“Hey,” Riley said as Luc came into view. He did not seem particularly surprised to see him.
Lucas held up the poly-coated paper cup. “I brought you coffee.”
“That was nice of you.”
“I’m a nice guy.”
“No argument here.”
No? Because Lucas couldn’t help feeling like there was some ongoing argument.
He said, “The Silver Sleigh Mocha as recommended by theSilver Pine Sentinel.”
Riley took the coffee, examined it, and laughed. The laugh seemed genuine. His light eyes crinkled at the corners. “Thank you.”
That sounded genuine, too, and Lucas relaxed a little.
He took the chair in front of Riley’s desk. “What are you doing?”
Riley was one of the few men on the planet who could suck a mound of whipped cream through a straw and still look like a badass. He released the straw and said, “Going through the cold case files.”
“Why?”
They were a small RA. They didn’t have a ton of cold cases, though there were a few file folders containing the details on the handful of unsolved bank robberies, kidnappings, and murders that had occurred in their jurisdiction over the last half century.
Riley shrugged. “Why not? Since I’m here anyway. Might as well.”
Lucas couldn’t help observing, “It’s not like youhaveto be here.”
Instead of answering, Riley took another long suck of his overpriced coffee.
He had a very sexy mouth. When he wasn’t delivering ultimatums.
“I can’t help feeling like your coming in here this morning is pointed.” Lucas was careful to keep his tone neutral. He did not want an argument. He wanted to fix this thing between them.
Riley dislodged the straw and said, “Of course it is.”
“Well, whatever the point is, I’m not getting it. You were saying I need to prioritize our relationship, but you just blew off our weekend.”
“Did you have plans for the weekend?” Riley inquired with interest.
Lucas frowned. “What does that mean? Yes. I had plans that we would spend a little quality time together without having to be in the office at the crack of dawn.”
Riley didn’t smile, but his mouth took on a derisive curve. “Sure.”
“Sure? What’s that mean?” Despite his best effort, exasperation crept into Lucas’ tone. “I don’t understand what’s got into you, Riley.”
Riley started to answer, but seemed to rethink. He said, matching Lucas’ even tone, “Okay. I understand. It’s disappointing when you were looking forward to something and it doesn’t happen.”
Not subtle. Lucas started to respond, but Riley was still talking.
“But the fact is, I’m on call this weekend.”
Lucas said shortly, “Okay. Got it. You don’t like being agent on duty—”
Riley said levelly, “I don’t like being agent on duty every single fucking weekend. No. I’ve got no problem taking my turn, but I’ve been on duty nearly every weekend for the past three years. There are people in this office who believe I must’ve done something to seriously piss you off.”
Lucas felt himself turn color at the idea his team was discussing, speculating on, his relationship with Riley. Not just that, though that was bad enough. The idea that his people believed he was that unfair, that petty? So petty that he’d punish Riley—anyone, really, but especially an agent as able and hardworking as Riley—with shitty assignments?
