Patricia Thayer - Her Colorado Sheriff

SAFE IN HIS ARMS

Shelby Townsend and her orphaned five-year-old nephew have escaped to Hidden Springs, Colorado, leaving plenty of pain behind. New job, new home—a new start is just what they both need. Until a very delicious complication walks into her life. Sheriff Cullen Brannigan.

Cullen assumes he’ll miss the hustle and bustle of his big-city life when he’s forced to take a break from his job with the Denver police force. But he’s surprised how much two complete strangers, who just happen to be living on his ranch, make him want to stick around. Because behind Shelby’s protective shell is a tempting vulnerability that inspires a promise in him—to keep Shelby and her nephew safe at any cost.

She smiled and his heartbeat shot off.

Damn, he needed to stop reacting to her every time she smiled.

He touched her arm to stop her. “Shelby, about this morning. I need to apologize to you. I had no business kissing you.”

She folded her arms across her chest. “I just thought you kissed all random women who come to your door.”

He shook his head, then caught her mouth twitch. “Not random women, only beautiful women with big blue eyes who appear at my back door at five in the morning.”

She cocked her head and desire shot through him again. “Cullen, I can’t have a relationship right now.” She glanced away. “My life has to be focused on Ryan.”

He held up a hand. “I feel the same way. I’m only here for a few months. My job isn’t even permanent.”

She laughed. “Well, with all those complications, I’d say we don’t have to worry.”

Her Colorado Sheriff

Patricia Thayer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

PATRICIA THAYER was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana, the second in a family of eight children. She attended Ball State University before heading west, where she has called Southern California home for many years. There she’s been a member of the Orange County Chapter of RWA. It’s a sisterhood like no other.

When not working on a story, she might be found traveling the United States and Europe, taking in the scenery and doing story research while enjoying time with her husband, Steve. Together, they have three grown sons and four grandsons and one granddaughter, whom Patricia calls her own true-life heroes.

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As always, Steve.

And to the next 45 years together.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text SAFE IN HIS ARMS Shelby Townsend and her orphaned five-year-old nephew have escaped to Hidden Springs, Colorado, leaving plenty of pain behind. New job, new home—a new start is just what they both need. Until a very delicious complication walks into her life. Sheriff Cullen Brannigan. Cullen assumes he’ll miss the hustle and bustle of his big-city life when he’s forced to take a break from his job with the Denver police force. But he’s surprised how much two complete strangers, who just happen to be living on his ranch, make him want to stick around. Because behind Shelby’s protective shell is a tempting vulnerability that inspires a promise in him—to keep Shelby and her nephew safe at any cost.

Introduction She smiled and his heartbeat shot off. Damn, he needed to stop reacting to her every time she smiled. He touched her arm to stop her. “Shelby, about this morning. I need to apologize to you. I had no business kissing you.” She folded her arms across her chest. “I just thought you kissed all random women who come to your door.” He shook his head, then caught her mouth twitch. “Not random women, only beautiful women with big blue eyes who appear at my back door at five in the morning.” She cocked her head and desire shot through him again. “Cullen, I can’t have a relationship right now.” She glanced away. “My life has to be focused on Ryan.” He held up a hand. “I feel the same way. I’m only here for a few months. My job isn’t even permanent.” She laughed. “Well, with all those complications, I’d say we don’t have to worry.”

Title Page Her Colorado Sheriff Patricia Thayer www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author PATRICIA THAYER was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana, the second in a family of eight children. She attended Ball State University before heading west, where she has called Southern California home for many years. There she’s been a member of the Orange County Chapter of RWA. It’s a sisterhood like no other. When not working on a story, she might be found traveling the United States and Europe, taking in the scenery and doing story research while enjoying time with her husband, Steve. Together, they have three grown sons and four grandsons and one granddaughter, whom Patricia calls her own true-life heroes.

Dedication As always, Steve. And to the next 45 years together.

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

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

With a gasp, Shelby Townsend sat up in bed, her room dark and foreboding. The tree blowing in the wind outside her window cast ominous shadows on her wall. She ignored her own fears when she heard the child’s cry again.

“Ryan.” She jumped up and hurried across the hall into the other bedroom. There she found the five-year-old boy thrashing around on the single bed.

She sat down on the mattress and grabbed his flaying arms. “Ryan, it’s okay. I’m here,” she whispered in what she hoped was a soothing voice. “Aunt Shelby is here.”

The child’s cries and fighting stopped as the blond-haired boy opened his eyes. He made an indistinguishable sound as he gripped her hands tightly. “Aunt Shellie. The bad man is going to get me. I’m scared.”

“I know, but I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

The boy sat up and hugged her. “I want Mama,” he cried.

“I know, Ryan. I know.”

Shelby’s heart tightened painfully, making it hard to breathe. How could she explain to this child that his mother wasn’t going to come back? Ever. Ryan wouldn’t understand the awful things that happened only two weeks ago. How could he? Even she didn’t understand why her big sister had been killed.

“I want...I want to go home.”

This was to be expected since it was the first night in their new home. Ryan didn’t handle change well.

She rubbed his back, hoping to calm him. They could never go back to Kentucky. Besides, there wasn’t anything left there to return for.

Tears filled her eyes as she remembered the events of the past few weeks. She was running late from picking Ryan up from school. If only she’d convinced Georgia to come with her instead of meeting them... Things might have turned out differently, and she’d still have a sister, and her nephew would have his mother.