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www.millsandboon.co.uk
To Becky,
I was the new kid in town, and you gave me a hand and guided me through. You were there whenever I called for help…no matter what the hour. Thanks, friend.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
EPILOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
PAIGE KEENAN needed to make a career change. And soon.
She could no longer live in Denver, not with a chance of running into…her past. Pushing aside the bad thoughts, she peered in the window of the empty brick storefront with the For Rent sign.
Although the light was dim, she could see hardwood floors, and ornate door moldings and trim that was characteristic of a 1916 building.
Intrigued, she tried the large brass knob. Surprisingly it turned and she pushed open the solid oak door.
“Hello,” she called and her voice echoed back. “Is anyone here?” Stepping into the long, narrow room, she looked around. All at once she could picture the space as hers. A reception area adorned with oriental rugs and ferns and farther back a divider, separating the space for her private office.
Her excitement increased as she continued her search. It had always been her dream to one day have her own practice, but she’d gotten sidetracked with the excitement of working for the D.A. Suddenly her vision seemed to be more of a possibility—no, a necessity for survival.
Could moving back to Destiny be the answer to her situation?
In the back of the space, Paige found a storage room and another door. She tugged on the brass knob and it opened to a staircase. When she flipped the switch, a single light went on overhead, and she climbed creaking steps to a large musty-smelling room. Scarred hardwood covered the floors, and a tiny kitchen was tucked in the corner. Chipped cabinets hung open, displaying leftover canned goods from the last tenant. She was drawn to a bank of windows and a long, built-in bench beneath them. On the opposite wall another door led to a bedroom and small bathroom. Everything needed a good cleaning, and some paint.
She returned to the main room. It would take a lot of work, but she could make this livable. A shadow fell over the already dim room and through the windows she noticed dark clouds blocking the sun from the small Colorado mountain town. The wind picked up and it began to rain. Lightning flashed across the sky and seconds later the crash of thunder followed.
Paige turned to leave and noticed a man standing in the shadows of the staircase. She let out a gasp and her heart pounded in her chest. Another flash across the sky illuminated the gun he was holding.
“Sheriff,” he announced. “Stay where you are.”
Paige felt the blood drain from her face as he stepped into the light wearing a khaki shirt and a silver badge. Then a familiar face came into view.
“Reed…” she whispered weakly. She tried to smile, but suddenly everything went spinning and her body began to crumple.
Reed Larkin holstered his gun and rushed to the woman just in time to catch her in his arms.
Not just any woman, but Paige Keenan.
Gently he lowered her to the floor, cradling her in his arms. Her silky brown hair fell away from her flawless, but pale face. He placed his fingers against her neck to find her racing pulse.
“Great job, man, you nearly scared her to death. Paige…” He cupped her cheek. The softness of her skin was nearly his undoing. He knew under her lids were those whiskey-colored eyes that had haunted his dreams for years. His gaze moved to her oval face—the straight nose lightly dusted with freckles, the tiny cleft in her chin. A beautiful package. His attention rested on her full mouth as he recalled how she had tasted…
It had been nearly ten years since he’d last seen her, but he’d never been able to shake the feelings she evoked in him. His pulse went into overdrive, his palms began to sweat. Damn, it was like high school all over again.
“Paige, wake up. Come on, honey. Let me see those big beautiful eyes.”
Finally she shifted, making a soft moaning sound, and murmured the words, “My baby.” Her hand moved across her stomach.
Paige was pregnant? Reed glanced at her ringless finger. She wasn’t married. Before he had the chance to react to the news, her eyelids fluttered open.
“Reed…”
“Hi, Paige,” he managed to say. “I’ve always dreamed of women falling for me, but not like this.” He smiled, but quickly grew serious. “How do you feel? Should I call the paramedics?”
“No! I’m feeling better.” She sat up slowly, avoiding his gaze. “I just forgot to eat…and you scared me to death pointing a gun at me.”
“You are trespassing.”
“The building is for rent and, I might add, the door was unlocked. I only came inside to look around.”
