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Michael had left Jason showering while he could enjoy a much-needed moment alone. “I would agree.” Michael looked back at the house, seeing where everyone was before taking a seat. “Go on in.”

“Did you need something?”

So much for that quiet moment to think. “No, I was taking a quick walk so I could smoke a cigar. Do you mind if I smoke?”

She shook her head as she slipped into the warm water. Hanging on the edge of the pool, River watched while he lit his cigar before asking him any questions. He knew they were coming by his cocky smile.

Michael puffed on the cigar, glancing at River with her light eyes that could either rage like a storm at sea or wrap you in a loving embrace. He told her, “Riot’s holding himself together… barely.”

“You noticed that too?”

“We may have not been around him for the past seven years, but Jason and I know him better than even you. He’s on edge trying to make this business venture perfect so we won’t regret it. He’s trying to give you space when you’re actually his lifeline. And he’s trying to negotiate Archer coming on the team since you invited him into our little family.”

River knew that had been a brazen move on her part. She really thought, and still thought, the guy needed a real chance at a team. Was Archer Morgan a risk? Fuck yes he was, but so was she. When everything went sideways, sometimes the best thing to do was to tilt with it. Her opinion may not matter to Michael, but she would still give it. “I think he would be a standup guy for the team.”

Michael puffed on his expensive cigar, twisting it between his fingers. He agreed, Archer would be a good addition to the team. His biggest concern was Archer’s loyalty. Was the guy trying to get close to them for Laurel? He told Riot and Jason that in an earlier meeting.

River watched him, knowing what he was thinking. “What do you think we should do?”

Michael stopped. He rarely got caught off guard by a question. River asking his opinion onanythingfloored him. The last thing he would have ever thought would be her asking him for his opinion. If he weren’t such a man’s man, he would say ‘wow’ out loud in response. “We keep him on a tight leash and see what he does.”

Dipping her head back, River agreed. She sunk below the water and swam across the pool and back, expecting him to leave before she came back up for air. When she surfaced, Michael stood at the edge of the pool looking down at her.

“Be careful with Riot’s heart. He loves you.”

River watched Michael walk away into the night, knowing he was right. Riot stepped out of the house. He looked… lost. “Hey sexy, wanna come skinny dipping with me?” She saw his smile as he stripped his shirt off, tossing it aside. River tossed her wet bra at him when he walked closer and kicked off his shoes. When he unbuttoned his jeans, she pushed off, floating across to the far side of the pool where she wiggled out of her panties and tossed them on a chair. She heard the splash. Spinning around, she intended to swim down deep where he would have to find her in the dark, but Riot was fast in the water and grabbed her, tugging her to his body.

“Are you doing okay, River?”

The sound of his concern undid the last binds around her heart. “I’ll be good as long as you are with me.”

“We’ll figure it out, I swear it.”

“That’s all I need to hear.” She glanced around him, watching Dan and Mal head off to bed. Ben was asleep on the sofa already. It was just the two of them. “We’re alone.”

Riot held her against the poolside. “That doesn’t matter to me. If I want you, sweetheart, I’m gonna have you.”

“Do you want me, Riot?”

“Mmhmm, can’t you feel how much I want you?”

She laughed, and he dunked her. When she came up gasping for air, he kissed her hard and long as he swam for the end of the pool. Whoever built the thing had been smart by putting in a tanning ledge. Just deep enough for two people to roll around in the water.

Chapter Twenty

Mal would call her a bald-faced liar if she said she hadn’t been disappointed when Riot left to head back to Santa Maria. He showed her his schedule and where he would be over the next few days. One more week and the anniversary would be behind them all once again. This week was always the worst. She could handle it and all of the other things that popped up along the way—just not that one day of the year.

She often wondered if everyone in the world had one day they wished would just never show up. If they did, maybe it would make her feel less lonely. This year she truly hoped would be different. She hoped Riot would spend it with her doing something other than dwelling on the past. Problem with that was she didn’t have a clue what his plans were. “Do not read anything into it.”

Sweetheart, I’m thinking about you. Lost on you-LP

River smiled at the text that came through.

Thinking about you too. Wicked Games-Daisy Gray. Call me if you have the time.

She waited for a response, a little disappointed when one didn’t come. Shrugging it off, she knew he was busy with finding sponsors and setting up interviews for racers.

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