Burning Up

Lucas’s eyes over the top of her head. His alpha held up his hands, his amusement open. “We ready to go?”
    Emmett nodded. “He’s parked about half an hour out of the city.”
    Ria looked between the two men. “Vincent?”
    “Yes,” Emmett said as Lucas made a signal that he’d be out in a minute and walked back into his office. “Bastard’s ass is toast.”
    Ria put a hand on his chest. “Are you going in with lots of backup?”
    “Don’t worry about it, mink. I know what I’m doing.”
    “Emmett!” Her voice was a whip.
    Surprised, he looked at her. “What?”
    “Don’t tell me not to worry! Don’t pat me on the head as if I’m a brainless bimbo and tell me everything’s going to be okay.” She poked him with a finger. “If we’re going to be in a relationship—” Snapping her mouth shut, she folded her arms and returned to her desk.
    Stupefied, he prowled after her. “If we’re going to be in a relationship, then what?”
    “Nothing.” She began to order papers on her desk. “Just don’t get yourself killed. That would make me seriously angry.”
    He knew that wasn’t it. Grabbing her arm, he pulled her toward him. “I’m not leaving till you tell me what’s up.”
    Ria looked toward Lucas’s open doorway. “This is not the time and place.”
    He waited.
    She blew out a breath. “ Are we in a relationship?”
    “What did you think last night was?” This was one of those times when he didn’t get women. Scratch that. When he didn’t get his woman.
    “Well, men don’t necessarily equate sex with a relationship.” It was a whisper, her eyes flicking to Lucas’s door again.
    Emmett decided not to remind her that Luc could probably hear everything anyway. “That wasn’t sex, Ria. That was fucking-amazing-sex.” He grinned at her blush. “And I equate everything I do with you to a relationship. Try going out with another man and see where it gets you.”
    She tried for a glare but a smile peeked out. “Go. Be careful.” A tight hug. “We’ll discuss the other stuff when you’re back safe and sound. I’ll be waiting.”
    He walked out with the scent of her bound into his very skin, her promise in his ears.
     
    R ia found herself escorted home by an older man called Cian that day. “Any word?” she asked him as they reached the front door.
    A shake of his head. “I don’t think they’ll move until a few hours after dark.”
    Something about Cian struck Ria as oddly familiar, but she was sure he’d never been on protection detail before. “Will you let me know if you learn anything?”
    His eyes were warm when he looked at her. “Of course, Ria.”
    Nodding, she thanked him and walked inside. Her father had beaten everyone home and was at the stove, concocting his (in)famous secret spaghetti sauce. “Hey, Dad.” She bussed him on the cheek. “Where’s Amber?” she asked, guessing her grandmother was catching a nap as she sometimes did.
    “She thought she might be having contractions—Jet came home and took her to the hospital.”
    Ria stopped in the process of taking off her coat. “Is she in labor?”
    “Doctor thinks it’s false, but he’s keeping her there for a couple of hours to make sure.” He touched his back pocket. “Jet’s gonna buzz me if it looks like my grandbaby’s going to come early.”
    Smiling, she hung up her coat and went to stand by his side, sliding one arm around his waist. “Smells good.”
    He put his free arm around her shoulders. “So, you involved with that cat?”
    “Yep.” She’d never lied to her father. Skirted around the truth maybe, but never lied. “I’m crazy about him.”
    A sigh. “Invite him to dinner.”
    “So you can grill him?”
    “It’s what fathers do.” A squeeze of her shoulders. “I only want what’s best for you. Have you considered how this man is going to support you?”
    Ria didn’t point out that she could support herself. That wasn’t the issue at hand. “Well, when he’s not acting as a DarkRiver soldier, he has another job.” She’d discovered that sometime last night—even now, the memory of Emmett’s lazy voice murmuring the answers to all the little questions she had about him was enough to make her body flush.
    “Oh?”

NINE
    “Y eah.” She drew it out, knowing it would drive her father Ycrazy.
    “Ria.”
    Laughing, she met his scowling eyes. “He’s an engineer.”
    Her father’s eyebrows climbed to his hairline. “Who does he work