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F or the past two weeks Royce spent his time in two modes; focused on his job or strung tight as a new violin anticipating an angry text from his sister. He wasn’t good at keeping secrets, but he was an expert at avoiding his sister.

He hated the feeling of limbo he was in. But today, if the predictions were true, the Outlaws would win the fourth game of the USBL championship, and it would be the last time he’d need to endure watching Amber from feet away. The level of anticipation for game seven was electric throughout the Crystal Palace, the nickname the locals gave to Outlaw Stadium.

Each time he saw her, his waking fantasies increasingly became more vivid. Her long hair tied back in a long pony-tail tonight had him imagining how it would feel in his hand wound around his wrist as he entered her from behind, all the while her soft moans of pleasure urged him faster.

“Hey, Kincaid. Stop ogling the poor girl and go sit next to her. I’m sure she doesn’t bite.” Grant Conrad, the part-owner of the Idaho Outlaws, handed Royce a beer.

Royce held back a sigh. “That’s only part of the problem.”

The crowd and those in the owner’s box erupted in cheers as the home team took the field to begin game seven.

“Wait…what?” Grant finished cheering and turned to Royce.

“Nothing. Forget it. She’s off limits. Reese and I have an understanding about her friends. I stay away, and I get to continue to breathe.” He looked over to his sister, who was three seats down from him.

“Huh. Well, if that’s the case, what does she do to you when she catches you, uh eye-you-know-whatting one of her friends?”

Royce busted out laughing. Everyone in the box turned around, including Amber.

“What’s so funny?” Reese leaned forward but didn’t take her gaze off her husband in the outfield.

“Nothing. Royce and I were, it’s just…,” Grant’s word faded as he sent Royce an imploring look.

“Don’t look at me, man. You’re the one who PG-13 a perfectly good word most eight year old’s know the meaning of.” Royce’s gaze remained on Amber even after she turned her attention back to the field.

“Well, shit.” Grant rubbed the back of his neck and mumbled a reason for Royce’s laughter; something lame about the opposing team’s mascot.

“Smooth, Conrad. You have skills. That how you got Sophie to let you touch her?”

Uh. Oh. Royce had poked the bear. A big bear of a man who, in spite of no longer being a professional athlete, Grant Conrad could still outrun most members of the Outlaw’s roster. So, yeah, not a good comeback to trash talk a guys wife.

“You just remember who has a woman in his bed every night and who doesn’t.” Grant punched Royce’s arm and finished off his drink.

He took a few seconds to contemplate whether he should continue on the wrong turn he’d taken. Grant wasn’t someone you wanted to make an enemy. He was a great guy but didn’t suffer fools—ever.

“I’m sorry.” Royce knew when to cut his losses. Something he wished he could do while on duty. The hours and the increasing decline in civility in the country had definitely begun to rear its ugly head in their area. Plus, he’d heard that Grant and TS were looking to upgrade their security protocol for not just the stadium but for the players when they were on road trips.

If that were the case, they’d need experienced personnel who could be counted on in tense situations. He’d been thinking about making a change shortly after he arrived in Pineville. He’d returned home thinking the change in location, in a less crime-ridden area would reignite his dissatisfaction with police work. He’d been wrong. It hadn’t been Dallas; it was the job. He was burned out and needed a change and a new challenge.

Royce cleared his throat, took a sip of his beer, and with his focus on the visiting team’s batter, asked Grant what had been on his mind. “Are the rumors true? During the offseason you and TS plan on revamping the stadium’s security set-up?”

Grant remained silent as the fourth hitter in the line-up sent a pop fly to right field. That made three outs and had the Outlaw players hustling off the field.

“So, you like baseball, Royce? Because you know this is the final game in the championship series, and your attention seems to be everywhere except where twenty-three thousand fans are.”

“Sure. I like the people who play baseball. But it’s too slow of a game for me. I find myself watching the fans watching the game much more interesting.”

Grant chuckled. “Fans or maybe just one in particular?”

To answer that question would expand the circle of people who knew he had it bad for Amber and get back to Sophie, who may or may not become inclined to play matchmaker.

“My radar for trouble is on twenty-four seven. I’ve tried, believe me, tried to turn it off, or at least mute it. Guess I’m just one of those unlucky guys who’s always connected to his surroundings, you know?”

Grant had locked his gaze onto him and continued, his stare unreadable. “Royce, you’re a rare man. I’m sure plenty of first responders carry some level of heightened awareness for trouble when their off-duty, but I’ve noticed that you take it to a whole other level. It has to be mentally draining. Maybe you need a hobby? Besides chasing women, that is.”

Royce shifted in his seat. He looked from Grant’s grinning face to Connor, who had stepped up to the plate. His eyes flicked to the scoreboard. Tied at three, the Outlaw’s celebrated hitter raised a hand before taking a practice swing. The crowd roared, catcalls rang out, and his best friend settled into his stance. The crack of the bat rang out, followed by seconds of silence as thousands collectively watched the ball fly high into the lights.

Connor tossed his bat and headed for first. As the ball descended, a dull roar grew as the reality of the moment began to sink. Fans in the cheap seats located along the right-field foul line raised their hands, some bare, some with treasured gloves. It remained fair, and as if written in a movie script, a young man wearing Connor’s jersey grabbed the homerun ball and clutched it to his chest as those around him piled on him in celebration.

The stadium went wild. His friends and sister cheered and cried. On their feet, Grant slapped him on the back before bolting over his seat and hunted down the other owner, TS, and lifted him in a bear hug. The Outlaws had done what no one thought possible, win a USBL championship less than three years after joining the league.

“Royce, he did it; they all did!” Reese launched herself into his arms. He swung his sister around; her joy and love radiated from her tear-stained face. He hugged her tight. His gaze landed on her friends, the women who had married other members of the team. Kelsey has saved Maverick the pitcher; Lara had caught Luke, the catcher, and Noel, who’d been chased by the team’s owner, ended up taming him as well.

Off to the side was Caris, who’d married the team’s manager, Blake, adopted the adorable Valeria who was currently bouncing on her mama’s hip and clapping her chubby hands. The woman who’d he been attempting to ignore moved closer to Caris, who was her boss and held out her arms for the toddler. The little girl’s face erupted into a wide smile and turned into Amber’s arms as she giggled and grabbed a handful of Amber’s long curly hair. Caris, now free to hug the rest of the group, took her friend and the little girl into a quick embrace. The crowd continued to roar, and the players were sprawled on the field as they celebrated.

His gaze refused to leave Amber as she and Valeria bumped noses, which he thought were called butterfly kisses. The look on her face as she interacted with the child created a pull in his gut. Unfamiliar with the sensation, he then rubbed his chest. Damn.

“I’m working on a party at The Club. You’re invited. As a guest. You’re not to work the door, got it?”

He looked into his sister's face; a mixture of excitement with a touch of bossiness met his gaze. He nodded and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Text me with the details. I’ll make sure I’m off duty.”

He needed to get out of there. The feelings Amber was creating had to be extinguished. He’d spent enough time around the domestic bliss outbreak this year. He’d attend the Outlaw’s celebration, and then he’d go back to his usual routine.

Amber Wyatt was a temptation he didn’t think he could avoid much longer.