Huh? Dani recalled mentioning one recipe and nothing about Elaine’s name.
“That sounds nice, Elaine.”
Gina moved to the table, kneeling in front of Sam. “It was nice seeing you, Sammy. Be good for your daddy, okay?” Sam nodded. Gina gave him a halfhearted hug and then headed toward the door.
Elaine handed the cake they’d just finished to Gina. “Hope you enjoy this. Take care of yourself.”
Gina hooked her purse on her shoulder. “Thanks.” She headed for the back door but paused for a second to look back over her shoulder, her focus on Dani. “Can I talk to you for a minute outside?”
Curiosity about the woman who’d pretended to want Sam and then abandoned him drove Dani to follow Gina to her car. She opened the passenger’s door and sat the cake on the seat before turning back to Dani.
“Matthew looks at you like he used to look at me,” she said.
Dani crossed her arms over her chest. “And how is that?”
Gina’s gaze shifted to look off in the distance. “Like he cared about me deeply. That he loved it when we were together. Like he couldn’t get enough of me.”
“There’s nothing going on between me and Matt,” she half lied. Maybe that could be her new mantra, though.
“I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.” Gina moved to the driver’s side and opened the door. “Matthew falls hard, Dani, so if you’re not interested, make that clear to him sooner rather than later.”
Gina sat in the driver’s seat, tossing her purse next to her. It landed on top of the foil-covered cake, squishing it. Dani bit back an irritated response.
“Because believe me, if he ever looks at you with anger or disappointment, it will haunt you forever.” Gina closed the car door and turned the ignition. “Oh, and thank you for your help with Sam. I wish I was cut out to be a mother, but I’m not. I don’t really care much for children, and I would never want to deal with a sick child.”
As the car pulled out of the driveway, Dani turned back toward the house. Sam jumped from his perch on the back steps and ran inside, the screen door banging behind him.
Chapter Eleven
Dani knocked on Sam’s door and pushed it open when she heard a muffled response from within. He was stretched out on his bed, hands behind his head. He stared at the ceiling with glassy eyes. She recognized his gesture as one of her own. When she refused to cry, she’d center her attention on a spot on the wall, willing the tears not to fall. Nice to know that even though she wouldn’t raise him, her son would take after her.
She eased down on the edge of the mattress. What to say?
Sam picked up a baseball and his glove from the shelf in his headboard. “It’s not fair. I have two moms and neither one wants me.” He wiped at his eyes.
Dani gripped the hem of her shorts and tried not to say something she’d regret. “Just because you’re not living with your mother doesn’t mean you’re not wanted, honey. You have a father who loves you very much.”
“He can’t do mom things.”
At summer’s end, Dani was going to need a heart transplant for one that wasn’t broken. Sam snapped the ball into his glove.
Dani motioned for him to toss her the ball. “When I was eighteen, I didn’t think life was fair either. My dad taught me not to feel sorry for myself. Instead of concentrating on the bad things, he told me to focus on the good things.” She tossed the ball back to Sam.
“I’ve got my dad. He says I’m the most important thing in the world.”
“You’re lucky to have him.”
“Dad says someday I might even get another mom.”
Dani wrapped her arms around her middle while she concentrated on taking in air and letting it out. Another mom? She forced herself to say, “She’ll be a very lucky woman.”
She kissed Sam’s forehead, then turned. Matt stood just inside the room. By the questioning look on his face, Dani figured he’d overheard some of her conversation with Sam. Ignoring Matt, she headed out, down the hall, and out the back door, not stopping until she came to the edge of the pond.
Someone moved behind her, and she knew without looking that it was Matt. “What happened when you were eighteen?”
She turned her head to the side, enough to see Matt standing a yard away, present but giving her space. Should she tell him about her past? Could she? Dani couldn’t tell Matt the entire story. Not if she wanted to stay in Lake Bliss a bit longer. And the last man she’d confessed to hadn’t handled the truth well.
