Page 43 of SEAL's Paradise
Riley mulled that over.She’d been focused on IDing the culprits and hadn’t given too much thought to the end game of the buyer.DOD analysts and others within the intelligence community were monitoring chatter for information on whatever the buyer was plotting.Just because they hadn’t determined the plans yet didn’t mean a plot hadn’t been formed.The trouble was, they needed to stop it before it could be fully executed.
Her phone buzzed, and Sawyer watched as she pulled it from her purse.“Huh.Take a look at this.”
Sawyer scanned over the intercepted message.
I made it to the address last night after all.Let’s just say the girl I saw made it well worth my time.More of that, please.
“What the hell?”Sawyer asked.
“He must’ve paid her in cash since we intercepted the drugs.I can only guess that was originally intended for her.”Riley shook her head.“That seedy little massage parlor is a whole other problem.”
“Not sure we can deal with that right now, kitten,” Sawyer told her.“We’ve got bigger problems with traitors and stolen military weapons.”
He clicked his remote and walked around his truck to open the passenger door.Riley was too lost in thought to protest that she didn’t need his help.Sawyer’s hands lingered on her waist as he helped her up.She glanced at him in surprise, and his eyes landed on her mouth.No.He couldn’t kiss her here while in uniform and on base, and she felt a tug of uncertainty.Did she want him to kiss her?He’d done so freely in the past.
Things were...complicated.Too complicated.
“Are you working tonight?”Sawyer asked after he got into the driver’s seat.
“Yep.I figured I might as well keep my regular shift, see if any other trouble comes in.”
“Is that an invitation?”he joked, waggling his eyebrows.
Riley cleared her throat, trying to maintain her composure.“We should probably just keep things professional between us.You do whatever you normally do in the evenings, and I’ll head in to work.”
He playfully scowled at her.“Come on now, kitten.Everyone there already thinks we’re getting married.I might as well play the part.”He started the engine, and Riley put on her seatbelt, wondering what his angle was.They found the guy.They’d get a name.Things were finally happening.Moving forward.She supposed Sawyer did frequent Coconuts, but he’d just been there last night.Surely, he had other things to do than hang out at the bar while she worked.
“You do realize we don’t need to actually get married now,” she pointed out.“Your CO practically spoon-fed us a list of names.I don’t have a need to be lurking around base trying to make progress on my investigation anymore.”
He chuckled.“I do realize that, kitten.It’s a damn shame we no longer need to tie the knot.”
“Why do you say that?”she asked.
“I was mighty looking forward to our wedding night.”
Chapter 19
