Finding love twice in a lifetime

When Lucy Brooks lost her husband, her dreams of a family went with him. Now her life is a busy balance of friends, work and the demands of her small ranch. When she meets handsome, brooding Noah Spencer, she recognizes the grief in his penetrating eyes. And yet she can’t deny the feelings—and hope—that he has reawakened within her.

All widower Noah has in life is his little daughter and a fresh start as Stonerock’s newest police officer. Right now this cowboy needs to keep his life simple and his heart guarded. Yet he can’t resist the instant pull of sweet, selfless Lucy. This could be a second chance at happily-ever-after...if they can both let go of the past.

His eyes darted away for a brief second before returning to her.

“That’s great, what you’re doing. It’s just...not for me.”

Nodding, Lucy knew when not to push. “Well, we’re here every Monday. If you change your mind, you’re welcome to come back.”

She turned to go, and dropped her head as the rain started to pick up intensity.

“I lost my wife six months ago.”

His low tone was nearly drowned out by the rain, but Lucy froze, knowing full well she’d heard correctly. Shoving her damp hair off her forehead, she turned back around.

“My husband has been gone for two years,” she replied, wanting him to know they already had something in common and he wasn’t alone. Still, saying the words never got any easier; it was just an ugly fact she’d learned to live with. “I’m available to talk one-on-one, too, if you prefer.”

He stared at her a bit longer as if he was trying to process what move to make next. That internal struggle was real, and it was something he had to battle himself. She waited for his reply, not caring how wet she was getting, how her hair was clinging to her cheeks or her shirt had plastered itself to her skin.

With a tip of his hat, he nodded toward the church. “You’d best get inside. Storm’s comin’.”

* * *

Return to Stonerock: In this small Tennessee town, neighbors find the warmth of home... and love.

The Cowboy’s Second-Chance Family

Jules Bennett

www.millsandboon.co.uk

National bestselling author JULES BENNETT has penned over forty contemporary romance novels. She lives in the Midwest with her high-school-sweetheart husband and their two kids. Jules can often be found on Twitter chatting with readers, and you can also connect with her via her website, www.julesbennett.com.

To all the readers who requested more

books set in Stonerock: here you go!

I also threw in a cowboy. You’re welcome :)

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

The mysterious man sitting in the back of the room didn’t want to be seen. Too bad, because Lucy Brooks had spotted him the second he’d tried to slip in unnoticed twenty minutes ago.

A sexy man with broad shoulders, perfectly tanned skin, denim worn out in all the proper places, and clutching a black cowboy hat could not simply blend in. That square, stubbled jaw alone would grab any woman’s attention. Not that Lucy wanted to be grabbed.

She tried to focus as one of the regular attendees discussed her one positive experience from the past week. The Helping Hands support group Lucy had started with her best friends Tara and Kate was a way to encourage others struggling with grief. Everyone brought something different to the meetings because everyone handled the loss of a loved one differently. And nobody had the same story to tell.

Which brought her gaze back to the cowboy in the back. Stonerock, Tennessee, had its fair share of ranchers, but she’d never seen this man before. The fact he was new explained the jumbled nerves in her belly. She refused to believe they were caused by the dark stare he was returning in her direction.

“Does anyone else have anything they’d like to share?” Tara asked, pulling Lucy back to the moment. When nobody stepped forward, Tara went on. “Remember, we will be changing the starting time next week. We’ll be switching to seven instead of six. Have a great week, everybody.”

All in attendance tonight were regulars, save for the cowboy. They’d all had a positive week and tonight’s meeting had mostly been smiles and laughter—the whole reason for forming this group nearly two years ago.

Lucy excused herself from her friends and headed toward the back of the church where the new guy was trying to sneak out as quickly and quietly as he’d snuck in.

Lucy wasn’t having any part of that. She made her way through the aisles, smiling and nodding to familiar faces. But when she reached the back, the stranger was gone. Jogging out the open doors, she spotted him striding toward a big black truck. What else would a mysterious cowboy drive?

A fine mist covered her face as she picked up the pace to catch up with him. Those long legs of his ate up some serious ground.

He must’ve heard or sensed her because he glanced over his shoulder and stopped. Swiping the dampness from her face, Lucy finished closing the gap between them.

“Hi. I’m Lucy.” Okay, that sounded lame, but she didn’t know what else to lead with. She was usually fine with greeting new guests, but this man was different. “I wanted to welcome you to the group, but you slipped out before I could say hello.”

The stranger shoved his black hat back on and fished the keys from his pocket. “I’m not joining. Just wanted to come by and see what it was about.”

She recognized that emptiness she saw in his dark eyes, knew that denial, that unspoken insistence he’d be all right without help. Even with the light rain and only the glow from the church lights, she had become all too familiar with that look. Two years ago she’d seen it every day staring back at her in the mirror.

“You’ve lost someone recently?” When his jaw clenched, she knew she’d hit the mark. He was the angry griever. There were all types and she’d come to know them all. “Would you like to come back in and talk?”

The stranger snorted and shook his head as he turned toward his truck and held out his key fob. Lights flashed as the locks were released.

“No, I wouldn’t. I’m not baring my soul to a group of strangers.”

Lucy wrapped her arms around her waist. Occasionally rude people came through, but she’d had to remind herself the words weren’t necessarily directed at her. They were targeted toward the person’s inner anger.

The stranger cursed on a sigh and turned back to her. “Noah. My name is Noah.”

Lucy smiled. Apparently his guilt trumped his anger where she was concerned. A cowboy and a gentleman.

“I didn’t plan on making you bare your soul, just so you know. I didn’t know if you’d like to come in and just talk, not necessarily about loss or grieving. We actually get together once a week and discuss a variety of things.”

One thick, dark brow quirked. “Like what?”

Lucy shrugged. “One rule is if you’re going to speak, you have to start with something good that happened since you were here last. It can be anything. We are really just here to lift each other up, not focus on why we’re hurting.”

His eyes darted away for a brief second before returning to her. “That’s great, what you’re doing. It’s just...not for me.”

Nodding, Lucy knew when not to push. “Well, we’re here every Monday. If you change your mind, you’re welcome to come back.”

When she turned to go, she dropped her head as the rain started to pick up intensity.

