Page 40 of Shades of You

Setting him back down, she stuck her tongue out at me. “Either or, smart-ass.” Then she gathered her purse from the chair where she’d tossed it last night. “I’d better get back to my place and get ready for work.”

“Nearly eight a.m., huh?” I noted, surprised by how late we’d slept. We’d been lost in our own world, but reality was quick to stake its claim.

“Time flies when you’re… well, you know.” Brenna winked at me.

“Breaking new ground,” I supplied, grinning despite the bittersweet edge to the morning’s farewell. “I’ve got a baseball game tonight, by the way.”

“With you there, how could your team lose? I know several of the guys from Dove Key talked about joining the league, but they couldn’t get the details ironed out in time.”

We reached the bottom of the stairs just as Myles strolled into view. His timing was impeccable—or terrible, depending on how you looked at it.

“Well, good morning, Brenna,” Myles drawled, mischief dancing in his eyes as he caught sight of her. Though he had been covering Calypso Key when Garrett and I shadowed her, he was well versed in the particulars. And he also knew damn well that the case was over.

“Morning,” she replied, nonchalant as ever, and gave him a breezy wave as she headed for the back door.

I pinned Myles with a hard look that hopefully saidlaterand followed her outside. After I pulled the door shut, I gathered her close. My hands found the familiar curve of her waist, and I lowered my mouth to hers. And not a sweet little peck either. My tongue parted her lipsand skated over the top of her mouth. I didn’t want it to end.

“See you later,” she murmured against my lips before pulling away with a soft smile.

“Later.” I rubbed a finger back and forth across my forehead as she disappeared down the alley back toward her shop. A strange mix of emotions filled me. The deep contentment was still there, but worry and guilt rose to compete like they always did when I had a moment to myself to think about what the hell I was doing.

As I stepped back into the building, my eyes immediately caught sight of Myles, his tall frame draped lazily against his desk. A sly grin played on his lips as he motioned toward a chair next to him. I couldn’t fault his work ethic—either his or Garrett’s. Dammit.

“Coffee?” he offered, pouring me a cup from the steaming pot on his desk.

“Thanks,” I muttered, taking the cup from Myles as I settled into the chair next to him. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the space between us, but my mind was still lingering on that final kiss with Brenna.

“Didn’t you two look cozy, tiptoeing down the stairs in the morning. I thought the Brenna thing was over.”

“Things change.” I shrugged, trying to keep my voice casual.

The Brenna thing will never be over.

“Obviously.” Myles raised his eyebrows, a teasing lilt to his words.

“What happened between us is new,” I stated firmly as I locked eyes with him. “And we’re not ready for it to be public knowledge. So keep your mouth shut.”

“Gotcha, boss.” Myles held up his hands in mock surrender. “Mums the word.”

I nodded, satisfied, but as I made my way upstairs to my apartment, the weight of our secret hung heavy in the air. There was no telling how long we could keep this quiet in a town where whispers traveled faster than the wind. But for now, Brenna and I were a silent vow, a promise written in the sand.

I needed to get ready for work, to shift my focus from the softness of Brenna’s skin to the real world. After showering, I stood with a towel wrapped around my waist and trimmed my beard. My eyes caught on my tattoo. It was such a part of me that I hardly noticed it anymore. As the black designs radiated outward across my pectorals, they morphed into stylized waves and sea patterns with distinctive arches and hook shapes reminiscent of ocean swells and curling waves. On my shoulders, two detailed sea turtles had been meticulously tattooed, their inky shells comprised of an infinite maze of spines and natural textures that continued in sweeps to my elbows.

I thought of the new life I was trying to start here, the bonds I was attempting to reforge. And my deep desire to protect Brenna, even if Knox’s threat had diminished. A bittersweet smile rose to my face as I absently ran my fingers over one pectoral, a memorial inked on me permanently. My gaze drifted toward the ceiling. My friend might have been gone for a long time, but I had to think he’d approve.

Chapter Nineteen

Hunter

I steppedup to the plate, gripping the bat with hands calloused from more labor than this leisurely evening game. The Sugarloaf Key Barracudas were on our turf, and despite the mostly friendly rivalry, I was determined to crack the cool façade of their pitcher, Tom. So far, I was oh-for-two. The Barracudas were first in the league, largely thanks to the arm of this pitcher and their power hitter, Brent. The Stingrays were only one game back in the standings, making tonight all the more important.

“Come on, Hunter!” Stella’s voice punctuated the hum of the crowd.

I tuned everything out and focused only on the approaching ball. It hurtled toward me, and I tensed. It looked high and I took the pitch.

“Strike!” The umpire’s call sliced through my concentration like a knife through water.

My jaw tightened. No way I was letting the next one pass. As the pitcher wound up again, I coiled like a spring.The pitch came—low and fast, a blur against the backdrop of the fading day. My swing met it with a satisfying crack, sending a sharp line drive whizzing toward left field. For a moment, hope soared. But then the Barracudas’ shortstop snagged the ball with a dive, popping up to throw me out at first. Frustration filled me as I trotted off the field.

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