Dateline Matrimony (Hot off the Press! 3)

“Maybe they aren’t sure.”

“Then why wouldn’t they have at least shared their suspicions?”

“Maybe they’re looking for answers on their own?”

“Doubtful.”

“Or maybe—”

“What?” he prodded when she suddenly fell silent.

“Never mind. I’m probably getting carried away again.”

“I’d still like to hear what you were going to say.”

“What if Bud and R.L. not only knew who fired those shots, but why? And what if that’s what they don’t want to share with Chief Meadows?”

Riley went still. “You’re suggesting they’re hiding something. Something…illegal?”

“Embarrassing, at the least. I told you it was probably far-fetched.”

“No.” He sighed. “Actually, it makes a lot of sense. And it’s a possibility I’ve already considered. The way Bud was acting, sort of guilty and evasive—well, I knew he was hiding something.”

Her expression turned sympathetic. “He’ll call you when he’s ready.”

He tried to smile for her again. “That’s what you keep telling me.”

“He will.”

A heavy hand fell on Riley’s shoulder. “Hey, Riley. How’s that food?”

Dragging his attention to their surroundings, Riley nodded. “As good as you promised. Teresa, this is Chuck, our host.”

Teresa smiled warmly at the establishment’s owner. “The food was delicious. I haven’t had jambalaya like this since I spent a week in New Orleans five years ago.”

While Chuck responded to her compliments and swapped stories about their favorite restaurants in New Orleans, Riley reflected that Teresa had probably made that trip with her husband. A romantic getaway, perhaps. He didn’t like thinking about it.

Chuck examined the nearly empty plates in front of them. “You haven’t had dessert? Let me get you some beignets out here.”

“I’m too full,” Teresa protested. “I ate too much already.”

“Then you should dance up an appetite, hey? Have dessert later.”

“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Riley said promptly. “Would you like to dance, Teresa?”

He had been fully prepared for her to decline. Instead, she said, “I wondered if you were ever going to ask.”

Chuck laughed and thumped Riley’s shoulder again. “Our Riley, he’s pretty slow sometimes. Dance with the lady, boy. Your dessert will be ready when you’re finished.”

Teresa could dance. Maybe Riley shouldn’t have been surprised by that, but he was. She moved with a grace he expected and a sensuality that caught him unaware. Watching her, he almost forgot how to dance himself. He would have been perfectly content to stand there watching her.

He reached out to take her hands, pulling her closer so they were moving together. “You’re sure you only spent a week in New Orleans?” he asked.

She laughed softly. “I said I last spent a week in New Orleans five years ago. I never said it was my first visit there.”

“You spent a lot of time there?”

“My husband was raised in New Orleans until he was a senior in high school. He went back every chance he got. It was where we spent our honeymoon and nearly every vacation after that.”