“I lost my wife six months ago.”

His low tone was nearly drowned out by the rain, but Lucy froze, knowing full well she’d heard correctly. Shoving her damp hair off her forehead, she turned back around.

“My husband has been gone for two years,” she replied, wanting him to know they already had something in common and he wasn’t alone. Still, saying the words never got any easier. It was just an ugly fact she’d learned to live with. “I’m available to talk one-on-one, too, if you prefer.”

He stared at her a bit longer, as if he was trying to process what move to make next. That internal struggle was real, but something he had to battle himself. She waited for his reply, not caring how wet she was getting, how her hair was clinging to her cheeks or how her shirt had plastered itself to her skin.

With a tip of his hat, he nodded toward the church. “You’d best get inside. Storm’s comin’.”

* * *

Gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white, Noah Spencer headed home. Well, to the house he was renting. Calling the place he’d lived in only a few days a home was quite a stretch.

He’d lost his ranch, a portion of his life that he’d never get back. Noah swallowed as guilt and grief threatened to overtake him. The loss of his wife was far greater than that of the land and livestock. But losing nearly everything all at once was damn near soul-crushing.

Settling into this small town, ready to start his new job with the Stonerock Police Department tomorrow night, was the fresh start he needed. Being a rancher was his first love, but the failing ranch he’d had in Texas was gone and the money to rebuild simply wasn’t there.

If he were all alone he would’ve tried to come up with a way to fight for that dream...or close himself off from the world and curse fate for taking so much from him.

But he hadn’t quite lost everything and he wasn’t alone. He had a little girl depending on him to provide security, a stable home, and the vision of a brighter future.

Noah smiled despite the pain. Just the thought of Emma, his girly-girl with her pink bows and her curly blond hair, always brightened his mood. She’d dealt with this move far better than he had. To her, everything in life was an adventure and he’d do well to learn from her positive outlook.

And it was that positive attitude of Emma’s that drove him to check out this support group he’d heard of. When his real estate agent had lined up this rental until he could find a house worth buying in his budget, she’d mentioned various things around town: a few trustworthy babysitters, good restaurants, pediatricians...and this group. Helping Hands was free to the community, to help lift up people who had lost someone.

Noah truly didn’t care about being lifted up or any other mind tricks meant to make him feel better about his life. Right now it sucked. Plain and simple. There was no way to sugarcoat things and he was too mentally exhausted to try.

Forcing the bitterness away, he pulled into his drive. For the sake of his daughter, he always put up a strong front. That was his job as her sole parent now. She mourned the loss of her mother, of her pets back at the leveled ranch, so he needed to always keep her surroundings positive.

Killing the engine, Noah sat there and thought back to the blonde beauty who’d followed him out to his truck. She’d been determined to get him to open up and he’d been just as determined not to. Yet something about her sweet smile, those piercing green eyes, and her soft tone had made him reveal more than he’d wanted to.

Her opening up about her late husband had surprised him. Even through the sadness in her tone, she’d smiled. For him. A total stranger reaching out to him. She’d invited him back, but...

Noah sighed and jerked his door handle. He wasn’t going back. Attending meetings like that would only make him relive the nightmare of six months ago. He’d moved to Stonerock for a fresh start and that’s exactly what he planned on getting. How could he move forward if he was constantly reminded about how drastically his life had changed?

Heading up the walkway, Noah glanced toward the bay window where his whole reason for living was waving wildly. Curls bouncing, plastic tiara askew, Emma made a silly face. Noah couldn’t help but laugh as he reflected one back to her. He knew the second he walked through that door and relieved the babysitter that he’d be trading his cowboy hat for a tiara and Emma would pull out her makeup so they could play dress-up.

There was nowhere else in the world he’d rather be. He didn’t need a support group to help him move on; he only needed his four-year-old princess.

Yet the blonde and her open invitation stayed in the forefront of his mind and he refused to even acknowledge the knot in his gut when he thought of how striking she was, how patient and how compassionate. And he sure as hell needed to forget how her wet shirt had plastered itself to her curves, punching him full-on with the first taste of attraction he’d had since—

No. He refused to even go there right now. All he needed was his daughter, his job and this new beginning. No way in hell was he adding a woman to that list.

* * *

Taking a deep breath, Noah stepped inside the Stonerock Police Department and was hit with the scent of burned coffee. Good thing he’d already had two cups before he left his house. He wasn’t used to working the midnight shift back in Texas, but he was the low man on the totem pole at this station, and he needed the job.

He’d always loved the mountains of Tennessee; he and his wife had honeymooned there. When he’d wanted to get away from Texas, he’d immediately thought of Tennessee. It didn’t take long to narrow his search down to other departments that were seeking another officer.

A bulletin board hung immediately to his left, full of images of missing persons and various announcements from other authorities, local and national. A couple of old scarred desks filled with folders and papers, but no one manning them, were to his right. He’d been here only twice before for interviews and to turn in paperwork, but he knew the town was low on crime and the office usually only had a handful of staff at a time.

Noah moved through the department and headed toward the captain’s office. Cameron St. John was one hell of a captain, and rumor had it he’d put a stop to drug runners threatening this humble town only a year ago. While Noah may long to be back on the ranch, no matter how rough finances had been, he was also anxious and excited to be working for such a well-respected department.

“That’s because you always burn the coffee. If you’d let me make it, at least we could drink it without choking on it.”

Noah froze. That feminine voice washed over him, instantly taking him back to the parking lot the night before, to the silky tone from the blonde with rain dampening her face. She’d talked to him as if she weren’t getting soaked, as if she didn’t look like she’d stepped from a wet T-shirt contest. Her only concern had been for him...which said quite a bit about her character.

Noah gritted his teeth and forced those wet T-shirt images aside. Before he could take a step forward, Lucy stepped from the captain’s office and smacked right into him. Instinct had him reaching up to grip her arms—toned yet delicate arms. She was a petite little thing, the top of her head hitting below his chin.

Noah dropped his hands, but her palms were flat against his chest. The second she tipped her head back and her eyes focused on his face, she raised her brows in surprise.

Lucy took a step back. “You’re the new officer?” she gasped, then shook her head. “Clearly you are. I mean, you’re in uniform. I just...”

