Carolina Blues (25 page)

Not that she was looking. Much. Luke was recently married to a lawyer from Beaufort. Jane had designed their wedding cake. Sam was engaged to Luke’s sister, Meg. Even if Jane had had time for romance, she didn’t poach.

Still, she wasn’t immune to a little flutter of female appreciation.

But it was the third man, getting out of the back of the police vehicle, who made her catch her breath.

Travis
.

Her heart squeezed and then stopped.

She forced herself to breathe. Not Travis. Her ex wouldn’t be out of prison for at least another month.

But the resemblance was strong enough to make her palms grow damp. Long, rangy build, ripped jeans, sun-streaked hair hanging around a stubbled face. Both the hair and his shirt needed washing.

Luke introduced the stranger to Sam. She studied him through the glass door as the three men stood talking, noting subtle differences. The stranger was taller than Travis, or maybe he simply stood straighter. His skin was sunburned, his eyes darker.

But he was definitely the same type. Her type.

Jane shivered deep inside.

Her type left bruises.