SUNDAY. HILTON GARDEN Inn, Frankfurt, Germany.

Riley wrapped his arm around Erin’s waist, holding her to him. The water clinging to her skin soaked his clothes and the smell of her girly soap clogged his nose. Her mouth slid against his, urgent, needy.

The only thing that made sense to him right now was that being with her, right now, was where he belonged. That went against everything he’d learned, but the voice saying stay was louder than the one that wanted to run.

Her arms slid around his shoulders and she leaned against him. Her tongue slid into his mouth, teasing his.

She was amazing. Plain and simple. She took the kind of stuff that would make other people fall to pieces and she built a tank out of it. He wished he had half her wisdom. Listening to her helped him understand his own shortcomings. He knew what he needed to do to fix them, but he had to focus on her first.

His hours with Erin were limited.

He didn’t know how to ask her for more, but he was getting there. And that meant he had to do whatever it took to get back in her good graces. He’d fucked up. He’d lost her trust, and it would take a miracle to get it back by the time this was over. But he’d do what he could, and maybe, just maybe, she’d throw him a bone.

Erin broke the kiss and sank back down on her feet. She leaned her cheek against his shoulder, her hands splayed against his chest. He kept a firm hold on her waist, careful of her ribs, and kissed the top of her head.

He’d never met a woman like her. One that understood him on so many levels. He wanted to keep seeing her. And that alone was a world of difference from what he normally had going.

“I know I don’t deserve it, but I want another chance,” he said.

“At what?” She lifted her head off his shoulder and stared at him.

Of course Erin would demand he say it.

Riley swallowed and gathered the words.

“Us,” he said.

“That was never a thing.” She let go of him and walked out to the room.

No, they hadn’t exactly said it in so many words, but he knew what it felt like when two people were in alignment. And they’d been there.

Riley followed her out to the room. Erin picked up a bottle from the dresser and squinted at the label.

He felt big, scary things for her. Things he couldn’t remember feeling in a long time. Maybe it was crazy to be here after only a few days, but he was less afraid of that than losing her.

“You like me, and you’re scared I’m going to break your trust again,” he said.

She paused slicking the lotion on her arms and hands.

“I don’t do relationships because I suck at them. I’m an out of sight, out of mind kind of guy usually, but I can’t get the idea of seeing you again out of my head. That has to mean something. I have to believe there’s a reason for it.”

“Sometimes there is no reason.” She focused on her hands and the lotion.

Riley came to a stop behind her. He braced his hands on the dresser, trapping her between him and the furniture.

“My gut tells me there is.” He bent his head and kissed his shoulder. “The only reason I turned when I did this morning was because I had a gut feeling something wasn’t right.”

They’d both seen the box. If he hadn’t turned, if the box hadn’t come between him and that bullet, he’d be dead.

Her breath stuttered and her shoulders hunched.

Erin turned to face him, the lines around her mouth and eyes bringing back those moments when he’d looked up at her. He’d thought he was dying, that she’d be next. Fear like that was hard to forget.

“There could be an us. If you want.” He knew it came down to what she wanted, and a fucked-up guy with baggage might not be her heart’s desire.

“What does that mean? An us?” She leaned against the dresser, hands behind her.

“Whatever you want it to mean.”

“Riley...” She closed her eyes and shook her head.

“Hey?” He cupped her cheek. “You don’t have to decide right now. I’m just putting it out there. Okay?”

He wasn’t above keeping her from saying no to buy him some time. If he could buy some time he could perhaps figure out a better way of winning her over. For the first time in his life, he didn’t want to lose a woman he cared about.

Riley bent his head and kissed her lips gently. She leaned into him. He could keep going, and he was fairly certain the only thing that would stop either of them was an orgasm, but that wasn’t what he was after.

“What do you say?” he whispered against her mouth.

Her eyes opened, and she stared at him. This close he could see the varied colors of brown ringing her iris.

“Okay,” she whispered.

It wasn’t a promise, but it was an opportunity.

He gave her a little squeeze.

Erin grunted, a pained sound that had Riley leaning back and letting go. Her face creased in pain.

“It’s okay,” she said.

“What hurt?”

“Ribs. It’s okay.” She pressed her hand to her side.

Shit. He hadn’t forgotten, but he hadn’t been careful enough either.

“Why don’t we watch a movie or something?” Given what she’d been through, that was probably the most taxing activity she was up for.

“I don’t really like sitting back doing nothing.” She grasped the tail of his belt and he swallowed.

“Hadn’t noticed.”

Yeah right. She was only happy when she was doing something. He’d barely known her a week, and he knew that.

Her nimble fingers unfastened his belt. The towel slid lower.

He knew where this was going, and his cock liked the idea.

Riley grabbed her by the wrists.

“Erin, that’s not a good idea right now. You’re hurt—”

“Make me feel better, then.” She did this little wiggle, and the towel fell to the floor.

