Falling for the Sheriff

by Tanya Michaels

  He sighed. “Sarah and her brother were getting ice cream on their way home from bowling in Turtle, and she said we should go bowling sometime.”

  “I see.” No, she really didn’t. How was the casual invitation reason to be upset? “And you’re afraid you can’t pick up the spare? Or that you’ll look ‘derpy’ in the rented shoes?”

  “Mom. Do not try to use my words.” He sat up. “I like bowling, I guess. The problem is Sarah.”

  “You don’t like Sarah?”

  “I like talking to her online. When we’re comparing sniper shots or divvying loot, knowing what to say is easy. It’s not awkward or personal. But IRL...”

  “Translation for the ancient lady, please.”

  “In real life. When I’m talking to her through the headset, it’s fun. At the ice cream parlor, trying to talk to her made my stomach hurt. I didn’t even want to eat my ice cream, but I was afraid to hurt Gram’s feelings. I may throw up,” he said.

  So either her son had his first significant crush, or that stomach bug Crystal’s family suffered was making its way through town.

  “You’ve got a case of nerves. Like when Alyssa was worried about swimming without her water wings.” Tactical error—Luke’s glare made it clear he didn’t appreciate being compared to a five-year-old girl. Kate held up her hands. “I’m not downplaying how you feel, I swear. In fact, I have the same problem. When I’m in a classroom, I know exactly what I’m supposed to be teaching or saying. But as you said, personal relationships are tough. There are one-on-one situations where I get completely tongue-tied.”

  Hopefully, he wouldn’t ask her to elaborate. She didn’t think her son really wanted to hear about the buzz of hormones she felt whenever Cole Trent got close. Or how the more time she spent with Cole, the more she second-guessed and triple-guessed what she wanted.

  “My analogy about Alyssa was just to demonstrate that, most of the time, our fear of something is way worse than the actual consequences. She was terrified of swimming without the floaties, but as soon as she took them off, she had a blast. She didn’t drown, she didn’t get water up her nose. Swimming wasn’t the hard part at all. The hard part was taking the risk.”

  “Yeah, that sounds good. I mean, I hear what you’re saying. In theory, I’d love to be more badass. But it’s hard to do IRL.”

  She empathized so much so that she overlooked the mild profanity. “You are one hundred percent right.” And I am one hundred percent hypocrite. Was she really going to nudge her son to take risks when she, a grown woman, was too chicken to let a man kiss her on her grandmother’s front porch?

  “All right, lecture over,” Kate said. “I’m going to pick out a movie, preferably one with cheesy dialogue and terrible CGI, and make popcorn. Join us if you decide you want some company. And Luke? Think about what I said. I won’t force you to go bowling, but consider what you might be missing out on.”

  It was sound advice. Now she just had to figure out how to take it herself. How much was she willing to trade away to stay in her comfort zone?

  Chapter Seven

  Although Brody had assured Cole they could fit a lot of kids in the barn in the event of rain, Cole was glad the weather was cooperating for the birthday party. There was a soft breeze that kept the summer day from being too punishing, and the sky was dotted with puffy white clouds that looked more cartoon than real. But the best thing about today so far was that his daughters hadn’t stopped smiling since they’d arrived.

  Jazz and Kate had hung a banner over the cattle guard at the ranch’s entrance that wished Amanda and Alyssa a happy sixth birthday. The slogan said Fun is Always in Fashion. Closer to the main house, the women had set up a red carpet where guests could get their pictures made. Or they could have their photo taken in the small corral where Brody stood with a shaggy pony. Kids who wanted to really get in the spirit of things could wear either a white cowboy hat and plastic badge or—for the more devilishly inclined—a skull and crossbones bandana and black hat. On one side of the barn were two booths for face painting and makeup application. Around the other side were games like horseshoes and plenty of folding chairs for parents and guardians to observe the frivolity.

