Page 21 of Protect My Heart

“These two have men on the court to cheer for. I’m going for the eye-candy.” Kate wiggled her brows. “It’s shirts versus skins.”

“Kate, you’d find men to ogle at a funeral.” Lorna shook her head.

“Hey, there will be some hot single cops on the court tonight. Daniels, Swenson, and Brannon, not to mention the smokin’ hot firefighters.” Kate fanned herself. “It’d be a crime not to notice.”

Her eyes dropped to her book while she thought about other things she should be doing, like assessing her pending job offer in Virginia. “I have work I should get to.”

“Come on. Do you have any idea what I have to do to get a night out with the girls?” Lorna asked. “I want you to come. The work will be there when you return.”

Liz hadn’t felt peer pressure like this since high school. Her teeth nibbled on her thumbnail. She could use a night out. “How can I say no to that?”

By the time they entered the community center, the crisp air had turned Liz’s cheeks pink. Good thing, too, she could use the camouflage. Because the first thing she noticed upon entering the gym was Detective Jim Swenson pulling his T-shirt over his head. Her eyes locked on the dusting of dark hair on his chest that did nothing to hide his muscle definition. The man was ripped. Broad in the shoulders but lean at the waist. And his legs... Liz bit her lip to keep her mouth from hitting the floor. Sexy was not a strong enough word for the sight of Jim in his athletic shorts and high-tops.

“Come on, Liz. Let’s grab a seat in the bleachers.” Mira pulled her along while blowing kisses to Harrison on the court.

Liz took her seat in the row with the other ladies. Sweaty guys from the first game passed by them. She wrinkled her nose. It had been a good ten years since her last basketball game, and she hadn’t missed the smell. But the sights... The men ran lay-ups and did warm-up stretches on the court. Yup, she definitely missed the sights.

“So Liz, how long are you staying this time. It was too brief back in October.” Lorna pulled a bag of popcorn and sodas from her bag. Then from the magically-bottomless bag, she pulled bowls and licorice. Liz must have had a surprised look on her face, because Lorna said, “It’s a mom-thing. Have you ever gone to the movies with three kids? It will bankrupt you.”

“Can’t say I have. I’m not sure how long I’ll be staying.” She glanced at the ladies before continuing. “Can you keep a secret?”

The three nodded and leaned in close.

“I quit my job in Florida. My friend, Claire, offered me a job in Virginia, but I haven’t accepted it yet.”

Mira bounced lightly in her seat.

Lorna’s brows climbed.

Kate asked, “Why not?”

It felt like these women were lifelong friends. She leaned in and lowered her voice. “It’s a good job, but… I’m thinking of moving back here instead.”

Mira squealed.

Liz put her finger to her lips. “It’s not for sure. But I let my apartment in Florida go and shipped my belongings to a storage unit up here.”

“That’s great! To new beginnings.” Lorna lifted her soda can in toast. The others followed.

“How sure are you? Like seventy percent?” Kate asked. Lorna pinched her arm. “Ouch. What? I want to know how invested I should get in this friendship. Will she be a Friday night margaritas kind of friend or a Christmas card kind?”

Liz liked Kate. No beating around the bush.

“Well, I was only fifty-four percent sure when I moved back, but now there’s an eighty-three percent probability I’ll be buying new winter boots.”

Kate nodded. “Good odds. Margaritas it is.”

“We’ll be great friends. I can tell because you have great taste in clothes,” Mira said in all seriousness.

Liz blinked, not sure if she was joking. Then the three women hugged her, and the conversation flowed naturally for the next two hours. Mira was right. They would be great friends.

The guys won by four points. The women started down the bleachers as the men crossed to them.

“Thanks to Harrison’s wicked jump shot, we put those AFD boys in their place. I vote we make him an honorary police officer so he can be a permanent member of our team.” Ryan Daniels winked at Mira as he shoved his high-tops into his bag. “We never had such an attractive cheering section before.”

CJ cuffed Daniels in the back of the head and pulled Lorna in for a kiss.

“Hey Doc,” Jim said as he mopped his head with his T-shirt.