“We’ve had some kids vandalizing.” He frowned. Was Paige moving back to Destiny? “Are you looking for office space?”
She climbed to her feet and brushed her hand on her nicely fitting jeans. “Maybe. Any problems with that?”
He shrugged. Problems? Only about a dozen. “Just surprised that a big-time Denver attorney wants to open an office in a small town. I thought you outgrew Destiny, Colorado.”
Paige straightened slowly, testing her steadiness. What business was it of his now? At one time they’d been friends—more than friends. That was a long time ago.
“I could say the same thing about you. A hotshot FBI agent returns home and becomes a small town sheriff.”
Paige gave him a bold once-over. Reed Larkin was definitely more filled out at thirty than he’d been at seventeen. She examined his developed chest and broad shoulders. One thing hadn’t changed, he still had deep set bedroom eyes, a strong jaw and black wavy hair. He looked pretty good in uniform, too. But then he’d always looked good to her.
His voice broke into her thoughts. “I had my reasons for returning.”
Years ago, Reed swore he’d never come back to Destiny. Never listen to another bad word about his family. Now Paige remembered why he’d returned.
“I heard about your mother’s stroke. I’m sorry. How is she doing?” Sally Larkin had once worked at the Keenan Inn. That had been how Reed and Paige’s friendship began.
“She has her good days, and her bad ones.”
“Is she allowed visitors?”
He nodded. “Your mother goes out all the time.”
“Is it all right if I visit her?”
“She’d like to see you.” He studied her. “So are you going to be hanging around a while?”
“At least until Leah’s wedding.”
He nodded. “Holt’s a nice guy. They seem happy.”
Too bad Reed didn’t seem happy to see her. That bothered her. Over the years, she’d missed their closeness. The way they had always been able to share things. That ended when she’d made a decision…to push him out of her life.
If she decided to come back to Destiny, she would see Reed…all the time. That shouldn’t bother her, but it did.
Right now, she needed her entire focus on one thing. Her baby. Everything else she would deal with later, including Reed Larkin. So she had to ignore the feelings he stirred in her, blaming it on her already jumbled emotions.
“I should get going,” she said. “I’m meeting with Morgan.”
Reed raised an eyebrow. “You mean, the honorable mayor?”
“And your boss.”
“Oh, I’m shaking in my boots.”
His attitude was back and suddenly she was remembering too much…the skinny little boy she befriended when some third-grade kids were picking on him on the playground. But later she hadn’t been able to protect him against the sadness over his father’s desertion.
“I really should go,” she told him, not wanting to return to the bad memories. She turned to leave.
“Paige…”
She stopped at the top of the steps. “What?”
“Have you told your family about…” His gaze went to her flat stomach. “Your condition?”
Paige tensed. How did he know? “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she denied.
“You murmured the words, my baby,” he told her.
She started to deny it, but he would learn the truth soon enough. Everyone would. “I don’t want to talk about this now.”
He studied her for a few heartbeats. “There was a time we shared…a lot.”
She didn’t want to discuss her private business with a man who hadn’t been a part of her life for years. “No, I haven’t discussed it with anyone…yet.”
“What about the father?”
Now, she was angry. “And I’m not having this conversation with you, Reed.” She waved her hand. “Would you please forget that you even saw me today?”
She swung around to make her grand exit when another wave of dizziness overtook her, causing her to sway.
Reed rushed to her. “Whoa, I’ve got you.” His strong arms went around her back and he guided her down on the top step. “I’m going to take you to the clinic.”
She was very aware of the brush of his arm in the narrow space. It seemed to add to her instability. “No, I’m fine.”
He cursed. “Like hell you are.” He got up and went to the sink and pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket. He wet it under the faucet, then returned to her. He placed it against the back of her neck.
For the past two years and four months, Paige had worked tirelessly for the Denver D.A.’s office where she’d tried numerous criminal cases. But returning home to Destiny had her more nervous than prosecuting a high-profile drug dealer. And Reed Larkin was one of the main reasons. The other was telling her family about her pregnancy.
