Page 39 of Riding Danger

“What about this last one? He was from Campo. Do we have any information on him?”

“I have an appointment to see his mother and his ex later this morning.” Lilly raised a brow at me. “Wanna tag along? I mean you have a badge, and the CBI can only interview them later in the week.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know if you made enough noise, the CBI would make sure you had credentials, right?

“Yeah, but then you wouldn’t feel needed.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. I was right, they didn’t need me. But something told me Lilly wanted me around. And that was just as good. “Do I need my weapon?”

I’d worn it, because technically I was on duty. But I didn’t wear my body cam. I had never worn my weapon without the protection of a body cam before and the thought made me nervous.

“You’re on duty, Shi. You carry your badge and your weapon. Neither of which needs to be hidden, though.”

I nodded as we both walked out of the door. Instead of heading to her own car, she moved toward mine. I raised a brow but followed her lead.

She smiled at me and shook her head. “What? You think I’m going to drive if I can avoid it?”

“I suppose not.”

We both put on our seat belts and I put the address she gave me into the GPS.

It was only once I was pulling out of the parking lot that she spoke again. “So, tell me about shacking up with the rockstar.”

“We’re not shacking up together. I go home every night.”

“That’s a shame. He looks like he’s made for sleepovers.”

My voice came out a hoarse squeal. “Lilly.”

“What?” She offered me a devious smile. “I’m married to someone who is built for sleepovers. I know what I’m talking about.”

“I don’t think Oliver would appreciate you talking about other men being built for sleepovers.”

“No.” She smiles. “None of the men in our lives would appreciate that. But considering none of them have given Ryder a hard time yet, I’m assuming they’re biding their time or something.”

“Right?” Even though I would never condone it, the fact that neither my dad, my friends, nor any of the other men in my life have‘invited Ryder for a drink’was highly suspicious. “I’m not sure whether to be offended or not.”

Lilly cocked her head and looked at me. “I think they want to see how things shake out. I have no doubt that as soon as he claims you, there will be some words.”

“Claims me? What century are we in?”

“Shiloh. You and I both know it's simpler to just let them be.”

“Or maybe it's because we’re not together.”

“Or maybe you’re delusional.”

18

RYDER

Ieasily got used to small town life. It was good to be in a place where everyone knew your name. And not because they'd seen my photograph on a billboard or because I contributed to the soundtrack of their latest heartache. No, the teachers at the elementary school waved at me because I was Ethan’s dad. The ladies behind the counter at Minty’s knew my order because they saw me every day. I was someone’s dad. Someone’s friend. What I wasn’t was someone’s boyfriend. But that would come. Hopefully sometime soon.

Since I originally had access to the Salinger Security gym when I stayed at the B&B, they continued to grant me access after I moved to my house, and Nick Salinger even allowed me to hook up my cardio program to one of their treadmills. Basically, the treadmill pace changed with the music I listened to. It was how I trained for concerts. Making sure I knew the lyrics. Since I sang through the workout as well, I ensured I could sing and dance on stage without needing to lip sync.

Personally, I found nothing wrong if an artist did choose to go that route. Singing and dancing at the same time was not an easy task, and most times the performances were better ifthey did lip sync. I knew my voice dragged when I needed to do high impact dancing on stage. Which was why the training was necessary.

I pressed play on my phone and the backing track to the opening number to my set started. It's a ballad to which I could walk at a leisurely stroll, which is what I would normally do on stage anyway. Nick told me he had warned his staff, which was mostly his family, that if they wanted quiet, they needed noise cancelling headphones or to use the bigger gym. Other people listening to me didn’t bother me, obviously, but it bothered others and was the reason I preferred having a home gym.

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