Page 43 of Capture My Heart

Amy’s shoulder rose and fell. “Yeah, but it could be worse. I have it backed up to cloud storage.”

Amy watched Peterson’s Adam's apple bob as he took a drink. “That’s good news. Hate for you to have to start all over. Especially now that the suspect is dead.”

Amy squinted and surveyed him before she answered. She’d swear he wasn’t sad at all for her. “True.”

She caught Ryan and Trey watching her through this exchange with Bob. Daniel’s expression gave nothing away but he didn’t look comfortable with the conversation.

Trey squeezed her hip, and she startled. “Well, I think it’s time I find the host and hostess.”

She slipped from Trey’s touch and could finally breathe. Another swig of beer calmed the flutters in her belly.

“Amy.” She turned to find Mira and Liz in chairs watching the guys play cornhole. They motioned her over.

“Hey ladies. Looking good today, and Liz, I love the color you painted the kitchen.” Amy dropped to the open chair. Liz and Jim bought this craftsman style bungalow last month. Project by project, they were making it their own.

“Thanks. We had to wrestle to see who got to pick the color.”

“Let me guess, you won.”

“Damn straight, I did.” She grinned. “He thinks he let me win. Please, the man is all muscle, but I have cunning. A wince here, an eyelash bat there. He didn’t stand a chance.”

Amy shook her head. Swenson didn’t have a clue. But she was happy for him. Liz and he were made for each other. Same as CJ and Lorna or Mira and Harrison. She turned to the other woman. “How was Europe?”

“Fabulous.” Mira waved her hand from side to side. “We started in Belgium, then went to France. I thought he’d propose in Paris but he didn’t.”

She gave a fake pout before her face lit with joy. “He waited until we were in Greece. It was so beautiful.”

Amy’s vision locked on the honkin’ rock on Mira’s left hand. How had she missed it with it sailing back and forth in front of her for the last thirty seconds. “Damn girl. Do you need a brace so you don’t get wrist strain? That’s one big, gorgeous rock.”

“Thank you. He did good.” She beamed. The next two minutes were filled with a play-by-play leading up to the proposal. When Mira finished, the two women turned their attention to Amy.

“So, Maria is running around here talking about something she’s calling Tre-Amy. Want to tell us about that?”

“No.” Amy mumbled, but at Liz’s brow raise she acquiesced. “It’s new.”

“Sorry, but that won't cut it with us, Sweetie.” Mira gave her the spit-it-out gesture then rested her chin on her hand, waiting for the details.

Amy rolled her eyes and bit back a smile. “Fine. It’s really new. Like this is our first official date, kind of new.”

“It’s about time. I heard you two had sparks the night of the ball game against the AFD. Not to mention what a fine-looking man he is.” Mira fanned herself.

Liz sat silent and nodded.

“What? I know you’re analyzing me in that big smart brain of yours.”

“I think it’s wonderful. If you’re happy, I’m happy for you.”

That was double talk if Amy ever heard it. She would need to have a one-on-one with her friend before long.

“Speaking of sexy men. Here they come.” Mira’s cheeks pinked under her tan complexion.

She was so in love. It kinda made Amy throw up in her mouth a little, but that could have been from seeing Trey swagger towards her with a confident smile and something in his eyes like lust. It made her insides shake like the zap of a taser.

He zeroed in on her, and before she could brace, he slipped down to sit on the arm of her patio chair and snaked his arm around her shoulders. She was torn between leaning into his warm embrace and throwing an elbow jab in his perfect six-pack. She should lean in. They were in a fake relationship and needed to sell it. Then again, something inside her wanted to lean in, which made her worry that if she gave in, it wouldn’t be fake anymore.

He squeezed her upper arm and she turned her face up to him. She realized too late his intent. His lips settled over hers for the briefest of seconds, but that’s all it took for the tingle of awareness to hit.

She took another drink of her beer to wash away the feeling.