In the Line of Duty (First Responders 2)

“We’re up next,” she said. “Better get going so we don’t hold up the line.”

Jake watched as Carly teed off from the ladies’ tee first, and then Kendra. To his surprise, she hit a fairly decent shot, about a hundred yards and straight down the fairway. “I thought you said you didn’t golf,” he remarked, taking a tee from his pocket.

She grinned. “I didn’t. I squeezed in a few lessons this week.”

He shook his head. “Were you always this driven?” He put the ball on his tee and looked over at her.

“I didn’t want to embarrass us both.”

He gave her a wink. “You could never embarrass me.”

“Is that a challenge?”

They were bantering again and he loved it, even as Gabe was waiting to tee off behind him.

“If you want it to be.”

His concentration was shot but he took a breath, lined up and made the shot. The ball sailed high and then sliced to the right. “Dammit.”

He stood aside while Gabe teed off. Kendra laughed quietly at him. “What happened?”

He angled her a look. “I miscalculated asking you to be my partner. You’re too much of a distraction. Especially in that little pink thing. You’ve got great legs, Constable.”

She blushed. “Are you flirting with me?”

Their arms were almost brushing, and she looked up at him from under the peak of her visor.

“I’m trying. Is it working?”

She shrugged, but when she moved to get into the cart she gave a little jut of her hip that made him laugh and other parts of his body respond uncomfortably.

It was going to be a long round.

Kendra slid her putter into her golf bag and rolled her shoulders. It had been a fabulous morning. She hadn’t embarrassed herself too badly on the course, and she’d relaxed and had fun with Gabe and Carly. She’d been so aware of Jake that her body felt like it was suspended in a heightened state of anticipation. Every casual touch, every time he teased her about her form, every compliment he paid took on a bigger meaning than normal.

But that was the problem, wasn’t it? It felt normal. And she knew that normal didn’t truly exist. And she knew she couldn’t trust days like today. They only set her up to be hurt later.

Gabe drove the cart back to the clubhouse, Jake riding up front and Carly in the back with her. Carly sighed happily. “It was a fun day, wasn’t it? It’s the first time I’ve left the baby for this long.”

Kendra smiled. “She’s with your mum?”

Carly nodded. “Yeah. I’m still getting used to this whole thing with Gabe, you know? And we’re planning the wedding and getting my house ready to put on the market. It was good to have a day to forget about all that and just have fun.” She smiled at Kendra. “I’m really glad you came, Kendra. Gabe’s always spoken so highly of you, and Jake seems pretty happy.”

“It’s not like that,” Kendra replied. She knew people were going to make assumptions, but all she could do was just refute them simply, right?

Carly laughed. “You could’ve fooled me. I see the way he looks at you.” When Kendra stared at her, Carly’s smile widened. “And how you look at him.”

“It’s…” How much could she say? How much could she trust? It was a new feeling, and one she longed to be a part of. She frowned a little and then said, “It’s just early, you know? Too early to call us a couple.”

Carly’s eyes softened. “It’s not always easy, is it?”

Kendra tried to smile. “Anyway, it was a fun day, right?”

“Right,” Carly answered, and once Gabe parked the cart, Kendra scrambled out to retrieve her clubs and return them to the rental shop.

But she wasn’t safe there either. A tall man who looked remarkably like Jake—right down to the hazel eyes—came up beside her as she waited her turn. “Kendra, right? I’m John Symonds, Jake’s dad.”

Dear Lord, was this ever going to end? Kendra pasted on a smile and shook the hand he held out. “Hi.”