Teresa Southwick - What If We Fall in Love?

She backed away and made a cross with her index fingers to ward him off. “A blatant attempt to sidetrack me and it’s not going to work.”

He grinned. “How will you know unless we try?”

If he continued to smile at her like that she would try anything and probably forget her own name. “Knock it off, Grady. This is serious. And you’re not as charming as you think.”

“Yes, I am.”

Yes, he was. But it didn’t quite distract her enough. She found it odd and disturbing that he wouldn’t tell her anything about the lawsuit. Granted, they hadn’t been close friends for years. But he’d seen how shaken she was when the teenage bull rider had been injured, and had stayed with her. A trusted deputy had taken his girls home. Even with the problem that had been dropped on him just that night, he’d flatly refused to leave her.

Her heart skipped at the thought and warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with a June evening in Texas and everything to do with how sweet and thoughtful Grady O’Connor was. After all these years on her own, his warm, supportive presence was like a light at the end of a long black tunnel. She just hoped the beam wasn’t attached to a speeding locomotive.

“I’ll take your silence as agreement on my charm,” he said.

“I’m immune to charming men.”

“Oh? Let’s test that defense.”

He put his arm around her waist and loosely settled her against his chest. Cupping her cheek in his big, warm hand, he started to lower his mouth to hers.

“I’m fine. I don’t need the distraction.” Jensen stepped away from the circle of his arms. “And you can’t afford to take this situation lightly.”

“It’s just a nuisance suit.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his khaki pants.

“Probably. But if you don’t take it seriously now, it could become more than that. Let me help. I can put together a strategy to convince the judge that the case is without merit and get it thrown out before it snowballs into something big. It’s my job, and I’m very good.”

“I’m sure you are. But you’re good at it in Dallas, and I live in Destiny. I intend to seek legal counsel, but I’ll get someone local to handle it. Besides, you’re here on vacation.”

“Not so fast, Sheriff. You know what they say about assuming something.”

“What’s that?”

“It makes an ass out of u and me.”

He laughed. “In my case it’s probably no more than the truth. But it would be less than gentlemanly to agree with that—about you.”

“I’m not just here for a vacation. My firm is considering opening a branch office in Destiny.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, that’s so. Business in the area is expanding outward from the Metroplex. Growth brings jobs, people, housing. Because I know the area, the firm sent me here to handle it.”

“So your offer to help is testing the waters of legal expansion?”

“Of course not. I genuinely want to do what I can to advise you—legally. I’ve seen you with the girls. You’re terrific.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“I didn’t say that to flatter you. It’s just the truth. I can’t conceive of a good reason for anyone to initiate a suit like this. Tonight I saw for myself the love, discipline and just plain common sense of your parenting skills. We’ve already established it’s not a relative of yours or Lacey’s who’s behind this. It would be a crime to take them away from you. No one could love them the way their biological father could.”

She saw the frown return to his face and missed the teasing look and the warmth it generated. What had she said? She’d sincerely meant the compliment.

“I’m grateful for the vote of confidence.”

“Look, even if I wasn’t heading up the law office here I could handle this long distance. I can—”

“Look, Jen, don’t think I don’t appreciate the offer. And from one of the finest Dallas attorneys, too. But you’re not the right lawyer for this case.”

This case? It was right up her alley—her specialty, so to speak. In the past few hours since he’d invaded her personal space, she’d seen firsthand his protective streak. First with the twins, then with her. Was he refusing her offer because he was trying to protect her? From what? What could anything about his twins have to do with her?

“Why am I not right?”

“Look, I’ve got to get home to the girls. Are you okay now?”

“I’m fine.” Thanks to him.

“Good.” He walked to the steps and glanced over his shoulder. “See you around.”

“Okay,” she answered, bewildered. “’Night.”

The echo of his footsteps faded. Unfortunately her bad feeling didn’t. If she were smart, she’d let this go. She should be grateful he’d pushed her away—saved her from herself, so to speak. He didn’t want her help. She didn’t want to be attracted to him. Even-Steven.

Now she could get back to life as she knew it—on her own. But why after spending time with the sheriff did that seem so lonely?

The next day Grady walked in the front door of the sheriff’s office, and Deputy Phoebe Johnson looked up.

“Hey, boss.” Behind the counter, she leaned forward and rested her forearms on it.

“Hey. Everything quiet?” he asked her.

She nodded. “How was lunch?”

“I ran into an old friend. Jack Riley.”

“I heard about him. Good-looking military type. He went into This ’n That and didn’t come up for air till lunch. Something going on with him and Maggie?”

Maggie Benson was the owner of Destiny’s gift shop.

“Hard to say,” he answered.

“Why? You had lunch with them.”

“So?” Grady stood in front of the counter separating the waiting area from the two buddy desks behind it. Computer equipment and paperwork littered the tops of the work spaces.

“So, put your legendary detective skills to work and tell me your observations.”

The pretty, young, auburn-haired deputy met his gaze with a speculative one of her own. Her eyes were the color of Texas bluebonnets—somewhere between blue and lavender. She filled out the uniform better than any deputy he had. But wild horses would never get him to say that out loud. He treated her just like everyone else and that’s just the way she wanted it.

At twenty-three, Phoebe was dedicated, smart and ambitious. Grady figured she was after his job. She’d probably have it someday, but not until he was ready to give it up. He was acting sheriff while elected sheriff Warren Drummond was on medical leave after a heart attack. But he would probably retire early, since his health was unlikely to permit him to return to the demanding job.

“My observations are that Maggie and Jack are friends.”

Phoebe shook her head and slid him a pitying look. “If that isn’t just like a man.”

“You want to elaborate on that?”

“No.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Let me rephrase. What does that mean, Deputy?”

“It means you wouldn’t know a romance in progress if it sashayed up and hit you in the head with a two-by-four.”

He grinned. She had a way with words and didn’t mince any of them. Not unlike a sassy brunette he couldn’t seem to get out of his mind. Thoughts of Jensen had kept him awake tossing and turning.

“I seriously doubt that there’s anything going on between Jack and Maggie. Like I said, friends.”

“That’s not what Ginger Applewhite said.”

Ginger clerked at Charlie’s Tractor Supply for her owner husband. “What did she say and how did she know?”

Phoebe sighed. “She told me Jack O’Hunk stuck like gum on a boot heel to Maggie at the high school championships last night. Then today he shows up in town and disappears inside her shop. When they come out, he’s not carrying a bag, which means he didn’t purchase anything. So it was personal. Then they wind up having lunch together. What would you call that?”