She trailed off as pink tinged her cheeks, and something about having her flustered when she’d been in such control last night had him fighting back a grin. Other than Emma, nobody had made him grin in a long, long time.

He took in her buttoned-up white sweater and dark jeans. She had some sparkly earrings that his daughter would covet on sight and deem princess material.

“I didn’t see you when I came in before.” Damn it, why had he said that?

“I’m a part-time night dispatcher,” she explained, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I’m finishing up my online master’s classes and it eats up most of my time.”

And she also ran a free outreach program for the community. Clearly she stayed busy, which was exactly what he needed to do. Ogling his new coworker was not the hobby he needed to look into.

Noah gestured behind her toward the open door. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to check in.”

Lucy blinked, then stepped aside. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hold you up. I’m just surprised to see you again. I mean...”

“Yeah,” he agreed, not wanting to discuss last night.

He’d had a moment of weakness, but his head was on straight now and he was moving forward, starting with this new position. No way in hell would he be seen as vulnerable. What type of cop would that make him? His duties included being strong, fierce, in control—none of which he felt one hundred percent about. But he had to start somewhere and rehashing last night wasn’t the place.

“I’m sure I’ll see you later. I better go fix that coffee.”

With a smile, Lucy headed down the hallway and Noah cursed himself for watching her go. This beautiful woman who’d caught him at a fragile moment could not interfere with his goal of building a new life for his daughter.

Chapter Two

Lucy cursed her shaky hands. She knew the rookie officer was coming on board tonight, but she’d had no idea the mysterious man she’d met last night would be one and the same.

She wasn’t sure if he looked better in a Stetson and jeans or the navy blue uniform, but she wouldn’t turn away a chance at looking at both. Looking was harmless, right? Mercy, but he did get her heart rate up and there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that once the single ladies of Stonerock realized there was a new officer, they’d be all over him. Parking tickets could quite possibly multiply in the foreseeable future.

The glorious aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the tiny break room, masking the burned odor that had pervaded previously. She didn’t know how this crew got along without her on her nights off. Soon she’d have her degree in psychology and she could find a job counseling military wives and families.

“Lucy.”

She jerked around, startled at the gruff tone of Officer McCoy. He was a giant teddy bear, older and a little pudgy in the midsection, but an amazing cop.

“Hey.” She greeted him with a smile. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“I need you to spend a few hours with Officer Spencer. Carla was going to, but she had to leave suddenly to get to the nursing home for her mom and there’s a last-minute meeting so he’s getting paired with you for just a bit.”

Perfect. Spending some up close and personal time with the town’s newest officer would be fine...if she weren’t a bundle of nerves just looking at the man.

All she knew was that he was a widower; she’d learned that last night after the meeting. Word around the station was that he was from a small town outside of Houston, Texas. That was pretty much the extent of what she knew of Noah Spencer.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. She knew he had a swagger that could make a woman’s knees go weak and he had that Southern drawl that had her belly curling with arousal.

Still, she shouldn’t be eyeing the new guy with such affection, or any coworker for that matter. The town was small and everyone in this department was like one big, happy family.

“No problem,” she stated, lying through her teeth. “I’m happy to help out.” That part was true; she’d pinch hit for her fellow dispatchers whenever she was needed. “I just had to get this coffee going since Officer James burned the last pot.”

“James tries hard, but she’s never made a decent pot in her life,” McCoy grumbled. “Thanks for saving us. James just went out on a domestic dispute, by the way. She’s better on the streets than in this break room.”

Lucy laughed as she turned to reach for a mug from the counter. “At least she tries. Let me get a cup and I’ll be right out to talk to Officer Spencer.”

First she needed some caffeine because this was going to be a long night. A dose of coffee to add to her jitters. Perfect.

But she was a professional and so was Noah. Besides, he hadn’t shown the slightest interest, so this little infatuation was quite possibly one-sided. The man was still mourning his wife for pity’s sake. She could appreciate his looks and perhaps this learning period would get him to open up. He didn’t have to come to meetings to heal.

She poured her cup of coffee and just as she turned, she ran into a solid chest. The hot liquid spilled onto her hand, burning her skin and causing her to drop the mug, which then hit the floor and shattered.

Firm hands gripped her shoulders. “You all right?”

Noah’s worried look had her nodding, though her hand burned. “Did I spill coffee all over you?”

Great first impression, Lucy. Way to get him to notice you.

“How’s your hand?” he asked, ignoring her question as he took her wet hand in his. “Did you burn yourself?”

“It’s fine.” Could she be more of a fool? “Let me get something to clean off your shoes. Are you sure it’s not on your uniform?”

Thankfully the uniform was navy blue, but still, she didn’t want to have him soaking wet and smelling like he was a barista on patrol.

Still holding on to her hand, Noah led her to the sink and turned on the cold water. “This is looking a little red.”

Was it? Because the way he was holding on to her and the way his body aligned with hers, she really had no clue anything else existed except him.

“You okay?”

Lucy glanced over her shoulder at Officer McCoy, who stood in the doorway. “Just dropped my coffee,” she replied.

“I’ll clean it up.”

He disappeared for a moment and came back with the mop. As he started cleaning, Lucy realized Noah was still holding her hand under the water. She focused her attention on him and smiled.

“I’m fine. Really.”

Noah’s dark eyes seemed so dull, so...sad. She wanted to reach out to him, somehow. Nobody should live in misery. Wasn’t that the whole reason she and her friends had started the group? They were each recovering and wanted to get others to live again.

Noah turned the water off and reached for a paper towel. When he started to wrap her hand, she took the towel from him and did it herself. Too much touching was dangerous...at least to her mental state. She was to work with him, and hopefully get him to open up and recover from his loss, so anything beyond that wasn’t an option.

Besides, she’d vowed never to fall for a man who risked his life on a daily basis ever again. Living through hell once was more than enough for her.

“I can get that,” she said as she turned her attention to McCoy.

“You made the coffee, that’s enough.” He picked up the large jagged mug pieces and tossed them in the trash before soaking up the liquid. “Get to work and make sure you don’t pull any pranks on Spencer here.”

She glanced to Noah, who was still standing far closer and smelling far better than should be legal.

