Glynna Kaye - Look-Alike Lawman

“When George made that little lady assumption, you got one of those deer-in-the-headlights looks in your eyes. The kind you had as a kid when you were hiding something and Dad called your bluff.”

“Contrary to your belief, the world has more than its fair share of women who aren’t keen on getting involved with a cop.”

“Jenna didn’t have the sense of a goose.”

Or maybe she was one wise woman?

Regardless, he suspected Elise Lopez had plenty of common sense on her side—and she clearly wanted nothing to do with him. Despite the fact that for some inexplicable reason he’d left his business card with her, he wasn’t accustomed to pursuing women who didn’t show obvious interest.

Maybe it was his pride, but he didn’t intend to start now.

Chapter Four

“Mom!” Cory yelled from the living room Sunday evening. “It’s Officer Wallace. And look what he brought me.”

Cory’s cop was back?

A knot twisted in Elise’s stomach as she hurried from the bedroom, wishing she had time to slip bare feet into shoes and change out of her sweat suit. As she approached the door open to the hallway, Cory’s grin widened under the brim of a Western straw hat—and beyond him she glimpsed Grayson Wallace standing respectfully off to one side, head bowed as if analyzing the worn carpet.

“Isn’t this awesome? Wait until I show Kyle. Can I, Mom?”

“It’s a school night.”

“I know, but please?” His eyes begged. “I’ll hurry.”

While it wasn’t long before bedtime, Kyle was Billie Jean’s seventh-grader in the apartment below—and she’d rather not talk to Officer Wallace in Cory’s presence. Apparently the lawman hadn’t gotten the message that only her son welcomed police officers with open arms. “Okay. But I expect you back here in ten minutes.”

“Yee haw!” Cory dashed out the door, high-fiving the cop as he went by. “This is way cool. I can be a sheriff. Or a Texas Ranger.”

Turning toward Cory’s cop, she caught his look of dismay. Had he actually believed the hat would distract her son from all things police related?

She stepped into the hallway, pulling the door partially closed behind her. She’d planned to straighten the apartment once Cory had gone to sleep, but Mr. Wallace didn’t need a glimpse of her chaotic, real-life world. “Nice try with the hat, but you didn’t need to do that.”

He smiled uncertainly, as if not sure of the reception his unannounced call would elicit. “I know I didn’t. But I figured it might get his mind off cops and onto cowboys. From the sound of that departing comment, though, I struck out.”

Was that the true reason he’d stopped by? Or did he have something else on his mind? “I’m not sure aspiring to a career in rodeo would be much safer than law enforcement.”

“But what are the chances he’ll make it to bull and bronc riding?” His eyes twinkled. “A lot of the pros started out on goats and calves before they were out of diapers. I don’t see a whole lot of opportunity for that around here.”

“True. But I’m sorry after all your effort he’s not cooperating. Thanks for going out of your way to try.”

“Easy enough to do. I was in the western part of the state over the weekend—I have family out that way—and saw the hat in a truck stop. I thought to myself, ‘Self, you know a boy who would look mighty fine in a hat like that.’ ”

His grin urged her heart into a full gallop.

“Western Texas? You’re not from Fort Worth?”

“Actually I am, but I recently discovered a branch of the family I previously didn’t know existed. Cattle ranchers.”

She couldn’t help but smile. “So you’re taking up riding and roping and making yourself at home with shirttail kin?”

He tilted his head and squinted one eye. “A tad closer than shirttail. A twin brother and a second little sister.”

She stared. “You have a twin that you didn’t know about?”

“Long story.” He grimaced as if wishing he hadn’t mentioned it, then a purposeful gleam sparked in his eyes. “But I didn’t stop by to regale you with the particulars of my family tree or just to drop off the hat.”

Uh-oh. Here it comes.

Why couldn’t men leave her in peace? She wasn’t in the market for another man. And certainly not this one. Yes, even with the sturdy sling supporting his arm, he looked like any woman’s dream standing there fit and trim in pressed khaki trousers, his wide shoulders filling out a burgundy golf shirt. But she was all too aware how innocent dreams revolving around a cop could morph into nightmares.

“Mr. Wallace—”

“Grayson.” Determination etched his features. “On Friday Cory’s teacher asked if I’d consider talking to you about mentoring Cory. I’ve considered it, and I’m here to discuss it.”

He was, was he? She folded her arms. Out of the blue this stranger wanted to spend time with her son? Become his role model? Was he out of his mind? Does he think I’m out of mine? Since Duke’s passing, she’d had men come up with doozies of excuses to worm their way into her life, but this got top honors for originality.

“You know,” the officer prodded when she didn’t immediately respond, “I could give him some man time.”

With a cop? What was Cory’s teacher thinking? That could exacerbate her son’s fixation.

“I’m sorry, but—”

He raised a hand to halt her. “I didn’t say anything on Friday, but since then I’ve had time to think about it. So if you feel it would be beneficial in any way, if it might help Cory settle down and—”

“Settle down? Exactly what did Miss Gilbert tell you about my son?” She’d have a talk with her tomorrow.

His forehead creased. “Don’t get riled up at Cory’s teacher. She said pretty much what you told me yourself. You know, that he’s preoccupied with policemen. She thinks he’s overly concerned about the man who killed his father and is aggressively acting out on his feelings.”

“That term is considerably stronger than the situation warrants.”

“Likely so. Nevertheless, Miss Gilbert is worried about him and noticed how Cory and I hit it off that day.”

“She means well, but doesn’t fully understand the situation.” Did Miss Gilbert think so little of her parenting abilities that she felt a need to push Cory off on a man she didn’t even know? The implication stung. Elise forced a smile. “Thank you for stopping by, but teaming my son with a police officer—after the loss of his father in the line of duty—isn’t a good idea.”

“I understand, but—”

“I appreciate your considerate offer, but it’s not in Cory’s best interests.”

From out of nowhere, her son galloped down the hallway to slip by her and into the apartment. She stepped back inside, as well.

“Have a good evening, Officer Wallace.”

With a quick glance in his direction, she closed the door.

* * *

Monday after work as Gray grilled supper on the enclosed patio outside his ground-floor condo, the rejection of the night before still stung.

The sole consolation was how pretty Elise had looked in her velour sweats as she delivered the dismissal, dainty pink-painted toenails peeping below the soft, shapely pants. Her hair, loose from its customary bun, cascaded down her back. She smelled good, too. Like roses in his mom’s garden back in Appleton.

He turned the steak over, its juices sizzling in the low flame as he savored the memory of Ms. Lopez attired for a relaxing Sunday evening at home, bare feet and all. Was it his fault he could almost envision her cuddled up beside him on the sofa, soft and warm, watching Sunday Night Football?

He had to admit, though, that while her curt dismissal of his suggestion to spend time with Cory rankled, he was genuinely relieved. He’d volunteered because he felt obligated, not due to a driving need to get involved with some woman’s kid again.