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Riley paused as the door between them clanged shut. She’d almost forgotten—Kristi didn’t do feelings.

Kristi trailed her hand over Riley’s shoulder and then slid her hands down to tickle her.

Riley squirmed and pushed her away. “Last night sucked, just so you know. It wasn’t fun or exciting. I was really worried about you. What you did was beyond… reckless.” She shoved the covers back and sat up.

“Ri… come on. I saved the day. Or night.”

Riley pulled on Saint’s t-shirt in sharp, jerky movements. “You could have been really hurt.”

“It was fine. They showed up when they needed to.” Kristi trailed off, looking into the distance that didn’t exist.

Maybe Kristi just wanted sex and nothing else.

“It almost wasn’t fine,” Riley said, yanking thick wool socks onto her feet. She didn’t care that they were too big.

“But it was.” Kristi pushed herself up, focus slightly off. “I called, he came, just as he’s supposed to.”

“It was a fluke.” Riley paused in the doorway.

Kristi’s brow furrowed.

Riley sighed and left the room.

Chapter 36

Riley

Cookie thumped his tail as Riley walked by, and she dropped into a crouch to pet him.

Wheeler sat shirtless on the couch nearby, blond hair curling on his broad chest and blanket over his legs as he looked at his phone. He gave her a tired smile, and a cup of coffee steamed on the table.

“Everything okay?” she asked, smoothing the fur down Cookie’s back.

“Fine, doll, just tired,” he said, barely looking up as he typed quickly.

“Thanks… for last night.”

His eyes flicked up to her. “Anytime, Riley,” he said. “I mean it. Us Texans have to stick together.”

Her chest welled with pressure, and in that moment, she stopped caring what side of the law they lived on. It didn’t matter—if this was what loyalty looked like.

She nodded and walked to the kitchen before tears stung her eyes. She was too dehydrated for crying.

Saint turned as she stepped off the hardwood and onto the cold tile. He looked tired but alert. Maybe he always looked like that. Calm and ready.

“Hey,” he murmured.

She exhaled all the fear and doubt, letting it drift away from them, just for this moment. Saint was here. He’d been there for her when she needed him. Again.

“Hi,” she whispered. “Did you sleep?”

He shook his head. “Wanted to keep an eye on Kristi. Just in case.” He reached for her, slow and controlled. Last night, every movement was so fast, so sure.

She shifted forward, and his hand slid around the back of her neck, thumb brushing her jaw. She leaned into it, and for a moment, they just stood.

The pressure in her chest built. Gratitude. That he existed, that he was here, that he wanted to stay.

“We’re okay, right? After the other day? I didn’t like leaving like that,” he said and closed the distance between them. “And then this morning… was different.”