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  They were all laughing their heads off as they left the corner table they shared with a crew of federal recruits in agent-training over at the north side of the facility. Izzy led the way to the door walking backward so she could focus on Ryan, who was continuing an embarrassing anecdote about his rookie year on the force. A Florida native, he loved giving the lowdown about the craziness at the sheriff’s department he and Jen worked for. He was a natural storyteller and great at delivering self-deprecating punch lines and had the gang in stitches daily.

  Izzy was holding her stomach and getting her breath back as she turned for the door and nearly bumped into Sara, who was on her way in.

  “Whoa,” Sara said with an easy smile, her hands finding Izzy’s hips to stop her forward momentum.

  To keep herself from falling, Izzy reached up, and her hand brushed over Sara’s breast. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.”

  “No worries.” Sara’s small chuckle was forgiving but Izzy saw her blush and divert her eyes as she moved past the group. Her friends didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, and Ryan yammered away without missing a beat. But Izzy tuned out and suddenly wished she’d left her wallet or her sweatshirt inside, something to give her an excuse to go back, find Sara, and strike up a conversation. It was ridiculous and she knew it, but on the spot she couldn’t help herself.

  “Hey guys, I’ll catch up with you in a bit.” She tweaked her head back toward the café. “I left something inside,” she lied. Booking back to the lunch hall, she rushed through the doors and wondered what the hell she was going to say when she saw Sara. A couple of ideas swirled through her head and she rehearsed them as she hung around for a solid few minutes, fake looking for a lost item and even purchasing a coffee to justify more time. Sara never showed. Somehow, she’d missed her.

  Chapter Eight

  A week passed, and by the following Friday, Izzy felt like she was getting the hang of her new gig. The drills were becoming rote and the instructors were moving to scenario and tactical exercises. Izzy was a model student, paying full attention, even if she did always scan for Sara’s whereabouts. She often saw her observing from afar or giving a handler a tip here and there. Unfortunately, Izzy’d received most of her individual attention from Hayes. He was a nice guy, but she missed the rapport she had with Sara. Maybe she’d text her over the upcoming weekend. She could come up with a dog-related question easy enough.

  Izzy considered the plan as she browsed the cafeteria lunch options. Nothing appealed today. But it was no big, her usual lunch crew was scattered anyway, and she wanted something light she could grab on the go. Settling on a strawberry yogurt, she made her way to the register, adding a banana at the last minute before heading to the plastic cutlery baskets.

  “That’s a light lunch.” Sara’s voice was lively and sweet behind her at the condiment counter. Izzy turned, ready with a quick response, but Sara’s frothy pink beverage distracted her.

  “What is that?” Her mouth watered from sheer jealously.

  Sara couldn’t contain her smile as she reached for a straw, sliding the paper wrapper off with one hand and slipping it through the plastic lid. “This is a fruit smoothie.” She took a small sip, her perfect lips curled at the edges.

  “But where?” Izzy looked around for the source, truly baffled at her oversight.

  “Uh-uh.” Sara handed a plastic spoon to Izzy. “Courtesy of my buddy Doug. In the kitchen.”

  Izzy fake frowned. “Well, that’s no fair.”

  “Membership has its privileges.” Sara added a guiltless shrug as they ambled through the seating area.

  Izzy opened her mouth to talk but a peppy blonde brushed her shoulder as she passed. “Hi, Izzy.” She looked shy as she spoke. “You coming to sit?” Holding her lunch tray, she gestured with her chin. “We’re by the window today.”

  “Oh, thanks,” Izzy responded. “I’m going to head back to class today. I’ll catch up with you next time.”

  The girl’s face registered obvious disappointment even though she smiled. “Have a great weekend.”

  “Yeah, you too.” Izzy waved with her banana.

  Sara stopped walking and glanced back and forth between Izzy and the blonde. “Who’s that?” she asked, her lyrical tone implying a connection that wasn’t there.