  From his current vantage point atop the sloping lawn, Cole could see Mandy winning a stick-pony race and watch Alyssa hamming it up in front of one of the photo stations. Giant posters were tacked on the side of the barn; his daughter posed in front of the Eiffel Tower in a beret, iridescent scarf and rhinestone-rimmed sunglasses.

  Everything looked fantastic—especially the woman who had helped organize it all. When he’d gotten his first glimpse of Kate, he’d been speechless. He always thought of her as beautiful, but he was used to seeing her in casual settings. Jazz had applied just enough makeup to highlight her beauty and had done something to her hair, sweeping it to the side with a hint of curl, reminding him of vintage Hollywood.

  “If you mock me,” Kate had grumbled, “I won’t be held responsible for my actions. Jazz said we had to look appropriately ‘fashion forward.’ I feel like an idiot. Grown women should not be wearing rompers.”

  He hadn’t even noticed what she was wearing until then—and he wasn’t entirely sure what romper meant but the bottom half of her outfit was shorts. The green color was gorgeous on her and although there was nothing provocative about the neckline or the silhouette of the outfit, when she turned away he’d noticed the skinny slit in the material that started at her neck and went all the way to her waist. It was such a slender gap, not truly revealing anything, but he found himself growing more obsessed with it as the day wore on. She was easily the sexiest woman on the ranch, no offense to the model who’d chipped in to make this day so much fun for his girls.

  “Nice party, bro.”

  Cole turned to see his brothers approaching. Jace was balancing a paper plate on one hand and carrying a soda can in the other. After getting input from both his mom and Kate, Cole had decided the simplest way to handle food for this many people was to have it catered. A large table held aluminum trays of chopped beef and pulled pork. Buns were in plastic bags at the center of the table. There was a vat of coleslaw nearly as big as the birthday cake, and a wicker basket full of individually bagged chips. Earlier, he’d stared at a little girl for a full minute, trying to make sense of the design she’d had painted on her face before realizing it was smeared barbecue sauce.

  Will wasn’t carrying food, but he had two soft drinks. He handed one to Cole.

  “How many people are at this shindig?” Jace asked. “Cupid’s Bow isn’t that big.”

  “We invited all the kids from Mandy’s co-ed soccer team, the eight girls from Alyssa’s ballet class and assorted other folks. Like their unreliable uncle who cancels family plans in favor of chasing women,” Cole drawled.

  “Dude.” Jace gave him a look over the rims of his sunglasses. “Don’t expect me to apologize for sowing my oats. It’s not like the serious-commitment, settling-down thing worked out so well for the two of you, Dumped and Divorced.”

  Will smacked their younger brother on the back of the head; Cole jabbed him in the shoulder.

  “And you bullies wonder why I duck out of family events,” Jace grumbled. “Not that there was any chance of my missing this. I adore my nieces.”

  “They adore you, too,” Cole admitted.

  “Probably because they consider him a peer,” Will said. “Maturity-wise.”

  “I would never flip the bird at a children’s birthday party,” Jace said. “But know that I am giving you the finger in spirit.”

  Will ignored this, addressing Cole instead. “We’re headed to sit with Mom and Dad and eat some lunch. My plate’s already at the table. Care to join us?”

  Cole hesitated. He should probably eat some of the food he was paying for, and in a little while, he’d be too busy supervising present opening an
d the paintball war he still couldn’t believe he was allowing. But he was reveling in watching his girls enjoy their big day. “In a few minutes. I like this view too much to give it up just yet.”

  “I’ll bet.” Jace elbowed him in the ribs.

  Cole followed his gaze and saw Kate, bending forward slightly to apply adhesive gemstones to a little girl’s cheek. “Hey!” He barely stopped himself from covering his brother’s eyes.

  “We don’t get to ogle our brother’s girlfriend,” Will said. “Not even when she looks like that.”