This was the moment when he needed to be a better man. He should tell her no, look out for her best interest. And yet, the way she stared at him he knew he would do exactly what she wanted, for however long it pleased her.

He cupped her face and kissed her lips.

“Are the condoms in your bag, or mine?” he asked.

“Mine.”

Riley would have to be very careful.

He dug his fingers into her hair and bent her head backward. She sighed and her body slumped against him. He was learning her ways, the things that made her tick.

Riley used his grip on her hair to turn her then walk Erin back until they ran into the mattress.

“Sit,” he said.

“I didn’t think you liked giving orders.” She perched on the edge of the mattress, one leg crossed over the other.

“You like taking them, so I do what I can.”

She arched a brow at him but couldn’t hide the way her skin tinged pink. He bumped her chin with his fingers and buzzed her lips with a kiss. He wasn’t stupid enough to think this side of her extended beyond the bedroom.

Riley backed away, memorizing the picture she made sitting there on the bed. Her crossed legs seemed almost demure, as though she were hiding herself from view. Her tight nipples telegraphed the message he’d already received loud and clear.

He knelt, wincing at the sudden tightness of his pants.

There wasn’t much in Erin’s bag. The box of condoms was easy to find. He tore off a condom with his teeth and held it there. His hands had other jobs to do.

Erin’s smile grew more crooked, her gaze sliding down his body.

Riley yanked at the laces on his boots until they were loose enough to work his feet out of. He stood, tossing his shirt off and wiggling out of his boots.

Erin chuckled, her smile widening.

This was what he liked. When she forgot the troubles and focused on the moment. She was damn beautiful. He wanted to be the reason she smiled and gave her something better to think about.

“Come here.” She reached out and grabbed the end of his belt, pulling him toward her.

He took a step, and she uncrossed her legs. He took another and would have run into her knees if she hadn’t parted her thighs.

“I want you to come to Miami.” She tipped her chin up and stared at him. The way her gaze focused on his, he knew it wasn’t a small matter.

Riley took the packet from his mouth and tossed it on the bed. “When’s good for you?”

“Whenever you’re there?”

“Then, next week?” He reached out and ran his finger across her cheek.

Asking wasn’t a small thing for her. Committing to it wasn’t small for him either. They were both taking a step into the unknown here.

She turned her head and kissed his palm.

He’d do whatever it took to give them the best shot possible.

“Lie down,” he said.

Erin arched a brow at him, but did as he asked. She leaned back on her elbows. He didn’t miss the wince of pain. That worried him, but there was nothing for him to do about it except keep her from further injuring herself.

Riley tabbed his pants open and cupped his groin, protecting his erection from the zipper’s teeth. Shit, that was a tighter fit than he was comfortable with.

He pushed the rest of his clothes off and glanced at the bed. Erin’s hand was between her legs, her finger stroking her folds.

“That’s my job.” He grabbed her wrist and pushed it away.

“You weren’t doing it.” Erin grinned at him and his heart squeezed. This was what he’d been missing. He’d just been too stupid to realize it earlier.

“I’ll fix that.” He hooked his hands under her knees and knelt on the bed, letting her thighs drape over his.

Riley bent forward until he could kiss her sternum. They had a little bit of time. There was no need to rush this. Her hands stroked his face, and shoulders.

“Fixing it, my ass,” she said with a chuckle.

Riley sighed. “Foreplay is lost on you, isn’t it?”

“Foreplay started over an hour ago when you said you were sorry.” She tugged on his hair.

He leaned forward until he could kiss her lips. He grasped his cock and slid it between her folds. She hissed and fisted his hair.

“Condom,” she said with need.

Riley pushed up and grabbed the packet, ripping it open. She lay back, watching his hands roll the latex on while her fingers drew circles on her ribs and chest.

He wanted to keep that look on her face forever.

That was a thought that should scare him. Send him running from the room even. But he had no intention of bailing. Not now. Not unless that was what Erin wanted.

He grasped his cock and thrust into her, watching her face. She gasped and her eyes widened. He grinned and thrust again. Her pussy tightened around him and it was his turn to groan in pleasure.

Riley palmed her breast and thrust, sliding as deep as he could go. Erin panted, staring up at him with eyes gone dark from lust. He felt the same way about her. All that hunger for more that’s what mattered more than the fear of screwing up.

He eased out of her, keeping the motions gentle. Easy.

“Riley.” She constricted her calves, driving her heels into his ass, driving him deeper.

“Careful.”

“Harder.” That was not a tone that brokered argument.

Riley straightened, hooking his arms under her knees. He thrust, and she groaned. Her breasts bobbed with the movement.

“Yes.” She fisted the sheets.

He thrust again, his focus on her. The way she groaned, how her face creased, the white-knuckled grip on the sheets, all signs of pleasure.