“I bet you didn’t have much breakfast, either.”
“My stomach is just a little queasy to eat much, but I was going to have lunch with Morgan,” she fibbed, holding the cool cloth against her skin. It felt good.
“I’ll call her,” Reed suggested.
“No! I’m fine, and I can make it across town square to City Hall. So you can stop playing hero.”
He stiffened. “Someone has to rescue you from yourself.” He stood and headed for the door.
Just like ten years ago, Reed Larkin was walking away from her once again. The pain of his leaving this time, surprisingly affected her a lot. She felt just as alone. But just as before, she had to let him go…
Reed berated himself all the way back to the office. He should have just helped Paige out and not asked any questions, and he wouldn’t have learned she was pregnant with another man’s child.
Most guys had that special girl in high school, the one that was out of their league. Paige Keenan had been that girl to him. Pretty, smart and nice to everyone, but she’d dated the popular boys in school, and he was far from popular. Yet, she had been his friend.
The poor kid from the wrong side of town was off-limits. The boy whose father was the impractical dreamer, always looking for the pot of gold. Michael Larkin used to work the mine, had even partnered in one of his own, “Mick’s Dream.” Then one day the man walked out on his wife, Sally, a son, Reed, and daughter, Jodi, and never returned.
And no one had seen or heard from Mick in over seventeen years.
Sally Larkin had to take two jobs just to support her children. Later, Reed helped with part-time jobs, but his mother insisted he stay in high school. After graduation, he’d been offered a scholarship back east. His biggest supporter for going on to higher education had been Paige. He resisted a lot, but it hadn’t been until she admitted that she’d outgrown their relationship that he had been hell-bent on leaving her and the town. After college, he went to work for the FBI, mainly so he could search for Mick.
Reed had always suspected that his father’s partner, Billy Hutchinson, had something to do with his disappearance. But who was to question the richest man in town. Even with the technology available at the Bureau, Reed still hadn’t found any answers, or his father.
Reed had finally put it to rest after a series of things changed his life. The first had been when his partner was killed in the line of duty. He, too, had been wounded, and after his recovery he had gone back to work for the Bureau, but it was never the same.
Then when his mother had a stroke twenty months ago it was the deciding factor. He returned to Destiny. She’d had to go into a convalescent home, and he made the choice to stay in town. For good.
He took a job as deputy, then just last year when the sheriff retired the small community voted him into the position. He had an area to protect, and just two deputies and a daytime dispatcher.
He was making a life here in Destiny. Even though his sister, Jodi, lived in Durango with her son, Nicolas, she was able to come on weekends. He visited his mother nearly every day.
Yes, he was dealing with things…and now, Paige had shown up. For years, he’d managed to keep her out of his thoughts. He now knew as soon as he’d set eyes on her again, it would be impossible to keep her out of his heart.
“Reed Larkin pointed his gun at you?” Morgan gasped as she sank into her chair.
Paige swallowed a bite of her sandwich. She was hungry and the food was actually helping her queasy stomach. “In all fairness to him, I was trespassing.”
Her older sister brushed back her long auburn curls. “And what were you doing in the old Merlin building?”
Paige had arrived home last night, just in time to attend her younger sister’s, Leah’s, engagement party. She had been grateful that all the attention had been on the happy couple, and she hadn’t had to answer a lot of questions. Questions about her career, her future.
She wasn’t sure that she wanted everyone to know about her plans…yet. “Can you keep a secret?”
Her sister’s green eyes sparkled. “Do you want to pinky swear, or would my word as mayor be good enough?”
Paige laughed. She had missed the interaction with her sisters so much. “Your word is good enough. I’m taking a leave of absence from my job. I’m rethinking my career goals.”
Morgan brought her sandwich to her mouth and paused. “Does that mean you’re thinking about coming home?”
Paige’s thoughts turned to Reed. She’d be living in the same town with a man who’s welcome had been on the chilly side. So what! This wasn’t high school. He would just have to deal with it.