“I’ll have you know that last stunt with the sugar and salt with the coffee was not me. It was Carla.”

When he grunted, Lucy merely glanced to Noah and shrugged. She headed from the break room, well aware the new officer was directly behind her. If only Carla were here tonight to help take some of this pressure from Lucy. She’d never had this instant attraction before so she seriously needed to get ahold of herself.

Why did the first interest since her husband’s death have to be a man dealing with such grief? He was in no place to even look her way, let alone flirt.

Flirt? Mercy sakes, what was she saying? They had a job to do and she’d do well to remember they were technically coworkers.

“Are you sure your hand is okay?” he asked as they came to the dispatch desks with all of the monitors and phones.

“It’s fine.” How many times could she say fine? “Did you get cleaned up?”

He glanced to his shiny, patent leather shoes. “They just got splashed. I think your hand and the floor took everything.”

When he looked back up, his eyes went straight to her chest. Well, maybe this attraction wasn’t one-sided.

“You have coffee on your sweater.”

And perhaps it was, because he wasn’t looking at her boobs at all, but the coffee she’d spilled. She knew her sweater was damp, but she didn’t exactly have another shirt to put on. And of course it was a white sweater. Classy. So classy.

“It will dry,” she stated, waving a hand through the air as if she wasn’t bothered, though she was cringing each time his eyes dropped to the stain.

She took a seat at her desk and gestured to the empty chair beside her. “How long have you been in Stonerock?”

“Almost a week.”

Lucy pointed to one of the monitors with the layout of the town. “I assume you’ve been out driving around and familiarizing yourself with the area.”

He nodded. “The streets are a grid. Pretty easy to get around.”

“This won’t be much different from where you were before,” she explained. “Stonerock is small, low crime. I’m sure you know all of that, but you will get to know the people in no time.”

As she explained how things would work from her end, he nodded and listened without interruption. When the line lit up, Lucy held up her hand and took the call.

The frantic voice of a child came over the headset and Lucy went into that calm mode she had to settle into when trying to offer comfort to the stranger on the other end. And when that stranger happened to be a child, Lucy tried to compartmentalize her feelings and remain in control.

“My mommy is having a baby,” the little boy screamed. “Right now!” The child’s voice was drowned out by a woman’s cries.

Lucy went to the flip cards on the desk and found the one she needed to issue the proper orders. This wasn’t her first baby call and it wouldn’t be her last. She managed to get a neighbor’s name and called her while keeping the child on the line. While paramedics were on their way, Lucy wanted another adult there for the child.

All in all, the call took about four minutes before the medical squad arrived on the scene and the neighbor came to take the little boy. Lucy disconnected the call once everyone was safe and taken care of.

As she eased back in her seat, she caught a side glance of Noah. The adrenaline during the call had her completely forgetting about him—and that was saying something.

“You did good,” he commented.

Lucy laughed. “Well, that’s my job, so...”

“It takes a special person to be able to do that, though.” He eased forward and met her eyes. “Not everyone could remain calm in a time of distress. You’re literally the lifeline to those people in need.”

Lucy shrugged. She’d never thought of it that way, but he was correct. Still, she didn’t take to praise very well. She was doing her job, helping others who couldn’t help themselves, and she only hoped in some small way that she made a difference.

As more calls came through, she took them and talked to Noah in between. After about an hour, Officer McCoy came through to take Noah out on a call.

Part of Lucy hated to see him go, but the other part was relieved. She was having a difficult time sitting here ignoring his domineering presence.

As Noah stood up, he started to say something but a call came in and she tuned out everything else. This was going to be one of those nights where the phones were nonstop. Some days were like that and she was grateful she had something to occupy her time other than the mysterious new officer.

She wanted to know more about him, and living in this tiny town, she’d definitely find out. It wouldn’t take long for the busybodies to be all abuzz with the backstory of their newest resident.

* * *

After they’d finished the call, which amounted to a couple of guys getting too rowdy outside of Gallagher’s, the local bar, Noah climbed back into the patrol car. He wasn’t used to riding on the passenger side, but he also wasn’t used to this town, nor life without his ranch, not to mention life without his wife.

Each day was better than the last, but there was still that void he figured he’d always carry around.

Just as Officer McCoy started the car, Lucy’s calm voice came over the radio.

“We’ve got a missing child at 186 Walnut Street. The mother reported he was in his room and was supposed to be changing for bed, but now he’s missing.”

Just because he was a police officer didn’t mean he didn’t feel. Each case he encountered was different, and each one deserved his full attention and compassion. Noah’s heart clenched at the fear that mother must be facing. He knew that fear of loss and the unknown.

“There’s a creek that runs behind their house so the mother and some neighbors are there now,” Lucy added.

McCoy turned on the siren and raced through the streets. Lucy’s voice continued to keep them updated as she stayed on the line with a family friend. Lucy’s sweet voice was exactly what he’d told her earlier—a lifeline. She was the link between the caller and the officers and she truly didn’t see what an important job she had.

He should feel guilty thinking of her in any way except as a coworker, but there was something so innocent, yet so... He couldn’t find the right word. Recognizable? Yes, definitely. He recognized the pain in her eyes, too. She did well to mask it, but it was there all the same. Perhaps she used that support group more for herself than she realized. And that was all fine and good, but talking among a group of strangers wasn’t for him. He could get over his grief just fine on his own time.

Within minutes they were pulling up in front of a small white cottage. Already people had congregated on the lawn. Adrenaline pumping, Noah raced toward the back of the house where he was told the mother was. McCoy went to talk to neighbors to get a description of the boy.

With the rains lately, the creek was up and Noah prayed this would only be a search and not a recovery.

Flashlights shifted all over the backyard, Noah’s included. He tried to focus on the water, because if the boy was in there, he was in the most danger. Hopefully he was just in a neighbor’s tree house or something that innocent and safe.

“He’s there!” someone shouted. “He’s caught under that shrub on the other side of the creek.”

Noah followed the light stream from someone’s flashlight. Immediately he took off running in the direction, his light bouncing as he ran faster.

He heard a woman scream and take off down the edge of the creek just in front of him. “Hold on, baby!”

