Provoked by Angela Ford Page A

that drug deal?”
    “So our lead suspect for this missing woman is her dead boyfriend?”
    “It appears so, Kennedy. Though I think we should take a closer look at Adam Crawford.” Riley ran his hand across his unshaven face. He’d planned to shave for his first day back to work, but an incredible sexy woman had distracted him that morning.

Chapter Six
     
    Riley heard the buzzer moments after he arrived home. He was just about to pour a stiff drink. Reprimanded to desk duty hadn’t exactly been what he’d expected for his first day back. At least he’d found some excitement in Beth’s case. He needed to get back to the streets. It felt like a slap in the face to be assigned to Missing Persons. Totally pissed at the world, he knew there was nothing he could do but follow protocol; for once. He could no longer play by his own rules. It finally caught up with him and bit him in the ass. He knew the only way back on the street was through Dr. Richards. He definitely planned to make the next appointment and talk openly about Steve’s death.
    He answered his buzzer. The voice he heard through the speaker made his lips form a cocky smile. He wondered if she came to end his day the way she’d started it. Hope settled in. His anger about desk duty subsided. A few minutes later, he opened the door to the first woman who’d ever intrigued him. It appeared, he hoped, he wasn’t the only one who desired a second night of passion.
                  “Lieutenant Lis,” Riley announced her name more so as a surprised question.
                  “Detective, may I come in?”
                  Her tone was no longer professional. His ego jumped up a notch. He figured he’d never get another chance with her outside of the office, until he went back to the streets. He’d thought about it all day. Another reason he definitely needed to get back to the streets. He motioned for her to come in.
                  “Scotch?” he offered. She nodded. He poured her a drink and cheered her glass.
    “Maybe you shouldn’t play your first name only game,” Riley suggested with a cocky smile, and then added, “We wouldn’t be in this predicament.”
    She laughed, “Maybe.”  Riley motioned for her to take a seat on his sofa.
                  “So what brings you by, Basia? I didn’t expect to see you outside the office.”
    “I didn’t mean to portray the cold bitch today. I was shocked to see you at the precinct. I had to remain professional. You do understand?”
                  Riley nodded in agreement. He wasn’t sure what to say. He wanted her. There was something about her that drove him crazy, but he was smooth. He’d always been a confirmed bachelor, who never desired a serious relationship. He liked his one-night stands. Apparently, she did too.
                  “So, you dropped by to tell me what I already know?” Riley questioned her like a detective.
    She laughed, “I didn’t come by for an interrogation.”
                  “So what did you come by for?”
                  Basia got up and walked over to the scotch bottle that sat on the bar. She poured another drink and turned. She motioned with the bottle if he wanted another drink. He met her with his glass. After one sip she took the glass from his hand and set it down beside hers on the bar.
                  “You.”
                  He knew damn well what was on her mind, and he wasn’t about to argue when she grabbed his shirt with both hands and pulled him in to meet her lips.
                  Riley mumbled, “This is wrong”.
                  Basia reached for his pulse. “But it feels so right.”
    Any thought of wrongdoing left his mind completely. The hunger in her eyes told him nothing else mattered. He easily succumbed to her wishes. His hand slid around her waist and moved her in closer, until