Page 4 of Shades of You (Calypso Key #4)

Chapter Four

Hunter

The unmistakable crack of bat against ball snapped me back to the present as I crouched behind home plate. I vaulted to my feet with a curse as the batter hit a clean double through the gap between first and second. He didn’t need to sprint to reach first base.

Shit! Gotta get my head in the game here.

The Calypso Key Stingrays were up against the Marathon Marlins today, and the heat wasn’t just coming from the blazing afternoon sun. Gabe wound up another pitch, and my muscles tensed in anticipation.

We were in the ninth inning, but I’d had trouble concentrating all game. My mind wouldn’t stop drifting back to Brenna’s bookstore. When I’d first walked through the door, it was like stepping into a different world. A quiet, familiar world I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed. I’d spent so many years imagining what she might look like now. And when I’d finally seen her yesterday, it had hit me like a punch to the gut .

My fantasies couldn’t hold a candle to the real thing.

Her light-brown hair had cascaded like a waterfall touched by the sun’s golden fingers. Her eyes, an easy soft green, seemed to reach right into me. She still moved with the effortless grace I remembered, but the rest of her was nothing like my old friend.

I’d frozen on the doorstep, completely flummoxed by how gorgeous she was. Tall, willowy, her skin held the faintest blush from the sun. Sharp cheekbones framed a full mouth. When she first saw me, her eyes had been full of surprise and maybe even a hint of fear. I was used to my appearance causing that reaction in people. But fear was the last thing I wanted Brenna feeling in my presence. Fortunately, after she recognized me, I’d actually been able to string a few sentences together.

The way the store had been decorated—the beachy pictures along with paintings of Main Street, the perfect mixture of new books and well-thumbed paperbacks with ratty covers. All of that made it clear that Bookshop in Paradise was more of an extension of herself than a business she ran. The awkwardness between us had eased and we’d been on the way to an honest-to-God real reunion.

Until her ex showed up and ruined everything. When I heard the petulant whine in his voice and Brenna’s tight refusal, I’d acted automatically. I hadn’t even thought twice before manhandling the guy. And like most bullies, he’d backed down quickly upon facing someone who could fight back. But that look on Brenna’s face afterward… like she didn’t know whether to be grateful to me or fear me?—

“Hey, daydreamer, wake up! We’re trying to win a game here!” Maia’s voice cut through my memories like the crack of a whip. I blinked and refocused on the diamond before me .

I waved an apology, then adjusted my catcher’s mitt as my gaze flitted over to first base, where Maia stood with her hands on her hips. Her straight brown hair was tied back in a no-nonsense ponytail that matched her personality—tough and businesslike on the field but with a laugh that could light up even my moods. A smattering of freckles danced across her nose when she grinned, but right now my little sister and team manager was scowling at me and no doubt wondering where my head was at.

From the mound, Gabe lifted an arm out and glared at me. “You still with us?”

“Absolutely,” I replied with a nod and waited for the next batter to approach.

Though a few inches shorter, Gabe was a big brother personified and not someone I wanted pissed at me. I’d seen him plenty angry at me not too long ago, and I didn’t want a repeat performance. As I crouched back down, I steeled myself, pushing all thoughts of Brenna aside. The dull thud of the ball hitting my mitt helped settle me. My reflexes snapped into place, sharp and ready, and I hurled the ball back to Gabe with precision. He caught it neatly, rotating his shoulder with a slight grimace. He’d asked about ice earlier, but you wouldn’t know he was feeling any discomfort from the quality of his pitching.

The batter in front of me hit a hard line drive. Stella’s boyfriend, Aiden, was at third. He leaped with impressive agility, snagging the ball from its flight before landing and tagging the current runner on the base in one fluid motion.

The sparse crowd erupted in cheers as the umpire’s hand sliced through the air. “Out!”

“Nice play, Aiden!” I shouted, clapping my glove as we jogged off the field. Aiden had been a great addition to the team. He played with a casual grace that made impossible plays look easy. As we settled into the dugout and the sound of bats clinking and teammates chattering filled the air, I kept my head down, trying not to think beyond the game.

Stella and Liv sat to my right, their heads together. “Hey, don’t worry about it,” Stella said to Liv, who had a frown tugging at her lips. “You’re doing great out there in right field.”

Liv shifted on the metal bench, smoothing her team jersey over her curves. “Easy for you to say,” she mumbled. “You look like you were born on a diamond. I swear I’m the most unathletic person on earth.”

