What If We Fall in Love? Read online

  With a sigh, he sat next to Jensen. She still hadn’t said a word. “You okay?” he asked.

  “Fine.” She reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Her hand shook, putting the lie to the single word.

  “Really?”

  “Of course,” she said, clamping her teeth together when she started to shiver.

  Since the night was far from cold, he knew she was beginning to react. It was as if she’d held it together for the kids. Now that she was no longer responsible for them, she was letting go. Her whole body was trembling. He was really concerned about her.

  Grady put his arm around her, pulling her against him. “It must have been awful when Zach died.”

  “Yeah. Awful.”

  “Tell me.”

  “N-no.”

  Grady had a strange sort of déjà vu feeling. The past was knocking up against the present. He wasn’t sure why, but he was creeped out. First Mitch had come back and made things right with Taylor. Now Jen was here. The summons to answer a lawsuit that he’d received tonight. The bull-riding accident had obviously reminded her of losing the man she’d loved—and still did, if the look on her face was anything to go by.

  That bothered him, and right now he was in no shape to analyze why. But one thing he knew—as much as he didn’t want to hear anything in hushed, reverent tones about the jerk she’d married, he couldn’t just walk away from her.

  “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he urged, tightening his arm around her.

  She looked at him with huge, haunted eyes. For a moment he thought she was going to refuse. Then she nestled against him and sighed.

  “It was in Las Vegas. I hadn’t seen him all day. We were supposed to meet before the rodeo, but…”

  “What?” he prompted.

  She hesitated and he waited for her to tell him that the creep had stood her up. That she’d seen him with another woman. That he’d made some lame excuse to avoid his responsibilities. All typical things he’d done when Grady had known him.

  Then Jensen shrugged. “It’s not important. I was in the stands. Like tonight. He had a good ride. The next thing I knew, he was on the ground as still as a stone.”

  A shiver shook her and he drew her into his arms, holding her against him, willing his warmth into her. He waited for her to speak again.

  “I raced from the stands to the arena, but when I got there, he was already gone. They told me later he died instantly.” She leaned back slightly and he loosened his hold. “It all came back tonight when I saw that boy lying there. Is he going to be all right, Grady?”

  “Hannah said—”

  “Hannah?”

  “Dr. Morgan. She said his vital signs were strong but without diagnostic equipment that was all she knew.”

  “At least he was still alive. But…” Her expression was stricken.

  “How about if I walk you up to the house and we’ll call the hospital. See if they can give us any information on his condition.”

  “Okay.” She started to stand, then hesitated. “You don’t need to baby-sit me, Grady. I appreciate the shoulder to lean on, but I’m fine now. The twins need you, and I’m sure you’re anxious to get home to them.”

  “Yeah. And I will.” He stood up. “After I see you home and check on Ronnie.”

  “But…”

  “I trust Deputy Haines. The girls are in good hands. They need to get some rest. In the morning we’ll have a talk about it. I’ll probably have some good news by then on Ronnie’s condition.” He held out a hand to her.

  “You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”

  “Nope.”

  She put her hand in his and he pulled her to her feet.

  A short time later they were standing on the front porch of the ranch house. When they’d arrived, Grady had found Mitch on the phone to the hospital. Ronnie was undergoing tests, but he was conscious and all the signs were good. Hannah had told him that tests were done as much to rule out problems as find them. She was optimistic that the teenager would be just fine.

  Finally Jensen had insisted he go home to his girls and had walked him outside. The front porch was lit up like the town square at Christmas. He could see the shadows lingering in her eyes.

  “Thanks for walking me home, Grady. I appreciate it. Tell the girls hello and give them a kiss for me.”

  He stared into her beautiful face for a moment, then before he thought it through, he leaned close and lowered his mouth to hers. First he tasted surprise on her lips and slid his arm around her waist to draw her closer. Fully expecting her to pull away, he wondered why she didn’t. Then he stopped thinking at all and gave himself up to exploring the perfection of her mouth.

  Lips as full and soft as clouds met his own. He tunneled his fingers into her hair, gently urging her to make the contact more firm.

  She smelled so good. Her hair was like silken strands tangled in his fingers. The sound of her rapid breathing heated his blood as it raced through his veins. Her soft femininity lured him into a sensuous haze and he never wanted it to clear. Suddenly the front door opened, spilling more light onto the porch.

  “Oops,” Taylor said. “Sorry, Grady. I’ll catch you later, Jen.”

  But Jensen instantly backed out of his arms. Then the light disappeared and a soft snick told him they were alone again.

  Jen ran a shaky hand through her hair. “Why did you do that?”

  The words, wrapped in her breathless, sexy voice, burrowed inside him, and all his nerve endings went on tactical alert. If he’d known the answer to her question, he would have answered it. But he didn’t have a clue why he’d kissed her. More important, he didn’t want to examine his motivation too deeply.

  “I just wanted to take your mind off what happened tonight,” he said lightly. “Give you something else to think about.”

  “Replace a bad memory with a good one?”

