Page 40 of Castling the Rook (Checkmate 3)

“That’s fine.” Lacing her fingers in my hair, she drags my face up and drops a gentle kiss on my lips. “We’re just having fun, remember? Then you get to go back to your weekend brunch life with your momma, and I’ll go back to not missing a guy just because he has a pretty smile and fast wit. This missing you thing is a pile of horseshit, and you can bet I didn’t agree to it.”

I think that’s the closest she’s ever come to professing feelings for a man before, and it’s both warming and annoying. “Why are you here? Where are the kids?”

“They’re at home. Ben’s on duty for an hour.”

“Ben? You trust him?”

“Yeah.” She pulls me down until we lay on our sides and face each other. “He’s an amazing kid, and no one will get into that house without his permission. He has a friend over; a friend of thefemalevariety. So the three of them are watching a movie, then I gotta drive the girl home at eleven.” She grabs my wrist and presses random buttons on my watch until I grind the enamel from my teeth. Finally, she finds the light and illuminates the time. “I have twenty minutes to get dressed and home. You made perfect time, Cruz.”

“Lindsi won’t get mad he has a girlfriend over?”

“Nah. She’s not hisgirlfriend. Just a girl. And a friend.”

I roll my eyes. “That’s what every teenage boy says, you gullible fool.” Preparing my body for a brand-new shock, I close my eyes and hold my breath, then I roll back off the dock and hit the water with a splash so I can wash the drying come from my stomach. I resurface and almost come nose to nose with Andi as she leans over the edge with a smile.

“You look sexy in the water, Riley. I can tell you enjoy it.”

“Yeah?” I grab her arms and tug her over the side until she splashes in beside me with a squeal. I enjoy it more when she’s in with me.

Fifteen minutes later, I pull into Oz and Lindsi’s driveway behind Dee’s little car, and because she knew exactly what she was doing, she climbs out in bone-dry clothes, and I squelch my way out of my truck like a total fucking punk. I catch up to her at her car, then with a hand on her back, I follow her up the front path and onto the porch.

It’s odd to me, to be comfortable in my superior’s home, but he isn’t here, and if he was, I probably wouldn’t have followed her home. Andi opens the front door with her keys and reveals the darkened living room so the lights from the TV illuminate a trio of youthful gazes. Livi and Ben’s friend glances up and studies me from top to toe, and though Benny sits in the middle of the two girls like a total boss, his eyes hold a lot of animosity.

“Alright, Benny.” Andi unapologetically flips the lights on and shrugs when the kids scrunch their eyes. “I’m back, which means it’s bedtime. Say goodbye to your friend.”

The girl’s innocent eyes flip between everyone else. Like she’s not sure what she should do, she continues to come back to me and my wet clothes, then back to Ben like he holds all the answers. She climbs to her feet and slides on a pair of sneakers while Livi flops along the couch and continues to watch the movie.

Ben stands and follows his friend to the front door, but Dee gives them no space for goodbyes. Sixteen or twenty-six, Ben won’t get a goodnight kiss from his not-a-girlfriend girl-friend.

Wavy brown hair, and a sweet buck-toothed smile, the girl wrings her hands together nervously. “Thanks for inviting me over.”

“It’s okay. You should bring your sister next time. We can hang out.”

Shrugging, she takes another step toward the door. “Okay. I’ll ask her.”

“Goodnight, Nora.” Dee smiles toward me. “Officer Cruz is gonna take you home tonight, okay? I already texted your mom and said you were on the way.”

“Okay. Goodnight everyone.”

I stop on the front porch and watch the girl walk to my truck. Turning back, I cup Andi’s jaw when she stops within half an inch of my body. “Night, Dee.”

Smiling, she leans into my hand. “Goodnight, Riley. Safe drive. Thanks for saving me.”

I shake my head and walk away before I say something stupid. Something that rhymes with ‘don’t leave on Saturday.’

Still wet, icy-cold water dribbles from my shorts and slides along my legs until I shiver. Climbing into my truck, I switch the ignition on and turn the heater up. The young girl watches me with curiosity, but she doesn’t ask. She knows I’m a cop, and most everyone – except Andi – is intimidated by that. So she keeps her mouth shut and watches out the side window as we pull out of Oz’s driveway and head back to her house across town.

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