“Riley.”

He spun on his heel to face his office and the familiar voice.

“Lisa,” he said in surprise. Crossing to her he pulled his sister-in-law in to a close hug. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay? The kids?” He pulled back and examined her expression. She didn’t look like she was the bearer of bad news, but she was a master at controlling her expressions. She had to be, having been married to Jeff. His brother, gone for over three years now, had been a controlling bastard who didn’t have an ounce of nice in him. “The kids are fine,” she said with a smile. “I was just in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop in.”

There was something in Lisa’s tone. Some brightness that Riley had never heard before.

“What’s the real reason you’re here?” he teased.

She bit her lower lip with a tooth then held out her left hand. On the ring finger sat a tiny gold band with a single diamond.

“I met someone. We’re engaged.”

Riley hugged her close. “That’s wonderful news. What’s his name and have you run an FBI check on him?”

Lisa laughed against his chest. “His name is Ed; he’s one of the parents at Annabelle’s school. Divorced, thirty-nine, has his own money.” She looked up at Riley with a smile that lit her eyes. “And he loves me.”

Riley waited for the worries to start in his head but nothing happened. Why was it so much easier to accept Lisa falling in love than it was to accept the man Eden had chosen?

“I am so pleased for you,” he said gently. “You deserve to be happy.”

They hugged again. “He loves the kids,” she added.

“And what do the kids think of him?”

Laughing she stepped back and leaned against Kathy’s desk. “Annabelle loves him. Luke does too but says he isn’t as cool as Uncle Jack.”

Riley quirked an eyebrow. “What man is?” he said with a wry smile. “What man is?”

Chapter 11

Robbie turned thirty a few days before Christmas, but the impromptu guys-only gathering at The Rusty Nail became more a joint Beth-is-pregnant /birthday party for Robbie than just birthday beers. Steve didn’t drink, and Jack knew the guy was in shock. Neither Beth nor Steve imagined they would succeed within the first few weeks of trying. The new baby was due in September, and when Steve announced it to Riley and Jack, he looked so pale Jack thought he was going to keel over.

Jack also had Riley to worry about. He’d been tense since Lisa had announced she was engaged. Although Riley didn’t say it, Jack knew his husband was concerned about what Lisa might say to her new husband. Riley was the first person to say no marriage should have secrets, but this was different. Jack was worried as well and these thoughts morphed into memories of what happened to Jeff.

If anyone else took the initiative then everything would come out about what had happened to Beth. Jack recalled sitting in the precinct in that bare room being accused of killing Jeff with his knuckles still swollen from beating on him. He didn’t want to go back there in his head anymore.

“Penny for them?” Steve said to his side.

“Not worth a penny,” Jack said. He swallowed the rest of his beer and turned his back to the bar. Robbie and Eli had just finished a game and disappeared out the front door. They were handsy and laughing, and Jack doubted the two men were going outside just to get air. That would be him and Riley later, but back home on the D with blankets and in their barn. Hayley was staying with Anna and the kids, and tonight he wasn’t drinking beer to get drunk. He knew exactly what he wanted, and as soon as Josh told Jack Anna had suggested the sleepover for Hayley, both Jack and Riley knew exactly how this night would end—with Riley immobile in the barn and with Jack bringing him to the edge, over and over.

Speaking of whom, Riley was shooting his game of pool with Josh, and for a few seconds Jack admired his lanky husband, all height and muscles. The man looked like sex draped over the table lining up a shot. Riley really wasn’t very good at pool. Well, not as good as Jack and Josh, who were practically raised with a pool table at every turn. They’d even had one out in the old barn, he and Riley’s barn now. Riley never stood a chance. Yet still, every time they went out, he tried.

Robbie and Eli had disappeared ten minutes ago now, but Jack knew they’d be back as soon as they’d got all that heat out of their system. Riley was losing this game, but with an intense look of concentration he was really trying hard to at least pot a few balls. The look of complete shock on his face when the seven ball dropped into the pocket was priceless, as was the frown when the cue ball followed it down.

“Bad luck,” Josh smirked. In a few balls the table was clear and Josh left the table, hands aloft, and announcing his victory with the words “Beers on Richie Rich!” Riley was laughing, and Jack zeroed in on the expression on his face. Every side of Riley was a facet that Jack loved. From grumpy early-morning-Riley to crafty I-get-the-shower-first Riley.

“That is one hell of a sappy look,” Steve commented. “You look like I feel whenever I see Beth.”

Jack was pleased Steve saw a sappy look and not the open lust and expectation that were burning inside him. “If that’s true, then what you and Beth have makes you the luckiest man alive.” He knocked elbows with his brother-in-law and grinned as Riley made his way over. He had pasted a hangdog expression on his face and was expecting sympathy.

“Suck it up, big guy,” Jack teased. “You were owned.”

Riley shrugged. “I swear you and Josh cheat. I just haven’t worked out how yet.” He rested against Jack and they kissed heatedly. Jack grabbed hold of material and held him close, then tilted his head to deepen the kiss. This here…he couldn’t get enough of Riley, the taste of him or the feel of him or the fact he was happy to kiss in a bar full of people who probably weren’t that impressed with the whole gay-men-kissing thing. Sliding his hands up Riley’s back, Jack finally locked them around his neck and carried on the kissing. A knock from the side and Josh demanding beer broke them apart.

Jack opened his eyes and saw the mischief in Riley’s sparkling eyes—their hazel more a brown in this half light. Riley leaned around him with Jack still holding tight. Jack stumbled and let go as Riley called over the bartender.

“Beers for everyone,” he announced grandly.

“Everyone?” The barman said with a deliberate question. Jack groaned, he knew what was going to happen next. Riley fished out his credit card and waved a hand around the bar.

“Everyone.”

“One drink,” Jack added to the end at the greedy gleam in the bartender’s eyes.

“You’re a spoilsport. Who can get drunk on one beer?” Riley asked. He swayed as he said it.

“Looks like it only took you three,” Jack pointed out and poked him in the side.

“Josh spiked my drink so he’d beat me at pool,” Riley announced loudly. Josh smacked him on the back.

“It’s the only way to beat you, Richie, you being so good and all.”

The men laughed and the atmosphere was a good one. Robbie and Eli returned looking wind-cold but happy, and Jack decided now was probably a good idea to propose a toast. He passed beer to Robbie and Coke to Eli, then coughed to clear his throat. Riley leaned against the bar next to him.

“To Robbie,” Jack began, “the best horseman I’ve met and someone I call friend. Happy birthday, Robbie.”

Everyone lifted their drinks and couldn’t help but laugh at the way Eli bent Robbie backward and thoroughly kissed best wishes to his lips. Jack waited until they were done then lifted his beer again.

“And to Steve, who a few months…eight…nine?”

“Oh god, nine, I don’t know,” Steve groaned.