If you trip, I promise I'll fall down with you

Max’s head jerked forward to find Drake Walker standing next to him, whiskey in hand, gaze piercing through him to his very soul. “Oh… I… ah…” he fumbled over his words. “I just needed a break… um… from all…. That.”

“Huh.” Drake lifted his glass to his lips as he turned his gaze out toward the dance floor. His eyes scanned the room until they fell on the source of Max’s discomfort. Understanding washed over him as he watched Riley glow under Liam’s attention.

His best friend did tend to have that affect on women.

Lowering his drink, he turned back toward Max. The younger Lord Beaumont was known for his gregariousness, extroversion and love of a good party. The fact that he was moping at the back of the room told Drake all he needed to know about the answer to the question he decided to ask anyway. “So, how’s the Cordonian Agreement going?”

Max shrugged. “Fine.”

“Fine?” Drake lifted an eyebrow in amusement. “Have there been a lot of takers?”

“She’s had a few.” None of the others had gotten under his skin the way Liam did though.

“I meant for you.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “Me?”

“Yeah, you.” Drake watched him intently over the rim of his tumbler as he lifted it for another drink.

“Oh…uh… I’ve…had a couple,” he confessed with a shrug.

“Just a couple?”

His gaze dropped down to focus on the toe of his well polished shoe. “I’m just really not interested in other women to be honest.”

“Other women?” Drake snorted. “What about men?”

“I…what?” Max’s head jerked up to find the other man standing closer than he had been a few moments ago. “I mean I haven’t….I’ve never….uh….what?”

Drake leaned closer, “I was under the impression that you liked both. Am I wrong?”

“N…no,” Max stammered as his heart thudded in his chest and his palms were suddenly inexplicably sweaty. “I mean… I just haven’t… er, I mean, I haven’t really pursued…. Where did you hear that?”

It was Drake’s turn to shrug. “Things get around.”

Max and Riley may have started dating at fifteen, but before Riley, there had been a boy. A boy that Drake had briefly dated a year later.

Max wanted to fall through the floor. Not because he was embarrassed to be bisexual, but because he was mortified at how flustered he was.

Drake Walker was a dream. Tall, athletic, handsome, and confident in a way that Max just wasn’t. There was no way a man like that was into him…. Was there?

“So…” Drake propped an arm on the wall and leaned in, putting his mouth close enough to Max’s ear for his breath to send goosebumps cascading down the other man’s back. “Do you wanna keep staring at them, or do you wanna get out of here and have some fun of your own?”

“I…” Max gulped as he slowly lifted his cobalt blue eyes to meet Drake’s gold flecked copper ones. He wasn’t sure he trusted his voice or his knees at that moment, but he managed to croak out, “I want to get out of here.”

He’d heard about their arrangement from Leo, who had found out from Bertrand, who had learned about it directly from Maxwell himself. Riley and Max were experimenting with other people.  Liam was other people.

He saw a chance, and he was taking it. The small matter of being married wasn’t going to stop him. He was in possession of his own Cordonian Agreement. It had been a non-negotiable for him during the marriage contract discussions.

He hadn’t married for love, he’d married for duty and he had done his duty admirably if you asked him.

His father wanted heirs? He’d given him plenty. His wife was carrying his fifth legitimate heir, and the official royal mistress had three.

But Madeleine was cold and calculated where Riley was warm and spontaneous. Penelope was beautiful but shallow and a little dim where Riley was deep and sharp as a tack. She was the total package and he was determined to unwrap that package, to peel back the layers and find out what made her tick.

She leaned in toward him, hand on his arm as she laughed. “Liam, you’re so funny!”

She was definitely flirting with him and there was no way in hell he was letting this opportunity go to waste despite the daggers Madeleine was shooting him from across the room.

He covered her hand with his own as he leaned in even closer. “Could I interest you in a dance?”

Her smile lit up the ballroom. “Why yes, I’d love that!”

“Just shut up, both of you.” He shook his head as he made his way over to the body where the medical examiner was already crouched over the victim. “Hey, Hana. How’s it going?”

“I can’t complain,” she smiled up at him, “But this poor girl…”

“Yeah. What do we know so far?”

“Blunt force trauma to the head.”

The apartment was swarming with officers. One of them approached him, “You must be the homicide detective from the seventh precinct.”

“That’s right, Liam Rys.” He shook the squat balding guy's hand.”

“Steve Carlson. The twelfth precinct is happy to collaborate with you, but this is our case.”

“Of course, but the vic was a suspect in my case.”

As the two detectives hammered out jurisdictional concerns, Drake made his way over to Riley. “You sure know how to get a guy sideways with people he’s supposed to be getting along with.”

“How was I supposed to know our witness was going to be dead when we got here?”

He just smiled as he shook his head. “I told you that you were going to be trouble.”

“Nothing you can’t handle, I’m sure.” She teased.

“I’m not so sure about that,” he mused.

“Have you learned anything new?”

“You’ve been with me the entire time we’ve been here.”

“Not true. You were with the police when they searched the place while I was exiled to this couch, waiting to be questioned.”

“Well, I didn’t learn much except…”

Riley perked up. “Except what?”

Drake paused to consider what he should tell her. His client had only hired him to investigate Trent’s murder. Sarah’s murder was likely related, but he couldn’t fathom a motive for either Katie or William Sloan to have killed her. So what he had learned didn’t fall under client privilege. He didn’t see how the information could hurt his client, and that’s all he cared about.

“Except that the murder weapon was her own rolling pin.”

“She was killed with a rolling pin?”

“It was one of those heavy, marble ones.”

“Huh.”

“Huh, what?”

“Weapon of opportunity.”

“Looks like it.”

“Just like Trent’s gun.”

“That’s a pattern.”

“Yeah… but…. “

“What?”

“Ok, so the motive was jealousy. Sabrina kills Trent, then gets in her car and goes to kill Sarah, right?”

“That’s the working theory, yeah.”

“Why didn’t she just bring the gun with her? I mean, she didn’t know there would be a handy murder weapon lying around this place. She could have just brought the gun.”

“Maybe she wasn’t thinking clearly. She shot Trent and panicked.”

“Panicked.” Riley raised her eyebrows skeptically. “Then drove across town to kill the mistress?”

“Am I supposed to understand how murderers think?”

“Yes. I would think so. It’s your job.”

“I mostly track down cheating spouses and runaway kids, Riley.”

“This is your first murder?”

“Well, no, but still—”

“Come on. What else have you got? You must know something.”

“I know that the police found two airline tickets in Trent’s possession, and Sarah’s bedroom looks like she was packing for a trip.”

“So, Trent and Sarah were about to skip town together?”

“Looks that way. And there was an engagement ring with the tickets.”

Riley’s eyes widened. “So, Sabrina found out he was about to wife up her competition?”

