should have tried sleeping.”

  “Did that—after. But last night was a bitch so I’m still sluggish.”

  Ethan nodded. “Had a pileup on the expressway. Three cars caught fire. No one died, thank God, but we worked our asses off.”

  Buck threw a thick, muscular arm around Harris, nearly knocking him off balance. Being the owner of a lumberyard and used to daily physical labor kept Buck in prime shape and made him the bulkier one in the group. Like Harris, Buck was single and enjoyed playing the field.

  Still holding Harris, Buck pulled off a ball cap and scratched his head, further messing his brown hair. Green eyes alight with laughter, he said, “Harris never minds toiling through the night, ’cuz the ladies like to fawn all over him the next day.”

  “Jealous?” Harris asked.

  “Naw.” Then with a huge grin and a feigned yawn, he said, “I just got out of bed myself.”

  Riley laughed and held the door wide open. They all piled in, and Rosie was about to say “hi” when Butch flew around the corner, skidded to a halt, and went into a rampage of spitting Chihuahua fury.

  Ethan tucked Rosie close. “What the hell?”

  Rosie said, “Oh, it’s so cute!”

  Harris shrank behind Buck, pretending to cower. “Cute? What is it?”

  “Whatever it is,” Buck added, “it’s demonic.”

  Riley caught Regina’s scowl and laughed. “You might as well get used to hearing that, Red. It seems to be the typical response to your dog.”

  Buck and Harris said in unison, “Dog? You’re kidding, right?”

  Riley lifted Butch, who seemed to take extreme dislike to Ethan holding his wife. Most of his ire was directed at him.

  “What did I do?” he asked

  Rosie laughed, saying, “What haven’t you done?”

  “Hey.” Riley held the dog eye level. “They’re friends. You can relax now.”

  But Butch wasn’t having it. Rosie dared to try to pet him and Butch practically went over Riley’s shoulder in his effort to escape her. As long as he thought he had everyone cornered, he was as brave as a German shepherd, but let someone reach for him and he tucked his tail quick enough.

  Regina took her dog. “He’s still getting used to me and Riley. He’s…shy.”

  Buck forced Harris to turn him loose. “Yeah? Is that what you call it?”

  “I’d call it rabid,” Ethan said.

  Now that he was close to Regina, Butch quieted and started to lick her chin. Harris curled his lip. “That’s disgusting.”

  “I think he’s adorable.”

  Harris nudged Buck. “Yeah, Rosie, but you think Ethan is adorable, too, so you obviously have lousy taste.”

  Riley attempted to get things back on track. “Now that you’re here I can explain.”

  Regina froze. “Explain what?”

  “What’s going on, of course.” He knew she wouldn’t like it, but he thought the extra backup wouldn’t hurt. “They’re friends, Red. And I want Harris and Buck to help me move some of your stuff.”

  Ethan sent his wife a look, then stared at Riley. “She’s moving in with you?”

  “Temporarily,” Regina rushed to clarify.

  At the same time, Riley said, “She is.”

  Rosie just grinned. “This is great. But what about your house?”

  “As soon as it’s mine, I’ll—”

  “As soon as it’s safe, she’ll move in there.” Riley didn’t want to think about her being on her own like that until h
e knew for certain that no one would hurt her. “Rosie, why don’t you help Red make up the guest bed?” Riley suggested, and saw Harris and Buck start elbowing each other again. “And I’ll get these goons to lend a hand unloading.”

  Rosie frowned. “Why can’t Harris help her make the bed? I’d rather hear the scoop.”

  Harris stepped forward eagerly, eyebrows bobbing. “Oh yeah, I’ll help her—”

  Riley hauled him back with a hand in his collar. “I need to talk to you.” Then to Rosie, “Regina can tell you what’s going on.”

  “Yeah, well, somehow I think I’d hear a different version from you. Guys always have a different version.”

  Regina looked pained. “Really, I can make the bed myself and there’s not that much to carry in.”

  Ethan grabbed his wife and kissed her. It wasn’t a quick kiss or a timid one. Against her mouth, he teased, “Riley’s suffering here, sweetheart. Be agreeable for once, will you?”

  Dreamy eyed, Rosie said, “I’m agreeable every night.”

  Ethan touched her cheek and grinned. “Yes, you are.”

  Harris rolled his eyes. “God, will the honeymoon never end?”

  In a quick mood switch, Rosie reached around her husband and shoved Harris, who fell into Buck. In a huff, she turned and grabbed Regina’s arm. “Come on. Let them do the grunt work. You’ll probably tell it right where Riley will only beat his chest and play Neanderthal.”

  That observation had Regina laughing. Butch gave the men a bark of farewell as the women disappeared around the corner.

  “Okay,” Ethan said, now that they were alone. “What’s going on?”

  “Outside. I don’t want Regina to hear me.”

  Harris said, “Why is it the second a guy starts really caring about a woman, he complicates things?”

  Buck nodded. “It becomes one big soap opera, doesn’t it?”

  Ethan and Riley hauled them out the door. At Regina’s car, Riley said, “Someone is trying to hurt her, or scare her. I’m not sure which, and I don’t know why.”

  Harris leaned on her fender. “No shit?”