But Matt was different. Deep down, she trusted him like she’d never trusted another man. Part of it was because of who he was—a law enforcement officer not too different from those in her past who’d done the best they could with the information they’d had. And part was something more instinctive, something that told her he was safety and kindness, a man who could flirt and tease but who would never overstep. And Matt trusted her. Trusted her enough to welcome her into his home. To care for his child.
Trusted her even though she was lying to him.
…
Matt stood still and waited. She took a deep breath, wrapping her arms around her torso as if to keep her insides from falling out. As a sheriff, he’d seen and heard his share of sad tales. He’d been blessed so far that no horror stories had touched the lives of the people he cared about, but he suspected that was about to change with Dani’s story.
“I was eighteen…” Her voice wavered. She cleared her throat. “When I was eighteen, my best friend and I went to a party. We hadn’t been invited and didn’t know anyone. We thought it’d be fun. An adventure.”
Jaw clenched tight, Matt remained motionless, neither encouraging nor discouraging her from continuing.
Dani’s focus remained fixed on the pond, her eyes vacant. “Somebody handed me a beer. I wanted to fit in, so I drank it. Afterward, I thought I was going to be sick and managed to find a bathroom. It’s the last thing I remember of that night.”
She hesitated before speaking, as if weighing her words. “I was found the next morning in an abandoned car. I’d been beaten and raped.”
Matt closed his eyes and lowered his chin. “The police?” His voice came out a hoarse whisper.
“Too many people at the party,” she said in a toneless response. “No one knew anything, including me.”
“So that explains your reaction to Jack’s party invitation.”
“Yeah, and why I always want to open my own drinks.”
Matt’s brain was on overload. Questions. Anger. Shock. He couldn’t wrap his head around the horror that she’d endured. The cop in him wanted to hunt down and punish those involved. The man in him wanted to love her, cherish her, and replace all the bad memories with the happy ones she deserved.
“What else? What can I do to avoid triggering any memories?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. I’ve accepted the past. My parents made sure I had the help I needed.”
“Even though we haven’t known each other long, I’m here for you. I know how sometimes reminders can sneak up on you.”
She stared at the ground as if weighing her next words.
Before he could process what else he might say, the back screen door shut. Sam ran up to them, his eyes lit with enthusiasm. “I just came up with the best idea. Let’s go to Rosie’s. Their pizza’s awesome.”
With Dani’s story, Matt had lost his appetite. Going out for pizza was probably the last place on earth she’d want to be. With a thickness in his throat, he said, “Sam, now’s not a good time.”
“What do you mean? Any time’s a great time for pizza.” Dani gave Matt a halfhearted shrug. “Life goes on, Sheriff,” she said in a low voice.
Matt had known his share of women. But at this moment, he knew without doubt that none were as strong or as amazing as the woman who stood before him. He cleared his throat. “Sam can eat pizza, right?” Matt directed the question to Dani.
“Yep. Diabetes doesn’t prevent you from eating out. How about a sl
ice of thin-crust with a side salad?” Dani suggested.
“Deal,” Sam said.
“I’ll let you two figure out your plans.”
Before she’d taken a step, Matt glanced at Sam, who nodded his head in her direction.
“Whoa, hold on there, Ms. Sullivan. We want you to join us, right bud?”
“Yeah. What would you rather do, go out to pizza with us handsome guys or eat alone?” His face beamed his excitement.
Dani smiled. “Well, what woman could pass up the chance for pizza and your company? Not me.” She moved toward the back door. “Give me ten minutes. Would you be able to drop me off at Pete’s to pick up my car?”
“No problem.” The two guys high-fived.
…
The Lake Bliss Mobil station had a small garage, and classic rock blared from the bay area when Dani walked in with Sam and Matt.
“Hey, Pete,” Dani said to the mechanic tapping away at a plastic-covered keyboard. “My car ready?”
Pete raised a greasy hand to adjust the bill of his ball cap. “Now, Ms. Dani, didn’t I say she’d be ready by four o’clock? Here it is going on five thirty. So, yes ma’am, your car is ready.”