Drake nodded. “Motive enough for you?”

“Maybe,” Riley’s gaze swept around the room distractedly.

“What are you looking for?”

“I don’t know. Something doesn’t add up.”

“Seems pretty cut and dried to me.”

They were distracted by a disturbance at the door. A plainclothesman was yelling, “Sir! Sir! You can’t be in here!”

They turned to find Max in the doorway. “I was just—”

The man yelling at Max whirled on the uniformed officer who seemed to be escorting him and continued, “What the fuck are you doing letting a reporter up here?”

“Reporter?” The cop recoiled. “I thought he was the crime scene photographer!”

Returning his attention to the man with the camera, the plainclothesman shook his head. “You do realize it’s a crime to impersonate—”

“I wasn’t impersonating anyone! I was called to the scene!”

“By who?”

“That would be me.” Riley stood up and waved to Max.

“You have no authority to—”

She blinked innocently at the officer. “I just needed a ride home. I’m too shook up to drive.”

The man grunted in consternation. “Fine. But he can wait for you downstairs.” Turning back to Max, he made a shooing motion, “Go!”

“I’ll be waiting outside,” Max called to Riley as he was roughly escorted from the apartment.

Drake turned to her in astonishment. Lowering his voice so the police wouldn’t overhear, he hissed, “You drove yourself here. And if you’re really too upset to drive…which I sincerely doubt, I could have given you a ride home. I’m right here.”

She shrugged and gave him a devious grin. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.” Her fingers flew over her keyboard as she texted Max to get photos of the outside of the building and the police going in and out.

He reached out, grabbed her arm, and dragged her closer. “Yes, they can actually! Do not give them a reason to charge you for impeding an investigation!”

“I’m happy to know you care, but they can’t arrest me for calling a friend for a ride.”

“Don’t play stupid, Riley. It doesn’t suit you. You’re a reporter, he’s your photographer, and he totally just tried to bullshit his way into a crime scene.”

“Max just gets enthusiastic—”

“Max does whatever you tell him to do. I’ve known you for a day, and I already know that. He’s young and naïve, and if you’re not careful, you’re going to get him in trouble.”

“And you’re underestimating him. Max can take care of himself.”

“Yeah? And how would you feel if he got arrested because of your antics?”

“Antics?” She arched an amused eyebrow at him.

“Yeah, antics. It’s a valid word!”

“Ok, grandpa.”

“Grandpa? Really?”

Riley shrugged. “If the shoe fits…”

Drake grunted in consternation. “Whatever. Just answer the question. How would you feel if you got him arrested?”

“Well, if he managed to get himself arrested, which is highly unlikely, mind you, then I’m sure his family would send a cadre of lawyers to get him out and probably sue the police for arresting him in the first place.”

Drake blinked. “Who’s his family?”

Riley’s mouth fell open. “Seriously? He’s a Beaumont! Didn’t you notice his last name when you were writing those checks to him?”

It took Drake’s brain several seconds before the pieces fell into place. “Wait. You mean those Beaumonts?”

“Yeah. Why do you sound so surprised?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Riley! Maybe because it never occurred to me that a member of a notorious crime family would be moonlighting as a photographer for what amounts to peanuts!”

“First of all, all the crime was committed by his great-grandfather, and allegedly his grandfather, not him. The Beaumonts are legitimate now! Second of all—”

Drake snorted loudly. “Yeah, okay.” Everyone knew that Beaumont Enterprises was a front for organized crime. Or at least suspected it. No one had ever been able to prove any accusation. Probably because of all the lawyers.

“They are! And even if they weren’t…. that’s hardly Max’s fault.”

“Hey, I get it.” He put his hands up in the universal sign of surrender. “No one likes to be judged by their family.”

Something in his tone drew a sharp gaze from her. “Judging from my research, your family seems pretty exemplary. Something I missed?”

He shook his head emphatically. “I’m just saying, some people may be trying to live down their family’s infamy, while others are busy trying to live up to an impossible standard.”

Her demeanor softened. “I get that.”

“Really?” He sounded skeptical. “Judging from my research, you’re the most successful person in your family.”

“Really.” She nudged him gently. “All that success is a stunning disappointment to parents who saved all their lives to pay for their daughter’s wedding and want nothing more than grandchildren.”

“Ouch. I’m sorry.”

“Nah. It’s fine. I’ve learned to live with it.”

“For what it’s worth, I think you’re amazing.”

“Thanks. You’re not too bad yourself.”

They both looked up at the sound of a throat clearing. Liam fidgeted uncomfortably. “Am I interrupting something?”

Drake was the one who answered. “Nothing we can’t continue later. Did you need something?”

“I just wanted to let Miss Brooks know that she’s free to go and to remind you not to keep spilling secrets to the press.”

“I didn't spill anything she wouldn't have found out on her own.” A note of admiration crept into his voice as he continued, “Have you read any of her articles? Do you know how many awards she’s won?”

Liam frowned. “What’s your point?”

“My point is, she's really good at what she does. She doesn’t have to steal information from me. She’s the one who pointed me to Sarah in the first place.”

“Did she now?” Liam turned a thoughtful gaze to the reporter. “How did you find out about Sarah?”

“I’m an investigative journalist, Detective. I investigated.”

“If you had information pertinent to the case, why didn’t you share it with law enforcement?”

“I did.” Riley gestured to Drake.

“Right.” Liam scoffed. “In the future, please refer any and all relevant information about my active murder investigation to me. The officer in charge. Got it?”

“Got it.” She gave him a mock salute.

“Riley,” he pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh. “I know you’re mocking me, but I’m serious. There are protocols and procedures for a reason! I’m simply trying to do my job, catch the bad guys and keep the general public, including you, safe!”

“I know, Liam. I just—”

“Do you? Because I have a code of conduct that I live by, and I take my oath to the badge seriously!”

“I do know that. You are an honorable man, Detective Rys. Which is something I really admire and respect about you.”

Surprise flashed across his face. “Do you really feel that way?”

“Yes, Liam, I do.”

Drake cleared his throat. “Ok, I don’t mean to interrupt a moment here, but—"

“There’s no moment.” Liam snapped.

“Are you sure? Because to me, it looked like—”

“I’m sure. I just wanted to impress upon Miss Brooks the importance of staying out the way of an active investigation.”

“So just to be clear, you're not interested in dating her?”

“No!”

“Great!” Drake crowed before turning his attention back to Riley. “Now, about that dinner…”

Liam paled. “Wait—"

Drake slapped him on the back with a grin. “Too late, no take backs!”

Riley shook her head. “Guys, I’m standing right here!”

“Detective!” A plainclothesman approached Liam with a cell phone in his hand. “The chief has a question for you.”

