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Saint ignored the heat that kicked at what she was suggesting. Patience.

“Fucking Wheeler,” he muttered, startling a laugh out of Riley.

“Would he have really barged in?”

“He’s done it before. To Aaron,” Saint was quick to clarify. Wheeler had never walked in on him, thank fuck. Saint did not like uninvited guests in his bed, and Wheeler knew he kept a handgun in the bedside table. There was no sense in tempting him, though.

“Aaron? Really?” The curiosity in her voice was adorable.

“Oh, yeah. He’s very—uh—popular.”

“Saint, did you just call Aaron a slut?” She playfully shoved him and he caught her hand before she got too far away.

“Your words, not mine.”

They sat in a warm silence before she stilled again, retreating into her thoughts.

“What do you want to do about Kristi?” he asked.

She straightened, sobering. “She keeps kissing me and then taking off.”

You kissed her back that last time.

“That sounds irritating.”

“I just want to talk to her, but it’s clear she’s not there. Guess I can’t keep ignoring that one.”

“I’m sorry about the ‘wilfully ignorant’ comment. That was uncalled for.” Saint winced at the memory. He’d been very… intense… at the coffee shop.

“Nah, it wasn’t. Kristi has called me naive several times. And I was. Not on purpose, but I definitely wasn’t asking the right questions. I was scared.”

Something black and dark slithered along Saint’s spine as the way Gio had looked at Riley in the loading bay flashed through his mind. She’d been right to be scared.

It was done. Handled.

Riley wiggled away from him and returned with her phone. “I can’t keep chasing her.”

He hummed his agreement. Kristi was like a cat. She needed to know the cost was worth it. And it wasn’t a reflection on Riley that she hadn’t figured that out yet.

“You can’t.”

“But if she stops running… I want to see.” She fidgeted, and Saint waited her out. Kristi isn’t the only one running. “I hope that’s okay.”

“Just keep me in the loop.”

She looked up again. “You’re seriously okay with this? Are you wanting an open relationship?”

He caught the automatic growl before it got out. “No. Not open. But Kristi’s… different. And I think you should explore it if it’s something you want to do.”

“So you’re giving me a Kristi-sized hall pass?” She tried to keep her giggle in.

“If that’s how you need to think about it, then sure. Just keep talking to me.” He tipped her chin up and slowly brushed his lips over hers.

“Okay.” She kissed him once more before she returned to her phone and found her conversation with Kristi.

Riley: Let me know when you want to talk. I’m not going to keep chasing you, but I’m here.

She sighed when she hit send, clicked the screen off, and put the phone out of reach.