Falling for the Sheriff

by Tanya Michaels

  Once they were on the other side of the door, Cole surprised Kate by pulling her closer for a quick kiss hello. “I couldn’t wait until the end of the evening to do that,” he said.

  She was glad he hadn’t, but couldn’t resist teasing him anyway. “Are you also the kind of person who eats dessert first?”

  His gaze dipped from hers, traveling the length of her body and back. “If dessert looked as delectable as you? Hell yes.”

  Warmth filled her, and the way he gallantly opened her car door for her only amplified it.

  There was a police radio in Cole’s car, but he turned it off as he slid into the driver’s seat. “They can reach me on my cell if there’s a real emergency,” he said. “Besides...”

  Although he didn’t finish his sentence, she could guess from his expression what he was thinking. He wanted to protect her—and protect their date—from reminders of his job. She sighed, recalling his mother’s words from yesterday. Cole was noble and heroic. Kate would never want to change that about him. Being sheriff was a big part of his life. It must sting to feel as though he had to tiptoe around it, never discussing his job the way normal couples did on normal dates.

  If she was going to attempt dating him, she should commit to it, not settle for a half-ass effort. “So what made you decide to go into police work?” she asked. “Family member on the force? The desire to help citizens in a crisis or return stolen purses to damsels in distress?”

  At first, she thought his pause was because she’d surprised him with the question. After a moment, it became clear he was stalling on purpose. “I don’t think I want to tell you. The answer makes me a lot less cool.”

  She laughed. “We’re single parents. There are plenty of things that make our lives uncool. If it makes you feel any better, it’s not like I expected this evening to end with me wearing your leather jacket and riding home on the back of your motorcycle.”

  “I was inspired to be a cop because of a TV show.”

  “That’s not embarrassing. Police shows are a television legacy.”

  “Miranda’s Rights,” he said.

  It took her a moment to place the name. “The old soap opera?”

  “It was my mom’s favorite when I was little. She had it on every afternoon, and I thought Miranda had a really exciting life. One season, she was abducted by aliens! Life around here was pretty dull, in comparison. The entire time I was growing up, I did not meet one person who suffered from amnesia or discovered they have an evil twin.”

  Kate snorted with laughter. “That’s the reason you wanted to become a cop? So you could experience aliens and amnesia?”

  “I was young and impressionable. And you are a very cruel woman, prying for personal secrets just so you can make fun of me.”

  “Sorry,” she lied, still laughing. “I just wasn’t expecting an answer like that. Now it makes me curious about those stories your mom offered to share yesterday. I’m sincerely hoping that you used to pretend to be your own evil twin. Or that you feigned amnesia to get out of a math test or something.”

  “You know, I was just thinking last month that I’d love to send my parents on a cruise. A long, long cruise, far away from beautiful blondes looking to mock me.” He paused, then added slyly, “Maybe I should ask your grandmother for intriguing stories about your childhood.”

  That sobered her quickly. “Truce? I never bring up your affinity for cheesy soap operas, and you don’t interrogate Gram.”

  “I don’t know.” He smirked. “Now you have me curious.”

  Kate had always loved music and grew up with a tendency to sing no matter where she was. Unfortunately, as a child, she hadn’t always understood the lyrics of certain songs she caught on the radio, which had led to more than one inappropriate public concert. She remembered Gram hustling her out of a grocery store one day after a woman in frozen foods stared at Kate in horror.

  “Change of subject,” she declared. “Where are we going to eat?” Culinary selections in Cupid’s Bow were limited. The food was all good, but there weren’t many choices.

  “Actually, I’m taking us to an Italian place a couple of towns over. I hope Jazz and Brody don’t have any trouble finding it. After all the work the three of you did giving my daughters an amazing birthday, I wanted to do something special in return. Plus, the long drive gives you and me more time together.” He slanted her an avid look that made her pulse race, then smiled sheepishly. “I may also have been motivated by the fact that Becca Johnston is hosting a volunteer dinner at my favorite in-town restaurant.”