  “Is it a good one?”

  “You’re fishing for compliments again, Sheriff.”

  There was a trace of teasing in her tone, but it was forced. He could tell. In spite of the fact that she’d been married, there was an air of innocence about her. Hell of a quality for an attorney. But innocent best described her as far as he was concerned.

  “Nope. Not me. Just trying to do a good deed.”

  “You’re quite a combination of knight in shining armor and the guy in the white hat, aren’t you?”

  “It’s a gift.”

  “Well, let me return the favor.”

  “Yeah? How?”

  “That summons has something to do with the twins. Let me take a look at it so I can help.”

  Chapter Three

  After making the statement, Jensen put some distance between herself and the sexy sheriff. She leaned her back against the front porch support and folded her arms over her chest, letting the evening breeze cool her hot cheeks.

  Why had he kissed her? She didn’t completely buy his selfless, good-guy act. On the other hand, she would rather believe he was chivalrous as opposed to attracted. Because she was infatuated enough for both of them, and that was so not what she wanted. If she let it, their meeting of mouths could be a life-altering experience and she had no reason to want her life altered in any way, shape or form.

  He’d told her earlier his bachelor status was based on attraction and approval. He needed to be attracted to a woman that his girls approved of. So far that hadn’t happened for him. Tonight she’d gotten along pretty well with the persnickety O’Connor twins—meaning one hurdle crossed. After that kiss, she issued an all-points bulletin to her heart—do not under any circumstances approach the suspect with the intention of apprehending his heart.

  With that directive uppermost in her mind, bantering with him after that earth-moved-under-her-feet experience was the hardest thing she’d ever done. Her first legal argument in front of the toughest judge in Dallas had been a walk in the park by comparison.

  Bringing up the summons he’d received earlie
r was the only thing she could think of to take the heat off herself and put it squarely back on him where it belonged.

  She let out a long breath. “So what do you say, Grady? Want to talk about who’s suing you and why?”

  “No.”

  “Just like that? No? I thought you law-enforcement types were trained in methods of negotiation.”

  “You’re thinking of the FBI.”

  “But don’t they teach you how to interrogate perps, how to meet them halfway to get the information you want?”

  He shrugged, and the shoulder movement did things to his body that made her knees weak. “It’s not worth wasting your time.”

  “As an officer of the law you should know better. Anyone can bring suit. It’s up to a judge to decide whether or not it has merit. That’s where I come in.”

  She watched him rest a hip against the porch railing beside her, one booted foot grounding him, the other dangling back and forth. Very masculine. She made a conscious effort to inhale deep, calming breaths. If he was a couple of inches closer, she would be able to feel the heat from his body. The thought made her shiver, and she stepped up those deep, calming breaths.

  After clearing her throat she said, “It’s my job to convince the judge that whoever is suing you has no merit to his case.”

  “I can handle it.”

  “The worst thing you can do is be casual about this, Grady. It’s about your children.”

  In the moonlight she saw him frown and the lines of his face tighten. “I never take anything about my children for granted. And don’t look now, Counselor, but I haven’t confirmed your guess that it has anything to do with them.”

  “It’s more than a guess.”

  “How can it be?”

  “The fact that right after getting those papers you were holding on to the girls so tightly they could hardly breathe. Then you sent them home with an armed guard. It couldn’t have been more clear if you’d taken out a billboard on Interstate twenty.” The worry lines between his eyebrows deepened. “You went from teasing to terrified in four little words—You’ve just been served.”

  “Okay. You win.”

  “Yes, I do. More often than not. Every time I go into court I’m prepared. I’ve done my homework and try to make sure there are no surprises. I’m very good. So what gives, Grady?”

  “Someone is suing me for custody of the girls.”

  The grim look on his face told her he was serious. Even though she’d had a feeling it was something like this, his confirmation of her suspicions surprised her. Only a relative would have a prayer of obtaining custody. Grady didn’t have anyone else.

  “Who would do something like this? Lacey’s folks?” she asked.

  “Her parents are both dead. There isn’t anyone else. If that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “Actually I was thinking there’s a name on those papers you received, and sharing it would be a big help.”

  “Not important,” he said.

  “Okay. If you won’t tell me who, at least explain why.”

  “How should I know?”

  She straightened away from the porch support and jammed her fists on her hips. “For a smart man, you’re acting like a moron.”

  “Don’t sweet-talk me, Jensen. Tell me how you really feel.”

  “You’re an idiot.”

  “That was sort of a rhetorical comment,” he said wryly. “I didn’t realize you’d stoop to calling me names.”

  “If the shoulder holster fits…” She finished her statement with a shrug. “Look, Grady, I’m trained for this and I want to help. We’re friends. Why won’t you let me?”

  “You don’t have to take on the world’s problems.”

  “I’m not. Just yours—”

  “Where were we?” he interrupted. “Oh, yes. I was trying to replace a bad memory with a good one until your sister so rudely interrupted us.” He put both boots on the wooden porch and took a step toward her.

  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.