Page 6 of Her Captivated Hero

“How are you getting home tonight?”

“Patty and I are sharing an Uber, why?”

“Then I was thinking I could spirit you away from the crowd and arrange for another Peach Bellini for you. I’d offer to pay, but they’re on the house.”

Riya giggled before she could stop herself and Gray raised an eyebrow in question.

“What?”

She bit her lip. “It’s nothing. Why don’t you tell me why the drinks are on the house.”

“Why don’t you tell me why you’re giggling.”

“Miranda and Kenna were right. You are a mother hen. She said that you outdid their husbands in spades.”

He finally released her from his embrace, but kept his hand on her lower back as he began to escort her off the dance floor.

“Interesting. I’m going to have to disagree, though. If anyone’s ass is warm enough to hatch an egg, it would be Dex Evans.”

Gray stopped as Riya stood in place, trying to stop her laughter. “Can I tell Kenna you said that?” she finally asked.

“I would be heartbroken if you didn’t.”

Riya smiled up at him as he continued to move them toward another part of the cavernous bar. “Now tell me why the drinks are on the house.”

“There was a bit of an altercation over at the eighties bar. The guys and I took care of it, so the bouncers decided to set you up.”

“What happened?” Riya persisted. “What kind of altercation?”

It was obvious he didn’t want to tell the full story. As a matter of fact, he looked a little bit uncomfortable. Riya liked it, because God knows, she’d been feeling off kilter since he’d started tracing circles on her back.

“Just some drunken joker who needed to prove his love…with a gun.”

Riya stumbled, but Gray was there to keep her upright.

“A gun? Are you serious?”

“I wish I weren’t.”

Riya rapidly flipped through everything she had seen and heard during the last two hours while at San Diego’s popular new dancehall. It was a huge complex, with three different bar areas and two separate dance floors. She’d heard yelling from the opposite side of the building, and what she’d thought had been the crack of chairs being broken. At that same time, the three military weren’t at their table.

“Let me get this straight. Are you saying those were gunshots that I heard, and not something else like I originally thought?”

Gray gave a slow nod.

The alcohol began to lift. “Interesting,” she said slowly. “I heard some yelling as well, but no sirens. Is it safe to assume that you and your men were able to disarm this man who was trying to ‘prove his love’?”

Gray’s lips twitched.

“How do you know they are my men? Did Miranda tell you that they work for me?”

“She didn’t say your rank, but I know that Griff is a POFC in a small SEAL team. They’d been talking about you earlier and said that you were the leader. That would make you the lieutenant, ergo, you.”

“Ergo?” Gray’s lip twitched.

“I know, I know,” Riya waved her hand. “I always get teased for using that word. But I like using the right words when they fit the situation.”

“Well, Ms. Patel, you have surmised correctly. I am Lieutenant Tyler. What else have you accurately deduced?”