Page 62 of Baited

Riley eyed him over Nate’s shoulder, her lips pursed in a shitty effort to keep from laughing.

“Let’s go, we have lots to go over.” Ethan broke away from Nate, and pulled Riley against his side.

Nate sided around him and fell into step with Riley. He talked about his flight on the way out, and roused several giggles from Riley. When they got to the truck, he stopped to open Riley’s door.

Ethan folded his hand around the edge, and narrowed his eyes at Nate. “I got it. Hop in, babe.”

Riley wiggled her way between them and climbed in the truck, Nate was smart enough to keep his eyes off Riley’s ass. She settled in her seat and buckled up as Ethan closed the door.

“You don’t need to mark your territory, bro.” Nate clapped him on the shoulder with Riley out of earshot. “I like ribbing you guys. You and Cal get so damn jealous, it’s hilarious. You’re forgetting I’m like your damn brother.” Nate smacked Ethan in the chest, opened the rear passenger door, and got in.

Ethan bit back a remark and rounded the truck. The sonofabitch was right, of course. He was being territorial for no reason. Nate would never make a move on a woman who one of his best friends had an interest in. He only acted like a douche to get a rise out of them and did a damn good job of it.

The tension eased from his shoulders as he got behind the wheel and started the ignition. Riley’s warm, soft fingers curled around his as he pulled out of the parking spot and eased onto the road. The hard knot that had formed in his chest loosened under her touch.

“Aww, you guys are so cute,” Nate sang from the back seat.

Riley covered her mouth on a chuckle. Ethan closed his eyes on a breath and opened them. Jesus Christ, he was going to fucking kill him. It was going to be a long week.

***

“Wait, wait, wait—”Nate pressed his hands to the table, and his eyes bore into Ethan’s. Nate’s stony glare translated to: Are you fucking insane?

Ethan pressed his knuckles against his chin, his elbows rested on the table. They’d just finished the dinner they’d picked up on the way to Nate’s hotel, and now sat around the table, each with a drink. Riley topped off her glass of wine, oblivious to the silent battle raging between him and Nate. He agreed with his friend’s unspoken words—the idea of positioning Riley in the house to catch the bastard was reckless.

Ethan shifted his eyes from Nate, back to Riley. She tucked her foot under her and smoothed her dress over her thighs. Ethan curled his fingers against the table to refrain from touching her.

“You don’t think it’s a good idea, Nate?” She sipped from her glass, and the fire in Nate’s eyes dimmed.

“With all due respect, honey. No, I think it’s moronic.”

She set her glass down. Her cheeks tinted and her eyes darkened. “Well, it was my idea.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

Ethan opened his mouth to step in before Nate put his neck further on the line, but Riley continued before he could speak.

“If Ethan had his way, we’d be laying breadcrumbs. I don’t know if you’re up-to-date on the situation, but a young woman, my best friend to be exact, has been missing for a month. The police are stumped and more concerned about speeding tickets, so if you’ve got a better idea, let’s hear it.”

As much as he hated the idea, Riley’s steely glare and hard words fell over him. Pride surged through Ethan’s chest. She was so damn strong and confident, even the sharp opinion of an FBI agent didn’t rattle her.

She twirled a lock of her blond hair around her finger as if she hadn’t just insulted them both. “Well?”

Nate dropped his attention from Riley and zeroed in on Ethan. “She always like this?”

Ethan met Nate’s eyes and lifted his shoulders. “You see what I’m dealing with now?”

She leaned forward in her seat. “You’re dealing with someone who has a personal investment in this. Someone who—”

Ethan rested his hand on hers. Her temper waned under his touch, but fire shot from her eyes.

“That’s just it, Rye. When things affect us personally, our judgement is off.” He wouldn’t bring up her last tactic of luring men at bars in hopes to find the bastard. That, Nate didn’t need to know. He smoothed his thumb over her knuckle.

Her eyes flared at him. “We already agreed on this, Ethan. There’s no other way.” She swung her attention to Nate, pinning him with her stare. “Unless Nate’s got a better idea, this is what we’re doing. You may not like it, but you can’t stop me from going there. You can either help me do this, or I’ll do it on my own.” She pulled her hand from his and flattened her back against the chair.

Nate took a swig from his rum and Coke. “Fine, I’m in. But under one condition, we do it my way.”

Riley’s jaw worked. “And what way is that?”

“I don’t think you realize what’s at stake here. I see your reasoning and in theory, it’s not a bad plan.” He leaned forward to wrap his hands around his glass. “Problem is, he knows you’ve been hanging out with King Kong, and all of a sudden despite the attempts he’s made against you, you’re staying at your houseunprotected? I’m not saying the guy’s a genius, but let’s not assume he’s brain-dead.”

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