Elle Kennedy - The Heartbreak Sheriff

“Tell me to stop.”

Her mouth opened. He waited, praying she didn’t say those words.

“Touch me,” she whispered.

Joy shot through him. Before she could change her mind, he tangled one hand through her hair and tugged her towards him, kissing her hard and deep. She gasped against his mouth, then relaxed, parting her lips so he could slide his tongue inside, so he could lick and explore and drink her in.

Every muscle in his body was coiled tight. His groin throbbed, the erection straining against his zipper harder and more painful than ever. He’d been with a few women since he and Sarah had broken up, but none of them had inspired this primal reaction inside him. None of them had made his heart pound and made him hungry with desire. Sarah was the only one who did that, the only one who could satisfy his appetite, his need.

Dear Reader,

Forgiveness—so easy as a concept, but not so easy when you’re the wronged party being asked for it. I’ll admit, I struggle sometimes with it. It can be hard to forgive, especially when all you want to do is hold a grudge, or when you’re too scared to forgive in fear that you’ll be hurt again.

I decided to explore this concept with Finn and Sarah, who share a turbulent past that led to a four-year separation. As the sheriff of Serenade, Finn knows the difference between right and wrong, but the wrong he committed four years ago continues to haunt him. Asking for Sarah’s forgiveness is one thing, but proving to her that he deserves it … well, that’s a whole different story.

I hope you enjoy Finn and Sarah’s emotional journey!

Happy reading,

Elle

A RITA ®Award-nominated author, ELLE KENNEDYgrew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a BA in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting.

Elle loves to hear from her readers. Visit her website, www.ellekennedy.com, for the latest news or to send her a note.

Elle Kennedy

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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To my family, for your endless support

and encouragement.

“I didn’t kill her.”

The quiet plea pierced into Finn’s heart like a dull, serrated blade, bringing a rush of pain and helplessness. He couldn’t tear his eyes from the woman sitting in front of him. He’d dreamed of being in the same room as her for so long now, but not like this. Not in this tiny, airless interrogation room, with a narrow metal table separating them, those liquid-brown eyes staring at him with anguish and resentment.

“Sarah,” he began, his voice coming out gruff, “just tell me what happened the night Teresa died.”

Sarah Connelly gaped at him. Even with her expression awash with anger, she was still beautiful. Her thick brown hair gleamed under the fluorescent lights on the ceiling, and her mouth, though twisted in disbelief, was as lush and sensual as ever. She was the most stunning woman he’d ever seen, and the only woman who could send a shiver of desire up his spine even when she was glaring daggers at him.

“ Nothing happened the night Teresa died,” Sarah replied in a frosty voice. “I was at home, asleep. I woke up at three to give Lucy a bottle, and then I went back to bed, where I stayed until seven in the morning.”

“You didn’t leave the house at all?” Finn had to ask.

“No. Not until eight-thirty, when I dropped off Lucy at day care and opened the gallery.”

Finn stifled a groan. “Then how did your hair and fingerprint wind up at the crime scene? Christ, Sarah, explain it to me!”

“Don’t yell at me, Patrick.” Ice slithered into her tone. “I don’t know how my hair and fingerprint ended up at the scene—but I can assure you, I wasn’t there .”

Frustration bubbled in Finn’s gut. For the hundredth time, he wished Teresa Donovan had never been killed. Not because he and Teresa had been best buds or anything, but because the woman’s death had brought nothing but chaos to Finn’s peaceful little town.

Exactly one month ago, Teresa had been shot in the heart, her body discovered in the living room of the majestic stone mansion her ex-husband had built for her. Cole Donovan, the ex-husband, had been Finn’s prime suspect, but with the help of Special Agent Jamie Crawford—who also happened to be Finn’s best friend and took a leave of absence to assist him and Cole—Cole was cleared of the crime. Now Finn was back to square one, and it was definitely a position he didn’t want to be in.

Especially now, with this new evidence in his possession. Evidence that pointed right at Sarah.

“Your print was on the coffee table next to the body,” he said quietly. “Your hair was on the floor, by the puddle of blood pouring out of Teresa’s chest.”

Sarah’s flawless fair skin went even paler. “Then someone put it there,” she whispered. “I didn’t kill that woman.” Her voice wobbled. “I can’t believe you’d even think that.”

Problem was, he didn’t think it. From the second his deputy phoned him with the news, Finn had been in a paralyzed state of doubt. Every cell in his body, every instinct in his gut, told him that Sarah wasn’t a killer. He knew her. He’d lived with her, kissed her, held her in his arms. She had a gentle soul, an innate need to nurture everyone around her. Even picturing Sarah with a gun in her hands, sending a bullet into someone’s heart, made his mind spin like a carousel.

But he was the sheriff. He’d taken an oath to protect the citizens of Serenade. And just because he hadn’t been fond of Teresa Donovan—who was?—didn’t mean he could overlook this new development in her murder case.

Still, that didn’t stop him from murmuring, “I don’t think you killed her.”

The shock in Sarah’s eyes was so strong it brought a spark of irritation to his gut. “What, you’re surprised?” he muttered.

She spoke in an even tone. “You showed up at my place of business at eleven in the morning on a Saturday, forced me to lock up for the day, and dragged me to the police station for questioning. Was I supposed to think you were on my side?”

I’m always on your side , he wanted to say, but bit back the words. She wouldn’t believe him, anyway, and really, how could he blame her? He hadn’t exactly proven to her, now or in the past, that he would stick by her.

“I’m doing my job, Sarah. I couldn’t ignore the evidence.” He swallowed. “And I really think you shouldn’t have turned down your option of having a lawyer present.”

Her eyes widened. “Do I really need one?”