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But now here he was again, right s his ass kicked as usual

Apparently, he never learned

As soon as two of Hunter's y, Riley and Hunter took the back stairs down to the parking lot "How badly did I screith your schedule?" Hunter asked as he leaned against a e Rover

"No worries," Riley assured hiet the hell out of there His flight had arrived just after noon, and his connection to vacation-land wasn't scheduled until after ht He'd texted Hunter from the tarmac to see if his friend wanted to pop over to LAX for a post-lunch libation, but instead Hunter had begged a favor

Apparently, Froggy had been in Hunter's sights for a while, but the little as familiar with theclose was proving tricky Hunter was about to call in outside help when Riley had phoned, and Hunter had recruited his friend to play the point man

Which otten a punch in the face

"I'd give you a ride back and shoot the shit," Hunter said, "but thanks to your good work, ive you a lift, though"

"Fair enough," Riley said, then promised to send his friend a postcard from China

"Why China?" Hunter asked as a tall blond man in jeans, a black T-shirt, and a shoulder harness headed toward them

"Why not?" Riley shot back, h

Moer seat of the blondSouth on the 405 toward LAX, and Riley was pondering the question Why had he picked China? His first instinct had been Hawaii He'd iirls in bikinis as he kicked back on the beach with a thriller in one hand and a beer in the other But somehoaii didn

't seeo someplace cons Some place that forced him to think

And then, maybe, he'd think about what the fuck he wanted to do next Because the truth was, he'd been at loose ends for one hell of a long time But damned if he kne to tie those ends up

"Mind if I play some tunes?" his companion asked

"Go ahead Sorry I' into vacation mode"

The guy chuckled "No worries," he said, then pushed a button on the console and filled the interior with ghetto rap as his blond head and shoulders gyrated to the ainst his brain

They were almost to the airport when he miraculously felt the buzz of his phone in his pocket despite the deep thrum of the rinned as he gestured toward the volume "Sorry, man Do you mind?"

The guy waved off the question with a good-natured shrug, then flicked the radio off right as Riley took the call "Hey et the hell out of your neck of the woods"

"You dick," Lyle Tarpin said "You're in town and you don't even call?"

"Hello? Because you're in fucking London You're there doing publicity bullshit Or a?" One of Riley's oldest friends, Lyle Tarpin was fast rocketing into one of Hollywood's most bankable stars He was also Natasha's boss, and when Riley had been in town about a year ago consulting on one of Lyle's ain firmly shut down Riley's advances At which point Riley resolved to quit trying He was a lot of things, but not ahis head against a very hard--but very pretty--brick wall

"Shipping out bright and early tomorrow"

"Ah, hell I'm sorry I missed you"

"Me, too"

There was a pause, and Riley was about to ask about Lyle's wife, Laine, when Lyle jumped back in with, "Listen, I need a favor"

"Anything, man You know that"

"Can you recouard"

Riley understood that He'd been in tohen Lyle had met his wife, Laine, and had seen the boy fall hard and fast No ould he leave withoutsure she ell protected Whether Laine wanted to be or not