Speaking of Riley...
He reached for her but frowned when he found her side of the bed empty. The fitted sheet was cool to the touch, so it was obvious she’d been up for quite a while.
This didn’t come as a huge shock. She’d gotten up before him nearly every morning they’d been here. Plus, she’d spent most of last night tossing and turning, caught in the nightmares their target had created.
Eric wanted to kill the fucker for that, alone.
Feeling nature’s call, he flung the covers off his legs and shuffled to the bathroom. Once he’d taken care of business, he washed his hands and brushed his teeth before tossing on a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled his nostrils as he opened the bedroom door and started down the hall.
“I knew there was a reason I loved you,” Eric teased as he made his way to the other side of the house.
He smiled a sleepy grin, amazed at how easy it was to say those things to her, now. It was even better hearingherwhisper them into his ear as they made love.
His cock began to swell as memories of the night before filled his awakening mind. He felt like a damn teenager again and wondered if he’d ever be able to satisfy the hunger he had for the amazing woman.
Sure as hell hope not.
Eric cleared the hallway and found the living room empty. When he turned and saw the kitchen vacant, as well, a nagging feeling began to settle deep inside his gut.
“Riley?”
He looked around the house again, but the guest bedroom and bathroom were both empty.
Panic began to bubble up as he rushed back to the kitchen and out onto the deck. He looked to his left and saw nothing but sand and water. To his right, he saw...
Riley.
Eric’s lungs expelled a huge breath of relief and told himself to chill the fuck out.
He took a minute to soak her gorgeous image in, the mental picture one he never wanted to forget.
Holding her coffee mug with both hands, she was standing at the water’s edge, staring out over the gentle waves.
In a pair of shorts and a tank-top, she’d fixed her hair in that fancy side-braid thing that drove him wild. And she had no idea he was watching her.
From inside the house, he heard his phone begin to ring. Though he hated to walk away from the view, it was Derek’s ringtone, so he figured it was probably important.
Leaving the sliding door open, he jogged back to the bedroom and snatched his cell from the bedside table where he’d left it plugged in.
“Hey.” He greeted his brother. “Sorry. I was out on the deck.”
“Is Riley with you?”
The serious tone of his brother’s voice sent him into an instant state of alarm. “She’s out back, why?”
“Good. I didn’t really want to be the one to tell her. No offense.”
“Tell her what? D, what’s going on?”
While Derek explained, Eric went back into the kitchen so he could keep an eye on Riley without alerting her that he was awake. From what his brother had just said, it sounded like he needed to hear whatever intel he had first, before sharing it with her.
“We know who he is.”
Derek’s words had his steps faltering. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope. And you’re not gonna like it.”