Noah didn’t think twice and he didn’t stop to say anything. He raced past the frantic mother and the other people who were trying to figure out how to get the boy out.

As he ran into the cold water, Noah called out to the boy, “Hang on. I’m coming for you.” The poor little guy was crying and the hood of his jacket had gotten caught on a dead limb sticking out from a bush along the creek side. His jacket was dark, but the bright yellow shirt made it a little easier for Noah to focus in on him.

The water was nearly to Noah’s waist and colder than he’d initially thought. He didn’t know how long the boy had been out here, but with the sun down, things had cooled off quite a bit.

The frantic mother continued to encourage her son to hang on as Noah trudged through the water. Blocking out all the chaos behind him, Noah focused solely on this boy.

“I’ve got you,” Noah told him when he finally reached the child. “Wrap your legs around my waist and put your arms around my neck. I’m going to untangle your jacket.”

The boy continued to cry and didn’t move.

“My name is Officer Spencer, but you can call me Noah. What’s your name?”

“C-Conner.”

The boy’s teeth were chattering. “Okay, Conner. I need you to be a big boy. I need a partner since my partner is in your house helping. Can you be my partner out here?”

Conner nodded. “I just wanted to see the storm and then I saw a c-cat run to the water. I wanted to s-save it.”

“You’re a brave boy, but right now I need you to wrap yourself around me so I can get you out of here. I don’t know about you, but I think this water is cold.”

Finally, little arms and legs went around Noah. Realizing the boy was about Emma’s age, he felt a tug on his heart. Calls with kids always hit closer to home.

If he didn’t get this jacket untangled in the next few seconds, Noah was going to cut it off. This boy had been waist deep in the water long enough. He shivered, not just from the cold, but from fear.

Finally, the material came free with a rip. Noah wasted no time. He waded back through the chilly water as the boy clung to him. On the bank, the crowd had grown and the mother stood sobbing, reaching her arms out, anxious to take her son.

The paramedics were right beside her, also ready to take the boy. Noah reached Conner out to his mom and climbed up the embankment. McCoy grabbed Noah’s elbow to help him out.

The paramedics and the boy’s mother were racing through the backyard, toward the driveway around front to the ambulance. The boy would be fine, but protocol required he get checked out. Noah would bet Conner wouldn’t venture out to explore by himself anytime soon, and probably not near that creek for a long, long time.

“Good job, Spencer.” McCoy slapped him on the back. “Already playing hero on your first serious call. You’ll fit in just fine.”

Noah smiled as they walked through the yard. He didn’t want praise for doing his job, but he was glad he could help.

“At least the dip in the creek got the coffee off me,” he joked.

McCoy laughed. “I thought you didn’t get any coffee on you.”

Noah shook his head. “I just told Lucy that so I wouldn’t hurt her feelings. She’d already burned her hand and felt bad enough.”

They reached the car and just as Noah pulled the handle, Conner’s mother came up and wrapped her arms around him.

“Thank you,” she cried, pulling back. “I promise I don’t let him get near the creek. He’s never done that before.”

Noah placed a hand on her arm. “And I’m sure he won’t do it again. You both had a scare, but you’ve got a brave boy. He wanted to see the storm and then tried to save a cat. You’re doing a good job, mama. Kids are curious creatures by default.”

She swiped the tears from her eyes and offered a smile before turning to go back to the waiting ambulance. Conner sat up on the cot inside the open doors and waved at Noah. Waving back, Noah offered his own grin.

Within minutes he and McCoy were headed back to the station where Noah could change and get dry. And see Lucy. On the short trip back, McCoy and Lucy exchanged some information about the boy being transported to the hospital.

Once again, her tone stirred something inside Noah. Something he didn’t want to address because he shouldn’t be having these feelings. Should he?

He was human, he was a man, and he had natural desires. There was something about Lucy that made him not want to brush aside these unwanted emotions. No one had been able to reawaken the dead inside him for months. But whether it was her sweet voice, the compassion he already saw in her, or the underlying vulnerability she tried to hide, something about her drew him and made him want to get to know her more.

At this point, he figured they’d be seeing each other on a near daily basis. He might as well just roll with it and see what happened. But at the same time, he had to guard his heart. He was still healing, he was still in new territory...but he was also still fascinated by the gentle blonde with wide, expressive green eyes.

As they pulled into the station, Noah couldn’t help but wonder what the next few days, weeks, and months would bring.

He hadn’t known what to expect from this new town, but a reawakening in his desire certainly hadn’t been on his list.

Chapter Three

Her nerves were near shot. Noah had been on the force for nearly a week and she’d worked five days out of the seven. Her usual part-time schedule had shifted into full-time since Carla had to be out with her mother for the next couple of weeks.

Which meant more face-to-face time with Officer Brooding and Sexy. Why, why, why did this man have to be the one she found so attractive? Why couldn’t she get stirrings for a schoolteacher or a garbage man? A man who put his life on the line every day was an absolute no-no.

Her husband had done the same thing. Day after day he’d put himself out there...until one day he was gone.

Noah had only been on the force a short time and already he’d proven he was a man of loyalty, integrity, and compassion. He’d taken the little boy from the creek incident a stuffed animal before his shift. And the only reason anyone knew of that was because the mother called to tell Captain Cameron St. John what an amazing officer he had.

The back door opened and closed. Before she could turn to see which officer was coming on duty, a call came in. She pressed the key on the computer to answer and adjusted her headset.

“Stonerock Police Department.”

“I have someone walking through my backyard carrying a baseball bat.”

“Do you know who this person is?” Lucy replied.

“No, but they’ve been out there for a few minutes just staring at the house.”

Lucy dispatched an officer and kept the caller on the line as she made sure the lady’s doors were locked and she was away from doors and windows. The woman didn’t sound frantic, but concerned.

Stonerock wasn’t known for having many crimes, but there were crazy people everywhere. She couldn’t take any call for granted.

Once the officer arrived and the caller confirmed it, Lucy disconnected the call. When she turned in her seat, she was alone in the room, but she knew who’d come in earlier. That aftershave still permeating the room had become so familiar, making her insides stir and get all schoolgirl giddy.

She was a grown woman getting giddy. How sad was that?

