Page 57 of Ride or Die

“Acts of service.” He leaned his elbow on the window ledge.

The sun behind him brightened her gaze. “Why am I not surprised?” she asked with a shake of her head.

He shrugged. “You?”

She muttered something into her lap.

“What was that?” he asked.

She blushed harder, and a dark satisfaction twisted through him. She was beautiful and his and adorable—

“Physical touch,” she said and quickly turned away to look out the window.

—and perfect.

“Why does that embarrass you?”

“Saint!” She turned her head and stared at him across the cab. The sun backlit the deep gold tendrils framing her face.

“Yes?” He raised a brow.

She rolled her eyes and groaned quietly. “Must we do the emotional deep dive first thing in the morning? I’ve barely had my coffee.” She took a long sip, watching him out of the corner of her eye.

He took a moment before turning back to the road. “Fine, you can tell me when you’re ready.”

“When I’m ready,” Riley said. “So magnanimous.”

“That’s right,” he said with a nod.

She shot him a bratty look before returning to her coffee, and his stomach somersaulted.

“Oh! I love this song!” She turned up the radio and sang along, slightly off-key.

Too quickly, they arrived at the office tower she worked at, a monolith of steel and glass. Saint pulled the truck into the delivery alley and turned it off.

“Thanks… for the ride. And everything.” She got shy again, and Saint stopped himself from reaching over to tip her chin up to look at him.

“Anytime.” He leaned over and threw the heavy truck door open for her. He caught her cheek, brushing a light kiss across her lips, ending it before either of them could get carried away. Magnanimous and patient. They had plenty of time.

She took a breath, and he saw her smile fall as she got out of the truck. There was no way she’d let him walk her to the door. She closed the door with a final wave, pushing it closed so it didn’t slam. His teeth clenched. She’s too careful.

Riley walked to the building and glanced around, her face tight and set. The tall doors were twice her height, and she walked right into the open jaws.

In the shadow of the loading bay next to the building, a lighter sparked. Expensive suit, tattooed hands, no visible weapons. Smoke billowed out of his nose under black eyes. He watched Riley go into the building, tracking her like he was hunting.

The violent gaze turned to Saint, and he recognized it. Rabid dogs looked the same in every country he’d been to.

And they all needed the same thing.

The man jerked his chin up in challenge, and Saint considered reaching into the glove box and putting him down then and there. No one was close by. The shot might not even register with all the traffic, no louder than an engine backfire. Security cameras in the loading bay might be a problem, but it was solvable.

Saint stopped as his fingertips grazed the latch of the glovebox.

Not appropriate mechanic behaviour.

Riley probably didn’t date killers any more than she dated cops.

Saint started the truck but didn’t move it until the man stubbed out his smoke and left, using a service door that led into the lobby Riley’d disappeared into.