Page 9 of Betrayed

“Duh. Will did too.”

“Good.”

He fiddled with the hair falling in her face. “Then what’s the problem?”

“You had a Duke flier in your notebook last week.”

“The recruiter was at school. I told him I’m going to a Christian college.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“With my girl.” He winked.

She relaxed and stepped toward him, closing the gap he had created. “If I’m still your girl, make sure we spend some time together.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” She went up onto her toes, a more necessary task than it had been even a year ago, and met her lips to his.

When they drew out of the kiss, he touched his forehead to hers. “Let’s go convince Will this place is haunted.”

She giggled. “I like the way you think.” She took his hand and led him down the stairs.

Present Day

Logan tried to shake off his irritation at Will as he walked out of the locker room and onto the deck around the country club pool. He hadn’t wanted to come to this ridiculous event, but two minutes after he’d poured himself a glass of whiskey, Will had shown up on his doorstep and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Logan needed that whiskey after seeing AJ save that boy this afternoon. But he didn’t want Will to see it, so he hid the glass in the cabinet and popped a breath mint before answering the door. Now on the pool deck, Logan glanced around at who all had come.

AJ sat on a lounge chair talking with Emily and Jenna, sisters whose parents owned this pool and hosted the first-responders party every August.

AJ’s muscular-yet-feminine body looked amazing in a swimsuit, as always.

He really needed that whiskey.

Logan put his bag on a chair as far from AJ as he could manage.

“Hey, Logan!” Ty called from the pool. “We need some more cops to wallop in a game of water volleyball. Get in here.”

At least a game would distract him. Hopefully. He needed to keep his thoughts in the here and now. “Sure.” He kicked off his flip flops, removed his t-shirt, and jumped into the water.

The game got off to a good start, and the country music blaring in the background did the trick.

Brennan spiked the ball, and Will missed it, sending Will underwater. When he came up, Brennan was laughing. “Too many donuts, Cooper!”

Will wasn’t the beanpole he had been in high school, but the man did not overconsume donuts. Even Logan had to laugh at the jab.

Will splashed him. “Whose side are you on?”

The game continued, as did the razzing. As much as cops and firefighters always had one another’s backs, they thoroughly enjoyed acting like squabbling siblings.

After the cops pummeled the firefighters in the first game, someone shouted for a rematch.

Logan’s competitive side took over. “You’re on.”

One of the firefighters hopped out of the pool. “I’m out. AJ, take my place.”

“You got it.” She jumped in on the side of the net opposite Logan.

He avoided eye contact and spotted Jenna sitting nearby. “Jenna, you want to play? I can give up my spot.”