  “That’s Jackie. She’s in training to be an air marshal.” Izzy made light of it, even though she suspected Jackie had a crush on her. “We all sit together sometimes. Me, Jen, Mark, Ryan, and some of the recruits.” She hoped her explanation proved there was nothing between them.

  “Don’t let me stop you.” Sara held both hands up in surrender.

  “No, no.” Izzy shook her head. “It’s just me today. I’d rather talk to you.” She pushed the door open and stepped aside, holding it ajar for Sara. “I haven’t seen you around much.” She slid the banana and plastic spoon in the cargo pocket of her pants. “I mean, I see you in class and, you know, practical exercises.” It sounded ridiculous hearing herself say it. She checked Sara’s expression and saw she was smiling slightly as she nursed her drink. Izzy took a deep breath, determined to not sound like an idiot. “How are you?” she asked, hoping to start over.

  “I’m good.” Sara rolled her shoulders and tossed her hair in the light breeze. She couldn’t have looked any sexier if she tried. Izzy had no idea what to say next.

  “You’re doing really well. Not that I’m at all surprised.” Sara looked right at her and she hoped the unexpected praise hadn’t made her blush. “I’m sure you know that, but in case you don’t, we all think you’re doing great.” Sara bumped her shoulder playfully. “You feel good about things?”

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “How’s Chase doing at home?”

  “Fantastic, actually.” Izzy couldn’t keep her smile hidden when she talked about Chase. She was still wrapping her head around the truth he was her dog. “He’s adjusting really well, I think.” She drew a lazy circle on the foil cover of her yogurt. “I’m working with him on a few things at night.”

  “Like what?”

  Sara’s interest seemed genuine and Izzy wanted to share, if only to get her opinion. “You know, because I’m so near the park and the woods I get a ton of wildlife. Squirrels, birds, rabbits.”

  “And? How’s our rascal doing with constant temptation?”

  “Okay.” Izzy reflected on their impromptu training session last Sunday. “We’re making progress. He’s getting there.”

  Sara swirled her drink a little. “What’s your approach?”

  “Nothing special. Off-leash work. Positive reinforcement,” she said with a definitive nod. “I bought him a Kong that he’s obsessed with. I use that as a reward.” She flipped her container of yogurt in the air, catching it after one rotation. “He goes crazy for it. It’s a good motivator.”

  “Smart.” Sara stopped in her tracks and Izzy stopped with her, waiting to see what was up. Sara used her drink to point right at her. “This is why you’re the best.”

  “What?”

  “The idea that you broke out a different toy for this type of coaching. Not falling back on the jute. I know that’s your go-to in class.” Izzy bit the inside of her cheek, hiding her bliss at the realization Sara’d been paying attention to her after all. “You have fantastic instincts. You can’t teach that.” Sara’s expression told her she was impressed, but there was something else there she couldn’t put her finger on.

  “Thanks,” Izzy said, mesmerized by the way the sun highlighted the dark blue rim around Sara’s hazel eyes. How had she missed that before?

  “Do you have any questions for me?” Sara held her arms up and spun in a circle. “I’m all yours.”

  If only, Izzy thought. Fueled by nothing but good vibes and courage, Izzy cocked her head to the side. “I might have a question.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Sara faced her and took a long sip of her fruity beverage. “What’s on your mind?”

  “I guess I was wondering if, you know,
maybe…” Izzy shifted her yogurt from hand to hand, feeling her heart pound at what she was about to do. “I don’t know, maybe you wanted to go out sometime.” She lifted her shoulders high, hoping her nerves played as cute instead of desperate. “Get a drink, maybe dinner…”

  Sara’s expression revealed absolute surprise at the invitation. She licked her lips and ran her delicate fingers along the condensation on her plastic cup. “Izzy,” she started. Her tone said everything and Izzy didn’t need her to continue, but she did anyway. “You’re really sweet. And attractive—”

  “So that’s a yes?” Izzy’s attempt at breaking the tension made the conversation more awkward.

