Page 26 of Tin

As it turns out, it takes less than twenty-four hours before I’mback at his place and we’retalking.

“And now your sister knows? And she’s cool with it?”

We’re up on the rooftop deck, lying on the chaise lounge, me on top of him, both of us naked under his quilt and staring straight up at the night sky. It’s beautiful out.

“Mostly. She likes you now, but I don’t think she’s all that impressed with our arrangement.”

His hand reaches over to cup my breast. “What’s wrong with our arrangement?” I can hear the grin in his voice even if I can’t see it.

“Not a thing. It’s pretty perfect if you ask me.” I snake my arm up out of his hold and around the back of his head to play with his thick hair. It’s got a slight wave to it now from the moisture in the air. “My sister did throw the word ‘whore’ around a time or two, though.”

“That seems a bit harsh. I mean,easy, maybe. But whore?”

I grab a fistful of his hair and hold it hostage. “What was that?”

“I was kidding. I swear. Ow!” He dramatically rubs the spot on his scalp.

“You’re such a wuss. Men, I swear.” I roll onto my chest, carefully balancing my weight so I don’t fall off of him and the chaise. “Meanwhile, I’m hungry.”

Riker stretches into a more upright position, taking me with him. “I’ve got some shrimp fried rice downstairs.”

“Hmm.”

He squints at me, a shadow coming down over his handsome face. “What?”

I flick my wrist casually like it’s no big deal, only it totally is. “It’s nothing. I just seem to recall someone mentioning providing an actual meal with actual plates and actual silverware...from time to time.”

His brows lift again, and the corner of his mouth inches its way upward as well. “And I take it, time to time is right now?”

“Oh, well, if you insist. I mean, I would have been fine reheatingold takeout—“

He dives in to kiss me before I even finish. “Shut up, Quinn,” he murmurs, his mouth hovering right over mine.

“Okay.” I close my eyes and let my lips find their own way back to him. They always do.

CHAPTER TEN

RIKER

I lock the door and head back down the cobblestone driveway. This is the fifth house I’ve checked on so far, and I’ve got eight more to go before I can head home. I’m tempted to call Quinn and have her come out and meet me for the night. This time of year, almost all the rentals are booked, but I’ve got one that won’t be occupied again until next Friday. But an overnight trip out of town doesn’t sound like something you invite your fuckbuddy to do. And that is, after all, what she is. Or what she thinks she wants to be.

Climbing into the driver’s seat of my truck, I hear my phone vibrating on the dash. I don’t know why I can never remember to stick it in my fucking pocket. Maybe because I’m never expecting any calls I really want to answer.

I don’t even bother looking who it is.

“Yeah?”

“Nox is in trouble. You need to come. Now.” It’s Sid.

“What’s wrong?” I slam the door shut and start up the engine. Then I turn the key again and stop what I’m doing. I’m three hours out.

“He’s hurt. He got spooked out in the pasture and started running. Next thing I see, he’s falling, crashing into the ground at full speed. It was horrible, Riker. I couldn’t move. I just stood there, waiting and praying, hoping he would stand up again.” I can hear her sniffle. She’s crying. This is bad. Sid doesn’t cry. She just doesn’t. “I couldn’t take it. I had to make Harrold go check on him. I thought for sure he was lying out there dead. Broken neck. Something. But he’s not. He’s alive. Just in really bad shape.”

“What the hell happened, Sid?”

“There was barbed wire hidden in the tall grass,” she wails. “I don’t know where it came from. Must have blown over from the neighbor’s during the last storm. There’s still half a fence post attached to it. The rest is wrapped around his legs. He can’t get up. I have no idea how badly he’s been hurt, and he won’t let anyone near enough to help him. Every time we try, he starts kicking his legs, tightening the wires around him more. It has to be you. You have to get here. Now.”

I drop my head to the steering wheel. This can’t be happening. “I’m out checking the properties. I’m three hours down the coast.”

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