“Alright, I’ll be right there.” He gave one last look over his shoulder before walking away. “I mean it, stay out the way, Riley.”

“Yeah. I will.”

His cobalt blue eyes sparkled with excitement as he ran a hand through his short, russet brown waves and practically danced in place, “You told me to tell you if anything interesting came across the police scanner!”

Riley grabbed his arm, her fingers sinking in almost painfully as she glanced around the newsroom in panic. Dragging him into the empty breakroom, she glared at him, “Keep it down! It’s not a scoop if everyone knows!”

“Sorry! Sorry!” He lowered his voice and leaned closer to her, “The seventh precinct was just called out to investigate a homicide!”

“The seventh precinct?” Her eyes widened, “That’s Liam’s beat! Did you get the address?”

“Of course!” He dangled the keys to his midnight blue Chevy Tahoe in front of her, “We can take my car!”

She deftly swiped the keys right out of his hand, “Fine. But I’m driving!”

“But-“ he tried to protest but she was already striding for the door. He quickly gathered his equipment bag and stumbled after her.

Sliding into the passenger seat of his own vehicle, he glanced over at the woman in the driver’s seat, “It’s my car, Riley…”

“Don’t be a baby,” she admonished him as she put the car in gear and flew out of the parking garage, “Besides, I like to be in control.”

“Yeah….” His eyes tracked across her face then dipped down her body, a flush creeping across his cheeks before he turned toward the window, “Just try not to sideswipe anyone this time.”

“That wasn’t my fault!”

“Which time?”

“Any of them!”

Max wrapped his hand around the grab handle above the window and held on for dear life as the Tahoe careened around a corner, “You know the murder victim isn’t going anywhere, right?”

“I want to get there before that asshole Neville! He’s not scooping me again!”

“Okay….” Max squeezed his eyes shut and said a quick prayer as his vehicle jolted over a curb.

The Tahoe skidded to a stop in front of the Vista Heights apartment complex. Riley hopped out and made a beeline for the crime scene.

“Are we really going to just leave her in the middle of the street like that?” Max yelled after her.

Riley answered him over her shoulder without slowing down, “No one’s going to tow it right now. The cops have bigger fish to fry. Come on!”

He hesitated only briefly before grabbing his camera and scurrying after her. He glanced back at the SUV doubtfully, but the sight of Riley’s retreating back spurred him on. He could always bail out a towed vehicle. Riley never waited for anyone or anything.

He kind of liked that about her.

By the time he caught up to her, she was leaning over the caution tape as she tried to get anyone’s attention, “Excuse me? Excuse me?”

“Stay behind the tape!” a uniformed officer yelled at her.

“I know that…” she muttered as her eyes scanned the area until she spotted a familiar face, “Liam! Liam!”

Detective Liam Rys turned his gaze toward the crowd as a voice he knew all too well screamed his name. Shaking his head, he strode over to the caution tape with his lips pressed firmly together, “I’m at work, Miss Brooks. How can I help you?”

“Sorry, detective,” she gave him a look that was half repentant and half teasing, “I was wondering if I could get a comment, or at least the name of the victim.”

“You know better than that, Riley. This is an active crime scene.” There was a slight edge in his voice as his eyes flicked over her shoulder to take in Max as well, “You both need to get out of here. Wait for the press release, like everyone else.”

Riley tipped her head back to look up into his face. At five foot seven, she was tall for a woman, but he had a couple of inches on her. The tailored suit he was wearing fit him perfectly and gave away his family background of wealth and privilege. He wasn’t buying Armani suits on a detective’s salary. His raven hair was cut short, not quite military short, but close. His onyx eyes held several emotions, the primary of which was annoyance.

“Are you still mad?”

“I was never mad, Riley,” he glanced at Max then leaned forward so only she could hear him. His breath tickled her ear, “But fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I’m not falling for your tricks a second time.”

Goose bumps cascaded down her spine at the  memory, “It wasn’t a trick, Liam.”

“Hm,” he pulled back with a smirk, “Right. That’s why my case ended up on the front page of the Cordonia City Ledger the next day.”

“Coincidence.”

“I don’t believe in coincidences so move along.”

“But-“ she watched his retreating back with a frustrated exhale.

Max’s gaze swung from Riley to Liam then back again, “Whatever happened between the two of you anyway?”

Riley shrugged, “Nothing that wasn’t mutually beneficial.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning none of your business!”

“I was just-“

“Max, look!” she punched him in the arm as the body was wheeled out and loaded into the back of an ambulance.

Max brought the Canon EOS Rebel up and started clicking furiously.

Riley’s eyes swept around the crime scene, looking for anything that would help her identify the victim.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here? If it isn’t the scruffy underdog and her mangy sidekick.” The voice was like nails on a chalkboard.

Riley turned with disdain toward the biggest pain in her ass. Neville VanCoeur, the highest-ranking journalist at their rival publication, The Cordonia City Herald. He had curly, dirty blonde hair that he kept gelled so thickly to his head a hurricane wouldn’t move it an inch. His face was fixed in a permanent sneer unless he was on camera, and he’d had it out for her since day one.

Probably because she’d turned down both his sexual advances and his job offer. “Scruffy underdog isn’t the insult you think it is, Johnny Bravo.”

Max erupted into gales of laughter as Neville stiffened, “Who is Johny Bravo?” he sneered, making Max laugh even harder.

“Your long-lost twin, ass wipe,” Riley smirked at him before turning her back to scan the crowd, looking for a neighbor that might talk.

Neville’s response was lost as Riley made her way through the throng of onlookers, hoping for anyone that knew which apartment the murder had occurred in. No one knew anything.

She stomped her foot on the ground in frustration as her eyes fell on the spot the ambulance had been. “Hey, Max, I have an idea!”

Max listened and a mischievous grin spread across his face, “I’m on it!”

He quickly found Neville’s photographer and sidled up to him, “Dude! There’s a delivery entrance open around back! I got some amazing shots!”

“Really?”

“Really!”

The man’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, “Why would you tell me this?”

“Oh, am I not supposed to?” Max acted startled, “I’m new at this. I thought we all helped each other out like that! Isn’t that how it works?”

“Sure, kid. That’s how we do it,” the guy gloated, “Thanks for the tip!”

Max watched the photographer whisper to Neville who looked gleefully around before sneaking around the parking lot to the back of the building. He gave Riley a thumbs up.

Riley waited for Max’s signal, then found a uniformed police officer, “I’m sorry to interrupt but I just saw that reporter go around back. Aren’t they supposed to stay on this side of the caution tape?”

“Yes,” the man was obviously annoyed, “Thank you ma’am, we’ll take care of it.”

“Any time, officer,” she smiled disarmingly at him.

Riley and Max ran back to the Tahoe, giggling the whole way.