He leaned toward Dani and offered her a wide, conspiratorial smile as he passed her the car keys. “I came up with a name for your cookbook.” When she raised an eyebrow, he responded, “Another One Bites the Crust.”
Matt poked her ribs, and she attempted a thankful smile. “Thank you. I’ll have to jot that down as a possibility.” As they turned to leave, a tune drifted through the garage. “Dream On.”
“I have a feeling I’m going to disappoint a lot of people when I don’t use their title suggestions,” Dani said to Matt out of the corner of her mouth.
“It’s like a big think tank around here since you announced you needed a name for your book. I haven’t seen the town this buzzed about something since we added frozen-turkey bowling to the summer festival.”
Dani laughed. “I’ve got a stack of unusual recipes the townspeople have shared with me. I might need to write another cookbook.”
Rosie’s Pizza was only a five minute drive from the Mobil station. It was a warm little restaurant with worn wooden booths, the scents of spicy tomato sauce and fresh-baked bread, and the musical sounds of an old pinball machine clanged in the background. She loved the place within her first few steps of entering the restaurant.
“Hey, Sheriff. How’re you doing?” A group of men sitting at a corner table raised their hands in greeting. Matt waved back to them.
He guided Dani to a table near the front and handed Sam some quarters. The boy took off to play pinball with a group of boys.
“I’ll be right back,” Matt said as Dani settled into the booth. He made his way to the men who’d greeted him. They treated him like a baseball player who’d just hit a home run, doing fist bumps, patted him on the back, and seemed genuinely pleased to see him.
She could imagine a good life here in a town so full of character and family. But she’d already come too close to the truth when she’d told him about her rape. He gave her a look from across the room, the one that had nearly prompted her to tell him everything, and she looked at the tabletop. She had to maintain her distance, even if she didn’t want to. It was better for everyone—Sam especially.
“How about it, Ms. Sullivan?” Matt asked.
Dani snapped to attention. He took his seat across from her.
A tall redheaded girl stood at their table and flashed a mouth-full-of-braces smile. “Anything to drink?” she asked.
Matt glanced at Dani. “Beer?”
“Sure.”
“We’ll take a small pitcher. No, change that. Bring us two bottles and a bottle opener, Jess.”
“Be right back.”
When Matt turned his attention back to Dani, he didn’t need her to say anything. He nodded, as if to acknowledge that their earlier discussion was done, and said, “Tell me some things about yourself.”
Dani stashed her sunglasses in her purse and mentally counted off the things she couldn’t talk about. “Not much to tell. You already know the basics.”
When the beer arrived, Matt asked for a special order—low-carb crust and sugar-free sauce—then opened his beer and took a swig. “Tell me about your future. What are your plans?”
Good question. Dani hadn’t thought too much about the future. Well, except for the fact that she’d be living a life alone. “I’ll finish my book, then go back home. Probably sell my mother’s house. The clinic where I worked has promised me a job when I get back.”
“What about a nursing job here? The hospital’s always short staffed.” The left side of his mouth kicked up a fraction. “You’d make a fine addition to the town.”
A thin tendril of hope coiled around her heart. Yes, she definitely wanted to stay. It’d be a dream come true. A quaint town, new friends, a fresh start. And Sam. She’d get to see her precious son every day. And Matt…
The realistic part of her brain took over. She couldn’t live here forever and keep her identity a secret. She’d get even closer to Sam. And Matt. But secrets never stayed secret, and in time, she’d lose it all.
No matter what, Dani was in for major heartache.
When their food arrived, Sam joined them. Dani took the opportunity to ignore Matt’s question about working in Lake Bliss.
They ate pizza and talked about nothing in particular. In this one instant, this single moment where she could sit back and enjoy their company, she let herself be grateful without wishing for more. This was enough. Wasn’t it? Could her summer memories be enough to sustain her forever?
They’d have to be.
Halfway through the meal, Matt excused himself to take a call. When he returned to the table, he clipped his phone to his belt and picked up the bill. “I hate to cut our evening short, but I’ve gotta take off. There’s been an accident out on Highway 23.”