  Girlfriend? That was one hell of a leap, especially given that Cole had never even kissed her. It bothered him that his brothers used the term so casually. What if one of the twins heard? They’d pestered him throughout the school year about their motherless state, drawing comparisons to their classmates’ families, and he didn’t want to fill their heads with false hope. “Don’t call Kate that. We’re not... Technically, we aren’t dating.”

  “But everyone in town is talking about the two of you,” Will said. “And at Mom and Dad’s, you let me believe... If you invented this relationship to get Mom off your case, I may have to kill you. Because now that she thinks you’ve found a wonderful woman, she’s started in on me.”

  Jace, however, was delighted by Cole’s admission. “You mean she’s single? Then it’s high time for her to meet the best looking Trent brother.”

  “You’re not seriously considering hitting on her?” Cole demanded.

  “What? You just said there’s nothing between you.”

  “That is not what I said. At all.” There was definitely something between him and Kate. He just didn’t know how to label it. “Besides, she’s older than you.”

  “Fine by me.” Jace waggled his eyebrows. “Older women know things.”

  An involuntary growl rumbled in Cole’s throat. “What I meant was, she is a responsible adult. You are not.” The idea of Jace getting involved with a single mother was laughable. “She already has one juvenile delinquent in her life. She doesn’t need another.” The words were flippant, not truly a criticism of Luke Sullivan.

  Despite giving the impression that he was a troublemaker when they’d first met, the kid was proving to be a softie. He was patient and accommodating with the girls, especially Alyssa, and when Cole had stopped at the gas station the other day, Rick Jacobs had added his own favorable opinions.

  “I don’t have to stand here and take this abuse,” Jace said. “I can go sit with Mom and Dad and let them abuse my life choices. I think Mom’s favorite phrase since I quit college is ‘woeful lack of direction.’ It’s been a few years. You’d think she would let it go.” Though he was registered as one of the town’s volunteer firemen, his steady job was bartender. Their parents didn’t think it was steady enough—not that Jace was overly perturbed by their disapproval. “I’ll catch up with you guys later.”

  Will waited for a moment, then asked, “So what’s the problem?”

  “With our brother? I have many theories.”

  “Come on, what is this hogwash about you and Kate not dating? The last time I saw you, both your daughters were raving about her and you were staring into space with the dopiest expression possible. I believe smitten is the word. So what gives?”

  “She’s a widow,” Cole said, hating the word. Aside from the obvious negative connotations of loss, it was an oversimplification. Kate saw herself as someone’s widow, but she was so much more than that. “Her husband was a cop. She says being around anyone in that line of work makes her jumpy, that she can’t stop thinking about the inherent dangers of the job.”

  Will sucked in a breath through his teeth. He knew firsthand that careers could create major problems in relationships. His ex-fiancée had cited his job with the fire department as a reason for backing out of their wedding. “That’s...” He clapped Cole on the back. “Sorry, man.”

  The tone of sympathetic finality rankled. “Hey, I was just explaining why it would be premature to call her my girlfriend. I didn’t say I was giving up on her. This isn’t insurmountable.”

  “Are you planning to retire from law enforcement?”

  “Don’t be an idiot.”

  “And her husband is always going to have been a cop. No altering that. If she considers it a deal breaker—”

  “Couples overcome obstacles,” Cole snapped. Not that he and his ex-wife had. Neither had Will and Tasha. But some people did. He ground his teeth, missing the sense of peaceful contentment he’d been enjoying before his brothers interrupted. “Why are you here ruining my day? Go pop a kid’s balloon or trip a little old lady or something.”

  Will looked sheepish. “You know I’m cynical for my own reasons. I didn’t mean to aim it in your direction. But, Cole, if you already know something is likely to be a problem down the road, is it really worth going down that road? I’ve been through a breakup a hell of a lot more recently than you, so take it from me...”

  As if she somehow felt she was being watched, Kate looked up suddenly. She glanced around and when she spotted Cole, a grin spread across her face. The sight of that smile hit him like moonshine, going straight to his head and sending a rush of heat through his body.