  Sara’s face twisted with pity and she touched Izzy’s arm gently. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” Swallowing her pride, Izzy tried to keep it light. “I just thought…” She waved a finger between them. “I thought I picked up on something between us. I guess I just misread the situation. Or maybe it’s just me.” She knew it wasn’t just her. “I kind of feel like a jerk now, though,” she said, forcing a laugh.

  “Please, don’t.” Sara looked up at the clear blue sky. “Under different circumstances”—she shrugged—“well, things would be different.”

  Izzy wasn’t one to beg, but Sara’s statement was so vague she couldn’t help herself. “I’m sorry, I don’t follow.”

  Sara huffed out a heavy breath. “The program lasts another few months. But”—she sucked her bottom lip—“after graduation, there’s still in-service training. Following a short stint in the field you’ll come back so you and Chase can learn basic patrol tactics, that’s another nine weeks. And then annual recertification.” The explanation made no sense to Izzy, and Sara obviously read the confusion on her face. “We will see each other. A lot, over the course of time.”

  “Okay.”

  “You’re not hearing what I’m saying.”

  It was true. Izzy had no idea what Sara was driving at. Even if she was referencing simple fraternization, Sara’s excuse failed to make sense. Teacher-student dating rules were based solely on quid pro quo, favoritism, and grading objectivity. Most of those principles carried over to relationships between rank and file, and she supported the theory behind them. In her opinion, this situation didn’t fit those categories at all. For starters, she wasn’t being graded on this class—she was being trained in the tools needed to do her job effectively. And she’d already been assigned a dog. There was nothing Sara could give her that would constitute any kind of bias. Plus, Izzy knew for a fact outside the additional nine-week patrol training offered at the facility, she was free to conduct her weekly in-service and annual recertification almost anywhere. With so many years in the business, Sara had to know these facts too. Izzy shook her head feeling defeated and bewildered.

  “I can see you’re not convinced.” Sara’s voice was warm despite her repeated rejection.

  Izzy looked at the tops of the trees in the distance, searching for the right words to convey her feelings over how this was playing out. She let out a small laugh. “I’ll be honest. It doesn’t really make sense to me.” She shrugged and gave a tiny smile. “But I can take no for an answer. It’s cool.”

  “I think you’re great.” Izzy watched her finger the bright pink straw as she spoke, pleading her case. “And I really like talking to you,” she added, unable to maintain eye contact. “I just think it’s best if we don’t blur the lines.”

  “Sure.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, it’s not just that you’re in the class.” Her drink slurped when she sipped it. “I don’t date cops as a rule.”

  “That would be because…”

  “I’m trying to maintain a level of professionalism, for one.”

  “There’s a lot of cops who don’t go into K-9.” Izzy had no idea why she was advocating for anyone other than herself, but she persisted. “Seems somewhat limiting.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to be up at night wondering if my girlfriend is alone on the street getting beat up by some perp or under a pile of rubble, dead at the hands of a terrorist.” She shifted her gaze but not before Izzy saw real emotion there.

  Whatever nerve she hit, Izzy wanted to spare Sara the pain of the experience she was reliving. “Hey. You don’t need to explain yourself to me. We’re good.”

  “Are we?”

  “Sure.”

  “Friends, then?” Sara’s forehead crinkled with hope. “I meant what I said. I do like you, Izzy.”

  This whole exchange was blowing her mind. It was obvious to Izzy that Sara liked her. Maybe just as friends like she was proposing, but everything in her body language suggested more. Every time they shared space, the energy was palpable. And more often than not, Sara avoided being in her presence around other people. Izzy was no fool—she knew that game too. But Sara seemed steadfast in her refusal to explore what might blossom beyond the platonic.

  It was in Izzy’s very best interests to walk away from this discussion and forge a distance from Sara. Both in the physical and mental spheres. Friendship would only lead to disappointment. She imagined days ahead characterized by unfulfilled fantasies, the dilemma of winning Sara’s attention but not her heart. Yet something inside her saw a glimmer. With exposure came opportunity. And maybe Sara would change her mind.