  Kate grinned. “Well, at least you’re man enough to admit you’re avoiding her. Did you give her an answer on the bachelor auction yet?”

  “Yeah, I caved. I sent an email agreeing to participate but am dodging her suggestions that we get together to discuss specifics in person. Kate, I know it’s presumptuous to ask you to bid, but...please, please don’t let that woman get me.”

  “You realize that in order to stop her, I’d probably need to take out a mortgage on the farm?”

  “I will pay you back every dime. Who needs savings? For all I know, my girls won’t want to go to college anyway. Maybe they’ll take after their Uncle Jace.”

  She would have laughed if she hadn’t spent so many sleepless nights fretting over her own kid’s future. She’d invested some of the life-insurance money to help pay for college, but more than once, she questioned whether he’d even be accepted anywhere. University enrollment would require improved grades and fewer disciplinary problems. Being suspended from school didn’t look good on an application.

  “Auction aside,” Cole said, “you are planning to visit the festival, right?”

  “Isn’t it mandatory for all Cupid’s Bow citizens?” she teased. “I’ve been under the impression that one would be run out of town for skipping it.”

  “Correct. Unless you have a note from the doctor excusing you.”

  “I used to go every summer with my grandparents. I’m looking forward to it.” The festival would kick off next Friday. Kate had already agreed to join Gram for a couple of volunteer events.

  “I’ll be working in an official capacity for most of festival weekend,” Cole said, “but I’m supposed to have a few hours free Sunday afternoon. Do you think maybe we could go together? All of us, the kids, too.”

  Oh, boy. She could just imagine the sneer on Luke’s face when she informed him of that plan. As his mom, she could force him to go. But it was difficult to force someone to have a good time. The last thing she wanted was for his dour attitude to ruin the girls’ fun. And the girls presented an entirely different problem. Would seeing Luke and Kate together only encourage their dreams of getting a stepmom?

  Part of her yearned to say yes, but she couldn’t bring herself to agree without further consideration. Instead she joked, “Let me get this straight—you want me to commit to being your date for the festival and to bidding on you for yet another date? That’s a lot of investment on my part when we’ve barely even started our first date. What if tonight’s a disaster?”

  He laughed. “You don’t have to give me your answer yet. I can wait. But, for the record? Tonight’s going to be wonderful.”

  Chapter Nine

  Kate was having the time of her life. The mushroom ravioli she’d ordered had been well worth the drive, the dinner conversation was punctuated with frequent laughter and Cole somehow made her feel like the most beautiful woman in the room, despite the fact that she was seated across from a woman who, up until Christmas, had been a professional model. And to think you almost told him no when he asked you out. She leaned against the high-backed booth with a happy sigh. New policy. From now on, always tell Cole yes.

  A blush climbed her cheeks as she considered situations far racier than dinner.

  “Kate?” Jazz tilted her head, studyi
ng her from the other side of the candlelit table. “You okay? You look flushed.”

  Turning toward her, Cole tucked her hair back to study her face. Even that slight touch sent tingles up her spine. For the past hour and a half, they’d been in repeated contact. He’d held hands with her, their legs brushed beneath the table, and at one point when the restaurant’s air-conditioning had kicked on, he’d seized the opportunity to put his arm around her and pull her close because she “looked cold.”

  “Everything all right?” he asked softly.

  The heat she’d been feeling intensified. “Must be the wine I had.” Or the fact that she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about kissing him again all night. It was ironic that the more fun she had on their double date, the more she couldn’t wait to leave and get him alone. He was an undeniably attractive man, but his attentiveness to her was even more arousing than his physical appearance.

  “Want me to catch the waitress’s attention and get you another glass of ice water?” He scanned the dining area, pausing to nod hello to a man approaching their table.

  “Evenin’, Sheriff.” The stranger was tall and handsome. He held a black cowboy hat in his hand, and his sun-streaked hair was attractively scruffy, as was the hint of beard that shadowed his jaw. “Brody.”

  Brody shook the man’s hand. “Jarrett. You know Jasmine Tucker and Kate Sullivan?”

