Reggie ran straight for his water bowl, and I gestured for Sam to go ahead of me to the kitchen. He looked around as he walked, taking in the space and causing me to do the same.

A few pictures of the girls adorned the walls of the entryway, and a painting I’d purchased on a trip to Italy took up a large portion of the wall outside the kitchen. Mike had thought my choice odd when I selected the image of a fisherman staring out to sea instead of one of the lively renderings of colorful buildings and popular fountains. But I preferred my fisherman and his blue horizon. Whenever I looked at it, I was reminded of the small village on the coast where we’d stayed and the local festival offering treasures from regional artists. I’d loved that trip. But now it felt like a memory from a different lifetime.

“I see the painters have been in here too.” Sam’s voice cut into my thoughts.

I moved to the kitchen and found him examining the walls. The room still smelled of fresh paint. “No. I did that with my sister. What do you think?”

He tilted his head to one side, considering. “It’s … bright.”

I grinned. “My kids are going to love it.”

Gesturing back toward the hall, he said, “I saw the pictures. Twin girls?”

“Yup. Kate and Eileen. They’re ten.”

“And where are they, if you don’t mind me asking?”

I nudged him. “Well, look who’s being all polite and asking permission.”

His look was one of spare tolerance.

“They’re with their father. He lives a couple hours away. Although, I believe they left on a trip today.” Mike and Kristen were taking the girls to the beach and there was talk of swimming with dolphins. I couldn’t wait for the pictures.

Sam just nodded.

“Would you like something to drink?” I remembered my hostess duties.

The question brought a frown to his face. He gestured to the attached living room. “I should be asking you that. Why don’t you sit and I’ll get you some water?”

I waved him off. “I’m fine. Just a bit tired.”

“Hmm,” was all he said.

Before he could protest further, I grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge and handed one to him before dropping onto the couch in a graceless manner. Sam took a seat in the armchair but didn’t open his drink.

“So, Rodolpho, huh?”

He scowled and I grinned, twisting the top off my water and taking a long swallow. My throat sang in appreciation.

“It’s a family name, and I’m the oldest so I got stuck with it,” he grumbled.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I think Sam suits you better.”

“Was that a compliment? From you?” His eyebrows almost hit his hairline.

“Hey, I’ve been known to dole them out on occasion.”

“If you say so.” He finally opened his water and covered his own grin by taking a sip. I couldn’t help but notice the strong column of his neck as he drank. Or the shape of his generous bicep.

Back it on up, Jenna.

I forced my gaze away. “How long have you been with the police force?”

“Uh, it’ll be eleven years this fall. How about you? What do you do?” He returned the cap to his water and leaned back in the chair. I averted my eyes, worried I might let my gaze move south.

“I teach second grade at Sunview Elementary.”

“No kidding? My sister’s kids go there.”

I sifted through student names in my head and couldn’t come up with a Martinez.

“Last name is Evans.” He seemed to read my mind, once again.

Duh, Jenna. Most kids have their dad’s last name. Then it hit me. “Sofia Evans is your sister?”

He nodded. “You know her?”

I let out a laugh. “Uh, yeah. Monica was in my class last year. Sofia was our room mom. She’s terrific!”

He ran a hand through his thick hair. “Oh, God. Don’t ever tell her that. It’ll go straight to her head.”

My smile widened. “Okay, this is all making sense now. You’re the brother who donated all those toy police badges and wristbands to the kids.”

He nodded.

“Didn’t you used to play college baseball or something?” My brow creased.

“Football.”

“Oh, that’s right.” My mind searched for all the stories Sofia had shared across the work table as we stapled endless stacks of assignments and cut shapes out of construction paper. “Your other brother played baseball. You were the football player who dated—” I cut myself off, wishing I could erase the last part of my statement. If I remembered correctly, Sam had been in a very long-term relationship with Emberly Peters, a local celebrity of sorts. She’d cheated on him and, according to Sofia, broken his heart.

He stood abruptly, and I scrambled for a subject change. “I should probably call my sister. I’m sure you have things to do.” I pulled out my phone and hit Jill’s contact as Sam headed back the kitchen. “I mean, you were on the night shift after all, so you’re probably exhausted.” I couldn’t seem to shut up. My feet led me to the kitchen in his wake. “How do you even stay awake all—”

He spun around and cut me off. “Do you want to go out sometime?”

The room fell silent. Then Jill’s voice rang out over the line. “What up, bitch? Did you decide to bang Officer Hottie after all?”

* * *

Me: I may have gotten you in trouble … so sorry!

Sofia: What does that mean?

Me: Long story short, I met your brother Sam and I let it slip that I knew about his ex.

Sofia: Crap

Me: Precisely. There’s only one place I could have learned about it.

Sofia: Me

Me: Yup. So sorry! I’ll buy you cupcakes!

Sofia: I can handle Sam. I’ll still take the cupcakes though – LOL

Sofia: Wait, how did you meet Sam?

Me: Let’s just say, less than ideal circumstances.

Sofia: You’re not texting me for bail, are you?

Me: Ha! Not yet.

Sofia: I’m calling you once the kids are in bed. I need the dirt!

Me: I will be conveniently drowning in my bathtub tonight. Sorry.

Jill came around the corner and set a pillow on the couch next to me. I dropped my phone on the coffee table and gave her a look.

“You don’t have to baby me. I swear I’m fine.”

“I don’t care. You could have died today, so you’ll have to let me be helpful and clingy.” She dropped down next to me and put her head on my shoulder.

I hadn’t intended to tell her the entire story, but leave it to Officer Overreaction to spill every detail.

When Jill’s ill-timed announcement had dropped like a bomb in my kitchen, I couldn’t get Sam out of my house fast enough.

I slammed the phone to my ear. “Jill, I need you to come over. I’ll explain when you get here, but come now. Please.”

“What’s going on?” Her teasing tone was replaced by nervousness.

I couldn’t bear to look at Sam, and my face could surely have ignited the stack of wood in my fireplace. But before I knew it, the phone was taken from my hand and Sam spoke into it, all business now.

He gave Jill the rundown of what had happened, and I could hear her exclamations on the other end. The call ended abruptly and Sam handed the phone back to me. I took it gingerly.

“She’ll be here in five.”

“Mmm hmm,” I mumbled and darted to the opposite side of the kitchen island to busy myself. My pot lids were in desperate need of reorganizing and it couldn’t wait a second longer. Sam, thankfully, left me to my task and didn’t try to engage me in conversation.

Less than five minutes later, Jill burst through my front door and I was in her arms a millisecond later.

Sam left shortly thereafter, but not before pinning me with a look that unmistakably said, “This is not over.”