Chapter 8
Oz loved the feel of Riley’s hands around his waist. He knew she was terrified when they’d first set out, but the longer he drove on the trail around Grover’s property, the more she relaxed. He felt her rest her cheek on his back, and he reached down to squeeze her hands.
Grover had told him about a spot a few miles down the trail that would be perfect for having a talk. There was a small creek nearby and while there might be a few other four-wheelers that came through, they’d have all the privacy they’d need.
He wasn’t exactly surprised that the matter of him and the others being Delta Force had come up, but he was pleased the other women were being cautious in talking about it.
But as far as he was concerned, he wanted Riley to know.
Not only was she looking out for his nephew, she was quickly becoming very important in his life.
Oz would’ve been more freaked out about how fast he was falling for her if it hadn’t been for his teammates.
He’d seen how quickly they’d bonded with their women, and they were all still going strong.
Trigger was married, and he knew Brain was going to ask Aspen to marry him soon.
He’d talked with them about how he might do it, and they’d all offered their suggestions.
Lefty was also itching to get Kinley to San Francisco, where his parents lived, so he could officially marry her as well.
So Oz’s feelings for his pretty neighbor didn’t seem so out of place when he thought about the circumstances that had brought his friends together with their women.
Riley leaned into the turn with him, and he couldn’t help but feel proud of how quickly she’d picked up the subtle nuances of riding the bike. It wasn’t quite the same as riding a motorcycle, but he liked that she was in tune with his movements.
He kept his eyes open for the spot Grover had told him about and was relieved when he recognized the pull-off immediately. He eased the four-wheeler off the side of the trail so it wouldn’t be in the way of anyone else who rode by, then cut off the engine.
He turned and smiled at Riley. “So?” he asked. “Do you like riding?”
“I love it! At least with you driving. I don’t think I’d be comfortable taking the wheel.”
“You’d do fine,” he reassured her. “Hop off and I’ll show you why we stopped here.”
Oz waited until Riley had swung her leg over the back of the machine and stood before climbing off the seat himself. Riley took a step and swayed on her feet.
“Easy,” Oz warned, catching her around the waist with one arm.
“My legs feel like Jell-O!” she exclaimed.
“Just take it easy, you’ll get your land legs back,” he said.
“Land legs?” she asked with a laugh.
Oz unclipped his helmet with one hand, not wanting to let go of her for even a second.
He placed it on the seat then reached for Riley’s.
Without taking his gaze from hers, Oz placed her helmet next to his own.
Then he took her face in his hands. His thumb brushed against the slight bruise on her cheek.
The ice she’d used yesterday had done a great job in reducing the severity of the broken blood vessels. “Does it hurt?” he asked.
Riley shook her head. “No. And I used some foundation to hide the slight black eye I had this morning. It was really more a dark circle under my eye than anything else.”
Oz drank her in. If he didn’t know what had happened the day before, he would’ve just thought she wasn’t sleeping well or something.
Then he did what he’d been thinking about doing all day. He tilted her chin up with one finger and dropped his head.
Riley went up on her tiptoes to meet him halfway.
Her body pressed against his own as she used him for support.
As much as he wanted to devour her, Oz did his best to keep the kiss light and easy.
He nipped at her and ran his tongue over her plump lower lip.
He loved that she immediately opened to him.
She tested his resolve as her tongue came out and licked over his own lips.
But he pulled back, keeping his arms around her, and smiled.
She pouted. “You call that a kiss?” she asked.
He chuckled. “For now, yes. I want to show you something, and we need to talk. If I kissed you the way we both want, we wouldn’t get to either. And this four-wheeler would look more and more like a good place to take you.”
Riley blushed at that, but she eyed the bike next to her with interest.
“Lord, woman, have some pity on me,” Oz begged as he kissed her forehead. “Come on, Grover said it wasn’t far from here.”
The small chuckle that left her lips made him smile. She seemed to be as eager for him as he was for her. He walked them into the trees, holding branches out of her way as they went. He heard the stream before he saw it.
Riley inhaled with pleasure as soon as she saw their destination.
Someone had put a bench in the shade under the trees.
