Page 2 of Capture My Heart

She dropped her arms. “Huh.”

Movement by the neighbor’s door across caught her eye. A streak of black headed her way.

“What the—?”

The fast-moving blur of fur headed straight for her. She hadn’t thought to check for woodland creatures.

A shriek flew from her lips. “Skunk.”

Her hand instinctively raised her sidearm. Damn it, she couldn’t shoot, not only would there be a ton of paperwork if she discharged her weapon, but she’d be sprayed.

She backed up slowly, hand extended to ward it off, but it kept coming.

No, no, no. How did a skunk get inside the building? There were only two apartments up here, and the street level housed a gym.

The critter waddled closer. Amy’s back hit the wall next to her door. She grabbed the handle. Locked.

Shit, the only door in the apartment she had to manually unlock. Figures, she’d forget to do it today. This was not the way she wanted to start her Monday. She reached in her pocket. Thank Sweet Jesus. Her fingers brushed the rough edges of her keys.

Could she open this and get inside before getting doused? Her hands were anything but rock steady. Her heart pounded against her rib cage. Firearm in one hand, keys in the other, she took a slow sidestep towards her door.

“Good boy. I’m just going inside to call animal control now.”

The skunk turned—his tail in the air.

“No!” Amy squeezed her eyes shut and raised her arms to cover her face.

The door across from hers flew open.

“Stinky.”

At the deep timbre, she peeked through her fingers. Trey Fenley stood clenching a towel at his hip, water droplets rolling down his hard sculpted body.

Despite the desert conditions in her mouth, she swallowed down her fear. A good helping of lust took its place, but she forced it away.

She should have known. Her new landlord moved in two months ago. Other than a flirty hello in the hall, he kept to himself. Not that Amy minded. She had a mission. Make detective by thirty and the ticktock of the days were echoing in her ears.

She didn’t need any more distractions. Keeping her brother on the straight and narrow was enough. Not to mention the case. Always there. Hovering like a reminder of all the things she couldn’t control.

She glanced at the furry critter, now waddling towards Fenley. How had she missed that he had a pet skunk? Some detective skills she had.

“Sorry, I must not have latched the door when I grabbed the mail.” He scooped up the critter and snuggled it to his hard chiseled chest.

Pulling her gaze from his washboard abs, it moved up the expanse of tanned skin over toned muscle. She paused briefly at the red puckered scar above his left pectoral. Gunshot?

She blinked and pushed her gaze higher. Steel-blue eyes met hers.

She cleared her throat. “Do you have a permit for that thing?” She had to admit, it was cute.

He grinned, a dimple popped out on his left cheek, “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.” If he was any sexier with that damn charming smile—and a freakin’ dimple for Christ’s sake, she’d have to arrest him on principle. “Wouldn’t want to have to write you a citation for breaking the ordinance.”

With slow measured movements, she unlocked her door and retrieved her bag.

He didn’t move, just stood there with water dripping on the floor, that dang adorable skunk clinging to his chest.

She couldn’t blame the animal. It was a magnificent chest. And his biceps—whoa. She inhaled and slipped the strap of her bag over her shoulder then stepped wide. “Have a good day.”