Page 28

Twenty-seven

ENTERING THEIR ROOM , Greyson shut the door behind them and locked it. Riley had filled him in on her findings during their rushed walk back. They had stopped to warn Roni and Brad to leave, though he and Riley would wait until the shuttle left for a special wine-tasting supper, with Kevin likely driving as he had most other excursions.

They’d take the opportunity to disappear into the night. Hopefully no one would notice their absence until morning—putting hours between them and anyone who might try to follow them. He still couldn’t believe Kevin’s role. He had to be the one who’d ambushed Riley, broken into her house ... Speaking of breaking in ... He stopped and stared around the room, curious what Alvin had touched—what he’d learned.

“I think I’ll take a shower,” Riley said, gesturing him in once again.

“Good idea.” He followed her into the bathroom, where she turned on the shower and shut the door.

“We need to catch Deckard up. He needs to loop Joel into this now. It’s been forty-eight hours, and with Kelly’s luggage still here, he can open a missing person’s case now.” Riley pulled her phone from her pocket.

Her cheeks were flushed, her lips still rosy from their kiss. He’d never experienced anything like that kiss. But he owed her an apology. He’d acted in the moment and taken a liberty that wasn’t his from the one person he cared most about. If she only knew how much. And while the kiss had been out of this world for him, it’d probably been downright awkward for her.

He cleared his throat, the steam enveloping them. “About that kiss...” he began.

She lowered the phone as her bright blue eyes searched his. “Yes?”

He cleared his throat. “I’m truly—” he began, his voice husky.

“Don’t say it,” she cut him off.

“What I was...” He paused. Were those tears misting in her eyes, or was it the steam from the shower? He prayed the latter. If his kiss had caused her distress, he wouldn’t be able to bear it. “I—”

“Don’t say you’re sorry,” her voice broke. “Please.”

He studied her. Was the kiss so upsetting to her?

She squared her shoulders. “Please don’t negate my first kiss as something you regret.”

His eyes widened, and he leaned back on the sink, needing something to hold him up. He’d taken her first kiss? On one hand, he reveled in the pleasure that he’d been the first to kiss the woman he loved, but on the other hand, he felt like a scoundrel for doing so.

She stepped from the room and shut the door.

After a staggering moment, he followed her out.

She sat on the sofa, texting. No doubt to her brother, who—if he found out about the kiss—would deck him. “I caught him up to speed,” she said. “They said their latest visit was a bust. A neighbor said he was off on a two-week camping trip. Apparently, he likes outdoor activities too.”

“That sounds familiar.”

She nodded.

He ached to sit beside her, to tell her the kiss may have started as a diversion, but it meant infinitely more to him. But he let her be. Telling her his feelings for her would only make the situation more awkward and embarrassing.

He moved for the desk, searching for what Alvin had searched through. He scanned the room methodically—taking in one surface, one item, at a time. His gaze landed on the safe, and he froze.

Riley looked over at him and frowned. What? she mouthed.

He held up a finger and rushed for the safe. Bending over, he punched in the code. It opened, and he straightened, stiff as a rod. Empty. Their guns were gone.

Riley rushed to his side and looked into the empty safe then up at him.

“We need to go,” he whispered in her ear. “Now.”

She nodded.

He moved to the window and gazed outside. The courtyard was clear. The shuttle had to be loading.

Moving toward Riley, he lowered his mouth and whispered in her ear. “Get something warmer on as fast as you can. Grab your backpack and shove only essentials in. As soon as that shuttle takes off, so do we.”