At the moment, it wasn’t more than a strong trickle as Texas hadn’t gotten much rain lately, but Oz couldn’t deny that it was still a beautiful place.
There were birds chirping overhead and the trees threw plenty of shade on the area.
He led Riley over to the bench and, after he’d tested it to make sure it would hold their weight, urged her to sit. He took a seat next to her and kept hold of her hand.
“It’s so beautiful,” Riley said, looking around in awe. “Maybe you can convince Brain to bring Aspen here to propose.”
“Great idea,” Oz said.
Riley blushed. “I mean, if he wants. I didn’t mean to presume anything.”
“You aren’t presuming anything. Brain wants his ring on Aspen’s finger more than anything, but he also doesn’t want to rush her.”
“Um…you remember how I asked Aspen if you knew about something?” Riley asked.
“Yeah. She said she’s okay, but is she really?”
“She’s pregnant,” Riley blurted.
Oz stared at Riley for a second before breaking out into a huge smile. “No shit?”
She returned his grin. “No shit. I don’t really think he’d be rushing her if he asked her to marry him.”
“That’s awesome. I didn’t know they were even trying.”
“I got the impression that they weren’t, not really. I guess they had a conversation about kids and how they both wanted them, and they agreed to let nature take its course. Well, according to Aspen…Brain’s sperm are apparently just as smart as he is.”
“He’s gonna be even more impatient to marry her then,” Oz said.
He wasn’t upset that Brain hadn’t told him and the others yet.
He figured that if Aspen had told the girls, Brain was probably at that moment telling the guys.
Oz couldn’t help but feel pleased that Riley had been included in Aspen’s big reveal.
“Marriage isn’t required for a baby to be born,” Riley teased.
“It’s not, but it goes back to what the ladies were hinting at before we left,” Oz said.
Riley’s brows furrowed in concern. He decided not to beat around the bush.
“I’m fairly certain Logan told you that we’re special forces.
We’re Delta Force, Ri. We get sent on shorter specialized missions when we’re deployed.
They’re usually pretty dangerous, and I know Brain’s gonna want to make sure both Aspen and his child are taken care of, just in case.
He’s already had a close call and knows what’s at stake. ”
He tried to read what Riley was thinking, but her face was blank.
“That’s it?”
“What’s it?” Oz asked.
“That’s what they were talking about? That you guys are special forces?”
“I guess, yeah.”
“I did already know that,” Riley said. “Logan let it slip when he showed me his room,” Riley said.
“Special forces is one thing, but Delta is kinda different. More intense and dangerous than, say, the Army Rangers.”
“More dangerous?” Riley asked, frowning.
“Yeah, but we’re good at what we do. Very good.” Oz watched as Riley digested what he was saying.
“I guess I didn’t realize that you guys being special forces…
er…Delta Force…was what the others were talking about earlier,” Riley said.
“I mean, it’s obvious how close you all are, and honestly, while I’m not thrilled that you guys go on dangerous missions, I’m thinking you’ve got the best people you can have at your back. ”
This was going a lot better than Oz could’ve imagined.
Not that he knew what her reaction might’ve been, but he’d heard from other Deltas how their girlfriends hadn’t taken the news of their jobs that well.
Some had even been hysterical, thinking their men would die every time they went on a mission.
He should’ve known Riley wouldn’t react poorly.
“I trust them with my life, and vice versa. We’re as careful as we can be, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a risk. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Brain and Aspen were married before we left on our next mission.”
“Will that be soon?” Riley asked.
“It’s possible. I won’t be able to tell you where we’re going or how long we’ll be gone. But there’s some stuff going down, and we might need to step in and lend some assistance.”
Riley stared at him for a long moment. Then she nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Well, it’s not okay, but nothing I say will change what you do, and I wouldn’t want it to. It’s obvious you enjoy your job and that you’re good at it. Where will Logan stay while you’re gone?” she asked.
“Thank you,” Oz said softly, bringing her hand up to his mouth and kissing the back. “You have no idea how much your support means to me. And I’ve got a family care plan filled out in regards to Logan. Gillian has offered to let him stay with her until we get back.”