Page 33

Sure.

Easy.

Not.

Blown knee. Dumped by my fiancé. Sure, I’d stumbled into a new career I loved as a 911 dispatcher, but if things hinged on me not screwing up, I was doomed.

***

“Hey.”

I tipped my head to acknowledge Jimmy’s gravelly greeting, stretching my arms wide to warm up. We were used to early morning workout sessions, sometimes with Chase joining us, but it still took Jimmy a while to get fully awake.

“Morning. Chase coming today?” I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.

I hadn’t decided if having Chase present would help or hurt my case with Jimmy. Chase was enough of a wildcard; it could go either way.

Jimmy grunted before nodding. He looked more tired than usual, and I peered at him closely as I pulled my heel to my glute, stretching.

“Everything okay with you?”

He hid a yawn behind his hand, nodding as he rolled out his ankles. “Yeah, just a late night with Melena.”

The underlying contentment in his words made my lips twitch.

“I remember a time when a late night meant something else. Marriage suits you.” I toasted him silently with my water bottle.

“Yeah, it does.” His smug smile said it all. “When are you going to take that sweet walk to the altar?”

I choked on my sip of water, coughing to clear my airway and buy time. Had Andi said something about our plans? I glanced down. Was I wearing a sign that saidtotes lusting after your sister? I cleared my throat, assessing his expression. Jimmy appeared calm. Innocent. Not like he was trying to trip me up.

I rubbed a hand through my hair. “You know I haven’t been serious about anyone since Jess and I broke it off.”

His scowl reminded me he’d never been Jess’s biggest fan.

“You’re better off without her. She only wanted one thing.”

I raised my brows. “You lecturing me on sex right now?”

He chuffed a laugh. “No, pervert. I meant your fame. She wanted to be the wife of a famous athlete. She didn’t want you.”

“Ouch,” I said, rubbing my chest.

“I’m sure your pretty face had something to do with it too,” he acknowledged. “But you can do better.”

Taking a deep breath, I put it out there. “Like … Andi?”

I caught Jimmy as he was taking his own sip from his water bottle, and he coughed, wheezing.

My gut clenched. His face turned red as he worked to catch his breath, and his expression was hard to read. I waited him out, watching as his color returned to normal under his tanned skin. Had his pep talk at trivia been all for show? Now that I’d finally asked Andi out, changing his mind wasn’t out of the question.

“If you think you can handle Andi, you’re welcome to try.”

“What, really?”

Too easy. There had to be a catch. I leaned away, examining his expression. Sincere, or messing with me? If I turned, would he haul back and kick me in the butt for having dirty fantasies about his sister? Flashbacks of him stuffing Tommy Barnes in a locker for copping a feel slithered through my mind.

“As she’s reminded me, she takes care of herself. And sometimes me.” The last bit he muttered under his breath, but I still caught the faint words.