Sworn to Protect by DiAnn Mills Page A

winning the horseshoe championship.” Felipe’s dimple deepened. No wonder Becca drooled at the sight of him.
    “Didn’t want to take your trophy.”
    “Trophy? I won a dinner for two at Chili’s.”
    Revenge time. “How sweet. You’re asking me out, aren’t you? When did you want to go?” Danika swallowed her laughter.
    His reddened face was priceless. “Uh, I’m not sure. What I wondered—”
    “My free nights?” Danika was getting even for all of his merciless teasing. He’d laughed the hardest when she ate dirt sliding into third base yesterday. “This week or next?”
    “Well, my point is—”
    “A movie too? I’d love it, Felipe. You’re such a sweetheart to think of me.”
    “Could you slow down a minute?”
    “Sure. I’m just excited about a real date.” She shrugged. “I’ve known you were interested in me for a long time.”
    His jaw had fallen to his boots—more like a little boy who’d just dropped his ice cream cone. “I’ll think about a movie . . . and get back with you later in the week.” He headed for a couple of his buds.
    “Felipe?”
    He slowly turned. “Yeah.”
    “I’ll e-mail Becca’s phone number when I get home.”
    He gave a thumbs-up and grinned—generously. “I had that coming, but you did look real good grabbing for third base.” He started to walk away, then whipped around, his face devoid of any humor. “Did you hear the latest?”
    She knew exactly what Felipe referred to. “You mean about the cartel possibly having FBI and DEA bulletproof vests?”
    He nodded. “They have the money to get whatever they want. How do you tell the good guys from the bad?”
    “Same way you tell the corrupt police from the cartel.”
    He leaned against the lockers. “Right. Ever wonder when it will spill onto our side?”
    “Every day.” She studied him a little closer. “What’s the news on your cousin?”
    “He’s back across the border where he belongs. And my great-uncle disowned me.” He shook his head. “I told Chief Jimenez about it this morning.”
    Danika offered a grim smile. “Is that what happened to your windshield?”
    Her cell phone rang.
    “Better answer it,” he said.
    She wrestled with letting it go to voice mail, but Felipe pointed to her phone and walked away. Not recognizing the number, Danika almost opted for the caller to leave a message, but it could be Nadine or Barbara calling from a different phone.
    “Danika, this is Alex Price, the doctor at McAllen Medical.”
    A delicious tingling spread through her. “Hi. What can I do for you, Doctor?”
    “Alex.”
    “Okay, Alex.” She caught herself in the middle of a giggle. How stupid. Utterly stupid, like a junior high girl.
    “I was wondering if you’d like to meet for coffee or lunch or something this week. Maybe breakfast.” He sounded as nervous as she did.
    “I suppose that would be all right.” Her heart thumped. She had Tuesday and Wednesday off.
    But before she could suggest a day, guilt for laying aside her widow’s clothes assaulted her. Toby had been gone only two years. Was she betraying him? Was she even ready for this? “I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s a good idea. Finding the time to socialize with the demands of my job and my daughter is tough.”
    “I understand.”
    “Thanks, though, and I appreciate the call.” Danika clipped her phone back onto her belt. Too soon to wade in up to her neck. Maybe next year or the year after.
    The clock showed five minutes to eight. She spotted Felipe talking to a couple of other agents and waved. Perhaps they’d have time to talk later.
    Agents took their seats at the rectangular tables while the supervisor, Agent Oden Herrera, took his place at the front of the room. The buzz of conversations softened to a low hum. Jacob sat at a table on the left side, his usual spot. She prayed again that he and Barbara were able to have a sensible conversation after the picnic and make concrete plans to help