The screen door creaked behind him. Soft steps. A warmth at his back. Then Emma’s arms slipped around his waist, her body pressing into his.
“You hiding from me, Deputy Caldwell?” she asked, voice a soft taunt against his shoulder.
Ryker caught her wrists and turned, backing her against the railing. The glow in her eyes made something hot and familiar stir low in his gut.
“Maybe,” he said, grinning. “Maybe I was waiting for you to come find me.”
Her smile curved slow, wicked. “Lucky for you, I’m pretty damn persistent.”
He kissed her, slow and deep, until she melted against him.
“Rule one,” he murmured against her mouth, sliding his hands beneath her shirt, “you find me… you’re stuck with me.”
Emma caught his belt loop and gave a tug that made his blood roar. “Good thing I like trouble.”
He scooped her up, laughing low, and carried her inside, kicking the door shut behind them.
And as he laid her down on the living room rug, the Texas twilight fading to night outside the windows, Ryker figured one thing for damn sure, justice had been served.
Butthis?Thiswas his reward.
And he had every intention of earning it all over again.
----- ? ----
