Page 33 of Rescuing Riley
Chapter Twelve
The weekend cameand went with no sign of Liza. The SFPD didn’t have any leads either. Josh and Riley checked in with Taylor several times, but she hadn’t heard from Liza since Friday, which was four days ago, the day the cops had dragged Josh down to the station. Josh had racked his brain since he and Riley had questioned Taylor, trying to remember if Liza had ever mentioned anything about her former employer or anyone she’d dealt with recently that might have frightened her. But Josh had nothing.
Riley had to extend her trip. She didn’t want to leave until she knew Liza was safe.
Josh waltzed into the restaurant at the inn. Riley had found a corner table near the window that overlooked the Pacific. Her black-as-night hair was tied up on top of her head. Gold-looped earrings dangled from her ears, and her long neck appeared smooth as silk. Josh itched to drag his fingers over her skin.
He slid into the chair across from her.
She typed furiously on her laptop, completely absorbed in what she was doing.
Josh cleared his throat. “I think it’s time you take a break.”
She’d been working nonstop on her computer for two days in between helping Josh with his dad. Josh had protested that she didn’t need to do anything around the house, but she’d insisted.
“If I’m going to stay with you, I need to earn my keep, and helping takes my mind off of Liza,” she’d said.
Dad was loving the fact that there was a lady in the house, and one he was trying every which way to set Josh up with. Josh couldn’t blame him. Secretly, Josh wanted him to do what he could, like put in a good word for Josh with Riley, although Josh had a feeling Dad didn’t have to do that.
Josh had found her stealing looks at him in the mornings when he walked into the kitchen. He would do the same to her when she wasn’t looking. She seemed so at ease and at home around the house. It was as though she belonged there.
Stop getting ahead of yourself.
The only good thing about Liza missing was that Josh got to spend time with Riley and learn her little quirks, like when she stirred sugar in her coffee, she went clockwise and then counterclockwise before setting down the spoon. Or she tugged on her earlobe when she was telling him about how she and Liza had often talked about opening up a dress shop together where Liza would design dresses, wedding ones in particular.
Aside from all that, Josh’s stomach tumbled endlessly anytime he was around her like at that moment. As he stared into her luscious gray eyes, they mesmerized him.
She stopped typing. “I might have to fly back to Boston. I don’t want to, but the longer I stay, the more behind I’ll get, and then I’ll have some angry clients.”
“I’ll call the SFPD again today. Maybe we should talk to Grayson to see if he’s heard any more activity in her apartment.” Josh had no doubt that if Liza was home, she would’ve called or even shown up at the inn like she had been scheduled to the week before. “For now, let’s go for a walk. Drake has things covered here. My dad is taking a nap in between watching Netflix.”
Riley sighed. “I could use a break.” Suddenly, a tear trickled down her cheek.
Josh reached over and grasped her cold hand. “Hey, we’ll find Liza.” He wasn’t so sure about that, but the only conclusion he could come up with was that Liza hadn’t been kidnapped by Moretti’s men, not if they were stalking her apartment.
Riley squeezed his fingers. “I can’t imagine what has happened to her. I keep going over it in my head. My brother, Ross, tells me that Stefano’s arraignment is tomorrow. I can’t help but think that maybe Stefano is trying to shut up all his employees, past and present, until his trial is over. I mean if no one testifies against him, then there isn’t a case.”
“That would depend,” Josh said, “on what kind of evidence the law has. They may not need anyone to testify.”
She flicked a button on her computer then began reading. “It says here that Stefano’s lawyer believes the prosecution has nothing on his client.”
Josh pushed to his feet then circled the table and grabbed the back of her chair. “Come on. A break will do you good. Charlie could use a walk as well.”
She didn’t protest as she closed her computer.
After Josh grabbed Charlie, the three of them strolled down Main Street, passing stores and other establishments.
The air was cool. The sun was shining, and tourists were window-shopping like they were, or like Riley was.
A bridal shop had caught her attention, one that was for sale.
Charlie sniffed around one of the many pear trees on the street. Josh tugged lightly on the leash then joined Riley. A mannequin stood tall inside the window, wearing an off-the-shoulder cream-colored wedding dress.
Riley hooked her arm around Josh’s. “I noticed the inn hosts weddings.”
“We have. We don’t do many. When my mom was alive, we did more.”
She stared at the window, her mind so far away.