“That should keep him busy for a while!” She laughed as she climbed back into the driver’s seat.

“So, we can get to the coroner’s office first, I presume?”

“Of course!” She started the car and threw it in reverse.

“Be careful with Estelle!” Max yelled at her as the car went up onto the sidewalk.

“Sorry, sorry!” She put it in drive and made her way carefully away from the crime scene. Curbs were one thing, she didn’t want to hit a pedestrian, and the street was now full of onlookers.

They drove in silence until they were clear of the crowd. Max relaxed into his seat with relief, but it was short lived as Riley gunned it the moment they were back on open road.

“Jesus, Riley! I want to get to the coroner’s office as a photographer, not a body!”

“Have I ever killed you before?”

“No…but there’s a first time for everything!”

Riley was quiet for a moment, then her tone turned serious, “Can I ask you something?”

Max’s face lit up at what he thought was a change of subject, “Sure Riley, you can ask me anything!”

“So, I’ve been wondering….Why did you name your car Estelle? That’s an old lady’s name, isn’t it?” She took her eyes briefly from the road as he answered.

Max gave her a flirty wink, “I like older women.”

Riley rolled her eyes as she returned them to the road, “Grandma old?”

Max’s face fell, “No…no, that’s not what I meant!”

“How old are you, Max? Twenty? Twenty-one?”

“I’m twenty-three, Riley. I’m a grown ass man.”

“Sure you are.”

“I’m only five years younger than you, you know.”

“Only,” she snorted, “Five years is an entire college career and then some.”

Max let out a frustrated exhale as he shifted in his seat, “Whatever.”

They pulled up in front of a small, nondescript building situated behind a UPS hub and across from a warehouse in the industrial district. It was a squat, one story structure made of faded brown brick with a row of tiny windows stretched across the front and a red windowless door in the middle. Actually, the door was just off center, a detail made her want to knock it down with a wrecking ball.

“This building is depressing,” Max muttered as he climbed out of the Tahoe.

“You always say that.”

“It’s always true!”

“Considering what it is, that seems appropriate,” Riley responded as she made her way into the building and down the hall to the morgue, bypassing the reception desk which was thankfully empty.

“Come in!” a voice called in response to her knock.

“Hey, Dr. Lee!” Riley greeted the woman with the lab coat.

“I told you to call me Hana,” the doctor was shorter than Riley, with warm caramel colored hair falling to her shoulders, deep brown eyes and an upturned nose.

“Sorry…Hana…I was wondering if you knew anything about the murder at the Vista Heights apartment complex earlier today.”

“Just brought him in,” Hana swept her hand toward the body on the table, “the cause of death seems obvious, but you never know. All homicide victims are autopsied, as you know.”

“Who is he?” Riley craned her neck trying to get a better look. The man on the table looked to be in his mid to late forties with jet-black hair and sharp features.

Max hung back near the door. He had no desire to see the dead body.

“You know I can’t tell you that,” Hana admonished.

“I know. I’m sorry,” Riley shot Max a meaningful look, her eyes darting from his to a manila folder laying on Hana’s desk, before stepping closer to the other woman. With a slight pout, she reached out and rubbed a hand down her upper arm, “Forgive me?”

Hana flushed slightly as a shy smile spread across her face, “It’s fine, I know you’re just doing your job.”

“And you’re just doing yours. I respect that.” Riley’s eyes flicked over Hana’s shoulder as Max closed the folder and gave her a thumbs up. “You said the cause of death was obvious?”

Hana hesitated, “I really shouldn’t say…” 

“I promise to keep your name out of it.”

“I mean…it’s going to be out there soon enough anyway. I don’t think it’s a huge secret that gunshots were fired just prior to 911 being called. That’s all I can really say.”

“Thank you!!” Riley knew about the gunshots because Max had heard that much on the police scanner. It was nice to have confirmation though. “We’ll let you get back to work!”

“Riley?”

She paused on her way to the door, “Yeah?”

“Are you going to be at the bar later?”

“The Beat?”

“Yeah, that’s the one.”

“Of course!” she grinned, “There’s been a murder! Where else would I be but the bar all the cops hang out at?”

“Okay, maybe I’ll see you there.”

“That would be awesome!” Riley gave her a wave then exited the room. The moment they were back in the car, Riley turned to Max and demanded, “Well?”

“Well, the victim’s name was Trenton Hayes, he was shot dead in his apartment.”

“Trenton Hayes…Trenton Hayes…” she searched her memory, “Isn’t he some kind of wall street tycoon?”

“Yeah, I don’t really keep up with that type of stuff.”

“Really?” Surprise pulled through her, “You’re a Beaumont.”

“Not a very good one,” he laughed humorlessly, “My contribution to the family empire consists of spending the money…”

“Okay….” She didn’t know what to say to that. She smacked him on the shoulder as she drove, “Well, look the guy up!”

“I am!” He swatted her hand away as he typed into his phone, “Oh, shit! I’ve seen this guy before!”

“Really? Where?”

“I took pictures of him for this PI I work with sometimes.”

“What? Why?”     

Max shrugged, “I don’t know. He pays me to take photos sometimes, or hack into shit. I wasn’t following the guy; I was following the woman he met with!”

“Who was the woman?”

“Katie Sloan.”

“Wait! The wife of William Sloan? As in, the head of Sloan Enterprises?”

“Yeah, that’s the one!”

“Holy fucking shit! Who is this PI? We’re going to talk to him right now!”

“Walker and Son Investigations, it’s on Canal Street.”

“I mean,” Riley sat up, drawing her knees to her chest as she continued, “I love you and I would never leave you, that’s not it. I just…. remember we talked about an open marriage before?”

Max was now sitting upright as well, his eyes glued to her face with a stark intensity. “Yes… but we were sixteen then and not even engaged.”

“Right. I know. But… don’t all the reasons still apply?”

He scrubbed a hand down his face in frustration. It had been his stupid idea to bring up an open relationship. Mostly because they had started dating when they were fifteen and everyone kept putting it into his head that neither of them had ever experienced anything, or anyone, else.

They had agreed that if they were still together after university, and still in love, they would get married, but in order to stave off the possibility of one or both of them ever feeling cheated out of the sowing their wild oats phase, they would have an open marriage.

It had made perfect sense at the time.

“We have a Cordonian Agreement,” she reminded him.

His jaw clenched. “We do.”  Bertrand had insisted on it, convinced that his brother would eventually tire of his high school sweetheart.

He hadn’t. He wouldn’t.

“So, let’s try it. We can always go back to the way things are now if it doesn’t work out.”

He studied her face. “Are you unhappy with the way things are now?”

“What?” Surprise flashed across her face. “Of course not. I love you and I love our life together. I just… don’t you ever wonder what else is out there?”

“Not really.”

