“Trial?” Had her dad been arrested for something?
“You didn’t know?” Surprise flickered across her beautiful face seconds before she gave him a sad smile. “My father’s in prison for investment fraud. He conned nearly a billion dollars from his clients. I figured with your brother being who he is, you already knew. Figured you knew...everything about me.”
No, baby. Not even close.
“You thought I’d run a check on you?” Eric kept his expression still.
That she thought he’d violate her privacy like that pissed him off. Probably more than it should have.
Sure, his brother had the means. Derek was a former SEAL and worked for R.I.S.C.—an elite black ops security firm based right here, in Dallas.
D was his team’s computer specialist and also a literal genius, so yeah. If anyone could find out all of Riley’s deep, dark secrets, it would be him.
Hell, Derek had even offered to look into her once, after the whole mess with his wife’s ex. Eric wouldn’t lie, he’d been damn tempted. Especially when she threatened to send Derek to prison for murder.
But after witnessing the woman’s passion for the law and how hard she worked finding justice for their victims...Eric knew all he needed to about Riley York.
Well...almost.
But I want her to tell me, herself.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you had.” Her bow-shaped lips curved into a chagrined smile. “I checkedyouout.”
Eric felt his mouth twitch. Of course, she’d run a background on him. Because, for whatever reason, this woman was compelled to protect herself from everyone around her.
Even him.
“I was going to tell you about the note.” Riley took a step toward him, bringing the conversation back around. “I almost did, once. It was the morning after we went to the Swinging Pig. I left your apartment to come home, but then I called and asked you to come over here. Do you remember that?”
Hell yes, I remember.
Eric had driven balls-to-the-wall to get to her because the fear in her voice had terrified him. He thought she was in some kind of danger, but when he got here, she said it was a false alarm.
“You said you thought you saw a rat in your kitchen.” A fuckingrat.
And he’d believed her.
“When I first saw the note, I panicked.” Riley’s throat worked with a hard swallow. “Memories from the old case came rushing back. But after I got off the phone with you, I realized I’d overreacted. I mean, Lewis is dead, Eric. He has been for three years, so...I lied. I made up the story about the rat because I didn’t want you to think—”
“What?” He took another step forward. “That you were scared? Newsflash, Riles. You should’ve been scared.”
The uncertainty in her gorgeous eyes gutted him.
“You should’ve told me,” he tried softening his harsh tone.
She nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want a fucking apology, Riley.” He continued stalking toward her. “I want you to trust me.”
“Idotrust you.”
“Not completely.”
We need to work on that, baby.
Big, brown eyes stared up at him. “You’re right. We’re partners, and I—”
“Partners.” Eric was close enough now, he reached out and brushed some hair from her eyes. “Is that all we are?”