“Yes, but please, don’t say anything to Mom and Dad just yet. I have to consider if I can make a living here.” She couldn’t seem to come out with the words, I’m thirteen weeks pregnant.
Morgan still looked skeptical. “What about your work with the D.A.?”
Paige sighed. “I need a change.” And preferably to be far away from her baby’s father. Drew McCarran had made it clear that he wanted no part of her in his life. She should be happy about that since all he’d said since they met had been lies.
She forced a smile. “Maybe I’ll open my own law practice. What do you think?”
“It’s a great idea.” Morgan jumped out of her chair and came around the desk to pull Paige into her arms.
“Oh, Paige, this is wonderful. First, Leah returns home and finds the love of her life. Now, you’re back to open your own practice. Leah will be so excited.”
The phone rang and Morgan reached to answer it. Paige went to the large window overlooking the town square. There was a comfort seeing the three-tiered fountain where birds fluttered around cascading water. A white lattice-covered gazebo brought memories of band concerts on warm summer nights.
As one of the Keenans’three adopted daughters, Paige and her sisters, Morgan and Leah, had been blessed with charmed lives. Everyone in town had embraced the two toddlers and one infant who’d been left with Tim and Claire Keenan twenty-seven years ago.
Destiny’s citizens would be thrilled that Paige was returning home. But what would they think of her when they discovered she’d made mistakes, and now, she had to deal with the consequences.
Morgan walked up beside her. “Sorry about that.”
“Well, you are the mayor.”
They both broke into laughter.
It was Paige who sobered and said, “Why don’t we keep this between you and me? With the wedding in two weeks, I don’t want any attention taken from the bride.” And the news of the baby definitely would do that. “No matter what I decide, I have a month’s leave to investigate my options.”
Morgan nodded. “You’re right. We need to concentrate on Leah’s wedding.”
Two weeks. Paige had a two-week reprieve. Her thoughts turned to Reed. Could he put his feelings aside, and keep her secret that long?
Later that evening, the Inn’s kitchen was buzzing with activity while Claire Keenan prepared the family meal. Paige’s mouth watered when her mother pulled the large rump roast trimmed with red potatoes and carrots from the oven. Claire was easily the best cook in town, and Morgan ran a close second. Even Leah had learned a few things, but Paige was a lost cause in the culinary department. But since her appetite had recently increased with her pregnancy, she’d decided she better learn how to feed herself.
“Would you mind setting the table?” her mother asked as she added flour to the old cast-iron skillet to begin making brown gravy.
Paige’s stomach growled. “Sure. Anything to hurry things along. I’m starved.”
Her mother raised an eyebrow. “Good. You need to eat. You’re too thin.”
Not for long, Paige thought. How would her mother take the news about the baby? She walked back to the cabinets, knowing she had to tell the family and soon. She released a breath. Just not tonight.
Her mother looked away from her task, her gray-blue eyes full of concern. “Are you all right, Paige?”
Paige carried the stack of plates to the large, round table. “I’m fine, Mom. Maybe a little tired. I’ve just finished a difficult case,” she told her. She wasn’t exactly lying. She had finished a big drug case. And she ended her relationship with her baby’s father.
“Well, your father and I are glad you finally took some time off.” Claire smiled. “And we plan to spoil you while you’re home.”
Her mother’s words brought tears to Paige’s eyes. She worked swiftly to set the big, round maple table, then looked out through the large kitchen window to the setting sun. Large pine trees lined the back of the property, where a half dozen cabins had been built along a rocky creek.
Paige had loved growing up here. Any kid would. She didn’t remember much before she and her sisters had become part of the Keenan family, but she knew she couldn’t have had a better childhood, or more loving parents.
Now, with her baby on the way, Paige had questions about her own birth. About where she’d come from. Why had her biological mother left her three daughters on a stranger’s doorstep? Maybe it was time to get some answers.
Paige’s father walked into the kitchen. “It smells great in here,” he said with a big grin and his dark eyes twinkled. But then she’d never known the big, burly Irishman not to be ready with a smile, a hug and a kiss.