“Oh! So…. You don’t want to—”

“I’m not saying that.”

He wasn’t saying it, but he was sure feeling it. His mind spun through the possible scenarios and what it landed on was the one that he could not live with.

He could not, he would not, risk losing her by stifling her. It was better to let her explore within their marriage than to risk losing her because she felt constrained or trapped in it.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying,” he drew in a fortifying  breath, “let’s do it.”

“Really?” The delight in her voice was evident.

Liam watched his best friend and his fiancée thoughtfully. Drake had shot one too many longing glances Riley’s way during that song. Slamming his glass down on the table, he gave in to Max’s cajoling and made his way up to the stage.

He bumped into the Countess of Fydelia on his way.

Liam: I beg your pardon, Countess.

Madeleine (on her fifth glass of pineapple rum): If you had chosen me, I wouldn’t be sleeping around, you know.

Liam: I don’t want you, Madeleine, and I never will so if we were engaged, which we will never be, I wouldn’t give a fuck who you slept with.

Madeleine: (pausing for a small hiccup) Well, at least I would be discreet about it and not embarrass you in public!

Liam: (with a smile that wiped the smirk off Madeleine’s face) Your drunk. I’d watch what you say about your future queen if I were you.

He pushed past her and climbed onto the stage. Perhaps Drake was under the mistaken impression that if he could get Riley into bed, she could be stolen away from him.

That was incorrect.

The future king made his selection, blew a kiss to his beloved then belted out the lyrics to Freedom by Wham! He returned to the table amid cheers and applause.

Riley: (smiling at him adoringly) Ah, Liam, that was great!

Drake: (grabbing his glass of whiskey with a sigh) Damn it.

Max: Wait, is he saying—

Hana: Max, no. Some things we just don’t talk about.

Max: But—

Hana: (thrusting a fruity drink with an umbrella in it at him) Here, Max, drink!

Max: (becomes completely distracted by the drink) Ohhh, pretty!

Riley: I do love you, Liam. I deny everything!

Liam: Perfect! I believe you. Let’s go home and make up.

Riley: (as Liam pulls her from her seat and out the door) Bye everybody!

Drake: But I—

Hana: (patting him on the shoulder) I get it, Drake. I really do. Now, you were saying something about spending a night with Riley. Did you sleep with her?

Drake: Uh…. No?

Max: I thought we didn’t talk about that.

Hana: We don’t.

Max: What?

Hana: What?

Drake: What?

“I’m not single.”

“As far as the public is concerned, you are.”

“And why is that?” Leo turned to his father as he pulled his dinner jacket on. “We’re a progressive country. This isn’t the Middle Ages. Why, exactly, am I hiding my partner?”

“Tradition, son, tradition!”

“It’s tradition to be a big fat liar?”

“Leo, you know I don’t give a rat's ass who you love. But we have to think of our image on the global stage.”

“We could be a progressive role model.”

“You know damn good and well there are countries whose alliances we need that would cut us off if they knew the crown prince was gay.”

“Bisexual.” Leo corrected him.

“Yes, bisexual, so you like women too. What’s the issue?”

Leo raked his hand through his tousled blond hair with a sigh. “There is no issue, Father.”

The issue was that even though his partner was well aware of the fact that he would eventually have to marry a woman, it was still a huge thing to ask someone to work around.

“Great, if there’s no issue, start taking these events seriously. There are no less than three hundred eligible women here tonight. Surely you can find one that interests you.”

A noncommittal grunt issued out of him.

“Leo…” the king pinched the bridge of his nose with an aggravated sigh.

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Before either of them could respond to said knock, the door was flung open and copper eyed young man with shoulder length chestnut hair bounded into the room. “Are you ready yet? Because if I have to attend this thing— Oh, sorry. Didn’t know you were with your dad.”

“It’s fine, son.” Constantine was done with the conversation anyway. He clapped Drake on the shoulder on the way out, “See if you can talk some sense into him. He might listen to you.”

“Okay….” Drake watched Constantine walk out the door, then turned to Leo with raised eyebrows. “What was that about?”

“He’s up my ass about marriage again.”

“Oh.” Drake’s body slouched as he blew a breath out of the corner of his mouth to displace the shock of hair that always fell across his eye.

Leo softened at the change in his boyfriend’s demeanor. “Hey. You know I love you, and nothing and no one is going to change that, right?”

“Yeah, I know. I’m not worried.” He lied. He was worried. He was very worried.

“You’re a bad liar,” Leo smirked as he reached for him.

Drake evaded his grasp with a laugh. “No time for that. We have an event to attend and we can’t be late!”

Leo scoffed as his mouth fell open. “Since when do you give a shit about that?”

“Oh!” He jumped, then shivered a little at her surprise appearance. “This is Carson Belvidere, the Marquess of Montnapoli.”

She inclined her head toward him as she took a chair from the table behind them and sat down next to Max. “Lord Montnapoli. Nice to make your acquaintance.”

“Carson, this is—”

The Marquis stood quickly, interrupting his companion with a deep bow. “I know who she is. It’s my honor, Your Majesty.”

“No need for all that,” she waved her hand dismissively in the air, “But thank you. You’re very charming.” She looked back at Max with a twinkle in her eye. “And handsome.”

Max nodded with a grin as the red on his face deepened.

A smile spread across Carson’s face at the compliment. “Why, thank you, Your Majesty. You’re pretty stunning yourself.”

“Please. Just call me Riley. Any friend of Max’s is a friend of mine.”

“Is that so?” Carson watched her face, searching for clues about the exact nature of their relationship.

“That is so.” She ran a hand up Max’s arm as she held eye contact with blond haired blue eyed adonis sitting across from her.

“I can see you’re close.”

“Very close.” She leaned toward Carson while keeping her hand on Max and lowered her voice. “Would you like to find out how close?”

Carson lifted his drink to his lips as he responded carefully. “No offense, Your Majesty, I’m sure you’re amazing in every conceivable way, but I don’t swing that way.”

“Charming and diplomatic, I see.” Her eyes tracked across Max’s face, correctly reading his every emotion. She leaned over, putting her lips right at his ear. “So I assume you’ll be going solo this evening? Should I tell Liam not to expect you in our bed tonight?”

Max went beet red, his eyes jerking up to see if Carson could hear her. He couldn’t. “I…I’m not sure.”

Carson watched the exchange with interest. “I’m going to refill my drink and let you two talk. Anyone need anything?”

They both shook their heads no.

The moment he was out of hearing range, Riley asked, “You’re clearly attracted to him. What’s the problem?”

“Ah… I just haven’t been with another man since Liam and I became a thing, and I’m not sure what the rules are.”

Riley’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Liam knows you’re polyamorous, right?”

“Yes.”

“Has there ever been a discussion about exclusivity?”

