Page 8 of Karma

Faith grinned.

Their cause was worthy, making Liza proud. And for the first time in years, Liza felt a kinship toward someone again and she looked forward to the renewal of their friendship, something she hadn’t had in her Serendipity life for way too long.

***

“Change your grip!”Dare called to fourteen-year-old Charlie Skeets, “Skeeter” for short.

The fourteen-year-old choked up higher on the baseball bat and got into position, waiting for the next pitch.

Dare coached a youth league, and this was the end of practice at the field near the lake on the edge of town. All he had left was Charlie’s at bat, a pep talk, and then Dare was out of here for the night.

Ten minutes later, he’d given each kid a summary of their strengths and weaknesses. When he finished, the kids scattered, some walking home together, a few lucky others picked up by their parents.

Dare put his spare equipment into the large duffel he kept in his trunk, hefted the bag over his shoulder, and headed for his car, a black metallic Ford Edge. He tossed the bag into the back and wiped his dusty hands together before slamming the trunk, then walked over to the water fountain and rinsed off his hands.

No sooner had he finished and turned to leave than he collided with a jogger on the sidewalk. He’d raised his hands to block contact and he realized he now braced his palms against a very feminine chest. Soft, round, full breasts molded to his hand.

His body registered that fact and reacted accordingly.

“Sorry,” he muttered, taking a deliberate step back.

“Me too. I wasn’t watching where I was going,” a familiar female voice said.

Startled, Dare glanced up to see Liza pulling the iPod buds out of her ears. “Liza.”

“You,” she said at the same time.

He met her gaze and she blinked, focusing her coffee brown eyes on him. Touching her had nearly knocked him on his ass and her gorgeous eyes almost completed the job. Then there were the damp handprints he’d left on her chest, which he couldn’t stop noticing.

He had to divert his focus or he’d be in big trouble.

“I do have a name other thanyou,” he reminded her in a teasing voice.

“Officer Barron.” She ducked her head after she spoke.

This shy female was distinctly different from the take-charge woman he was used to seeing at the police station, softer and more approachable.

Dare found himself drawn to her even more. “I meant, I have a first name.” And he wanted to hear her say it.

She lifted her gaze. “Dare.” Her expression was wary but with a hint of a smile on her lips, she teased him with a glimpse of those sexy dimples in her cheeks.

“Better.” He allowed himself to take in her running gear, a pair of black shorts with white piping, a black tank that did little to hide her breasts, and a worn pair of sneakers.

“Do you always jog in the evening?” The sun was setting and he’d prefer she didn’t run here at night.

“No. I usually run in the morning near my house, but I had an early meeting today so I put it off till later.”

He nodded, feeling better about her jog. “Well, then, lucky me. Are you okay? From our collision I mean?”

She nodded. “I’m fine. I should have been watching where I was going, but I was distracted.” A blush stained her cheeks, making him wonder what she’d been thinking about.

“So was I.” He was even more distracted now.

Silence descended and she shifted from foot to foot.

“Well, I should get going,” she murmured.

He paused and before he could think about it, he said, “I was just going to get a slice of pizza. Want to join me?”

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