  It didn’t really matter. Izzy knew regardless of the current conversation, she wanted more time with Sara, not less. If friendship was what was being offered, so be it.

  “To friendship,” Izzy said, holding her yogurt aloft as a toast to the boundaries. Sara touched the container with the remainder of her drink, nearly empty by now. Her expression was relaxed and gorgeous in the afternoon light. “Although…” Izzy started walking toward the training facility and Sara fell in step beside her. “A real friend would hook me up with a smoothie one of these days.”

  Sara leaned down to compensate for her height, and her breath was warm in Izzy’s ear. “Play your cards right, Officer Marquez, and who knows.” Her scent lingered and her frisky attitude sent a shiver up Izzy’s spine. This friendship had disaster written all over it.

  ***

  All day Saturday, Izzy replayed the back and forth with Sara in her head. Even twenty-four hours later, it still made no sense. They made a deal to be friends, but virtually all of their interactions were flirtatious. What the fuck? Rather than losing the entire night to dwelling on it, she impulsively decided to accept the invitation her friends Michelle and Dana had extended weeks ago to attend game night at their house.

  Izzy had been thrilled when her friends settled down a few towns away after getting married. She and Michelle had been tight from the first day of police academy, and it was nice to have a pal nearby, even if they didn’t see each other much since Dana had the baby. Infant notwithstanding, those ladies loved to throw a party. It didn’t hurt that they adored playing matchmaker and stocked their house with every single lesbian in a ten-mile radius.

  “What about this top?” Izzy stood in the full-length mirror with Chase by her side watching her as she tried on the fourth shirt. He tilted his head this way and that.

  “Still the first one, right?” She watched him lie down, exhausted from the monotony. “I know I’m being weird,” she explained, changing again. “But there’s gonna be girls at this party, there always are.” She pulled on different skinny jeans that were less comfortable but looked better. “And since Sara isn’t interested because we’re goddamn modern heroes who want to protect the city or some crap like that”—she tilted forty-five degrees to see the fit from behind—“we might as well see what’s out there.”

  Chase followed her to the vanity where she checked her makeup one last time.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” she begged. “I’ll be home in a few hours. You have my word.” She cupped his chin with her hand. “I just can’t spend the whole night in front of the TV fixated on her.” She frowned, petting him gently. “It’s not healthy.” She bent down and planted a kiss
on his soft head before heading for the door.

  Even though she should be excited, Izzy was anxious at the thought of a houseful of prospects, no matter how abstract they might be. Holding the wine she brought, she strolled the sidewalk, hoping to channel confidence and charm, when an enormous black Dodge Ram 1500 taking up two parking spaces caught her attention. “No fucking way,” she said under her breath as she backed up to check the plate. Her pulse raced and her head swirled, a different type of nerves taking over. Sara Wright was here.

  At first, Izzy didn’t see her in the crowded living room. But then, like a beacon, their eyes met and Izzy watched as Sara’s true smile spread across her face. Izzy tracked her as Sara seemed to excuse herself from the small group she was chatting with to come over.

  “Hey, stranger,” Sara said, lifting her drink in greeting. “Long time, no see.”

  Michelle came up behind Izzy. “Oh my God, I was just going to introduce you two.” She looked from Sara to Izzy. “Do you guys know each other?”

  Izzy handed the wine bottle to Michelle. “Hey, you.” She hugged her old friend, folding her into their conversation. “Sara’s one of my instructors up in Overton.”

  “Holy shit, you went to K-9? I had no idea.”

  Izzy shrugged in response. She was about to inquire about Michelle’s career path but Dana pulled her wife away with a childcare issue. Izzy closed her eyes and shook her head, still shocked. “I am surprised to see you here, I have to say.”

  Sara hitched one eyebrow up. “Because teachers can’t have social lives?”

  “You’re not my teacher,” Izzy said through her laugh.

  “Eh, debatable.” Sara ticked her head to the side. “It’s nice to see you too, by the way.”

  “Did I not say it was nice to see you?” She put her hand over her chest dramatically. “Wherever are my manners?”