Keeping her feelings in check was the smart thing to do. She needed to keep her emotional distance from Noah, but each day she saw him, she realized she wanted to see more of him, to learn more about him. That need was a recipe for disaster and heartache. Neither of them was at a place in their lives to act on attraction. Of course, she was still assuming it was one-sided, which was all the more reason for her to rein in her school-girl crush.

Only this didn’t feel like anything she’d had as a teenager. Her attraction for Noah Spencer was all grown up...as were the dreams she’d been having since that first meeting in the rain.

Lucy came to her feet and stretched her neck from side to side. She was pulling a double shift today, which was fine. She could use the extra money to put back into the support group fund. Tonight was a meeting, but Kate and Tara were fine without her. It’s not like Lucy was ever missed.

“Thought you were off today.”

She jerked around to see Noah standing in the doorway drinking a cup of coffee. His dark eyes held hers and she had to force herself to not fidget.

“Taking on a few more shifts while Carla is out. I can always use extra money for my group.”

His dark brows drew in. “Aren’t you missing a meeting tonight?”

Lucy shrugged. “I am, but my girls understand. Sometimes we have to cover for each other.”

He took a sip of coffee from one of the disposable cups. When he pushed off the doorway, Lucy thought he was about to turn and leave, but he crossed the room and headed for her desk. Lucy spun around, pretending to stare at the monitors. It was a slow night, but she still wished for a call to come in right then. She couldn’t handle all this tension. Well, the tension on her part at least. She never could get a grasp on what he was feeling.

“What do you do in your spare time?” he asked as he took a seat beside her.

The question threw her off as she glanced to the clock. He was early for his shift by about twenty minutes. Why was he choosing to sit in here with her?

“Spare time?” she asked, fidgeting with her watch. “I’m usually looking for speakers for the group or community projects we can do. Giving back and lifting others up is a great way to—”

“No.”

Lucy jerked her attention back to him. “What do you mean, no?”

Noah set his cup on the desk and leaned forward. That dark stare of his zeroed in on her and she could easily see him cornering a suspect with those eyes, or seducing a woman. Those eyes held every secret, letting no emotion slip through. That whole guarded, sultry thing he had going might be the sexiest thing she’d ever seen in her life.

The uniform didn’t hurt, either. But she’d rather have a man not so committed to danger and more committed to...well, her. As selfish as that sounded, part of her hated knowing that her husband had sacrificed his life defending their country, but that was the type of man he’d been. And she could tell that was the type of man Noah was.

“I know you work and volunteer your time for the group,” he stated, still holding her in place with that mesmerizing gaze. “But I’m asking what else you do.”

“Oh, I study. I’m almost done with my online classes.”

Noah shook his head. “For fun. What do you do for fun?”

Lucy opened her mouth, then shut it. She thought for a second, but nothing came to her. Surely she’d done something for fun lately...hadn’t she? Her friends were always texting her or calling for some reason or another. But she couldn’t recall the last time they went out and did anything.

“I have horses,” she replied. “Two of them. They were my husband’s, so they’re mine now.”

Before she could even think of something she actually did just for herself, a call came in. It took great effort on her part, but she blocked out the presence of the powerful man beside her. The call didn’t take long and didn’t require anyone to be dispatched. An elderly lady had locked herself out of her home, but ended up finding her key in the bottom of her purse while she was talking.

When Lucy disconnected the call, Officer McCoy came in the back door. “Evening. Gettin’ chilly out there.”

Noah spun in the chair. “It’s downright frigid to me. I guess I’ll have to invest in thicker coats.”

“Drink more coffee,” McCoy suggested as he passed on through to the break room.

“It’s not too bad here,” Lucy replied once Noah turned back to her. “But I guess coming from Texas, Stonerock does seem cold in the fall.”

“Everything is different from Texas,” he muttered.

There went that darkness settling over him again. If she could just break through...but that would require her getting closer and spending more time with him. That probably wasn’t smart. Maybe she should have Tara or Kate reach out to Noah. Definitely a better option.

A sliver of jealousy speared through her at the idea of her friends getting one-on-one time with Noah.

“Are you upset about missing the meeting?” he asked.

Lucy tipped her head and eased back in her chair. “Why would you say that?”

“Because you’ve looked upset since I walked in.”

Upset? That’s what he got out of her appearance and attitude? She was seriously out of practice. Granted, she’d never had to initiate conversation or flirting with a man. Evan had asked her out and he’d taken charge. He was her first love, so...yeah, right now she was seriously out of her element. Maybe she should give up and stop trying. Had she even started, though?

“I’m not upset,” she assured him.

Noah grabbed his cup, but never took his eyes off her. “You hide it well, but something is bothering you. None of my business, though.”

He rose to his feet and turned to leave the room.

“Wait a minute,” she called. “You’re the one who seems all brooding and quiet. Over the past week you’ve barely said a word to me other than hi and bye. You talk to everyone else but me.”

Noah glanced over his shoulder. “I speak with you over the radio every day.”

Yeah, and that grated on her nerves because his low, gravelly voice always made her tingle and she did not want to tingle. Damn it, she didn’t know what she wanted, but she at least wanted him to stop torturing her. Maybe acknowledge her as more than an annoyance or someone not to be bothered with. But the casual greeting as he came and went didn’t sit well with her.

Well, maybe she wouldn’t mind so much if he did the same to everyone, but it was only her as far as she could tell. Had she done something to offend him? How was that even possible when she’d barely spoken to him other than to dispatch calls through the radio?

“Face-to-face, you ignore me.” That sounded so childish. Lucy came to her feet and sighed. “We’re like a family here, so I don’t want any tension.”

Noah shifted to face her fully. “Are you feeling tension?”

She was feeling sexually frustrated, but she figured announcing that wasn’t professional. Was this what it would be like getting back into the dating world? She wasn’t so sure she was up for this game.

Instead of answering his question, she asked one of her own. “Are you telling me you aren’t?”

Shut up, Lucy. Just shut up.

“Because I don’t try to cover my feelings,” she went on, ignoring that inner voice. “Attraction is a natural emotion.”

When his eyes widened, she seriously wanted to die. He seemed shocked, whether at her blunt statement or the fact he wasn’t feeling the same, she had no clue. Regardless, it was out there now and she really, really wished she didn’t always take the advice of her therapist and tell people how she felt.