Riley let go of one knee and braced his hand at her waist. She let go of the sheets and reached for him. She pulled him down, kissing his mouth and cheek. Her nails bit into his skin. Her whimpers drove him on as she called out his name, saying words he didn’t understand.

His vision blurred. He gripped her hair tighter and kissed her, pouring it all into her. Every bit of hope he had, it was hers.

SUNDAY. NEW YORK CITY, New York.

Mark glanced up and down the landing, but the hall was clear. He didn’t want an audience for this visit.

Over the years his company had sponsored a number of individuals coming to America for a variety of reasons. With Khalil Muhssan Al-Araji, it was about separating the brains from the body. The young man had been too smart to leave alone and too well-connected to kill. Giving him a one-way ticket to America got him out of Mark’s hair and let him bank a favor.

He strolled down to the last apartment on the right. Music blared inside. Khalil was home. Mark knocked and leaned against the wall.

After a few moments with no answer, he knocked again.

“It’s Mark. Open up,” he called out.

The scrape of a lock and the jangle of a chain were enough to let him know further threats weren’t necessary.

A narrow crack opened and a thin, young man with dark, shrewd eyes stared back at Mark.

“Mr. Forest, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Khalil asked.

“We need to talk.” Mark planted his hand on the door and pushed.

Khalil stepped back before he got smacked in the face. Mark shoved the door closed and glanced around the apartment. It was neat, a bit sparse in furniture, but he’d stayed in worse.

“Would you care for some tea? Coffee?” Though Khalil’s words were polite, his stare was wary. The kid was smart.

“We need to talk about Erin Lopez. Remember her?” Mark pulled his phone out and brought up the staged picture. “Two days ago, she did this to your cousins.”

Khalil stumbled back, his skin going pale.

Mark had him.

People were so fucking stupid.

MONDAY. FRANKFURT AIRPORT, Germany.

Riley stared at his phone with dread gnawing at his stomach.

Erin leaned against his shoulder and stared at the wiggling camera icon.

“Answer it,” she said.

He glanced over his shoulder at the others clustered around the coffee stand a dozen yards or so from their gate.

“We only have ten minutes before boarding starts,” Erin said.

She was right. Ten minutes would restrict the amount of embarrassing bullshit Mom might share. Then again, she might come out slinging with the worst, or best, stuff first.

Riley sighed and tapped the ringing icon.

A moment later his mother’s face filled the screen from a downward angle.

“Hey, Mom.” Riley propped his chin in his hand. Her wide grin never failed to bring back warm memories. Warm cookies fresh out of the oven. Ice cream after a long day helping Dad.

“Good Lord, son. You look like hell.” Mom squinted at him.

“Good to see you, too. What are you doing up? Isn’t it like...ten there?” He was a bit fuzzy on the math, but that seemed right.

“Where are you? I thought you were home by now. We’ve been at the hospital. Your silly brother went and fell off the tractor being an ass.”

“I was not!” one of Riley’s brothers yelled from off screen.

“Who is that? Matt?” he asked.

“Don’t you know it? Look!”

Mom turned the phone around until Riley could see Matt laid up on the sofa in their parent’s house. Dad sat in the recliner adjacent to the sofa, oblivious to the conversation. Matt had his arm in a sling, flipping Riley the bird.

“Oh my God.” He shook his head.

“What did he do?” Erin peered over his shoulder.

“Who is she? Mom, Riley’s got a girl.” Matt pointed at the phone.

“What?” Mom turned the phone back around while Erin muffled her snickering against Riley’s shoulder.

“Hi.” Erin wiggled her fingers.

“Mom, this is Erin. Be nice.” Riley knew it was pointless asking her to be on her best behavior. That was what they all loved about Mom.

“Hello, Erin.” Mom waved at the phone. “He never lets me talk to any of his friends. You must be special.”

Erin reached over and took Riley’s phone from him. The grin on her face was everything. He might dread what his Mom was about to say, but at least Erin was happy and distracted. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but she wasn’t as happy today as she’d been yesterday or the day before. There was an unease about her that he didn’t know how to fix.

“Where are you from, Erin?” Mom asked.

“I was born and raised in Miami, but until this week I’ve been living in Erbil.”

“Urbill? Where is that?” Mom tilted her head.

“It’s in the Middle East.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Erbil is one of the safest areas. I’d still suggest being careful if you visit, but typically tourists are fine.”

“Where are you headed now? Is my son being a gentleman?”

“Yes, he is.” Erin glanced at him, one side of her mouth hitching higher than the other. “Riley and his team are taking me back to Dallas.”

“My youngest son lives outside of Dallas!” Mom clapped her hands together and dropped the phone.

Erin stared, eyes wide with one hand over her mouth. Riley shrugged. That was Mom.