Stella laughed, her athletic form relaxed as she draped an arm over Liv’s shoulder. Like Gabe and me, she was a regular runner. “Trust me, I’ve had my share of outfield blunders. It’s all about having fun, remember?”

I nodded in agreement, trying to focus on their conversation. Stella met my eyes before leaning forward to speak quietly to Liv. “Do you think I should talk to Evan again about joining the team? It could be good for him, right?”

Images flooded my mind at the mention of Evan—his total concentration while on the mound, and the way he could pitch with pinpoint accuracy. I remembered the awe I felt playing catch with him, how the baseball seemed to obey his command. He’d been a rookie phenom, headed toward the Major Leagues when I’d changed the entire course of his life in one day. In one dive. And changed my future too.

“It would be great to see him out here,” I managed to say, though memories made my voice feel distant, like I was talking from the end of a long tunnel.

Liv chewed her lip, concern creasing her brow. “It would. But I don’t know if he’s ready for that. Baseball used to be his world, and how could this not bring all that back?” She trailed off, her lowered brows and tight mouth an expression of protective love. Her man had been through the wringer, and here we were, talking about tossing him into a game that might rake up more than just dirt.

“Maybe he doesn’t have to start on the mound,” I suggested, trying to navigate our shared history with as much tact as I could muster. “He could just come in to hit and play first base or something. No pressure. Besides, Evan was an amazing hitter, remember?”

Stella nodded, her big brown eyes shining with a mix of hope and nostalgia. “So are you.”

I shrugged off her compliment, not wanting to think about my own skills—they paled in comparison to Evan’s. More than anything in the world, I wanted to see my brother at ease with me. The two of us had spent hours on baseball fields once.

Liv panned her gaze around the field, then gave Stella a firm nod. “Go ahead and talk to him. If he’s not ready yet, he’ll say so.”

The dugout chatter faded as I approached the batter’s box, gripping the bat like it was an old friend. The Stingrays needed this win, and I needed… well, I needed to focus on something other than the long, creamy curve of Brenna’s neck and the way her green eyes seemed brighter than the outfield grass I was staring at.

We played on one of several baseball fields adjacent to a school in Big Pine Key. The four diamonds were shaped like a four-leaf clover, with the backstops at the center. Taking a deep breath, I stepped into position and my stance felt as natural as breathing. The Marlins’ pitcher wound up, releasing the ball in a blur toward home plate. Time slowed down as my eyes locked onto the incoming pitch, my body coiling like a spring .

Crack!

The sound was sweet, the vibration through the aluminum bat just right. The ball sliced into the gap past the second baseman, and by the time the fielders scrambled, the ball was kissing the grass in the outfield. I rounded first, the cheers from the bleachers spurring me on as I pushed for second base.

“Go, go, go!” Maia’s voice cut through the roar of the crowd.

Sliding into third, I kicked up a cloud of dust, the umpire’s hand slicing through the air. “Safe!” I whipped my head up as Anselm, a chef at Dorado, ran across home plate just behind Gabe.

“Two runs score! The Stingrays win!”

Adrenaline surged through me as my teammates stood and cheered. I pushed to my feet, brushing dirt from my pants, and a smile fought its way across my face despite my best efforts to stay level-headed. Maybe it was more than just a game, after all. Maybe it was a momentary escape from the complexities of life in paradise, from the tension of reunions both romantic and sibling, from the thoughts about Brenna that had been gnawing at my insides like a persistent hunger.

“Nice hit, little brother!” Stella beamed at me, pride radiating from her.

“Thanks, Stel.” I returned her smile. For now, this small victory would have to be enough. I was still catching my breath when they started making plans to hit the Conch Republic Brewpub, Dove Key’s most popular watering hole.

“Come on, Hunter! First round’s on me,” Gabe called out, his arm slung over April’s shoulder as they made their way toward the dugout exit. Her stomach was getting round with pregnancy, and she’d made the decision to cheer us from the stands rather than play herself.

“Nah, you go ahead,” I said, swiping the back of my hand across my forehead. “Stayed up late on a security detail last night. I’m beat.”

“Your loss, man,” Maia chimed in with a playful punch to my arm. “But we’ll toast to your triple.”

