Page 42 of Rekindle My Heart

Jim shook his head. “No. The only connection is they both support the Outreach charity, but the good doctor isn’t on the board like Lindstrom.”

The thread between the two was thin, but it was there. Ryan nodded.

“Ryan, you got an earful tonight. Did anyone flag for you?” Trey asked.

“There was a lot of ‘my Mercedes is newer than your Jag’, but other than a few stock tips, I can’t say anyone said anything that tripped my cop senses. That being said, Rollins from Lindgames was chummy with a few of his cronies at a corner table. When I got close, the voices dropped, and when it resumed, the subject suddenly turned to talk about golf handicaps.”

“How did you know it changed?” Liz asked. “Half the time, that’s all I heard anyone talking about.”

“It was the way their eyes shifted when anyone got near the table. Also, I did hear one of the men ask about getting in on a deal.”

“Could be a lead. Do you know who the other men were?” Chief Martin asked.

“No, but if I run the guest list, I’m sure I could figure it out.”

Trey scribbled something on his notepad. “Good. I’ll send it to you and a copy of the recording. Maybe if you listen again, something new will click.”

“Sounds good.”

“Erica, thank you for volunteering to help tonight.”

“Happy I could help.” A soft smile crossed her lips as she answered Trey.

Ryan’s lungs expanded at the sight. Until her focus cut to him. Glare was too soft of a word to describe the venom in her eyes. It was like she pierced him with a dart and the air hissed out of his now collapsing lung.

Okay, he may have talked her into it. He scratched his cheek. No maybes, he volun-told her. And she did a great job.

Her eyes softened as she turned to addressed the room. “I mingled and listened. Not sure I got any vibes, but I did see several people exchanging business cards. Not sure if that was innocent or not.”

“You were talking with Travis Stevens. What was your impression?”

“He’s brilliant. Funny. I think he likes to be the head honcho.” She bit her lip, then added, “I’ll find out more tomorrow. He invited me out to his boat on the St. Croix.”

The hairs on Ryan’s neck jumped. His hands fisted under the table. “You have a date with him?”

“Yes.” She crossed her arms, daring him to say something. Oh, he wanted to say a lot of things, starting with Hell No!

Instead, he said, “Isn’t it a little late in the year for a river cruise?”

“He has a thirty-eight-foot cabin cruiser. I’m sure we will be fine.”

Ryan bit back his response. It wasn’t the time or place with his boss and coworkers looking on. But if Travis was their guy, no way would it be safe for Erica to be alone on a boat with the man.

A few minutes later, the debriefing ended. Amy helped Erica remove her mic and camera. Ryan slipped his microphone off and handed it to Larson.

“Erica, could I have a minute?” Ryan touched her elbow and led her to the huddle room across the hall. The atmosphere changed the second he closed the door to the small space. Erica crossed her arms over her chest, and a scowl slipped into place. She didn’t realize the move pushed her cleavage even higher, and the pout on her red lips made his dick twitch.

Ryan rested his hands on his hips. “Do you really think it’s safe for you to go out with Travis Stevens?”

“I thought you wanted me to get close to him?”

He ran his hand through his hair, giving it a tug. “You know I didn’t mean to go out with him.”

“Well, what better way for me to find out if he’s the head guy than to spend time around him?”

Ryan squeezed his eyes closed. Heaven help me. “Will you wear a wire?”

“On my date? What motive does he have? Is there something in his background that flags him as a risk to me? I’m not a cop. He can’t suspect me of anything.”

Ryan didn’t know, but he’d be up all night running a search on the guy. “If you won’t wear a mic, then at least let me know where and when you are going. I don’t want you to be alone with him.”

She mirrored his earlier pose and fisted her hands on those lush hips. “Trey didn’t think I needed to wear a wire. Give me one good reason why?”

Trey wasn’t worried about the guy seducing her. Ryan’s caveman instincts were making his nostrils flare. He could think of a thousand reasons she shouldn’t go, but not one of them was logical.

His shoulders sagged. “Fine. No wire. Give me your phone.”

She squinted at him but handed it over. Ryan did a few taps and then handed it back. “I activated the Find-A-Friend app. I’ll know where you are. Wait, before you get mad and delete it, you will know where I am as well. Also, if you have the slightest feeling that something is off, you text me. I’ll come get you.”

She rolled her eyes and stuck her phone in her tiny bag.

“You won’t need to rescue me,” she said as she walked out the door.

“We’ll see.” Ryan watched her hips sway like the Neanderthal he was. When she exited the precinct’s doors, he checked the app. The little blue dot moved through the parking lot.

Ryan rubbed his eyes. It had been a long day and, in the morning, he needed to borrow a boat.