Playing Dirty (Risky Business, #2)(8)

That was unexpected. I’d assumed, given how Ryker and Parker had referred to Natalie, that she’d been sweet and nice. Maybe I’d assumed wrong. “You didn’t like her?” I prodded.

Amy hesitated, turning her gaze out to stare at the water. “I think … Natalie was someone who was hard to know. And I think infatuation can make people overlook things that should be obvious. And both Parker and Dean were very infatuated with Natalie.

“Dean loved her, but she’d slept with Parker. It was hard for him to reconcile her betrayal with his love for her.” She shrugged. “That’s probably why he took it out on Parker. He couldn’t bear to lose Natalie, so all his anger was directed at his supposed best friend.” Her voice was bitter. “Then Natalie killed herself, and he’s blamed himself ever since.”

She took a deep breath and faced me again. “But like you said, it’s all in the past.”

“And yet, none of you have forgiven Parker,” I persisted.

“He broke Dean’s trust,” she said. “That’s not something easily forgiven.”

Our eyes met in mutual understanding and I gave her a nod. Regardless of how I felt about the situation, Ryker and his friends believed Parker had betrayed him.

“So you didn’t really say how you met,” she said. “How long have you guys been dating?”

“A little over four months,” I replied. “Ryker was working on a case that involved Parker. We met and he asked me out. Well, he didn’t really ask,” I amended. “More like told me I was going to dinner with him.”

Amy laughed. “That sounds like Dean. He’s never had a confidence problem when it comes to women. But I think it’s awesome that you’ve been together this long. I think it’s the longest actual relationship he’s had in years.”

That surprised me. “Really?”

She nodded. “It took a while for him to learn to trust again. I’m glad he brought you today, though. He hasn’t brought anyone around for our approval in years.”

“Well, I don’t think Anisha’s going to approve,” I said ruefully.

“She’ll come around,” Amy said. “Especially if Dean is happy.”

“You’re talking about me, Amy?”

Ryker appeared over my shoulder, his hand sliding onto my hip. “Don’t believe a word she says,” he said to me. “It’s all lies.”

“I was just getting ready to tell her about the time you arrested that lady and it turned out to be a man,” Amy teased.

Ryker groaned. “That’s one strip search I’ll never forget.”

Amy and I laughed. After that, it was a little easier. Anisha didn’t say much to me, but that was okay. Sammy was nice and the guys made everyone laugh with their constant ribbing of each other. All in all, it was a relaxing afternoon and by the time we’d eaten and gotten back to the pier, I’d consumed enough beer to be more than a little tipsy. I’d also deepened my tan and the bikini looked amazing. It was skimpier than anything I’d worn before, but I’d seen it on the hanger and had only thought of how Ryker would react when he saw it. Considering how he’d been using any excuse to touch me all afternoon, I thought it was a pretty good bet that he liked it very much.

Tyrone and Troy were docking the boat while Ryker and I stood at the bow, watching as the sun was beginning to set. His chest was hot against my back and his arms wrapped around my waist. I rested my head back against his shoulder and he leaned down to press his lips to the dip between my neck and shoulder.

Another boat was docked next to ours and I glanced over to the deck. A man stood opposite us, maybe thirty or forty feet away. He had on an unbuttoned white shirt that blew in the wind and his dark hair ruffled with the breeze. He was striking, a charisma about him drawing my eye as Ryker pressed kisses to my bare shoulder. Then he turned, and though he wore sunglasses I knew he was looking at me, and I realized why he looked so familiar.

It was Parker.

His chest was deliciously bare and showing the six-pack of muscles usually hidden underneath his suits. The loose-fitting linen pants he wore hit low on his lean hips. He was holding a glass of white wine, and once he saw me, he froze. I wondered if he knew who I was. Probably not, not at this distance with my hair tousled by the wind and wearing sunglasses. No doubt the bikini had caught his eye—he was a man, after all.

But then he dipped his head, just a little, just enough that it couldn’t be mistaken for anything other than an acknowledgment. He took a drink of the wine, still looking my way.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Ryker’s growl forced my gaze away from Parker.

“Out on his boat,” I said. “Just like us.” I’d forgotten about the bill, deducted from Parker’s account every month, for docking his boat here. I’d never seen his boat before, though I’d known he had one.

“I don’t like how he’s looking at you.” Ryker’s arms pulled me farther back into him.

“He’s looking at us,” I said mildly. “And may I remind you that I’m his assistant. He looks at me every day.”

“Not wearing that bikini, he doesn’t.”

I was distracted from the argument by someone else on Parker’s boat. A woman. She’d just come up the steps from the cabin below