“No, but I don’t want to do anything to mess it all up, and you know how he can be.”

“Hmmm.” She plucked the cherry out of the remains of Max’s amaretto sour and popped it into her mouth. “Maybe you should talk to him.”

“Maybe.”

The moment Carson returned to the table, Riley jumped up with a grin. “Well, you boys have fun tonight. I’ll get out of your way.”

Carson deposited a second drink in front of Max. “I got you one, anyway.”

“Ah, thanks.” Max glanced up at the man who was now standing next to him rather than sitting across from him. The proximity was anxiety producing, but not in a bad way.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah…I….” Max decided to just blurt it out and get the elephant out of the room. “Look, Carson. I like you and I am absolutely attracted to you, but I’m in a… ah… situationship—”

“Is it exclusive?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Max, I like you too, but it doesn’t have to be serious.” He moved closer. Too close. He smirked at the flush that rushed across the other man’s face. Running a hand down the side of his face, he told him, “I would be more than happy to make you blush like that all night long and then return you to your…. Situationship.”

Carson strongly suspected he knew exactly what, or rather who, that situationship was with. He couldn’t blame Max. While women weren’t his cup of tea, he couldn’t deny that the king was right up his alley.

Liam Rys was handsome, intelligent, funny, and sexy as hell. He wasn’t sure what their arrangement was, but it wasn’t exactly a secret that Max practically lived in the royal suite. And then there had been the day that Liam had caught the two of them flirting and lost his mind.

Not that Carson could blame him. Max was a prize. Both the king and the queen seemed to recognize that.

Max glanced up and licked his lips nervously. “Noted.”

“Okay. Well, when you get your situationship straightened out, let me know.”

Across the grand ballroom, the king of Cordonia was brooding over his scotch and complaining to his best friend. “That guy is all over him. Again. Do you think Max is interested?”

Drake raised his eyebrows as he pulled his drink closer to him. “Does it matter?”

“Why wouldn’t it matter? Of course it matters!”

“Don’t you sleep with other people occasionally?”

“Yes, but—”

They were interrupted as Riley appeared at Liam’s side. “What are we talking about?”

Drake answered. “Liam is brooding over Max.”

“I’m not brooding!”

Riley looked him up and down as she took the seat next to him. “You’re brooding. Now tell me why.”

“I’m not—”

Once again, Drake answered for him. “Max is over there flirting with that Carson guy.”

“I know! I was just over there.”

“We saw,” Liam fixed her with a piercing stare. “What were they talking about?”

“Oh, Carson is totally hitting on Max!” A tinkling giggle escaped her.

“How can you laugh about this?” Liam demanded.

“What?” Riley lifted a shoulder. “He’s just having fun. Tell me you don’t think that guy is a threat to what we have with Max.”

“Maybe not to what you have with Max,” Liam grumbled, watching the liquid in his tumbler as he swirled it.

Riley made eye contact with Drake, who shrugged and shook his head. Returning her attention to her husband, she asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, your relationship with him is solid. But we both know if he was over there flirting with another woman, you’d be having a very different reaction.”

“Maybe. I’d like to think I’ve grown as a person, Liam. I thought we all had. Do you really think my connection to Max is stronger than yours?”

“Let’s face it, Riley, if he had to choose, he’d choose you and we all know it.”

Drake scoffed loudly as he leaned across the bar and signaled for another drink. “Looks who’s talking. Pot, meet kettle.”

Liam turned to him indignantly, “What do you mean by that?”

“If you had to choose, wouldn’t you choose her too?”

“I love Max just as much as I love Riley, and you know that.”

Conversation stopped as the bartender deposited a tumbler of whiskey in front of Drake, then quickly retreated.

Drake took a long sip as he contemplated his next words. Setting the glass down on the bar, he leveled a serious gaze at his best friend. “Maybe… or maybe you just don’t like being alone.”

Liam blinked. “What?”

“Do you love him like you love her, or is he just a placeholder?”

“I don’t know what you’re insinuating, but—”

“I’m insinuating that Max is your fallback position. Whenever Riley is with me, off on a long weekend with Rashad, or spending a night with Siobhan, you have Max. You aren’t used to having to grapple with feelings of jealousy or loneliness. You don’t have to confront any of that in yourself; therefore, you never have to work on any of it. Max is your crutch to avoid doing any emotional labor.”

Liam’s confusion and anger faltered a little as a half shocked, half amused smile made its way to his lips. “Did you just use the term emotional labor correctly?”

“He did.” Riley nudged Drake in the side with her elbow, beaming with pride. “Good job, Babe.”

The guardsman’s cheeks pinkened at the praise. “Thanks.”

Liam rolled his eyes as he threw back the last of his bourbon. Slamming his glass down on the bar, he turned back to Drake and insisted, “I don’t have any emotional labor to do. Max and I use Riley’s absences to spend one on one time with each other, that’s all.”

“Right.” Drake scoffed. “But that’s kind of my point. I think you’re using Max during those absences to avoid focusing on yourself. You’re never alone.”

“Not true, I go on extended trips without either of them all the time.”

“Oh, you mean like the time in Italy when Riley had to drop everything and rush to your side?”

“It was a long trip!”

“Or the time Max had to rearrange his entire schedule to accompany you to Sri Lanka?”

“I just thought he would enjoy seeing the peacocks in their native environment. I didn’t force him to—”

“What about the time you got so lonely in New York that you gave Nick the opportunity to snap that photo that nearly caused a hellacious scandal, and I had to go clean up the mess?”

“Oh, come on! That was not my fault and you know it!”

Drake raised an eyebrow as he lifted his glass to his lips. “And the time you tried to get Hana to go with you to Shanghai?”

“I mean, it is her home—”

“You two barely tolerate each other.”

Liam’s jaw clenched. “What’s your point?”

Drake shrugged. “You don’t do well alone. That’s all I’m saying.”

“And you do? I seem to remember you leaving all of us and running away to fucking Texas. Remember that?”

“I do. And I was alone, so I had to do a lot of soul searching. That didn’t end when I came back.”

“What do you mean?”

“When Riley is with one of you, I have no one but myself. Have you ever tried just being alone? Working on yourself? Having some platonic friends, or maybe a hobby?”

“I have lots of hobbies!”

“Name one hobby that you do because you love it. Not because it fits with your royal duties or lets you spend time with a partner.”

“Ballroom dancing!”

“I’m not saying you don’t like it, or you aren’t good at it, but you only started doing it because Riley wanted to.”

“Max and I go to all the pea fowl conventions—”

“Yeah, because Max loves it. You don’t care about birds.”

“Are you saying I don’t have a personality of my own?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. But you do tend to over focus on everyone else.”

“I am responsible for an entire country. I have to think about—”

“I know. But you put everyone else first in your personal life as well. ……. I think you’re just afraid to find out who Liam is without all the responsibilities.”

