Page 31 of Shades of You

I glanced at my watch. “You’re all set. I’d better get going. I need to catch up on some things and make sure I’m clear tomorrow since the boss gave me orders.”

Her answering smile went straight to my heart. This might be a terrible idea, but I wasn’t about to change my mind and see her beautiful expression fall.

“See you tomorrow.” Her gaze lingered on mine a moment longer than necessary. The words hung between us like a promise or maybe a warning.

Back at KeyMark, I settled into the familiar groove of work. The screen’s glow bathed the room as I flicked through leads—emails from potential clients in need of security assessments, and a few inquiries about personalprotection. I made a series of phone calls, reaching out to current and prospective clients.

“I just got off the phone with a Mrs. Renaldi, who wants surveillance on her beach house while she’s away,” I said to Garrett, tapping keys to pull up her file. “High-profile, lots of valuables. I want you on it.”

“Got it.” His reply was crisp, no-nonsense. “I’ll call her and set up the walkthrough.”

“Make sure to use the new cams for this one and keep it tight. She’s nervous, first time leaving the place since her husband passed.”

“No worries.”

I trusted Garrett implicitly. He handled each job with a finesse that came from experience. We’d been through enough together to have an unspoken language of glances and gestures, which translated into our professional life. And the same went with Myles, my other brother-in-arms turned employee.

“Myles will be recovered from vampire duty by tomorrow,” I said, referring to our phrase for overnight work. I’d already talked to him. “He’ll be here first thing tomorrow morning.”

Garrett filed away a folder and shut his desk drawer. “Sounds like we’ve enough business to keep us out of trouble, even without covering nights.”

I nodded. “KeyMark’s doing fine. There’s plenty of work to go around, even without my family drama.”

“Always knew you’d kill it when you went solo.” Garrett’s voice held a note of pride.

“Thanks.” I paused, trying to think of a good way to tell him I’d be off tomorrow. And why. “Myles is covering for me tomorrow. I’m goingdiving.”

“Really? About time you did something enjoyable. Are you going with your sister, the divemaster?”

“Uh, no. Brenna.”

Garrett just stared at me. Then he gave me a slow nod. “Say no more. Nice work.”

I scowled at him. “It’s not a date. We decided to be just friends.”

Laughing, Garrett pushed to his feet. “Keep telling yourself that, man. I’d better get to work. See you later.”

After the front door closed, I leaned back in my chair and stared out the front window. Main Street glinted under the sun, a world away from spreadsheets and strategy. Try as I might to deny it, Garrett might be right about the futility of me keeping things casual with Brenna. I was still terribly conflicted about seeing her tomorrow, and what it might lead to. A mix of anticipation and anxiety fluttered in my stomach, though I had a feeling eagerness to see her again would win out.

But as long as Brenna wasn’t involved, I was a man of discipline, and break time was over. When I returned to my office, my eye caught on my catcher’s mitt sitting on a chair in the corner and my stomach did a weird floppy thing. I had a couple of hours yet before practice. A momentous practice, but I couldn’t afford to be distracted now. Opening my email program, I got back to work.

The freshly cutgrass smelled sharp and vibrant as I strapped on my shin guards, and a refreshing breeze stirred the palm fronds edging the outfield. “Hey, Hunter, heads up!” Stella called out, tossing me my catcher’s mitt.

“Thanks,” I said, flexing the leather in my grip.

TheStingrays were a motley crew of family and resort employees. And me. But we’d gelled into a good team, and our practices and games were filled with good-natured ribbing and insults.

But today was different. The atmosphere this afternoon had been charged from the start, and now it reached a new peak as Evan stepped to the plate—a subtle current of hope that was nearly tangible.

“Take it easy on him, Gabe,” Maia joked from first base.

“Oh, Evan knows me better than that,” Gabe replied, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Evan held the bat, his stance tense. His nervousness was obvious even from behind my mask. As he fidgeted with the grip, his eyes flicked around the field.

“Ready?” Gabe asked. When Evan gave a jerk of a nod, he wound up for the pitch.

The ball came in easy, and Evan’s swing was tentative, sending a slow grounder toward Maia, who scooped it up effortlessly. A murmur of encouragement rippled through the team as two more pitches had similar results.

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