She ran a hand over Sam’s head. “We’ll head home after we finish dinner.”
He nodded and kissed Sam on the head, then leaned into Dani. She pulled in a breath and waited for her kiss too. Instead, Matt said, “Don’t know when I’ll be done.”
She masked her disappointment with a concerned smile. “Be safe.”
…
The wreck had been a bad one, killing a young boy and his mother. Thankfully, Matt hadn’t been involved in many situations where a child died. It tore at his heart. All he wanted at the end of the night was to be near his son.
At home, the kitchen was quiet and dark. His shoulders drooped. He’d missed his late-night conversation with his auburn-haired guest. He knew she hadn’t returned to her cottage—her car was parked in the driveway.
Matt walked down the hallway to the bedrooms. His mother’s door was shut. At Sam’s room, Matt stopped outside the door. On the overstuffed chair in the corner of the room, Sam and his nurse were snuggled together, both sound asleep. A book rested on their laps. Her arms held him tight, her head rested against Sam’s. Matt smiled at the expression of pure contentment on her face.
Longing, intense and powerful, slammed through Matt. This was a woman who gave so much of herself. She’d donated her time freely, putting her life on hold to care for her dying mother. With a smile, she graciously accepted the townspeople’s suggestions of titles for her book and recipes to include. Hell, half the town was probably in love with her. If he didn’t already have strong feelings for this awesome woman, the scene before him alone would have done it.
But what were those feelings? Couldn’t be love. He hadn’t known her long enough. Maybe it was just the way he’d spent his evening, helping the other men at the scene pull two broken bodies from a pile of wreckage.
He left Sam’s room to wash away the images of the wreck in the shower. Afterward, he crept back into the bedroom to pick up his sleeping son. Matt allowed himself a minute to hold Sam. This was what his world was about. He and Sam, forging their way through life together. Nothing was more im
portant. Nothing—no one—would ever come between them.
Sam stirred. Matt moved him to the bed, covered him with the sheet, and placed a kiss on his forehead.
Dani didn’t stir in the chair, only slept like the day had worn her down. The urge to hold her, connect with her, was overwhelming. Without thinking twice, he scooped her into his arms and held her close to his chest. He eased her through the doorway and down the hall to his bedroom.
She snapped awake like she’d woken from a hypnotist’s count. “What are you doing, Sheriff?” Her voice was low and husky.
“Taking you to bed.” An image of her sprawled across his mattress riled up his hormones. But he wanted more than just a physical release. More than just a casual jump in the sack. Despite all the reasons he should deny himself, he wanted her in his bed. Tonight. Now. For as long as he could have her.
Dani huffed. “You wish.”
“Even half-asleep, you’ve got a smart mouth.” God, that mouth.
Devour. The word flashed in his mind, then sailed to his groin. He knew firsthand about her talented mouth. He’d pulled away from her before. He wouldn’t again if given another chance.
When they reached his bedroom, he placed her on the bed.
“What’s going on?” Dani lay back on the pillow.
Matt dropped to the other side of the bed. “Accidents like the one tonight get to me. I can’t help but imagine the victims are people I care about. A young boy and his mother were killed. It could have been Sam.” And you.
Where did these feelings for Dani come from? The accident? Remembering life was fragile and could change at any second? He sat next to Dani on the mattress.
She shifted up and leaned against the headboard. “But it wasn’t. You’re home. Sam’s safe.”
He couldn’t resist. He pulled her close. “I can’t ever lose him.” His voice wavered. “Not for any reason.”
“You won’t, Matt.” With her fingertip, Dani smoothed the lines between his brows. “So many worries for one man.” She trailed her fingers along his hairline.
He heaved a satisfied sigh. Their gazes collided. In that instant, Matt had no desire to be anywhere else. “It’s soothing to be around you.” Now it was his turn to touch. His fingers coasted across her eyebrows. Her nose. Her lips. “I feel connected to you.” He placed a hand in her soft curls and cupped the warm skin behind her neck. “Can’t explain it.” Without effort, he pulled her in, her lips lowering to his in a gentle kiss.
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