He was clearly attractive with a level head. That didn't entirely explain my sudden interest in the man, but I wondered if maybe it had been too long since I'd traveled out of Walker County and mingled with fresh meat. I frowned at the term. I was so out of the game, I'd practically assumed Riley's orientation. He could like women… stranger things had happened.
Riley must've assumed the expression was meant for him. "I'm only doing my job, Mr. Walker. Caring for the welfare of those unable to care for themselves."
I smiled, trying to infuse as much warmth into the expression as I could. We'd gotten off on the wrong foot. I could understand why, but I was still eager to get back on the right foot. "I understand." I pulled out my card. "When you get some answers, please let me know."
Riley took the card gingerly, carefully grasping the very corner between his thumb and pointer finger. "Walker Construction," he murmured with a small smile. His finger traced over the embossed lettering on the card, and I bit my cheek, suddenly wishing his finger would trail over me instead. "I guess it's good to be proud of your name."
Alarms rang in my head as Riley's smile turned sad. I only had about a thousand questions all piled on top of each other. But the longer I stood there, the more I noticed the sheriff standing there with Paul. They were ready to leave.
"Don't be a stranger," I called out as the three of them turned back to the cruiser.
Nash walked up behind me. "Don't be a stranger," he mimicked in a high-pitched tone. I couldn't exactly elbow him with Riley looking. I was still trying to get the man to not think the worst of me.
"Shouldn't you be doing something?" I snapped instead.
Nash's smile never wavered. It hardly ever did. He was the spitting image of Wyatt, except his black hair was close-cut in a military style. "I know what you want to be doing," he teased before shutting the door and ensuring the final word.
Wyatt and Aver waited at the porch. They'd have their own annoying taunts locked and loaded. I sighed, looking back down the driveway. This wasn't the morning I'd planned for, but it was likely the morning I deserved. I could only hope that everything with Paul checked out. And I would secretly hope that Riley was the one to call me when it did.
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