CALLEN (Second Chance Novels Book 3) by Kemmie Michaels

is that he does this out of habit, still talking and joking like the smartass he is. All parts of his life have come together in perfect sync, and I'm thrilled for him, even if he does display a puppy-love side I never knew could exist in the hardass I raised up like a son.  
    Cam starts the conversation warmly. "Callen tells me you work at the prison. I can't even imagine," she smiles with obvious admiration of Quinn's abilities. "How did you end up working there?"
    "Boring story," Quinn dismisses gracefully. "Let's just say I like the idea of helping people move forward."
    Cam smiles, but I notice something no one else does, with the exception of maybe Ledger. He's a keen observer of people, especially one who has Cam's attention. He's very protective her. Until I met Evvie, and now Quinn, I never understood his obsession. Now his actions make perfect sense.  
    I look up to Ledger and I see him looking at the same thing I did. As soon as Cam asked Quinn about her job choice, Quinn started subtly twisting the man's ring on her thumb. I may not know who the ring represents, but I have no doubt where the meaning lies.  
    Cam smiled at Quinn's answer. "Yeah, I have some experience with moving forward," she smiles as she looks to Ledger. Ledger morphs into another love-sick puppy at the adoring expression on Cam's face.  
    In a subtle-but-obvious attempt to deflect attention from herself, Quinn asks Cam about her studies in nursing. Their conversation continues easily as I hoped it would, and another tiny hint of peace settles into me. I consider the possibility Evvie would be happy for me.
    We spend hours at the bar laughing. Mason even told a few knock knock jokes which has become a tradition even though he doesn't need to fake his way through levity like he once did.
    "So Quinn," Ledger begins late in the evening. "Did you grow up here? I'd have to guess by your manner of speech that you're an Indiana girl, or maybe Ohio."
    Quinn grins at him. "Another profiler in the mix? Nicely noted. I'm a Hoosier."
    "And I'm guessing your parents still live in the house you grew up in," he continues with a smile.
    He and I both notice a shadow behind her eyes at his statement, no matter how well hidden. She responds with a nod, and again compliments him on his skills.
    "Creepy, isn't it," Cam teases in drippy-thick love.
    The evening continues for about a half hour more before we bid our good-byes. A comfortable quiet fills the car the entire ride back, but I noticed her twist the thumb-ring twice.
    I walk her to the door like a gentleman and appreciate the softness of her hand in mine.  
    "Would you like to come in?" she asks with a quiet smile. I offer her a genuine smile.  
    "I can't," I apologize, nor can I offer her an explanation.
    "Well, thank you for a nice evening," she says. If I weren't as skilled at reading people as she is, I wouldn't have noticed her well-hidden disappointment. No matter how close I'm becoming with Quinn, any further connection might break me. One step into her house and I would have had an instinctual need to have her in my arms.

    Over the next three weeks, I take Quinn out a few more times. We talk, we laugh, we connect. I compartmentalize everything away but my time with her whenever we're together. I've gotten good at suppressing guilt in Quinn's presence, but when we're apart that destructive emotion comes to me again.
    Still, I appreciate my time with Quinn. She's exceptional.
    Every time we're out though, she wears that man's ring again. Occasionally she twists the circle around her thumb. I can read her well enough to understand that manifestation of her nerves, but I long to understand the context. The simple gold band represents a point of importance to her. I keep our topics of discussion away from the ring.
    "Tell about your teen years," I grin at her. "Please tell me you had an awkward phase, because I can't picture one."
    She smiles a beautiful, guilty grin. "Junior high was pretty