McCoy came back through, whistling and holding his own cup of coffee. At the same time, another call rang through the room, effectively severing the awkward silence that had descended since she’d opened her mouth and opted to pour out her thoughts.

Lucy took the interruption as a sign that it was indeed time to shut up and stop telling Noah...well, anything. She quickly answered the call and sat back down at her desk. By the time she was done, Noah and Sergeant McCoy were gone and Lucy’s heart was still beating like mad.

She’d stepped over some professional boundary and she had no clue how to come back from that. Noah was now well aware of how she felt about him, and from the look on his face, he didn’t want to accept it.

Fantastic. How on earth did she come back from this embarrassing moment?

* * *

Okay, cooking wasn’t necessarily her thing. Actually, she was terrible at it. But Lucy knew how to bake and actually loved doing it.

Which was why she found herself standing on the porch of one adorable little gray-and-white cottage on the edge of town. Lucy secured the basket of cranberry scones under one arm and rang the doorbell with her free hand.

Nerves gathered in her belly and she couldn’t believe she was actually standing here. Hadn’t she made a big enough fool of herself yesterday? At work, no less.

Maybe she should just leave the basket on the swing and—

The door opened, cutting off her thoughts. Once she recovered from the fact she was actually at Noah’s home, it took every single ounce of self-restraint she had not to burst out laughing.

“Are you wearing—”

“Yes. What are you doing here?”

Lucy didn’t know whether to be extremely confused or thoroughly entertained at the sight of Noah Spencer sporting a plastic tiara, dangling clip-on jeweled earrings, and a purple beaded necklace.

Before Lucy could make a comment of any sort, a little girl popped out from behind Noah’s legs. She too wore fancy accessories, but she had on a sparkly dress with a full skirt that went all the way to the floor.

Lucy immediately glanced back to Noah. He offered a simple smile, flashing that dimple at the corner of his mouth.

“This is my daughter, Emma. Emma, this is one of Daddy’s coworkers, Lucy.”

His daughter. Lucy hadn’t heard a word about a little girl. Noah was one private man and now Lucy felt even sillier coming here unannounced.

“You look beautiful,” Lucy stated as she bent down to the pre-schooler. “Do you always play dress-up with your dad?”

“I played with my mommy, but she’s not here anymore.” Emma’s little chin wobbled for a second before she continued. “Daddy lets me put anything on him, but not a dress.”

Lucy laughed. Apparently Noah had his limits even with his little girl.

Emma smiled up at her dad and Noah nodded to her. When the little girl turned her wide blue eyes back to Lucy, Lucy couldn’t help but smile in return.

“We have tea parties,” Emma answered. “Daddy puts extra sugar in it.”

As she spoke again, Lucy realized the little girl had the cutest dimple on the side of her mouth, just like her father. Could she be any more adorable?

A flash of old dreams coursed through Lucy’s mind. At one time she and Evan had wanted children. They’d bought their home with all the acreage and added two horses, with the intention of filling their home with kids. Then he’d been deployed and that had been the end of her dreams for a family.

She’d always assumed those wishes had died with him, but seeing little Emma brought them back again. A lump settled in her throat, blocking her words.

“Come on in.” Noah stepped back, placing a hand on Emma’s shoulder to pull her with him. “Sorry. It’s cold out there.”

Lucy stepped over the threshold and attempted a smile to mask the unexpected hurt. “You’ve just got to get that Southern blood used to this. It’s really not cold in the grand scheme of things.”

He grunted as he shut the door. Emma ran through the house and disappeared, apparently getting back to her interrupted tea party. Lucy clutched her basket as more doubts crept in.

“I’m sorry,” she began as she turned back to Noah. “I shouldn’t just show up unannounced. Especially after yesterday, but... You know, it’s really difficult to talk to you when you’re dressed like an overgrown princess.”

Noah pulled the tiara from his head and snapped the earrings off his ears, but remained in the beads. “What brought you here, Lucy?”

Was it completely pathetic that she liked how he said her name? Most likely, but she couldn’t help how she felt. She could, however, keep her mouth shut on that subject and try to get back on some level ground with him.

“I made scones for you.” She held up the basket and smiled. “I didn’t know you had a little girl or I would’ve made some of my monster cookies.”

“Monster cookies?” he asked as he used his fingertip to push aside the checkered towel to see inside the basket.

“It’s a chocolate chip cookie, but you add M&M’s and other candies. Really, anything you like. They’re pretty amazing.”

He pulled a scone from the basket and took a bite. When his lids lowered and he groaned, Lucy felt more confident in her decision to bring the peace offering. She typically only baked for the support group or for family and friends. This was the first time she’d done it for a virtual stranger.

“These are amazing,” he said around his second bite. “Is that cranberry?”

“It is, and I put a dash of orange in it.”

He finished the scone and dusted his hand on his jeans. “You might as well come on in, but I can’t guarantee you won’t end up with a tiara on your head and a cup of tea.”

A little part of Lucy’s heart flipped over.

“I’d love to have a tiara.”

Noah reached for the basket. “Come on back.”

“Wait.” She relinquished the basket and shoved her hands inside her jacket. “I want to apologize for yesterday. I didn’t mean to make things uncomfortable between us.”

The dark eyes she’d come to appreciate held her as he closed the distance between them. In one hand he held the basket, and in the other he had the girly accessories.

“I wasn’t uncomfortable,” he murmured. “Intrigued and surprised, but not uncomfortable.”

The air between them seemed to thicken because she was having a difficult time breathing. And he still appeared just as calm and in control as ever.

“Why don’t you take your jacket off and join our tea party?” he asked.

Lucy couldn’t help the nervous laugh that escaped her lips. “How can I turn down an invitation like that from a man wearing purple beads?”

Emma came twirling back through the house holding a stuffed bear as her dance partner. “Is the pretty lady staying?”

Lucy kept her focus on Noah because that precious girl was a reminder of things she’d once dreamed of. Things Lucy hadn’t realized she still wanted until just now. A child of her own. A family.

Honestly, Lucy didn’t know what was more damaging to her heart, Emma or Noah. But the combination of the two was downright terrifying. Nevertheless, she wasn’t going to pass up the chance to stay.

