I knew there was a reason why I loved that man!
Finding my voice, I ask, “Do you have a problem with me playing?”
Richard’s eyes flash toward my prosthesis before he backtracks right before my eyes. “No…no, sorry. I didn’t mean it to come out like it did.” He carelessly throws his arms around. “I’ve played softball before and wouldn’t mind being on the team. I was just curious about you.”
What a load of shit!
“I’m going to be playing,” I say firmly.
At my tone, Ned stands and glances between us. He doesn’t look too happy with Richard and I wonder if he will say anything more about the guy’s obvious attitude. “Well that’s sorted. Richard, I won’t keep you any longer as I’m sure you have something better to do right now.” He dismisses Richard without a second glance, before turning to me, “Jace, can you stay for a minute?”
“I can.”
Richard stands, a scowl marring his face as he stomps out of the room, closing the door with a firm click. It’s clear that he wasn’t happy about the abrupt dismissal by Ned.
Ned relaxes completely as he sits back down in his chair. “I shouldn’t say this, but please watch your back around him. There’s something I can’t put my finger on. I’ve tried to like him because he was there for Savannah when she lost her father, but now, I don’t think he makes her happy…” He sighs and his eyes fill with worry before they brighten again. “The only time she seems to smile is when I ask her about the softball lessons.” He smiles and raises a brow in my direction.
My heart thuds in my chest knowing I make her smile.
Not you, the softball…
“I trust you with my niece… I don’t trust him.” Ned sags back into his chair as though he has the world on his shoulders. “Go talk to your friends at the academy.”
He’s given me a lot to think about, although it’s not as though I’m not going to be thinking about Savannah when she takes up all my spare time and then some.
“I will.” I move toward his door.
“Jace?”
Turning back, I realize he’s up to something with the grin on his face. “I’m having a barbecue in two weeks for Savannah’s birthday. I hope you can attend.”
Try keeping me away.
“I’ll be there.”
“Thought you might,” he chuckles.
Have I not hidden my attraction to his niece as well as I thought I had?
He knows and doesn’t seem bothered, even though she’s engaged to someone else, and why doesn’t he think she’s happy? That comment has me worried. I shouldn’t be, but I am.
Needing to clear my head, I head down to the ground floor. I have enough to think about and I’d rather do it away from the station, where I won’t have any questioning eyes.
Savannah
The heat and the shoddy air-conditioning in my car are going to have the buttercream melting on the two cakes that I’ve made for my uncle and his colleagues. I’m hoping he’ll be in a sugar-induced coma and not pay much attention to me when I ask for Jace’s number. That’s the plan at least.
Uncle is partial to red velvet, and I don’t know anyone who can resist chocolate cake, so having spent all morning baking, I’m happy that they’ve turned out so well.
Now all I need is the air conditioning to kick in again. It seems to be on for two minutes, then off for five. Definitely need to take it into the garage tomorrow to get it checked because I’ve no clue. There’s no use asking my uncle about it either. He likes to think that he knows what he’s doing under the hood of a car when in actual fact he’s just as clueless as me. I’m not even going to ask Richard. I’ve
started to feel relieved when he leaves and I dread him inviting me to stay at his place. Having him fix my car would just mean that he was around even more.
I haven’t spent the night with him at his place since we’ve gotten engaged, but I’m kind of expecting him to ask me soon. I don’t know what I’m going to do when he does because I don’t want that. I guess the sooner I tell him, the better. I just don’t think he’s going to accept my decision lying down.
Chewing my bottom lip with worry, I sigh in pleasure as the air conditioning kicks in just as I’m pulling into a parking lot at the sheriff’s station.
It’s a new building, or rather a newish one, as it’s about three years old now. The six floors hold a different division on each. Outside, it’s like any other building, but inside it has state-of-the-art equipment from the computer to the workstations to the lab equipment. Very modern looking.