What If We Fall in Love?

Her eyes darkened to a shade of hunter green. “You can tell me what my dead husband’s brother has to do with you and your children.”

He felt like he’d been sucker punched. “What are you talking about?”

“The rumor is that Billy Bob Adams is the one suing you for custody of the girls…. Is it true?”

She wasn’t going to let it drop. She was going to force him to tell her something that would rock her world.

He let out a long breath. “Okay. You want it straight?”

“That’s what I just said. Why would my dead husband’s brother sue for custody of your children?”

“Because he’s their uncle, Jen. Your dead husband is the twins’ biological father.”

What If We Fall in Love?

Teresa Southwick

TERESA SOUTHWICK

is a native Californian who has been transplanted to Texas. Having lived with her husband of twenty-five-plus years and two handsome sons, she has been surrounded by heroes for a long time. Reading has been her passion since she was a girl. She couldn’t be more delighted that her dream of writing full-time has come true. Her favorite things include: holding a baby, the fragrance of jasmine, walks on the beach, the patter of rain on the roof and, above all, happy endings.

Teresa has also written historical romance novels under the same name.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Chapter One

There was something about a man in uniform. And Sheriff Grady O’Connor was definitely something.

Jensen Stevens didn’t expect to notice. She couldn’t remember the last time a good-looking guy had gotten her attention. But as the sheriff moseyed up the bleacher stairs at the north Texas high school rodeo championships, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. After years in suspended animation her feminine radar suddenly switched on to signal a hunk at four o’clock.

Grady was a local rancher as well as Destiny’s acting sheriff. It was disconcerting that once he’d snagged her attention, she couldn’t seem to disengage. She wondered if he looked as good in cowboy duds as he did in his lawman ensemble. His short-sleeved tan shirt and matching khaki pants with the brown-and-beige stripe down the leg suited him to a T. No doubt about it—he was walking, talking hero material.

This was only the second time she could remember her heart skipping a beat at the sight of a man. The first was a decade ago and she’d married him.

“Hello, Counselor.” Grady sat his long, lanky self down beside her.

“Hello, Sheriff.” A loud crackling came over the public address system. “Sounds like they’re having trouble with the mike.”

“Yeah.”

He removed his dark brown Stetson and ran splayed fingers through his short, military-style brown hair. After propping his boot on the bench in front of him, he rested his forearm on a thickly muscled thigh and tapped his hat against his leg. His uniform looked freshly pressed, in spite of the evening heat and humidity typical of Texas in June. The shirt hugged the contours of his impressive chest and detailed his attention-getting physique. Reflector aviator sunglasses were tucked into one of his pockets.

“Long time no see,” she said.

“Not that long. I saw you four days ago. On the first day of the championships when you rolled back into Destiny in that sweet BMW convertible.”

“Okay. But not since then.” At least, not close enough to stake out her comfort zone. Like now. She’d only seen him from a distance, taking care of rodeo security.

In high school they’d hung out in the same group of kids who rodeoed. Then life intervened and they’d gone their separate ways. Since they’d reacquainted several days before, she hadn’t really thought about him. Apparently distance was her friend. Because now she couldn’t help thinking he was like an allergic reaction. The first exposure had produced a mild warning. The second—watch out.

Grady was not hard on her eyes with his well-shaped nose, nice mouth, soft-looking lips not too thin or too thick. His jaw was square and rugged the way a guy’s jaw should be. He was a man who would turn female heads wherever he went. The rodeo was being held on her sister’s ranch and Jensen had been a spectator every night since arriving. She was grateful that, until now, she hadn’t spectated much of the sexy sheriff.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked.

“Yeah. I like watching,” She cleared her throat. “It’s fun to observe the high school kids interact with each other. I can’t believe I was ever that age.”

“Right. You’re practically ready for assisted living at Leisure Village.”

