“How about sorting out my filing system?”
Excitement shot through her . . . before coming to a crashing halt. “No, thank you.”
A pause. “Ria, this has nothing to do with anything else. I’m an ice-cold bastard when it comes to business—I need an assistant who can deliver the goods.”
“And the fact that I’d be protected at DarkRiver HQ is coincidence?”
“Yep. If you suck at your job, I’ll boot you out after the probationary period.”
Hearing that delighted her. “I,” she said, starting to grin, “am very good at what I do.”
“Then when can you start?”
Ria blinked. “Today if necessary.”
“I’ll see you when you arrive.”
Hanging up, Ria looked into three pairs of avidly interested eyes. The symmetry of it struck her deep in the heart. Miaoling, with her wise, laughing gaze. Alex, so energetic and impatient. Amber, with both Miaoling’s sense of calm and a slight wickedness it took even friends and family a long time to see.
Smile cracking her face, Ria pumped her fist in a victory salute before jumping over to do a little dance around the three most important women in her life. Alex opened up a bottle of champagne she’d secreted away—though Amber had to be satisfied with grape juice—and did a toast. “Here’s to my daughter. Much too smart for that imbecile, Tom.”
Emmett walked into Lucas’s office area and winked at the assistant sitting primly at her desk. “Boss in?” “You look like a hoodlum,” he was told, before Ria got up and came over. “Did you even brush your hair after you showered?” She was threading her fingers through that hair as she spoke.
Emmett savored the feel of her so close. Hearing Lucas’s door open, he bent down, picked Ria up, and planted a bone-tingling kiss on her lips.
She was panting for breath by the time he finished, her cheeks adorably red. “Emmett! I’m at work.”
Shrugging, he met Lucas’s eyes over the top of her head. His alpha held up his hands, his amusement open. “We ready to go?”
Emmett nodded. “He’s parked about half an hour out of the city.”
Ria looked between the two men. “Vincent?”
“Yes,” Emmett said as Lucas made a signal that he’d be out in a minute and walked back into his office. “Bastard’s ass is toast.”
Ria put a hand on his chest. “Are you going in with lots of backup?”
“Don’t worry about it, mink. I know what I’m doing.”
“Emmett!” Her voice was a whip.
Surprised, he looked at her. “What?”
“Don’t tell me not to worry! Don’t pat me on the head as if I’m a brainless bimbo and tell me everything’s going to be okay.” She poked him with a finger. “If we’re going to be in a relationship—” Snapping her mouth shut, she folded her arms and returned to her desk.
Stupefied, he prowled after her. “If we’re going to be in a relationship, then what?”
“Nothing.” She began to order papers on her desk. “Just don’t get yourself killed. That would make me seriously angry.”
He knew that wasn’t it. Grabbing her arm, he pulled her toward him. “I’m not leaving till you tell me what’s up.”
Ria looked toward Lucas’s open doorway. “This is not the time and place.”
He waited.
She blew out a breath. “Are we in a relationship?”
“What did you think last night was?” This was one of those times when he didn’t get women. Scratch that. When he didn’t get his woman.
“Well, men don’t necessarily equate sex with a relationship.” It was a whisper, her eyes flicking to Lucas’s door again.
Emmett decided not to remind her that Luc could probably hear everything anyway. “That wasn’t sex, Ria. That was fucking-amazing-sex.” He grinned at her blush. “And I equate everything I do with you to a relationship. Try going out with another man and see where it gets you.”
She tried for a glare but a smile peeked out. “Go. Be careful.” A tight hug. “We’ll discuss the other stuff when you’re back safe and sound. I’ll be waiting.”
He walked out with the scent of her bound into his very skin, her promise in his ears.
Ria found herself escorted home by an older man called Cian that day. “Any word?” she asked him as they reached the front door.
A shake of his head. “I don’t think they’ll move until a few hours after dark.”
Something about Cian struck Ria as oddly familiar, but she was sure he’d never been on protection detail before. “Will you let me know if you learn anything?”
His eyes were warm when he looked at her. “Of course, Ria.”
Nodding, she thanked him and walked inside. Her father had beaten everyone home and was at the stove, concocting his (in)famous secret spaghetti sauce. “Hey, Dad.” She bussed him on the cheek. “Where’s Amber?” she asked, guessing her grandmother was catching a nap as she sometimes did.
“She thought she might be having contractions—Jet came home and took her to the hospital.”
Ria stopped in the process of taking off her coat. “Is she in labor?”
“Doctor thinks it’s false, but he’s keeping her there for a couple of hours to make sure.” He touched his back pocket. “Jet’s gonna buzz me if it looks like my grandbaby’s going to come early.”
Smiling, she hung up her coat and went to stand by his side, sliding one arm around his waist. “Smells good.”
He put his free arm around her shoulders. “So, you involved with that cat?”
“Yep.” She’d never lied to her father. Skirted around the truth maybe, but never lied. “I’m crazy about him.”
A sigh. “Invite him to dinner.”
“So you can grill him?”
“It’s what fathers do.” A squeeze of her shoulders. “I only want what’s best for you. Have you considered how this man is going to support you?”
Ria didn’t point out that she could support herself. That wasn’t the issue at hand. “Well, when he’s not acting as a DarkRiver soldier, he has another job.” She’d discovered that sometime last night—even now, the memory of Emmett’s lazy voice murmuring the answers to all the little questions she had about him was enough to make her body flush.
“Oh?”
NINE
“Yeah.” She drew it out, knowing it would drive her father Ycrazy.
“Ria.”
Laughing, she met his scowling eyes. “He’s an engineer.”
Her father’s eyebrows climbed to his hairline. “Who does he work for?”
“DarkRiver Construction. He specializes in making sure buildings are built to withstand seismic events.” That was how he’d put it, sounding far more academic than she’d expected. It had been obvious in that single sentence that he not only knew what he was doing, but that he loved his work. “He trained with Angus Wittier.” Wittier was considered the premier expert on seismic-proof building in the country.
Simon nodded, his face contemplative. “Pass me the oregano and go get changed.”
“Will the spaghetti be ready soon?” She wasn’t hungry, her stomach in knots as she waited to hear the outcome of the DarkRiver-Crew showdown, but she wanted to keep the emotional temperature mellow for her father. Simon only cooked spaghetti when he was stressed—Amber’s situation was clearly worrying him more than he’d admitted.
“Ten minutes.”
“I’ll set the table after I change.” Walking up to her bedroom, she closed the door before calling Jet. “How’s Amber?” she asked when her brother answered.
“She’s okay right now, resting.” His voice was soft. “Tell Mom and Dad not to worry—the doctor says everything’s super with the baby.”
“Hah,” she said, with a smile. “You know how they are.”
“You’ll keep them calm, Ri-ri.” Said with absolute confidence. “I’ll call you as soon as anything changes.”
Hanging up, Ria changed, and then did what Jet had expected her to do—she made sure everyone remained calm—though her own emotions had her feeling incredibly fragile beneath the surface. What if something happened to Emmett? No, she told herself, somehow managing to maintain her composed facade even when Amber suddenly went into labor and the entire family rushed to the hospital, escorted by a trio of DarkRiver soldiers.