Brogan lifted the heavy crate of bottles from the storeroom, carrying them with ease toward the bar. His heart as light as his mind, he performed the mundane tasks to get ready for the day. He still felt the sensation of Ginny’s lips on his, soft and gentle, smooth and silky. With just the hint of chocolate from their dessert.

“What the hell is that noise?” Aiden yelled from the front door.

Brogan looked up suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he spied Aiden and Katelyn walking toward him. Katelyn’s smile spread across her pretty face and Aiden’s shit-eatin’ grin almost matched hers. “What? What noise?”

“Brother dear,” Katelyn purred, “I do believe I heard whistling when I came into the pub.”

“Sounded more like a fuckin’ cat howling, if you ask me,” Aiden quipped, walking behind the bar.

Cuffing Aiden on the back of the head, Brogan groused, “No one asked you, asshole.”

Rolling her eyes at both of them, Katelyn hopped up on a barstool and said, “So tell me about your date last night with Ginny.”

“How’d you know about a date?”

Throwing her head back in laughter, Katelyn’s blue eyes danced. “Seriously? Grant found out because Ginny said she wouldn’t be available last night unless it was an emergency and that was unusual for her nights off. So, he pressed and she confessed she had a date, which he then told Jillian. Jillian was looking for me, but found Gareth instead, so she told him to tell me to call her. But he was curious, so she told him first…which kind of pisses me off, that he knew before I did. But anyway, he told me last night.”

Brogan’s hard stare pierced her, but she was unshakeable. Instead, she just perched on her stool, a wide-eyed, expectant look on her face. Dropping his head, he said, “What the hell’s wrong with this town? Ain’t nobody got nothin’ better to do than get all up in people’s business?”

“Nope,” Aiden and Katelyn said in unison.

Rubbing his hand over his head, Brogan lifted his head, but his retort died on his lips as Katelyn’s hand snaked across the bar and gently squeezed his. Sighing, he said, “Not much to tell. The Sunset Restaurant was having some kinda shindig and was too crowded, so I figured the date was over before it got started. But she ordered some food from Bill’s Takeout and we went to the pier.”

Katelyn’s mouth fell open, but no words came out and, as Brogan glanced at Aiden, he caught his brother smiling. Shrugging, he added, “It was nice.”

Expecting Aiden to make a brash comment, he was stunned when he just walked by, slapped him on the back, and said, “Good job, Bro. Sounds like it was perfect.”

Brogan watched as Aiden picked up the now-empty crate and walked toward the back. Feeling the squeeze on his hand again, he turned and looked at Katelyn.

“Aiden’s right, you know. It does sound perfect.”

Nodding slowly, he said, “Yeah. She’s special. What the hell she sees in me, I don’t know, but I’m just glad she does.”

“Do you remember how you said that when you came back from the war, I was different? After Philip died, I seemed to die as well?” Seeing Brogan’s surprised nod, she continued, “You were different too. You were always the serious brother, but when you came back, you were positively somber. You didn’t smile. You didn’t joke. You didn’t drink. You were…well, different.”

Saying nothing, Brogan listened, knowing every word she said was true.

“We were all worried, but you came back, worked hard here to continue to make the pub a success, and we all got used to the new Brogan.” She slid from the stool and walked over to him. Lifting on her toes, she kissed his cheek. “I love you, but want you to be happy…not just to exist. And I think Ginny can make you very happy. In fact, I think you can make her happy too.” With that, she headed out the door.

* * *

Ginny walked into Mitch’s office and got right to the point. “Got a smudge print on Celia Ring’s window.”

Mitch’s eyes jumped to the report she laid on his desk as she continued to speak. “It’s not identifiable, but it does corroborate her story of someone looking in. She has a lawn care service, so it could have come from them, so I know it’s not conclusive, but it still lets us know someone was at the window. We know that peeping toms can escalate. It’s not just harmless pranks, but is behavior that can lead to more invasive and intrusive actions.”

Holding up his hand, Mitch halted her explanations. “I know and I agree.”

Letting out a breath she had not realized she had been holding, she nodded. “Thanks, Chief.”

Continuing to pin her with his gaze, he said, “It’s none of my business, but you seem particularly…moved…by the subject.”

Blinking, she sat up straighter, swallowing deeply. She opened her mouth in denial, but clamped it shut quickly. Looking past his shoulder, focusing on a spot on the wall, she said, “No one has a right to invade someone’s privacy and…well…no one.”

Mitch nodded and changed the subject. “Keep up the good work, Ginny, and let us know what you find.”

Grateful for the reprieve, she stepped out of his office. Leaning her back against the cool wall, she closed her eyes for a moment, willing her heart to slow its pounding. After a moment, she sucked in a cleansing breath and walked out of the station.