Riley cut in, “He’s not wrong.”

Liam turned to her with a look of betrayal. “You too?”

“I love you. Remember when we met?”

His face lit up. “How could I forget? Best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Yes, well, if you’ll remember, one of the things that drew you to me was the fact that you felt you could be your real self around me. Remember that?”

“Yes. And?”

“And I knew way back then that you put everyone ahead of yourself. Which is why I try so hard to take care of you.”

“I don’t just love you because you take care of me, although Leo does refer to you as my emotional support wife.”

“Your brother is hilarious, but Drake’s point is that you very rarely focus on yourself. So I’ll reiterate his question. Do you actually feel threatened by Carson, or are you bothered by the idea that there might be times when both Max and I are unavailable and you’ll be alone?”

Liam stared down into his glass. “Shit.”

An hour later, Liam was waiting when Max entered their private chambers.

“I got your text.” Max glanced around the room. “Where’s Riley?”

“She’s with Drake. I wanted to speak to you privately.”

Max was immediately on high alert. “Why? Is something wrong?”

“No. Well, maybe. I don’t know.”

Max’s voice filled with concern, “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Massaging his temples, Liam asked, “Max, do you manage my emotions?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, do you go out of your way to make sure you’re here for me when Riley isn’t around?”

Max weighed his words carefully. “I do make myself available when I know Riley isn’t going to be around, but it’s not just for you. I also miss her, and I enjoy my one on one time with you.”

“Stop hedging and answer my question. Do you go out of your way to rearrange your schedule because you’re afraid I’m going to spiral out if you don’t?”

“I don’t think you’re going to spiral out, Li. You just get…. Tense when she’s gone.”

“I—” It was true. Somewhere along the way, she had become his equilibrium. She calmed him just by being nearby. She anticipated his needs. While she infuriated and frustrated him more than any woman he’d ever known, she also excited him, soothed him, and challenged him like no other woman ever had.

In the same vein, Max had a way of knowing just what to say or do to bring him back to baseline when anxiety or anger threatened to take him under.

He heaved a great sigh as he stomped across the room to the drink cart. “God damn it! I don’t want to be an obligation!”

“You’re not!” Max protested. “Should I list all the things you do for us on a daily basis? Not to mention the whole ass country. You give and give and give. I want to be there for you when you need it because I love you.”

Liam’s left hand held a fresh glass while the other hovered over the cut crystal decanter. With another sigh, he set the glass back down. More alcohol was never the answer. He turned back to his lover while he pulled his tie off. “Maybe Drake is right, and I just don’t like being alone.”

“No one likes being alone.”

“You’re likely right. But being alone is still an important skill to master.”

“Okay…”

Liam sat down to remove his shoes. “What do you do when I’m not around? Like last month, when I was in Taiwan on a diplomatic mission and Riley spent a weekend away with Rashad. What did you do?”

 “I binge watched some shows I was behind on, updated my latest manuscript, did some clothes shopping, and went out with some friends to karaoke.”

“Was one of those friends Carson?” Liam’s tone was suddenly more intense.

Max’s tone was cautious. “If it were, would that be a problem?”

Liam struggled to answer. It wasn’t like he himself didn’t indulge in casual hookups when the mood struck. But what if Max’s feelings for Carson weren’t casual?

Max was in love with Riley, but that didn’t threaten him because he was also in love with her. The three of them were a throuple. A solid one, he thought. He hoped.

His shoulders fell with a sigh. “It’s fear.” He admitted. “I’m afraid you’ll develop feelings for him and fall out of love with me.”

“That’s not possible!”

Liam wanted to believe that. Intellectually, he knew he shouldn’t worry. Riley loved Drake, and that wasn’t a problem. Whatever her relationship with Rashad was, it didn’t impede her feelings for him. Plus, Max had always been polyamorous for as long as he’d known him. Max, in fact, was the person who had helped him understand his own poly leanings.

Max swiftly crossed the room and knelt in front of the other man. “I have never loved another man the way I love you. I am attracted to Carson, and I like him. I want to explore that connection, but I won’t if it’s going to damage our relationship, because nothing and no one means more to me than being with you.”

And that was the reassurance he needed. Relief surged through his body and soul. “Can I ask just one favor?”

“What’s that?”

“Do your exploring with Carson when I’m out of the country.”

Max’s face broke out in a grin. “That’s fair.”

“Is it?” Liam returned his grin with a begrudging one of his own. “I feel like Riley would say it’s controlling.”

“Probably. But it’s light years ahead of the controlling, overly jealous, possessive guy you were when we first started. Besides,” Max scooted closer, still on his knees, putting himself between Liam’s legs as he stared up at him. “I like it when you control me.”

A shiver ran down Liam’s spine as heat crawled through his chest. He sank his hand into Max’s hair and tugged him closer.

He was going to start working on himself a little more. Maybe start fencing again. Strengthen a few of his platonic friendships.

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It started with an L. Lee… Leon or Louie or something like that.

His blue eyes blinked open as she tried to ease out of the bed without waking him. “Hey, where you going?”

“You caught me. I was just going to slip out quietly and avoid the awkward morning after small talk.”

“Okay. But at least let me buy you breakfast first. I’m not a complete cad.”

It was tempting. Free food, hot guy. Morning sex wouldn’t be the end of the world. “Okay, just let me text my girlfriend so she knows I wasn’t kidnapped last night.”

“Hana, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, how’d you—” She froze as she caught sight of her left hand. Lifting it in the air, she examined the diamond ring that sparkled and glinted on her ring finger. “Um… what did we do last night, exactly?”

“The usual,” he smirked, “Got drunk, danced a lot, there was sex. Lots of it if memory serves.”

“Is that all?”

“Why? What else—” He sat straight up in the bed as one particular memory shoved its way to the forefront of his consciousness. “Shit!”

She turned toward him and thrust the ring in his face. “Please tell me this is a novelty ring!”

“I can’t tell you that because I’m pretty sure it’s not.”

Her head shook vigorously from side to side. “No, no, no, no, this can’t be happening! We did not get married!”

“Well…”

“How was there a jewelry store open in the middle of the night?”

“I know a guy—"

She flung the covers back and bolted out of the bed, scooping her clothes off the floor. “No, there’s no way we got married! Don’t you need your birth certificate for that? Don’t you have to get a marriage license first?”

“Generally, yes. But there’s a reason that wouldn’t be an issue for me.” He got up and rummaged around the room. Once he found what he was looking for, he presented it to her.

She clutched last night’s dress to her body with one hand while she took the paper from him with the other. She stared down at it in horror. It was a marriage certificate all right. Riley Brooks and Leo Rys, joined in holy matrimony. Her hands started to shake. “No, no, no, this isn’t happening!”