  “She okay?” Buck asked.

  “Yeah. She’s hanging in there. Regina is tougher than she looks.”

  Harris snorted, and when Riley glared at him, he held up his hands in surrender. “Hey, I wasn’t casting aspersions on the lady. It’s just hard to imagine anything tough about her.”

  Buck grinned, adding fuel to the fire. “She is a rather soft-looking woman, huh?”

  Ethan rolled his eyes. “Quit baiting him, you two. He’s got enough on his mind as it is.”

  All humor vanished when Riley said, “Someone threw a rock through her patio doors this morning.” Seeing that he now had their undivided attention, he added, “And that’s not all.” As quickly as possible, Riley explained what had been happening.

  “Could be coincidence,” Ethan pointed out. “But I gather by your expression, you don’t think so.”

  “No.”

  “Any ideas?” Harris asked.

  “I’m going to check into her old fiancé. Things ended only a few months ago.”

  “Regina was engaged?” Ethan looked startled by that disclosure.

  “Yeah, and there’s some idiot who made a pest of himself at her old job. I’ll get names from her tonight.” Riley also intended to talk to Senator Welling. That might be a little more difficult to accomplish, but if Welling had seen anything the day her car was run off the road, or if he’d noticed anything suspicious at the park, Riley wanted to know about it. The senator had an appearance scheduled at a ceremony for the historical society. Should be easy enough to grab a few words with him then.

  “And in the meantime?” Ethan asked.

  “I don’t want her alone.” Which was the main reason he’d gathered his friends together. He couldn’t be with her 24/7, so he’d count on them to help out. “For right now, I figured Rosie could stay here with her while we go get some of her things. Plus, I don’t want repairmen in her apartment without supervision. They’re due in about an hour.”

  “If it’s not safe, then I don’t want Rosie involved.”

  Riley sent his best friend a long look. “Would I put Rosie in any danger?”

  “I wouldn’t think so.”

  “Then relax. They’re safe enough here, especially since no one knows Red is staying with me.”

  Ethan scrutinized Riley. “She says it’s temporary.”

  Riley drew a breath. “For now.” And then as he walked back to the apartment carrying Butch’s pen and bed, he added, “But I’m working on it.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  THE SECOND RILEY opened her apartment door, he felt the tension. With a raised hand, he shushed the men behind him and stepped silently inside. There was no noise, but the silence was thick, somehow alive. Automatically, Riley’s gaze searched out every nook and corner, fast but thorough. He noted the unfamiliar shadow in the bedroom doorway. As he stared, it shifted the tiniest bit and all his senses went on alert.

  He flattened his hand on Ethan’s chest. In a nearly soundless voice, he ordered, “Stay here.”

  Ethan took exception to that with a muttered, “Like hell.”

  Unwilling to waste any time, Riley started into the living area. A floorboard squeaked beneath his foot, and in the next instant motion exploded around him. A crash sounded and a tall, dark man dressed all in black bolted out of the bedroom. In one fluid motion, he went through the patio doors and over the railing, much as Riley had earlier.

  Without a second thought, Riley went after him.

  Behind him, he heard Ethan yell, “Call the police,” and then he was at the railing, cursing as Riley hit the ground. He landed in a crouch on the balls of his feet, took only a single moment to get his balance, and gave pursuit.

  The man was several feet in front of him, but Riley was fast and more than a little determined. This could be the man who’d been terrorizing Regina but, either way, he’d been in her apartment where he didn’t belong. Riley could easily take him apart with his bare hands—but he was a cop, and so he’d go by the law. Even if the restraint killed him.

  When he’d almost reached the intruder, Riley didn’t grab him with his hands. Instead, he kicked out, sweeping the man’s legs out from under him.

  The big man went down with a loud grunt of pain. Riley hit hard, too, jarring his bones but unmindful of any pain. He rolled and was atop the other man before the goon could regain his feet. Riley immobilized him by catching his legs with his own, then twisting the man’s thick right arm up and back at a very unnatural angle. The man howled in pain. It wouldn’t take much pressure to snap a bone or pull the arm from the shoulder socket, and with the way Riley felt, he was more than willing.

  Another loud groan issued from his captive.

  “Be still,” Riley commanded, then he glanced up to see Buck and Harris standing at his side.

  Buck curled his lip. “I’m not a cop, Riley. Want me to break something on him?”

  The offer was so ludicrous coming from Buck—a man known for laughter, but never aggression—that Riley almost grinned. “If he moves, kick him in the teeth.”

  “Right.” Buck planted his muscular legs apart in what appeared to be anticipation. His size twelve-and-a-half feet were encased in sturdy steel-toed boots.

  Wearing a grimace, the intruder twisted to see Riley. “You’re a cop?” he gritted out.

  “That’s right. But I’m off duty. Some uniforms will be here shortly to haul your ass downtown.”

  “Christ, man, you’re breaking my arm.”

  Harris nodded. “He’s right, Riley.” He turned his head, contemplating the strange hold Riley had on him. “Looks like you might be breaking a leg, too.”

  “Don’t tempt me.” He nudged the guy. “What’s your name?” When the man hesitated, Riley growled, “Say it, damn it. Don’t make up a lie.”

  “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.”