* * *

That afternoon, Ginny walked into the high school with Grant, making their way to the office. After greeting the principal, he took them into a conference room where five young, teenage boys sat. Their expressions ranged from frightened to cocky and Ginny narrowed her attention on the cocky ones. The principal explained that it had come to their attention that the boys were passing around cell phone pictures of a girl from a neighboring school.

Ginny took the proffered phone and skimmed through the photographs before turning back to the boys. Fighting the urge to smack the smirk off the face of one of them, she leaned down and said, “Do you realize this is illegal? Do you realize that you not only face expulsion, but also arrest?”

Two of the boys grew wide-eyed and, for an instant, she thought one of them might throw up. Turning her attention to the one still smirking, she got in his face. “You think this is funny? You have no idea how much trouble you’re in.”

“Oh, yeah, well that slut sent me those pictures,” he argued, holding her stare.

“Really? For your information, it’s illegal to share those, send those, and have those on your phone.” Seeing the first glimmer of doubt in his eyes, she continued, her voice raising with each word, “And, furthermore, a couple of those pictures were not taken by the person in them—especially the one in the locker room, so after the principal calls your parents, I suggest they call a lawyer, ‘cause I’m confiscating the phones as evidence and we’ll be obtaining a search warrant for other sites you may have uploaded these pictures to.”

By now, four of the boys were staring wide eyed, their gazes shooting between Grant and Ginny. As the principal took the boys to his office, the last one turned and smiled at her, his eyes roaming from the top of her head to her boots and back up again, lingering on her breasts.

Seeing red, she stepped forward, her body tense with adrenaline. Grant put his hand on her shoulder, his fingers squeezing slightly, causing her body to halt. Silence enveloped the two of them as they stood in the now empty room. Blinking several times as she breathed deeply, she jerked her head in a short nod before they left the room.

Once inside their SUV, Grant called it in before pulling out onto the road. No words had been spoken, but as he opened his mouth, she jumped in, “I know. I’m working on it.”

Nodding slowly, he replied, “If you ever need someone else to talk to—”

Snorting, she interrupted, “You volunteering to be my counselor now?”

“Hell, no.” After a moment, he said, “But, I’m glad you’re seeing one.”

Ginny peered out the window at the scenery flying by, but her thoughts were across the world in Afghanistan. Grimacing as she attempted to block out the images, she whispered, “Yeah.”

* * *

“You’re doing really well,” the counselor encouraged, peering at her over her glasses.

Ginny nodded toward June, her chest tight from reliving the anger, but she knew she was on the road to finally gaining some peace. “Thank you. It’s not easy.”

“Counseling isn’t always easy,” June commented. “While the end goal is to find a way to deal with things that have happened, the process can be very painful.” After a moment of silence, she asked, “How are you doing with the coping mechanisms?”

“Mostly…I run.”

June stared at her for a moment, but when no other reply came, she asked, “Have you found anyone in town that you feel would understand your burden? I know that you did not find that with your family, but since you’ve moved here, any friends you can talk to?”

Shrugging, Ginny replied, “I’m trying.” Since June remained silent, she continued, “It’s not easy. I’m a cop.”

“So, tell me how that affects you.”

“I’ve got a duty to the community…I want to be friendly, but it’s sometimes hard to make friends. I’ve only been in town for two years and it’s taken me a while to fit in. And, hell, being the only female cop around isn’t easy. I’ve got to be just as tough, just as dedicated, just as committed as my fellow officers and yet, not seen as some hard-nosed bitch. My time in the military police gave me the balls to do the job, but in the civilian world, in a little town, it’s a hard line to walk.”

“And your relationships?”

“I’m good with the guys, which might surprise you considering what I’m dealing with. But I trust the men I work with. And the American Legion and the Auxiliary that we’ve started have given me a sense of fellowship. Coaching gives me a chance to work with some young girls and maybe help make some of them stronger.” Snorting, she added, “And it seems that I’m being inducted into the Katelyn, Jillian, and Tori club.”

June laughed, “Oh, lordy! I remember those girls from when I worked at the high school. If they’re including you, you’ll have lots of friends to talk to.” Sobering, she said, “Do you plan on talking to them about what happened to you when you were in the service?”

Ginny looked down at her lap, pondering June’s question. “I don’t know,” she finally admitted. “My family certainly didn’t take it well when they found out.”

A soft look on her face, June replied, “Our families are sometimes our biggest critics when they should be our biggest supporters.”

As Ginny walked out into the sunshine, she slid her sunglasses on her face and thought of June’s words. Yes, they are.