She laughed, then smoothed her palms over the skirt of her floral cotton sundress that didn’t come close to covering her knees. When she saw him glance in that direction, she very much wished she’d worn jeans and boots.

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah,” he said.

She looked back at the arena where the John Deere tractor was smoothing the dirt for the last three events of the championships.

“I do get nervous for the competitors,” she admitted. “I heard an announcement that sounded like Mitch Rafferty was going to hold a spur-of-the-moment bull-riding seminar,” she said, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten inside her.

“I heard it, too. That event is coming up.”

Jensen met his laserlike blue gaze and knew he was warning her. And she knew why. “Ten years ago tonight Zach won the event.” Then he’d asked her to run away with him and get married.

“Yeah, how could I forget.”

She’d agreed and followed the professional rodeo circuit with the man she had loved. They’d had one year together. Then he’d taken a kick to the head and been killed instantly at a rodeo in Las Vegas.

The following nine years had been profoundly painful. Only work had helped. College classes and then law school had taken the edge off her acute loneliness. Now she just had her memories, and that was enough. She wouldn’t take another chance. She would never hurt like that again.

Grady rubbed his index finger over the crown of his hat. “After intermission there’s pole bending then barrel racing. Last is bull-riding,” he said, studying her intently. “Mitch was national champion. He’s a good one to give the kids pointers—to avoid mistakes that could cause injuries.”

Lord, she hoped that wasn’t pity she saw in Grady’s eyes. She didn’t need anyone to feel sorry for her. Life was a series of trade-offs. She’d lost the love of her life, but she had a career as a family law attorney, even if she would never have a family of her own.

“I haven’t been to the rodeo since Zach died,” she admitted, not sure why she was sharing that piece of information with him.

“Why now?”

“Good question.” She stared into the distance. “Probably motive and opportunity. I’ve been too busy to go out of my way. And I guess I just didn’t want to.”

“Why didn’t you keep his last name?”

“Adams?” She looked at him and thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. Maybe because we were only married a year. Maybe because my folks didn’t approve of us running off. Maybe because I never changed any of my legal documents.”

Because they’d traveled to rodeos all over the country, she’d never bothered to change her name on her driver’s license or with the social security department. And then she’d lost him. It was too late.

“How long has it been since you’ve been back to Destiny?” he asked.

“About six months. I was here for the holidays.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“It seems I never run into you on my visits home. I guess Kasey and Stacey and the ranch keep you pretty busy.”

“Those girls could use a full-time bodyguard,” he agreed. “But the fact that I haven’t seen you, at least in a professional capacity, is good news. That means I never had to run you in for disturbing the peace.”

He grinned suddenly and she was grateful to be sitting down. The humor transformed his face, chasing away the frown lines and seriousness. Oh, my. Cool, calm and detached, he was attractive enough to earn the attention of card-carrying man haters. But the amused expression he wore now made him downright devastatingly gorgeous.

She swallowed the sudden thickness in her throat. “As an officer of the court, getting arrested for anything wouldn’t be good.”

“True enough. So how do you like being back? What do you think of the changes Taylor’s made on the Circle S?”

Question number one translated: Do you still have feelings for Mitch Rafferty, the guy you dumped before marrying Zach? Subtext of question number two: Do you resent the fact that your little sister has turned the family ranch into a Texas-style bed-and-breakfast?

She decided to ignore number one and go to question two. “I’m so proud of Taylor I could just bust. She’s done a terrific job. There’s no doubt in my mind that the dude ranch will be very successful for her.”

After their father’s death from a heart attack, her younger sister had taken on a mortgage to buy out Jensen and their mother, financing her retirement to Dallas. To pad her profit margin in case of natural disasters or a drop in beef prices, Taylor had followed her dream of taking in guests to show them the joy and excitement of the Western lifestyle. Based on advance reservations, she was going to be wildly successful.

“What about Mitch?” Grady’s eyes held a gleam of interest.