  “Then again,” Will amended as Cole waved to her, “I don’t have a woman in my life smiling at me like that. Feel free to ignore everything I said.”

  “Already planning on it.”

  * * *

  “THERE YOU GO! All done,” Kate pronounced. She stepped back so the little girl in the soccer jersey could jump down from the chair. She’d asked for blue eyeliner and a blue flower on her cheek, made up of little gems, to match her team colors.

  “Looks like another satisfied customer,” Crystal said from behind her. Her five-year-old son was one of the invited guests, and she’d come to the party early to help Jazz and Kate set up. “Have you had a chance to eat yet? If not, I can take over here for a bit.”

  “Actually, according to your sister’s schedule, all the kids are going to be herded to the tables for presents and cake in about three minutes. You know, I remember Jazz as being flighty when we were kids, but she grew up to be scary organized.”

  “She’s having a lot of fun today,” Crystal said. “As the baby of the family, she got bossed around by me and Susan a lot, and now you’ve put her in charge of something where she gets to tell a ton of people what to do. She’s in heaven. Plus, she’s handing out business cards and coupons for her boutique left and right.”

  “I’m glad. She deserves to get something out of today. Cole paid us for all the supplies, but I know she’s donated some stuff from the store. He really appreciates it.”

  Crystal looked over to where Cole stood talking to his brother. Kate had met him when he first arrived; William Trent looked a lot like Cole, except taller and broader with the merest scruff of a beard dotting his jaw. “So how are things with you and the sheriff? I’m guessing pretty darn good since he can’t take his eyes off you.”

  “That’s an exaggeration. He’s been busy with his family and the party guests.” He’d had to break up a fight between two little boys earlier, and there’d been a minor first-aid crisis in the form of a bee sting.

  It occurred to her that since she was so aware of everything Cole had been doing, maybe she was the one who couldn’t take her eyes off him. He’d caught her looking more than once, and the glances he’d given her in return made her glad to be a woman.

  “I’ll say this,” she told Crystal, “he does seem to appreciate the hair and makeup job your sister did.”

  “Yeah, there’s a reason Susan and I both begged her to do our makeup at our respective weddings.” She paused, giving Kate a sly smile. “Just a little something for you to keep in mind, in case things get serious.”

  “Crystal!” How had her friend made the leap from one date at the community pool to a hy
pothetical wedding? “I haven’t even known the guy a month. And I’m not sure I’ll ever remarry.” She’d given her heart to Damon. It was difficult to imagine making that level of commitment a second time.

  Crystal’s teasing expression dissolved. “I’m sorry. Was that insensitive? It’s just really nice to see you happy after everything you’ve been through. You haven’t stopped smiling all day. But I was only joking around. I know you and the sheriff are in the early stages of your relationship.”

  Really, really early. If their so-called relationship were a movie, the previews wouldn’t even be showing yet. Seating hadn’t even started. The two of them were still standing awkwardly in the corridor with their popcorn, waiting for the theater to be cleaned.

  She sighed. “In the unlikely event that I do marry again—far, far in the future, when people are driving hovercrafts instead of cars—I don’t think it could be with someone like Cole.”

  “A sexy responsible guy who’s great with kids and beloved by an entire community?”

  “Someone in law enforcement. There would be so many painful memories. And I’d worry all the time.”

  Crystal pursed her lips, looking as if she itched to say more.

  In spite of the difficult topic, Kate chuckled. “Out with it, Crys.”

  “Since I can only imagine what it was like for you and haven’t faced anything like it myself, I may not be entitled to an opinion.”

  “Yet I feel confident you have one.”

  “Well, I understand why you’d worry,” Crystal said, her voice gentle. “How could you not? But...don’t you ever watch the news? There are a billion reasons to worry about your loved ones, regardless of their occupations. We can’t let that stop us from living. Tragedy happens. Someone could die just—”