Page 100 of Rising Heat

Ryan arches a brow.

“It wasn’t.”

I fail completely at hiding my smile.

Around nine, three women weave through the crowd toward the booth with the easy confidence that says they already know they’ll be welcomed when they get there.

Coop perks up immediately, sitting a little bit straighter like his favorite show just returned from a commercial break. Meanwhile, Ryan barely glances up.

“Relax,” he says around a sip of his beer. “They’re badge bunnies.”

Trick claps him once on the shoulder.

“Man’s gotta eat.”

Then he nods toward me.

“No offense.”

“None taken.” I lift my glass. “Do what you must.”

“Nice meeting you, Darcy.” Marco says before he stands.

The guys climb out of the booth as if they’re following a script they’ve practiced a hundred times. Ryan tosses a casual, “See you around,” over his shoulder, which I’m beginning to suspect is less goodbye than his default setting.

I watch them disappear into the crowd. Almost absentmindedly, Tyler and Mack each shift an inch closer from either side, closing the space the others left behind, just enough to notice.

A redhead saunters over with an easy smile, resting a hand on Mack’s shoulder too casually like she’s done it before.

Something completely unreasonable tightens in my chest. I take a sip of my beer like that’s going to help.

She looks like she might slide into the booth, but Mack doesn’t move to make room. Instead, he tips his chin up in acknowledgment, waiting for whatever she came over to say.

“You disappear on me again after the parade?”

“Was here the whole time.”

He gestures loosely between me and Tyler.

“Well, hi, stranger.” Her attention slides to Tyler. “You boys cleaned up nice today.”

Tyler tips his beer toward her.

“That’d be the uniforms.”

“They definitely don’t hurt.” Her eyes travel between them before settling back on Mack. “I was starting to think you’d both forgotten about me.”

“Something tells me you’d survive,” Mack says easily.

She nudges Mack’s shoulder with the back of her hand before turning fully back to him.

“We miss seeing you out.”

“Been busy. Overtime and all.”

“That’s your excuse for everything.”

“Usually works.”