  The man’s smile widened. “Afraid I haven’t had the pleasure. Jarrett Ross. Are you ladies from Cupid’s Bow, too?”

  Jazz nodded. “Cole promised the food would be worth the extra drive. He’s obviously not the only one who feels that way.” The dining room was packed.

  “This place stays busy,” Jarrett agreed. He held up one of the buzzers used to signal when a table was ready. “My date and I are hoping we’ll have time to eat and still catch a movie after this.”

  “I knew there had to be a date somewhere,” Brody said. “With you, there’s always a pretty woman involved.”

  “Look who’s talking,” Jarrett said with a wink in Jasmine’s direction. “Tiffani’s in the ladies’ room.”

  Brody and Jarrett chatted about ranching business for a few minutes. Kate liked horses, but not enough to focus on the conversation with fantasies of Cole crowding her thoughts. He caught her watching him, and grinned. His hand dropped below the table to caress her thigh. Despite the fabric of her dress and the linen napkin she had across her lap, the slow stroke of his thumb felt as intimate as if he were touching bare skin. If she were alone with him right now...

  “Oh, that’s us.” The pager in Jarrett’s hand flashed red. “You guys enjoy the rest of your evening. I’m sure I’ll run into you at the Watermelon Festival.” He scowled. “Somehow Becca Johnston convinced me that because of the equine therapy work I do with disabled children, I have to be part of her ‘heroes’ auction. That woman is frighteningly persuasive.”

  As he walked away, Cole added, “Or just frightening, period.”

  Jazz craned her head to watch Jarrett go. “He’ll have no trouble raising bids. You know I love you, Brody, but speaking on a completely objective level as someone whose former career centered around the human form...whoa.”

  Kate laughed, temporarily distracted enough from lusting after Cole that she finally recognized Jarrett’s name. “Wait, he’s the rodeo cowboy Gram’s friend was trying to set me up with?”

  Cole poked her in the shoulder with his index finger. “Don’t even think about it. You are currently unavailable.” Though his tone was playful, there was a note of possessiveness she found thrilling.

  “Don’t worry, I don’t want anyone but you.”

  His eyes darkened, and she knew that if they weren’t sitting in a crowded restaurant right now, he’d be kissing her breathless.

  “Aww.” Jazz had her chin propped on her fist, grinning at them as if she were watching a favorite romantic movie. “Nothing makes me happier than seeing two terrific people fall in—”

  Bracing herself for the impact of the word love, Kate’s entire body stiffened. Noticing, Cole cut off Jazz’s sentence. “Yeah, seems like Cupid’s Bow is sure getting a workout lately,” he said, putting enough jocular emphasis on the pun to make the other couple groan.

  For her part, Kate wanted to hug him in gratitude. She hoped her involuntary reaction hadn’t hurt his feelings, but she deeply appreciated his sensitivity. There was no pretending they hadn’t entered a relationship, whether she’d been looking for one or not, but to admit she might be falling in love with him? She wasn’t ready to jump off that cliff.

  “How did Cupid’s Bow get its name anyway?” Jazz asked. “Anyone know?”

  “Topography,” Cole said. “When you look at a map, the town border is roughly bow-shaped.”

  Brody chuckled. “Guess Cupid’s Bow sounded friendlier than Archery or Longbow, Texas. Definitely more tourist appeal than Death by Arrow, Texas.”

  Kate managed a laugh along with the others, but her heart wasn’t in it. Just because an arrow was shot by Cupid didn’t make it any less dangerous.

  * * *

  AS FAR AS Cole could tell, the evening had lived up to his initial promise of being wonderful. Frankly, it had been a gamble to make that boast. Kate’s misgivings about dating were completely understandable. But since she was uncertain, he’d decided he just had to be confident enough for both of them. It had worked pretty well.

  The only misstep at dinner had been that moment when she’d almost panicked over Jazz’s careless phrasing. As close as he’d been sitting to Kate, he’d imagined he could actually feel the pounding of her pulse. She’d gone momentarily wild-eyed. But after he changed the subject, she’d eventually relaxed again.

