Roping Ryan (The West Series Book 6) Read Free Page B

that.” She tossed the bag down and walked into her bathroom.
    “We have to go.” He grabbed up her bag and followed her into the bathroom.
    “Why?” She turned and looked at him.
    “They found Rick in the bay.”
    She looked at him. “Who is Rick?”
    “The other undercover that was working this case.” He turned to leave.
    “Wait!” She rushed after him. When he turned, she bumped into him. “Undercover?”
    He nodded. “What is it that you think you interrupted tonight?”
    She shrugged her shoulders. “A drug deal gone bad?”
    He shook his head. “I thought you were hired to find me, like a PI.”
    She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned at him. “I am a PI.”
    His eyebrows shot up. “Licensed?”
    She let the insult show on her face.
    He shook his head in mock disgust “What is it you think I do for a living?”
    She shrugged her shoulders again. “I couldn’t find much information.”
    He shook his head again and chuckled. “How on god’s earth did you end up finding me anyway?”
    She glared at him. “I have my ways.”
    He waited and when she made it clear she had no desire to answer his question, he sighed.
    “I’ve been working undercover narcotics for the past four years. Rick had been working this gig for the past ten years and if they made him, and I assume they did since he’s floating in the bay, then they know I’m a cop and won’t stop until I join him.” He looked at her and she saw something shift in his eyes. “And, now that they’ve seen us together…” He let the rest fall away.
    She dropped her arms and looked at him. “You’re a police officer?”
    He laughed. “Princess, I’m nothing. I don’t even exist. I don’t get a paycheck or pay taxes.” He took her arm and then grabbed her bag again. “Now, if we’re done with this, we have to move.”
    “Where are we going?” She thought about jerking her arm free, but his grip was too tight. Besides, what he’d just told her was sinking in. He was on the right side of the law. She’d never accounted for that twist.
    “Well, you have a job to finish,” he said, looking back at her.
    She stopped and when he glanced back at her again, she asked, “What?”
    He laughed. “I’m letting you take me to my brother.”
     

     
    Ryan gripped the wheel tighter and tried to ignore the woman sleeping next to him. They were over an hour out of Houston, and he was desperately trying to wind down.
    He’d known she would live in a freaking mansion of a place. The entryway was bigger than his last hotel room. Not to mention all the expensive items she’d had filling the place. She probably had a maid come in and clean once a week, too. He shook his head and tried not to think about the differences between them.
    Then his mind switched gears. Rick was dead and he was screwed. Did they torture Rick beforehand? What did they know about him? He’d been assured by Chief Zane that Rick’s family had been moved to safety. He glanced over at Nikki and frowned when he saw her looking out the window.
    How long did they have? How long would it take them to track her down and find out what she did?
    He shuffled and tried to get more comfortable in her little car. It had been years since he’d driven. Actually, it had been a long time since he’d led any sort of real life. Dating included. He glanced over at Nikki again.
    There had been a time when he would have known the right words to sweep her off her feet. He and Reece used to bet one other who could get the attentions of a particular girl. He smiled. Reece had always been smoother with animals and Ryan had been better with women.
    Of course, he hadn’t stayed a saint during the last seven years, but for the most part, his work had come first; it was hard to explain to a girlfriend why you needed to disappear constantly.
    When he pulled off the highway into a gas station, Nikki sat up and looked around.
    “Are we there?” He watched her stretch her legs and arms.