Page 26 of Storm Warning

“Sounds like you just handed me great blackmail material.”

Noah gave her a pointed look. “Remember that goes both ways.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But she did.

“I saw you and Andre kissing earlier.”

She froze, her cheeks burning. “Really?”

“You can’t claim you’re just friends anymore, Riley. It’s obvious to anyone who saw those kisses that you and Andre are involved.”

“Maybe.”

He chuckled as he got her moving to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door. Noah handed her three bottles of water and grabbed two for himself and Seth. “Need a snack?”

“Not yet. Christopher is still asleep.”

His smile faded. “Has Maddox said anything about Chris’s home life?”

She shook her head. “He hasn’t called yet.”

“If there’s anything to find, he and Zane will uncover it. And don’t feel guilty for not volunteering to do that Internet search as well. You can’t do everything. There is a time and place for divide and conquer.”

“And this is it?”

“You’ve got it.”

They returned to the recovery room, where Riley left Seth and Noah on guard duty in the hall. Andre opened his eyes as soon as she walked in.

“Everything okay? You were gone a while.”

Of course he knew how long she’d been gone. Andre paid attention to everything. All of them did. For operatives, details meant life or death. “Talking to Noah.” Riley handed a bottle of water to Andre. When he finished the drink, she tossed the empty bottle into a nearby recycling bin.

“Come sit with me. I missed you.”

Riley’s heart fluttered. “I need my computer.” She crossed the room to her equipment bag and pulled out her laptop.

Andre frowned. “You aren’t going back to sleep?”

“Can’t.” She shrugged. “When my feet hit the ground, that’s it for me. I’m wide awake from then on. You, however, should go back to sleep. Your body needs rest to heal faster.”

“Wake me if you need me.”

Concern knotted her gut. For Andre to agree to take a nap without argument showed how bad he felt. “I will. Promise.”

After brushing her lips with his, Andre closed his eyes and dropped into sleep in less than a minute.

Must be nice. Sleep usually took a long time coming for her. Too many memories wanted out during the night. When they slipped from the lock she placed them under, her sleep ended for the night.

Riley took a minute to study Andre’s handsome face. She should have told him she had trouble sleeping most nights. But the truth was she was afraid to tell him. What if he thought her broken and too much trouble?

Tears stung her eyes. He wouldn’t be wrong. Riley was broken in ways that may never mend. Trouble was her middle name. No leaving it behind.

She blinked rapidly to dispel the tears. If Andre woke right now, he’d demand to know what was wrong and how to fix it. Sometimes things and people couldn’t be fixed. Like her.

“Riley.” He spoke without opening his eyes. “Come sit beside me so I can sleep.”

Knowing when to give in rather than fight, Riley eased onto the bed beside Andre and booted up her computer.