“I mean…. Would being married to me be the worst thing that—”

She glared at him. “I don’t even know you!”

“Well, okay.” He put his hands up in the air. “But we seemed pretty close last night.”

“This isn’t funny! Hana is going to kill me! I mean fucking murder me!” Riley and Hana were in an open relationship, but she was pretty sure that marrying a total stranger would be a deal breaker.

“It’s okay,” he assured her. “I can fix it.”

“How?”

“Just…. Get dressed. We have to go to the palace.”

“The palace?” She blinked at him as her sleep and alcohol laden brain tried to make sense of what he was saying. “Why?”

“My father can just grant an annulment.”

“Your father?”

“Yes, my father! The king. Remember, I told you last night—”

Her eyes widened as she sucked in a shocked gasp. “You were serious about that?”

“Yes. You thought I was lying?”

“Of course, I thought you were lying! Men will say any kind of shit to get a woman into bed!”

“So, you thought I was lying but you still slept with me?”

“I thought you were doing it ironically! It was such an obvious lie that no one would believe it, so you were saying it as a joke. You know, poking fun at ridiculous pickup lines. I thought it was funny and charming you fucking prick!”

“Hey now,” He held both hands up in front of him in the universal symbol of surrender. “It’s not my fault that I was honest with you and you chose not to believe me. Maybe you have some trust issues you should work on.”

“Of course, I have trust issues. Men do asinine shit like trick women they just met into marriage!”

“Oh, men do that, do they? This happens to you all the time? How many strange men have you married?”

“Fuck you.”

“You already did that. But I’m not averse to round two.”

“Oh, there is no way I’m sleeping with you again!”

Leo shrugged. “Your loss.”

She opened her mouth to say something rude when a memory from the night before broke through.

“…it’s an arranged marriage. I don’t see any way out of it, short of just…running away…”

“What if you married someone else?” she blurted out.

“What?” He laughed.

“I mean… you can’t marry her if you’re already married to someone else, right?”

“Right.”

She closed her eyes in mortification. The marriage had been her idea.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Concern laced his voice.

She was taken aback by how quickly he’d gone from cocky and flippant to kind and solicitous.

“Nothing… just…” she thrust her dirty clothes toward him. “Do you have a T-shirt and some sweats or something I can borrow? I can’t put these back on.”

“I… yeah, ok, go take a shower and I’ll make sure you have something that fits when you get out. And I’ll order breakfast.”

“I don’t think we have time to—”

“Come on. You have to eat.”

“Fine. Whatever.” She huffed as she slammed into the bathroom. Glaring at herself in the mirror, she tried to quell the panic rising in her throat. How the hell was she going to explain this to Hana?

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“Fuck!” He swore softly under his breath. Turning around, he pasted a polite smile on his face. “Shayla. How have you been?”

“I’ve been good, sugar!” She invaded his personal space and grabbed him in a tight hug. “How about you?”

Drake leaned forward so that only his upper body was engaged in the hug, patting her on the back lightly. He quickly disengaged and stepped back. “Never better. Got married last year.” He held up his left hand to show off the gold band glinting on his ring finger.

“Anyone I know?”

He shook his head. “Met her in Cordonia.”

“Cordonia?” She said it like it was something disgusting.

“Yes.”

“Is that why we haven’t seen you around the rodeo circuit lately? The little wifey made you quit?” The curvaceous brunette smirked. “Those city girls just don’t get it.”

“She didn’t make me quit. I don’t know if you know this or not, but I’m a grown ass man capable of making my own choices and decisions.”

“And you chose to stop bull riding?”

“Yes. Why do you say it like it’s hard to believe or something?”

“Because I know you, Drake. You’re stupidly good at it. You’re a local legend. Why would you give that up?”

“Because I no longer want to risk my life.”

She scoffed with a shake of her head. “But you were so good!”

“I was also careless, reckless, and foolhardy.”

“I liked that about you.”

“So, you liked the part of me that had a death wish. Noted.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. You loved it.”

“No. I loved the rush it gave me. But I love my family more. Riley gave me something to live for, and now I’m going to be a father. I won’t do anything to jeopardize my ability to be here for them.”

Her eyes widened. “You’re having a baby?”

“Yes.” He stood noticeably taller when he said it, pride coloring the simple utterance.

She shook her head with a frown as she moved around the counter and tied on an apron. “Never thought I’d see the day Drake Walker gave up women and bulls.”

“That was my past. Riley and the baby are my future.”

“All right, all right, don’t get your knickers in a bunch.” Turning back toward him, she studied his face for a moment, and then her expression softened. “Well, I’ll be damned. You’re really in love!”

His brow furrowed in annoyance. “Why do you seem so shocked by that?”

She burst out laughing. “Because I didn’t think you were capable of it.”

“Oh.” He shifted awkwardly, unsure how to respond to that.

“Oh, don’t make it weird! You’ve changed, Drake. Grown. That’s a good thing.”

He let out a relieved breath. “So, stop giving me a hard time about it.”

“I wasn’t.” She peered at him a moment longer with squinted eyes. “Did you think I was jealous?”

He went beet red as he mumbled, “Maybe.”

“Oh, Christ!” She laughed as she held her hand up in the air. “You’re not the only one that moved on.”

He examined the midsized diamond sparkling on her ring finger as his face broke out in a smile. “Congratulations! And sorry if I was being a conceited jerk. Anyone I know?”

“Shane Mahony,” she told him with a self satisfied grin.

“Skeeter?”

“The one and only.”

“He’s a good guy. I’m happy for you both.”

“Thanks. We should get together sometimes. His number’s still the same. So is mine. Give us a call. Okay, I’m going to clock in. Shelia here will get that order rung up for you.”

“Right.”

He’d order something for Hana online. The last thing he needed was for the whole town to think he was cheating on his wife.

Liam and Hana were in Cordonia while he and Riley were at the ranch so they wouldn’t be spending Valentine’s Day together.

He had no idea how to explain their relationship to others without making it sound like their marriage was open. When people thought that they often tried hitting on one of the four of them.

Their relationship was not open, it just had more than two people in it and that was hard for a lot of folks to understand. Especially hard core conservatives in the Bible Belt.

He quickly made and paid for his selection, waved goodbye to Shayla, and headed back to his truck.

He still needed to make reservations for dinner and a hotel room for Valentine’s Day. But the main surprise was lying on the back seat of his Quad Cab Ford F250.

He glanced in the rearview mirror at the drawing tube. He couldn’t wait to get home and show Riley the plans he’d had drawn up for their new home.

Splitting their time between Cordonia and America, they had been content to use his old room at the ranch, but with a baby on the way, he wanted their own space. In Cordonia they had Valtoria. Now they would have something of their own in Texas too.