“Was it somethin’ I said? I just meant that—”
The phone went dead when Riley reallydidend the call.
“Your brother.” She shook her head with a smirk.
Eric snorted. “You should try living with him.”
“No, thanks.” Riley twirled some noodles onto her fork and lifted it to her mouth. “I’d much rather live with—”
She stopped mid-motion, her eyes wide from the realization of what she’d almost said.
“Who?” Eric sat back in his chair. With a smug grin, he crossed his arms and teasingly pushed her to finish the sentence. “Who would you rather live with?”
Come on, baby. Say it. You’d rather live with me. Just. Say. It.
Riley shoved the mouthful of spaghetti between her lips and began to chew. The stubborn jut of her chin the only answer he was going to get.
“That’s okay.” Eric scooped up more of his own food. “We don’t have to talk about it right now. But Riles?” He made sure she was listening. “Wewillbe talking about it.”
And soon.
Eric wasn’t going to drag his heels on this thing with her. Not when he knew she loved him back.
But now wasn’t really the time for deep discussions about the future. The minute this case was over, though...
Swallowing the big bite down, Riley reached for her glass of tea and took a long drink. She opened her mouth to say something when his phone began to ring again.
This time, it was Cap calling to give him an update. So far, not much had happened on their end. From her hospital bed, Maggie had studied pictures from the most recent body, confirming the same man killed her as the others.
Not that they had any doubt.
Cap also told him their guy didn’t have any luck with the security footage, so he’d taken the liberty of sending it on to Derek.
The DPD’s analysts were good. But his brother was the best, and Cap knew it.
By the time he got off the phone with his boss, Riley had the dinner dishes cleared and was filling the sink with hot, soapy water.
“You cooked.” He wrapped his arms around her from behind. “I’ll get these.”
She turned in his embrace, her hands resting on his chest as she stared up at him. “Tell me the truth. Do you think we have any chance of stopping this guy?”
“I do.” He kissed her softly.
With a slight nod, she said, “If you’re really okay cleaning up, I think I’d like to go take a hot bath.”
“I’ve got this.” He kissed the tip of her cute nose. “Go.”
Riley started to walk away but turned back just before the entrance to the hallway. “Tell me again why you’re still single?”
“I’m not.” Eric raised his gaze from the dish he’d started to scrub. “Not anymore.”
Giving him her first real smile of the day, Riley said, “Good answer.” Then she disappeared down the hall.
It was the only answer he could give. And it was the truth.
The next morning, Eric woke to the sun shining in on him through the bedroom window. He squinted against the unexpected change, but then smiled.
If the sun was out, that meant he and Riley could spend some time on the beach later. Just because they were hiding out from a serial killer didn’t mean they couldn’t enjoy nature’s amenities.