Jensen wanted to forget how young and stupid she’d been when she’d selfishly hurt Mitch. But he and Mitch were friends. Of course he would care.

“We talked the day I arrived and worked everything out. I apologized for my youthful stupidity and he graciously accepted. Then I gave him my blessing to court Taylor and welcomed him to the family.”

“Why?”

“Does the word duh mean anything to you, Sheriff? I think your powers of deduction need some fine-tuning.”

“Could you be more specific?”

“Mitch is in love with Taylor.”

“No…”

“He always has been.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Cross my heart,” she said, doing just that. “I know what I’m talking about. He had a chip on his shoulder when we dated, but he could always talk to my sister. I think they’ve had a thing for each other since way back when. If I hadn’t handled things so badly all those years ago, he might not have left town. The two of them would have gotten together a lot sooner.”

“They’re not together now—”

A loud crackling noise over the public address system interrupted him. Then the weirdly echoing sound of an obviously open microphone filled the stands.

“I love you, Mitch.”

Jensen raised an eyebrow. She couldn’t see the two, but she recognized her sister’s voice.

“Now the damn mike works.” The voice was definitely Mitch’s and more than a little exasperated. Then there was a click and the PA system was shut off.

Jensen couldn’t resist flashing a smug smile at Grady. “That was Taylor and I rest my case.”

“You win, Counselor.”

She wouldn’t call herself a winner—especially in love. But she couldn’t be happier that Taylor had finally declared her feelings for Mitch. It was way past time for her to get it right with the man she’d loved since she was fourteen years old.

Grady studied the beautiful woman to his right. Jensen Stevens was a male fantasy in a floral cotton sundress. She was a tiny little thing, five foot two if she was an inch. Her red-highlighted brown hair tickled her shoulders with every lively movement of her head. Big, expressive green eyes regarded him in a completely self-satisfied way and for the life of him he couldn’t work up the will to care.

Grady followed her gaze as it shifted. She was looking down at Mitch and Taylor, who were strolling off by themselves, talking earnestly, with their arms around each other’s waists as they stared deeply into one another’s eyes.

“They win,” she said wistfully.

“I guess so.”

If Jen was right, Mitch and Taylor had been in love for a long time. Grady hoped his friends would find couple happiness, even if he didn’t believe it existed. He’d never experienced the emotion himself.

“I saw your twins earlier. Kasey and Stacey are completely adorable. You must be very proud of them.”

He thought about his girls, and a warm feeling filled him. They were his life. So he stood corrected. He knew deep-down, put-your-life-on-the-line love, just not the romantic kind.

“Yeah. I think I’ll keep them around.”

“You may be peeling them off the ceiling tonight.” Jensen clasped her fingers together in her lap.

“Why?”

“I fed them cotton candy, red punch, red vines and red hots.”

“You have the right to remain silent. If you give up that right, I’ll know who to blame. You fed them sugar and red stuff at the same time?”

“Guilty as charged.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “Because they wanted it.”

“Do I need to read you your rights before I run you in?”

“On what charge?”

“Contributing to the hyperactivity of minors.” He snapped his fingers. “I believe in making the punishment fit the crime. Why don’t you come over and help me put them to bed?”

“Ooh. You are devious,” she said. “The perfect father for future teenage twins.” Her teasing look faded and was replaced by pensive. “How do you do it?”

“What?”

“Raise them alone. You must miss Lacey.”

Lacey Miller O’Connor. His wife. She’d died right after the twins were born—complications of childbirth. He rested his other boot on the metal bleacher seat, then twirled his hat in his hands.

He thought about how to respond. “She was my best friend.” That didn’t exactly answer the question, but it was all he wanted to share with her.

“Didn’t you live with her family for a while?”

He nodded. “They took me in after my folks died.”

“Car accident, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“It must have been devastating for you. I can’t even imagine what that must have been like. But you and Lacey?” She smiled. “Friendship, love, then marriage.”

“We hardly had time to know what being married meant.”

