Cathy Mcdavid - Most Eligible Sheriff

A Reason To Stay

Las Vegas casino manager Ruby McPhee needs to lay low while the police deal with a stalker at work. So she’s trading in her high heels for cowboy boots and assuming her twin sister’s identity at the Gold Nugget Ranch. Ruby only plans on staying in Sweetheart, Nevada, until the threat back home has passed. But then she discovers a detail her sister forgot to mention—the handsome sheriff she’s dating.

It only takes a single kiss for Cliff Dempsey to realize the woman in his arms is someone entirely different…and completely irresistible. To protect Ruby’s secret, Cliff maintains her ruse, but soon the lines between duty and desire begin to blur. Ruby and Cliff know they have a once-in-a-lifetime connection, but will they have a chance to let their love grow?

“I’m fine, Cliff.” Ruby tossed her purse on the table. “You can leave.”

“I will. Soon.”

Was it possible he didn’t want to go?

It was entirely possible she didn’t want him to go.

“Can I get you something?” She wasn’t thinking of water.

Neither was he. Heat flared in his eyes. “I’m okay.”

Seconds ticked by. Neither of them moved.

This was stupid, Ruby thought. Any relationship they had was doomed from the start. Her home was in Vegas. His was in Sweetheart, three hours away. She was evading a stalker and would probably be a material witness in his upcoming trial. One of them needed to be the adult.

“I’m pretty sure the coast is clear,” she said.

“You’re right.” He inched slowly away.

She buried her frustration. What did she expect? For him to sweep her into his arms? Hadn’t she just admitted the pointlessness of that?

He hesitated on the porch. “I had a nice time tonight.”

Her heart skipped. That was the kind of remark a man made to a woman at the end of a real date. Not a pretend one.

Dear Reader,

I often plot my books many months before I start writing them. In that time, the story outline sits tucked in a file underneath a lot of other files without me looking at it much. When I finally begin writing the book, it can be a little disconcerting. Did I really think this was a good story? Are these characters the least bit appealing?

Once in a while, however, magic happens. That was the case for me with Most Eligible Sheriff, particularly with my hero Cliff Dempsey. As the words flowed and the story took shape, he became a different person than I first imagined him to be. Deeper. More complex. More interesting. More troubled. And let’s face it—a troubled hero makes for an interesting hero! Oh, and he has this great sidekick. A three-legged retired police dog named Sarge—who was a complete surprise when he suddenly appeared on the pages one day.

Yeah…magic.

While I’m sorry to think about my Sweetheart, Nevada series ending, I thoroughly enjoyed writing this last book. I hope you enjoy reading it, and that Cliff and Ruby’s struggle to find love touches your heart as it did mine.

Warmest wishes,

Cathy McDavid

P.S. I always enjoy hearing from readers. Visit me at www.cathymcdavid.com, or you can contact me at cathy@cathymcdavid.com.

Most Eligible Sheriff

Cathy McDavid

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cathy makes her home in Scottsdale, Arizona, near the breathtaking McDowell Mountains, where hawks fly overhead, javelina traipse across her front yard and mountain lions occasionally come calling. She embraced the country life at an early age, acquiring her first horse in eighth grade. Dozens of horses followed through the years, along with mules, an obscenely fat donkey, chickens, ducks, goats and a potbellied pig who had her own swimming pool. Nowadays, two spoiled dogs and two spoiled-er cats round out the McDavid pets. Cathy loves contemporary and historical ranch stories and often incorporates her own experiences into her books.

When not writing, Cathy and her family and friends spend as much time as they can at her cabin in the small town of Young. Of course, she takes her laptop with her on the chance inspiration strikes.

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To my mother. I don’t tell you often enough how greatly you enrich my life and how much I value the lessons you’ve taught me. Love ya.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Excerpt

Chapter One

Seriously, who in their right mind hid a spare key under a flowerpot where any thief could find it? Ruby McPhee’s sister, apparently. Climbing the porch steps, Ruby counted the third chrysanthemum from the right. The key was there, exactly where Scarlett said it would be.

Small-town living, Ruby told herself as she opened the trailer door—only one lock, no dead bolt—with shaking fingers. Inside, she felt less anxious than she had outdoors, but not much.

At the front window, she pushed aside the curtain. Early morning sun cast lengthy shadows across the yard, the exaggerated silhouettes of tall ponderosa pines resembling daggers.

Okay, she was letting her imagination get the best of her. No one, not even her boss at the Century Casino or her closest friends, knew her exact whereabouts. Just her sister and the Las Vegas police detective assigned to her case. The one who had recommended she lie low for a while after her stalker violated the order of protection against him and showed up at her work, looking for Ruby and threatening a coworker.

Her case. Lie low. Order of protection. The words had a scary ring to them, and Ruby was tired of being scared. That was the whole reason she’d come to Sweetheart, Nevada, this out-of-the-way little mountain town. To be safe and to sleep through the night undisturbed by sudden noises and bad dreams.

She let the curtain fall back in place and inspected the single-wide trailer. It was old and sparsely furnished with the barest of necessities. So typical of her sister, who rebelled at the thought of lingering too long in one place.

Ruby sighed and started toward the narrow hall leading to the single bedroom. Despite a lack of creature comforts, the trailer would suit her purposes just fine.

Something caught her eye as she passed the worn checkered sofa. A framed picture, the only one in the room, sat on an end table. She picked it up, recognizing the photo as one taken a few years ago at their mother’s birthday party. Her heart immediately softened.

Like most identical twins, Ruby and Scarlett were the spitting image of each other. So much so, they were nearly indistinguishable when dressed the same. But unlike most identical twins, they weren’t inseparable and didn’t share some sort of psychic connection. They’d grown apart during high school and had never quite bridged the gap that widened when their mother remarried.

Until now. Scarlett had come to Ruby’s aid when she needed it most. Perhaps blood really was thicker than water after all.

Replacing the picture, she removed her smart phone from her purse, sat on the sagging sofa and dialed her sister’s number. Scarlett answered on the first ring. She sounded so happy, Ruby almost forgot her own worries. Almost.