“Appreciate it.” I forced a smile. It wasn’t the late night that had me wanting solitude. It was the need for quiet that sometimes overtook me when faced with loud crowds. For this foray into a fun sports league was about me trying to move on too.

After parking and entering my building, I took the stairs two at a time, ignoring the familiar ache in my muscles from the game and the day’s tensions. Pushing open the door to my apartment, the silence welcomed me like an old friend. The Clive Cussler book still lay unopened on the table next to the door. Pedro, my little black six-toed sidekick, lay curled up on the couch, a tiny reminder that not everything in life was as complicated as human emotions.

At the sound of my entrance, he lifted his head. His green eyes fixed on me before he stretched and hopped down, his extra toes making his paws look somehow more endearing. Padding over, he weaved between my legs and demanded attention in his feline way.

“What, you missed me? Don’t expect me to get attached, little dude.”

With a frown, I reluctantly scooped him up into my arms. His purr vibrated against my chest, a rumble that seemed to say all was right in his world. I set him down long enough to refill his water dish and check his food—still plenty. As he took a few laps of water, a part of me envied his simple needs, his uncomplicated life .

But in the short time I’d been living here, I’d found my sanctuary. After grabbing a protein shake from the fridge, I crossed to my bookcase. The Cussler could wait—I wanted something more literary tonight. After picking up my favorite translation of Homer’s The Odyssey , I climbed the narrow staircase tucked away behind what looked like an ordinary closet door. I emerged onto the rooftop of my modest apartment. The sky above was a canvas of deep indigo, dotted with stars that shimmered like diamonds scattered across velvet.

The rooftop had become a place where the chaos of the day dissolved into the tranquil whispers of night. I’d set up a little oasis, with a patio cover shielding a cozy rug and an inviting outdoor seating area with couches and throw pillows. Crisscrossing strings of outdoor lights hung over the area, dark now. Tonight, it was the lounger that called to me. I pulled it out and settled down before taking a long drink of my shake and opening my book. Soon, I was lost in the exploits of Odysseus and his crew fighting to find their way home.

A soft, muffled mewing caught my attention, followed by scratching. Frowning, I turned my head toward the door. I didn’t want that damn cat to distract me. It was moments like these when I could almost fool myself into believing life was simple. And pets were obligations. Complications.

I snorted. I had plenty of complications and could hardly remember a time when my life had been without them. Evan and I had had some tentative interactions. As much as I missed the brother I’d idolized, I couldn’t blame him for hating me and finding it hard to trust me.

I felt the same damn way.

After another plaintive cry, I set The Odyssey aside and pushed to my feet. I crossed the cement ground and opened the door, staring down. Pedro called out to me, his four white socks almost glowing in the dark space. My gaze widened to take in the dark stairwell behind him. It couldn’t have been easy for him to jump up all those stairs. The kitten squeaked another meow at me, a tiny sound in a cavernous space.

A small creature who had also been displaced. Removed from everything he’d known.

“Dammit, Stella.”

I lifted him into my arms and returned to the lounger. Now purring happily, he curled up on my abdomen, digging his daggers in nicely in the process. My fingers moved rhythmically through Pedro’s fur, the soft vibrations of his purr comforting against me. And inevitably, my mind turned to Brenna and her mane of hair that made me want to bury my face in it and just inhale.

The wildcard was her ex, Knox. Was he a disgruntled afterthought who’d had too much to drink? Or was he serious about making sure he and Brenna got back together? I’d worked some domestic abuse situations and a few stalker cases. Enough not to take Knox lightly, though Brenna hadn’t seemed overly scared.

And then there was me. The guy who’d been too late more than once, and I still remembered the weight of failure. The first was with Brenna, and she didn’t even know about it.

And the other time…

No, I refused to let my mind go back there. Pedro shifted position, as if sensing my mental walls flying up. With a long, cleansing exhale, I gazed up at the stars, the pinpricks of light offering silent reassurance. They’d witnessed eons of human struggle and triumph, and yet they endured, burning steadily in the vast darkness .

That first meeting with Brenna hadn’t gone how either of us had expected. She certainly hadn’t anticipated Knox’s visit. But something had been forged by me in those minutes.

Concern. A need to protect.

Maybe Knox would never show his face again, and we could go back to our tentative connections over much-loved books. But if Brenna needed help, I would be the sentinel between her and whatever threats might come creeping from the shadows. Because some things, some people, were worth fighting for. Even when the battle was waged silently under a blanket of stars.