“If anybody knows what that feels like, it’s me,” she said. “I often wished that Zach and I had had a child together. At least you have your girls.”

“Yeah.”

And that was his secret, he thought.

“Have you considered marrying again?” she asked.

“You applying for the position?”

Why had he said that? Deflect the question? Put a stop to personal questions? Or was there a deeper, more wishful reason?

Her green eyes widened and she tugged at the hem of her cotton skirt. “Objection,” she said, as if she were addressing the court.

“Overruled. Are you interested in the job?”

“Job? So marriage to you would be a chore? A duty? An assignment?”

“Heck, no. I’m a swell guy.”

“Then why haven’t you remarried?” She zeroed that green-eyed gaze on him. “And don’t tell me no one’s been interested.”

One corner of his mouth rose. “Is that a compliment?”

“Are you fishing for one?”

“Always.”

“Okay. Let me shoot your ego full of steroids. You’re a nice-looking man.”

“Nice-looking? That’s the best you can do?”

The glaring spotlights overhead clearly showed the blush that crept into her cheeks. For the life of him, he couldn’t seem to let her off the hook. He was deliberately baiting her.

“Words are my life, Sheriff. And no, that’s not the best I can do. However, it’s all I’m willing to say. But my point is, and I do have one, that women must notice you. Is there a problem?”

“Yeah. Two. Their names are Kasey and Stacey.”

“What do the twins have to do with it?”

“Everything. Either I meet someone they like who would be a good mother to them but doesn’t do a thing for me, or I find a woman I like and they make gagging noises when I mention her name.”

“Gagging noises? Those sweet angels I saw just a little while ago?”

“Angels?” He put the palm of his hand to her forehead, as if to check for fever. A teasing gesture. Not meant to be more. But the arc of electricity the touch produced put a lie to that and he quickly pulled back. “Those two could make a career out of duping innocent folks. Their favorite trick is switching identities. Most people can’t tell them apart.”

“Yes, angels. They gave me the cheat sheet.”

“The what?”

“The cheat sheet for who’s who.”

“They must like you.”

“Of course they do. I plied them with red vines, red hots and red punch. What’s not to like? Besides, all that red dye works better than truth serum.”

He shook his head. “I still say they must like you. I can’t get them to cooperate after that much junk. Mostly they’re devils disguised as angels.”

“Those girls are beautiful little cherubs.” She grinned, showing straight, even teeth and a beautiful smile that made her green eyes sparkle like precious gems.

“Okay. Eighty percent of the time they’re as good as gold. But they have their dark side.”

“No,” she said, exaggerating the word.

“Everyone does, Jen.”

He wasn’t thinking of the twins now, but her husband. He wasn’t the man she’d thought. But there was no reason to speak ill of the dead, and worse, destroy her illusions. And she did have them, or she wouldn’t have stayed single all this time mourning the creep.

“I know that, Grady. I’m not naive,” she scoffed. “In my line of work, I see the best and worst.”

“I suppose that’s true. So do I.”

“Tell me again why you haven’t remarried?”

“You’re like a dog with a favorite bone on that subject.”

Her eyes widened. “Geez, I’m sorry. I guess questions are what I do. But I don’t usually badger my friends. Really I don’t. Maybe I’m a little tense. Because of the next couple of events. Maybe I should go…”

He put his hand on her arm. “No. I don’t mind distracting you. I guess I haven’t remarried because I can’t find someone I like.”

“We’ve already established that hordes of women are on your trail. Aren’t you just a tad picky?”

“We haven’t established anything. And if the counselor would let me finish my thought…”

“By all means,” she said, with an expansive hand gesture that told him he had the floor.

“If I was looking, it would be for a woman I was attracted to who would also be a good mother to the girls.”

She tapped her lip with her index finger. “If? You’re not looking?”

“That would be a waste of time and energy.”

“Why?”

“Because it doesn’t exist.”

