Oh, shit.
“What happened last night?” she whispered.
“You know.” He glanced over his shoulder at the others.
“The way I woke up, I’m not sure I do.” Her tone was downright chilly.
“Ms. Lopez.” Melody strode out of the house, a pleasant smile on her face and a bottle of water in hand. “It’s good to meet you.”
Erin turned and gaped at Melody. She was a bit out of place in a pantsuit and heels, but if memory served, she’d met with the CEO of NexGen’s Erbil offices today. Melody’s gaze flicked to Riley. He did his best smile, but the sweat pouring off him likely gave him away.
“If you’ll come this way, we can get you situated and go over a few things?” Melody gestured at the house.
“One moment?” Erin turned her back on Melody, aiming those eyes back on him.
Melody glanced from the back of Erin’s head to him, glaring daggers.
Fuck.
He was going to get it from all sides.
“I’ll be inside,” Melody said.
“I’ll ask you one more time...” Erin whispered.
Melody stalked inside the house.
“We slept.” He held up his hands. “When I left, you were passed out, wearing a t-shirt.”
“We had sex.” The furrows across her brow deepened.
“No. Not-I mean, we didn’t.” He glanced over his shoulder. Nolan and Vaughn stared their way, no doubt curious about why he was squaring off with Erin.
“You mean you...” Erin tilted her head and blinked, as if that meant something. “And then we slept?”
“I think so? I’m not really sure what this,” he tilted his head, mimicking her, “means.”
“Oh my God.” She turned away from him.
“Can we go inside, please?” Riley took a step toward her. Whatever she was upset about, they could have it out inside and out of view from the general public. And his team.
Erin had one hand over her mouth, eyes wide.
Shit. This was why he didn’t get involved with assets.
Riley led Erin into the house through a glass sliding door. The interior was cool, the furniture more modern and familiar than their accommodations the night before. Melody stood in the kitchen, glasses of water with slices of fruit waiting on the bar along with some finger foods.
“Hungry? It’s been a long day, I’m sure,” Melody said. Her smile was back in place and she didn’t look at Riley.
“Actually, is there a bathroom?” Erin pasted on a fake smile and aimed it at Melody.
“Sure, it’s just around the corner here.” Melody gestured at a short hall on the other side of the kitchen.
“Oh. Thanks.” Erin ducked around the corner and a moment later a door clicked shut.
Melody whirled, pinning him with an angry stare.
“You slept with a client?” she snarled in a whisper.
“Not...exactly.”
The doors opened again, and the other four members of the team hauled two plastic traveling crates inside while Thomas, Erin’s bodyguard, trailed behind them. NexGen had insisted he’d be of service, but the guy was dead weight.
“Grant?” Melody infused a note of sweetness in her voice.
Grant straightened and eyed Melody like he might a snake.
“Come here, please?” she asked.
Grant crossed to the bar and leaned against it.
“He slept with the asset,” Melody whispered.
“So?” Grant shrugged. “They’re adults.”
“It’s not appropriate.” Melody blinked rapidly.
“Look, you’re still new so you haven’t been around, but this happens.” Grant picked up a cup and drained it.
“We need to discuss this policy, because it isn’t okay. How are you okay with this?”
“I trust my guys.” Grant glanced at Riley. “We hire the best.”
“Erin.” Grant nodded at the woman who’d almost snuck up on them. “Have a nice drive?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Erin’s reply was wooden. Stiff. First she was angry, now she seemed petrified.
“Would you like me to show you your room? Something to eat?” Melody turned, giving Erin her full attention.
“Actually, when can I go home?” Erin glanced over Melody’s shoulder at Riley.
“Oh, did Grant explain...” Melody tossed a frantic look Grant’s way.
“I get that NexGen wants me to go to Texas, but I want to go my condo. Here.” Erin gestured at the windows at the front of the house.
“Well...” Melody glanced from Erin to Grant and back again.
There was some, strange power struggle between those two, and Riley didn’t like getting caught in the middle. He liked it even less with Erin there.
“If you want to go home to get some things we can arrange it, but the company specifically told us to bring you to Texas. For your own safety,” Grant said after a moment of Melody spinning her wheels.
“Why?” Erin asked.
“We weren’t informed of the particulars.” Grant shrugged.
“How about dinner?” Melody smiled and checked her watch. “It should be delivered soon.”
“Can I have one of those?” Thomas stopped a few feet away and pointed at the cups of water.
“Sure.” Melody handed the man a glass.
Riley tried to not study the man out of the corner of his eye. There was something about the guy he didn’t like either. Riley sure as hell wouldn’t want Thomas on his team watching his back. No wonder Erin didn’t like him around.
“I’m going to head up and take a shower.” Riley was ready to stage a retreat however he could. He glanced at Grant. “I’m on first shift, right?”
“Yup.”
Riley turned on his heel and grabbed his duffle out of one of the opened cases before fleeing upstairs.
Man, this situation was fucked. The best thing for him to do was avoid Erin, Melody and Grant until this gig was over. He’d do his shifts, drive the lead car, and keep to himself from here on out. By the time this was over, he was going to wish he’d been baling hay instead.
He found the large, second floor bathroom after a few moments of searching behind doors.
Zain had really outdone himself this time. They got to stay in some pretty nice places because, from a security standpoint, they were typically the best places to hold their clients. It was also a big step up from cramped hotel bathrooms and stiff sheets.
Riley set his bag on the vanity and braced his hands on either side of the
