Page 17 of Capture My Heart

Trey took her hand. He blanked his surprise at the strength of her grip.

Michelle Swenson, Jim’s sister, waved as she stretched out in the grass.

Bob Peterson moved in and slapped him on his back. Trey fought the urge to remove his hand. When he leaned in and mock whispered, “I play short. Are you sub pitching for Larson, or are we sticking you in left field?”

Trey gritted his teeth. He didn’t want to tip his hand. “I think I’ll let CJ do the pitching. I hear he’s got quite an arm.”

Bob nodded and with one more slap on the back moved on.

APD were up to bat first. Trey was sixth in the rotation after Ian Brannon. On the bench, Ian watched the game in silence. Time to see if he could find out anything. “Brannon, right?”

Ian’s eyes cut to Trey. “Yeah.”

“Have you been on the force long?”

Now, he turned his whole body to face him. Trey was a big guy, but Ian had him by a good twenty pounds. All muscle by the looks of it.

“Two years.”

Okay. Not a chatty guy.

The crack of the ball on the bat pulled their attention. The crowd cheered as Ryan Daniels rounded second. He held on third.

CJ pulled off his batter’s helmet as he entered the dugout. High fives and ass pats followed him.

Trey lost his window with Brannon. He turned to the crowd and caught Amy jumping up, her fingers in her mouth, full whistle.

His gaze zipped back to Ryan on base, then to Ian beside him, and finally to Bob as he took a practice swing in the warm-up box. They all were in the building the night of the incident. Bob had an alibi but not ironclad.

Waiting for his gut to give him a sign, Trey glanced back to Amy. Her gaze locked with his. His stomach churned. It was telling him something. He just didn’t know if it was to trust her or not.

“I think my stove’s gonna catch on fire tonight.” Kate fanned herself and flipped her long, blonde hair over her shoulder.

Lorna, CJ’s girlfriend, rolled her eyes. “Kate, you don’t need to burn your townhouse down to have a hot fireman come over. You’re gorgeous, just bat your eyes and they’ll come running.”

“I could introduce you to Garrett. He’s the redhead on first base.” Amy had started hanging out with these ladies when she and Liz, Jim’s fiancée, became friends this winter.

“He’s cute.” Kate pursed her lips. “But I’m not into redheads.”

“I’m just waiting for the right guy to cross your path. It will happen someday.” A rainbow of colors flashed bright off Liz’s ring as she pulled out a travel mug with a cop saying. Amy smiled. Carrying on the Swenson tradition, no doubt.

Kate waved her red-tipped fingers as if shooing the idea away. “I’m good. I’d be more worried about the good Officer Larson over here. When’s the last time you had a man under you?”

Lorna spit out her Diet Coke. “Kate.”

“What? The woman does nothing but work and exercise.” She raised her water bottle to her lips and dropped her voice. “I mean, if anyone needs a fire it’s her.”

Amy couldn’t argue. She was right. The last time Amy had a date, let alone sex, they were in a different calendar year.

“Who’s the yummy guy up to bat?” Kate leaned in.

“Trey Fenley. Jim knows him from the gym,” Liz said.

“Your gym?” Kate looked past Lorna and Liz to Amy. She nodded. “Well, now I know why you’re always working out.”

“He’s my landlord.” Was it hot out here? Maybe she should have worn a hat to block the sun. Then again, maybe it had nothing to do with the weather.

All three sets of eyes latched on to her. She felt the prickle of sweat run down her back. She turned to them. “What?”