“Sorry, sorry!” Mom brought the phone back up. “Is Riley going to get to see Casey while he’s there?”

“I was going to text him.” Riley leaned into the shot. “Then you called.”

“You and Casey need to come home for a while. I can’t get a lot done with Matt laid up like this.” Mom sighed and shook her head.

“I’ll see what I can make happen.” Riley would have to get it cleared with Zain and Grant, but if Matt was down, Riley did need to pitch in and help.

As though Riley’s thoughts summoned him, Grant sank into the chair across from him.

“We’ve got to go, Mom.” Riley took the phone from Erin.

“You didn’t even tell me where you are.” Mom sighed.

“Germany. It’s really early here, and we’re about to get on a plane. Get some sleep and smother Matt with a pillow for me, will you?”

“You boys. You’re going to be the death of me.” Mom shook her head.

“Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too!”

Riley ended the call before she got off any other parting remarks. As chats with her went, that wasn’t so bad. No horrible stories from growing up. No painfully awkward suggestions to bring Erin home. This was good. He’d have a billion texts when they landed asking if Erin was single, had they hit it off, and maybe even a list of potential baby names if she was in a real mood.

“Your brother lives near Dallas?” Erin asked.

“Yeah, I keep meaning to text him. Let me do that real quick...”

Hey loser. Touching down at DFW in 24 hours from Germany. You free?

Riley figured Casey was busy. He always had something going on, it seemed. If Riley could snag him for a beer that would be nice. They probably needed to talk about how to help out, and if it was possible with Casey’s schedule.

“What does your brother do?” Erin asked.

“Casey is the cop. He’s in a small town north west of Ft Worth called Ransom.”

“That sounds familiar...”

“It’s one of those major historical landmarks in the area. In the eighties, some Texas historical group voted it the most untouched town in the state and they’ve been flogging that since then.”

“Sounds like a nice place.”

“If you like small towns.” Riley shrugged. He wasn’t that interested in living where everyone knew his history, but Casey was different.

“So you’re going home after this?”

“If Matt’s really laid up, then yeah.” Riley grimaced and stretched out his legs. He caught Grant’s gaze. “One of my dumbass younger brothers hurt himself baling. I’m probably going to have to head up there when we’re done.”

Grant merely nodded but didn’t speak. They were slated for some time off. Time away from the team might be best for them all.

He wished Grant wasn’t right there. He and Erin had a few things to discuss and Riley didn’t want an audience.

“I’m going to take a last walk before we board.” He checked the time. “You want to come?”

“I’ll take a walk.” Erin pushed to her feet.

“Don’t go far,” Grant said.

“Sure thing, dad.” Riley smacked Grant on the shoulder then ambled off with Erin at his side.

“I guess Miami is on hold then?” Erin asked.

“Yeah. I’m disappointed about that.” Because he wanted to spend time with her.

“Maybe we shouldn’t. Maybe we should chalk this up to a crazy week?”

“No.” Riley stopped and grasped her by the hand, turning her to face him.

“Riley...I like you.” Erin stared up at him, her brown eyes a touch sad. “Maybe more than I should, which means I need more than a fun weekend. I can’t take you going hot and cold, there and gone.”

“I told you, I overreacted yesterday.” He squeezed her hand.

“Yeah, but when this is over, and you go to see your family, what then? What if you change your mind? I don’t want to think there’s more to this than there is.”

“What can I do?”

“I don’t know. Maybe we don’t know each other well enough to do this?”

Riley’s mind raced, trying to fit all the different scenarios together.

“Were you going to Miami after Dallas? Immediately?” he asked.

“I don’t know. It could be a few days, maybe a week. I don’t know.” She lifted her shoulders.

“Look, baling shouldn’t take more than a few days, and they don’t know if Matt’s out of commission for sure. With him, he’ll be out there doing something. Dad’s there, he can run the tractor. I’d be surprised if they weren’t mostly done by the time I’d fly there, anyway. Let’s not make concrete plans just yet, okay? Let’s get you to Texas, sort out what’s really going on, and take it from there, okay?” Riley couldn’t say for sure what his schedule was going to be or where he was going. It was the downside to living like he did. He couldn’t offer more than a vague idea of what the future could hold to her.

“I don’t know...”

“Please, just give me one chance? One that’s all I’m asking for. If I blow it, fine. Whatever. I screwed up. But give me one opportunity?” He’d never begged a woman for anything in his life like he wanted this. It was new and scary territory.

Erin stared up at him for several long moments.

“One chance,” she said.

“I’ll take it.” He cupped her cheeks and kissed her brow. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“Nothing that I’m aware of.”

“Ouch.” He covered his heart with his hands and winced, earning a chuckle and a half smile from Erin. Her smile was what drew him to her picture in the very beginning, and now it was what he lived for.

He was going to show her he was worth taking a chance on. How, he didn’t know, but he’d figure it out.