Part of her rationalized that she was staying as a way to break through to Noah and get him to open up about his feelings. He needed new friends in the town, right? And since he refused to join her meetings, she’d just have to try to get him to open up in other ways. She could be his support team...right? That was totally logical and the right thing to do.

Of course the devil on her other shoulder called her a bald-faced liar. She was staying because she was on this roller coaster of newfound emotions and she had no clue how to stop the ride...or even if she wanted to stop it.

As crazy as it sounded, Noah had reawakened something deep inside her. For two years she’d focused on throwing herself into work, the group, school. But now maybe she just wanted to be selfish and see what happened.

“I’m staying,” Lucy replied as she smiled back to Emma.

The little girl bounced up and down, sending her blond curls dancing around her shoulders. “Yay. I’ll have Mr. Bear sit on my lap and you can have his chair.”

She scurried off just as fast as she’d entered and Noah shook his head. “You should feel honored. I’ve never had Mr. Bear’s seat.”

Lucy slid out of her jacket and hung it on the hook by the door. She completely ignored the fact it was nestled between a tiny pink-and-white polka-dot coat and a large black woolen one. Well, she tried to anyway.

She was seeing a whole new side to Noah she hadn’t even known existed, but she liked it. The idea that he was a single father really helped Lucy understand why he’d been so reserved. The man had lost his wife and was protecting all the life he had left.

She could spend all day analyzing this situation from his angle, from hers, but right now she was going to enjoy the moment. She’d have time to analyze it later.

* * *

What the hell was he thinking? He should never have let Lucy inside his home. Granted he’d only been here a couple weeks, but this was his home now. Having Lucy here botched up his plans to keep his life simple and his heart guarded.

But damn, that scone was something else. He hadn’t had something that delicious and homemade in...well, ever. His wife hadn’t been much of a cook, but that never bothered him. They mostly lived off the ranch anyway, between the livestock and the fields. Noah had cooked, too, taking pity on Cara who panicked at the sight of a recipe or the thought of a casserole.

This new lifestyle was taking some serious getting used to. Between the cooler weather, the free time he had from not ranching, and acclimating to the new force, his entire world had been reshaped. But he was grateful he had a job, a home, and his daughter. They’d make it because he was determined to give her the best life possible, considering the circumstances.

“Want to see my room?” Emma asked Lucy.

Without waiting for a reply, Emma hopped up from her little chair and grabbed Lucy’s hand.

“Calm down, Em.” Noah finished clearing the tea set from the table. “Maybe Lucy has somewhere else to be. She hadn’t exactly planned on staying here today.”

Lucy held Emma’s hand and stood. “I’d love to see your room.”

“My daddy painted it just like I wanted,” Emma chattered as she led Lucy away. “And then he put up this sparkly light and...”

Her voice trailed away and Noah glanced to the clock. It was almost time for him to lie down and get a few hours’ sleep before going into work later tonight. The realtor had suggested a fabulous babysitter that lived only two doors down: a retired lady who was known as the town grandma and had babysat for years. Having someone dependable and trustworthy made this entire process much less stressful. Each little layer of his new life that fell into place where he needed eased his worry.

Noah wondered if he’d see Lucy at work, but then quickly pushed the thought aside. She’d been here for over an hour and if he was already looking forward to seeing her again, then he was falling down that rabbit hole he never wanted to be near again.

He wasn’t ready to move on. Cara had been gone only six months. Shouldn’t he wait longer before allowing that desire to creep in? Not that he’d let this happen. He looked at Lucy and...well, his thoughts, emotions and feelings had slipped from his control.

Noah rinsed out the tea set and put it away. Tea parties were a thing his wife had started with Emma and he’d wanted to keep some sense of normalcy in her life. As soon as they hit town, he took her shopping for a new tea set and they’d had a party every single day since. He didn’t mind dressing up so long as it put a smile on Emma’s face.

When they were gone a lengthy amount of time, Noah figured he’d better go save Lucy because Emma hadn’t been around a woman, minus the sitter, since her mother passed. She was most likely craving that connection. Both of Cara’s parents were gone and so was Noah’s mother...he’d never known his father.

Noah reached the doorway and found Emma and Lucy on the widow seat. Emma had already draped necklaces and headbands on Lucy.

“Oh, honey. Maybe Lucy didn’t want to be covered in accessories.”

Lucy picked up another hair ribbon. “Actually, it’s been a long time since someone pampered me. I was rather enjoying myself.”

The sight of Emma with another young woman, and not his late wife, did something to him. Something he couldn’t quite pinpoint. On one hand, there was that ever-pressing remorse he carried. The guilt of getting on with his life. The guilt of not having been able to save his wife.

He’d been a police officer back in Texas as well and had saved others, but ultimately he hadn’t been able to save his own wife. He’d spoken to her after the storm and she’d assured him she was fine, but he should have—

He stopped himself. The blame would never end.

On the other hand, he knew his wife would’ve wanted him to move on, to live for their daughter. She wouldn’t like that he was feeling guilt, because that emotion robbed his happiness.

“I hate to break up this party, but it’s time for you to go to Miss Mary’s house.”

Emma protested with a whine, but Lucy placed a hand on her knee. “It’s okay. Maybe we can have another playdate.”

“Really?” Emma asked, suddenly in a better mood.

Lucy glanced to Noah. “If your dad doesn’t mind.”

Noah weighed the options. He didn’t want to let this get too routine because Emma would likely get attached. He had to watch out for her, but on the other hand, it was nice to see his daughter open up and want to play and be with another young woman.

He couldn’t lie—seeing them together put his guard up. He wasn’t looking for a replacement for his wife or mother for his child. At this point, he wasn’t looking for anything because he was still trying to figure out this new life.

A mix of emotions swirled through him. He was attracted to Lucy and he had to assume that was normal, but that didn’t mean he felt good about it. It didn’t mean it was right to happen at this particular moment.

“I’m pretty busy, though.” Lucy glanced to Noah and back to Emma. “I’ll talk to your dad later at work and we’ll see. Okay?”

Lucy took off all of her play jewelry and hair accessories. After laying them on the window seat, she bent down to Emma.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.