“It? You mean love? Relationships?”

“Either or both—yes.”

“Hmm.”

He looked at her. “What does that mean?”

“Just that you’re very cynical. I’ve heard that men who love once are likely to find it again. So why would you think it doesn’t exist? You loved Lacey.”

And there was another secret he would keep. “Has anyone ever mentioned that you ask a lot of questions?”

“Yes.”

“I guess that goes with the territory. Being a lawyer and all.”

“I guess.”

“So what’s your story? Why isn’t a pretty lady like you married by now with a couple of kids?”

When her sunny expression faded, Grady could have kicked himself from here to kingdom come. He’d only wanted to sidestep her questions, not take the smile from her face.

“I already had my chance at love.”

“So women get just one chance? It’s only men who are likely to find it again?”

She shrugged. “I had one perfect year with the love of my life. I won’t ever find that again and, like you just said, looking is a waste of time and energy that could be put to better use.”

Grady wished he could tell her the truth, because the man she’d loved hadn’t been worth the time and energy she’d wasted on him. Along with Mitch, Dev Hart and Jack Riley, he’d spent a lot of years keeping the hurtful information from her. If she learned the facts, what would be the point? It wasn’t only Zach’s memory that was keeping her single. Jensen had been busy with college, law school and pursuing her career. She was made for love, and when the time was right it would find her—whether or not she knew the ugly truth about the jerk she’d married.

Right now Grady had better things to do. Like putting the stars back in her eyes. “Okay. So let me see if I’ve got this straight. You’re a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do kind of gal?”

“Of course not.” Her gaze narrowed on him.

No stars yet, Grady noted, but the shadows were gone. “But you think I should marry again, and it’s not in the cards for you?”

“You have two girls who need a mother. I just have me,” she pointed out.

“All the more reason you should be a touch more open-minded about finding someone. I’m not alone.”

She lifted her chin slightly. “Being alone is nothing to be ashamed of. I happen to like my own companionship. The company is always agreeable—quite witty and stimulating, in fact,” she said, her eyes twinkling.

Almost there, he noted. But he wouldn’t let up until he coaxed a smile from her. “I’d like to try that sometime.”

“Being alone?” she asked.

“Considering Kasey and Stacey are nine and talk like a couple of magpies, being alone sounds like a small slice of heaven. But that’s not what I meant.”

It looked as if she was struggling to hold back a laugh as she caught the corner of her lip between her teeth. “Then what did you mean?”

“You said you like being alone. I’d like to be alone with you, too.”

Eyes wide, she stared at him for several moments. Son of a gun, he’d rendered the legal eagle speechless. Not a bad night’s work. On top of that, he’d made her smile, or would have if she’d just let go. And the stars were definitely back in her eyes, along with a blush on her cheeks.

Before he could figure out what to say next, a busty, dark-haired, approximately thirty-year-old woman stopped on the bleacher stair beside him. “Sheriff O’Connor?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, putting on his hat as he stood. “What can I do for you?”

She pulled an envelope from the large denim bag slung over her shoulder and handed it to him, then started back down the bleachers. She looked back and said, “You’ve just been served.”

Chapter Two

As Grady studied the summons, Jensen named every emotion that washed over his face—surprise, shock, anger, then fear. She swore he turned white beneath his tan. Standing, she put a hand on his arm.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Nothing.” He quickly folded the papers and shoved them back in the envelope, then tucked the packet into his shirt pocket.

“I’m a lawyer, Grady. Someone else might buy that it’s nothing, but I know better. You’re being sued. What I want to know is by whom and what for?”

“It’s just a pain-in-the-neck suit. No big deal.”

“If you tell me not to worry my pretty little head…”

“Would I do that?” He smiled, but it was strained.

She knew this, even though they hadn’t seen each other much in the past ten years. But they’d been friends once; she didn’t believe he’d changed all that much. So two things were clear to her—he was shook. And he wouldn’t admit it. Why?