“You say that every time you smell food,” Claire said.
Tim Keenan came up behind his wife of nearly forty years, wrapped his arms around her and murmured in her ear. Claire blushed, and looked up at him with such unbridled love that Paige had to glance away.
The two had always acted like this. Paige had taken their relationship for granted. Now, she realized how special it was. Paige envied them. She’d worked harder on her career as a lawyer than on a personal life. Then she’d met Drew. Life had been perfect for a time, then everything came crashing down around her. When she needed him the most he wanted her gone from his life.
The pain Drew had caused her would never compare to the heartache she’d experienced when Reed left all those years ago.
It was an all-too-familiar story.
Back then she and Reed Larkin were friends and it had developed into a crush by the time they’d reached high school. All the girls had been attracted to the rough around the edges guy. Paige knew his tough act had been a shield.
Since Reed’s mother had worked at the Inn, Paige had developed a friendship with him. That was until graduation day and they’d both had decisions to make. Paige had always been college bound and then on to law school.
Reed had opportunity for college, too. To leave Destiny and the stigma of his father behind him. But he was willing to turn down a full scholarship to go with her. Not that she hadn’t cared for him, just the opposite, but she’d wanted him to have a chance. In the process of convincing him to go away to school, she had to lie, causing her to lose the man she loved…and her best friend.
The familiar ache tightened in her chest as the memories flooded her head. She quickly pushed them away and continued to lay out the flatware. She had to stop reminiscing about the past. The future was what was important now. All her focus should be on her baby.
Men were off-limits.
Reed lived in Destiny, but that didn’t mean they had to keep running into each other. It wasn’t as if they moved in the same social circles. Her only concern was that he keep her secret for now.
The sound of voices caused Paige to turn around. Her sisters, Morgan and Leah, came through the door. Her baby sister’s brown eyes were brimming with happiness, and why not? Leah was engaged to a great guy. She and Holt would be married soon, and they were adopting an eight-year-old boy, Corey. A complete family.
“Sorry, we’re late,” Leah said. “But we were busy trying to finish up some wedding plans.” She took both her sisters’ hands. “I need a maid of honor, and I couldn’t choose between the two of you.”
“It’s okay, Leah…” Paige began to say Morgan could have the honor when her sister’s grip tightened.
“Just hear me out,” she said. “Holt and I talked it over. The only fair thing to do was draw a name. I mean, we’ll all be getting married someday, anyway. So we can all take turns. The name I picked was yours, Paige.”
Tears flooded Paige’s eyes. “Oh, Leah, I wouldn’t have been hurt if you chose Morgan…”
“Stop it, Paige.” Leah smiled through her own tears. “Remember you don’t want to upset the bride-to-be. So just say yes.”
She glanced at Morgan. She smiled and nodded. “I’d be honored to be your maid of honor, Leah.”
A tall, good-looking rancher, Holt Rawlins, walked to his bride-to-be and hugged her. His sandy colored hair had been recently cut, leaving a soft wave over his forehead. He had an easy smile and green eyes that sparkled with mischief.
“Boy, am I glad that’s over,” he said. “I’m also glad that I didn’t have so much trouble choosing my best man.”
“Who’s doing the honors?” Paige asked.
“Holt asked me.”
Everyone turned to see Reed Larkin standing in the doorway. He was dressed in jeans and a pale blue, Western-cut shirt, and looked devilishly handsome.
“Isn’t it great?” Leah gushed. “Reed is going to be escorting you down the aisle, and you two get to toast us at the reception.”
“Yes, that’s great,” Paige agreed as she caught the smile on Reed’s face.
So much for not running into each other.
CHAPTER TWO
AFTER dinner, Paige made her way out to the porch. With all the wedding talk it was getting a little stifling inside the kitchen. She also hated the fact that she was keeping a secret from her family. An important, life-changing secret. Even though she’d come home several times since moving to Denver, tonight seemed different. Soon a lot of things were going to be different.