  Still, she was a lot quieter during the drive back to her grandmother’s farm than she had been on the way to the restaurant. Maybe she was sleepy and pleasantly mellow from a rich dinner and two glasses of wine. If she were regretting their date, she would be leaning away from him, not angled in his direction and holding his hand while he drove.

  Perhaps the lull in conversation was simply because she was enjoying the music from the radio. Her fingers periodically tapped along with the beat, moving across his knuckles in unconscious rhythm. As he turned onto the dirt road that marked Denby property, Kate reached for the volume button, humming softly as an acoustic ballad began.

  “I love this song,” she said.

  Cole had been wishing he could prolong their time alone—once he pulled up in front of the farmhouse, there was a possibility their goodbyes would be monitored by Joan. Or, worse, Luke. Kate’s statement gave him the excuse he’d needed. He put the car in Park and hit the button to lower the windows so that the music floated out into the night. Then he removed his seatbelt and got out of the car. She regarded him curiously.

  He came around the other side and opened her door, holding out one hand. “Dance with me?”

  She hesitated only a second, then reached over to bump up the volume again. A poignant melody combined with the drowsy pulse of tree frogs and crickets. Kate wrapped her arms around his neck and let him pull her much closer than would have been appropriate at the local dance hall. It felt indescribably good to have her against him. Too good. As they swayed together, his body responded with the full force of desire he’d tried to temper all evening. His senses had been filled with her, the sound of her laugh, the scent of her shampoo, the lushness of her curves as his body brushed hers.

  Standing this close, there was no way to hide the effect she had on him, so he owned up to it instead, hoping the feeling was mutual. “You are a very sexy woman. It’s been driving me crazy all night, in the best possible way.” He held his breath, waiting to follow her lead. If she shied away—

  “Cole?” Her fingers skated up the sensitive nape of his neck and threaded through his hair. “Kiss me.”

  He was eage
r to oblige, yet savored the moment, first pressing a kiss to the delicate skin beneath her ear, then dotting his way across her cheek. When his mouth reached hers, she melted in his arms, her lips parted in invitation. His tongue slid across hers, and he nearly groaned with pleasure. Their kiss went from explorative to hungry, his hand tangled in the soft cotton of her dress as he crushed her against him.

  The billions of stars twinkling in the summer sky were nothing compared to the stars he saw when Kate kissed him. His need for her made him feverish, reckless. The last time he’d considered trying to seduce a woman in the back seat of a car, he’d been in high school. Perhaps if he had a blanket or a coat to spread on the ground...

  With great reluctance, he broke their kiss, needing a moment to catch his breath. And rein in his libido. It wasn’t until he released her that he realized not only was a different song playing, it was fading to its last notes.

  “That was...” She touched a finger to her bottom lip, her expression awestruck. The look in her eyes was a greater stroke to his ego than every compliment he’d heard his entire life, added together.

  His laugh had a rough, strangled quality to it. “Keep looking at me like that, and I might forget that the gentlemanly thing to do is to take you to your front door and call it a night.”

  She inhaled deeply, and he couldn’t help but admire the swell of her breasts at the neckline of her dress. “Part of me doesn’t want to call it a night.”

  Which meant that part of her did. Shoring up his self-discipline, he stepped away from her. Too bad it wasn’t thirty degrees cooler. Chilly evening air would help him clear his head.

  It was a pretty night, though, and he was greedy for more time with her. “Want to walk from here?” he asked.

  “Sure.”

  He turned off the car, locked it and pocketed the keys. Then he twined his fingers through hers and they headed down the informal, winding driveway that cut through the pasture. Ahead, lights shone through the front windows of the farmhouse. Was her grandmother waiting inside to gently interrogate Kate about their evening? If he’d left the twins with his mother, he knew Gayle would pepper him with questions the second he crossed over the threshold. Instead, he’d hired a sitter and hadn’t told his mom or his daughters about his date. If Kate agreed to come with him and the girls to the festival next Sunday, Alyssa and Mandy would have proof soon enough that he was seeing her. If she said no, he didn’t want them to be disappointed.