* * *

Sitting in the bleachers, Ginny cheered on the AL boys, watching one round third as he headed toward home plate. Her gaze stopped on third base, lingering on Brogan as he coached. The normally stoic man was animated on the field—cheering and encouraging every player. A smile slipped across her lips as she remembered the touch of his mouth on hers. She had not seen him yesterday, as she had hoped, with work interfering. But he had sent her a text last night and asked her to come to Finn’s for lunch after the games. Still smiling, she realized the bleachers around her were silent.

Blinking out of her reverie, she observed Tori, Jillian, Katelyn, Jade, and Belle all staring…and smiling. “What?” she asked, her voice more strident than she intended.

Laughter all around had her blushing, as Katelyn shoulder bumped her. “Nothing. We’re just glad to see that smile on your face, that’s all.”

“Humph,” Ginny groused, embarrassed to have been caught with a teenage, dreamy expression on her face.

Before she had a chance to deny the cause of her smile, the boys’ game was over and the bleachers began to empty. As she stepped off the last step, James approached, his jaw tight, his normally easy-going expression buried behind a scowl.

“Ginny, can I have a word?”

His surfer, blond looks no longer held her attention now that her eyes were filled with Brogan. Curious, she nodded and followed him to the side of the bleachers. “What can I do for you?”

He smiled but she immediately noticed it did not reach his eyes. “Well, look honey, here’s the thing—”

Her hand moved upward as she halted his words. “Honey?”

Reddening, he said, “No, don’t take that wrong. It’s just a saying…you know, just a greeting.”

“James, I would prefer if you do not call me honey.”

His smile dropped as he took a step forward. “Okay, Officer Spencer…is that better?

She stared at him for a moment until he squirmed slightly before replying, “If this is official, then yes, Officer Spencer is correct. If this is just a friendly conversation, then Ginny is appropriate.”

He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “I seem to be stepping in it this morning.”

“James, how can I help you?’’ Wanting to get to Brogan before he left to take some of the kids home, she hoped James would begin talking.

“Okay, here’s the thing. It seems some of my wrestlers got into a little bit of trouble and I was wondering if you could help them out.”

A snake of nerves crawled up her spine, but she kept her face impassive. “Trouble?”

Chuckling, he scuffed one shoe on the dirt as he continued, “They had some girls’ pictures on their phones and got suspended. The girls sent the pictures and my boys didn’t know they were doing anything wrong when they passed them around. You know how boys can be.”

“No, enlighten me,” she said, her voice cool and steady.

“Come on, Ginny. They’re horny teenagers. Any chance they can get to look at a naked girl, they will. It’s normal, teenage boy behavior.”

A lifted eyebrow was the only response he received, so he continued. “If the girls didn’t want the guys staring at them, they should have never sent the pictures.”

“And if the girls were unaware the pictures were being taken? If they were taken against their will?”

Eyes wide, James scoffed, “I know some of those girls and, believe me, they’ll pose for anyone, anytime.”

Heart racing, Ginny forced herself to breathe slowly, struggling to maintain control. “Let me educate you, James. I saw the photographs. Many were not taken with the girls’ knowledge or permission. What the boys did was not just adolescent behavior, which is often a fallacy perpetuated by our society. A woman is not an object, but a human, with the right to privacy. Those boys broke the law and the principal has assured me the expulsion will stay until they have their day in court.” By the time she finished, she was shaking.

James’ face turned red as he stepped forward menacingly. “You can’t do this. My wrestling team will not lose because of some girls who just want guys to drop at their feet. It’s an attention getting ploy—”

“You need to back off—”

A roar sounded to the side as Brogan charged in between Ginny and James. Quick on her feet, Ginny whirled around, placing herself in between the two men.

“Brogan!” she shouted. Repeating herself several times, she waited for his attention to turn from a murderous look toward James down to hers, concern now on his face.

“Brogan,” she said, softer this time. “I’ve got this. Don’t do anything that’ll make me have to arrest you.” Looking to the side, she saw a circle of their friends gathered, shielding any of the children from witnessing the scene. Her body quaking, she turned back to James, “You may think what they did was nothing, but I assure you, to those girls, it’s horrific.” Her voice broke on the last word as she swallowed deeply, her heart pounding out of her chest.

James stared a long minute at her before turning and pushing his way through the crowd. Ginny stood ramrod stiff, her gaze sweeping past Aiden, Mitch, and Grant, before the women led them away.

She knew Brogan was still at her back—she felt the heat from his body radiating toward her. Dropping her chin to her chest, she said, “Brogan, go home.”

“No,” came the rumble from behind. “I’m not leaving you.”