The Texas Lawman's Woman

Oblivious to the direction of his thoughts, Shelley smiled for the first time since they’d set eyes on each other again. “Colt, meet my son, Austin. He’s two.”

Colt noted her little boy had the same auburn hair, appealing face and dark green eyes as his mother. Able to see why Shelley was so proud—the little tyke was as cute as could be, and intelligent, too—Colt extended his hand to the little boy.

Austin clasped the hand-carved red wooden truck in his hand that Colt knew was three generations old. He recalled seeing it when he had been dating Shelley years ago. The antique toy had been saved for her first child. At the time, because he and Shelley had been in the grip of a fierce teenage romance, everyone thought that Colt might be the daddy to that baby.

It hadn’t turned out that way, however.

Shelley’s son turned his head and buried it in Shelley’s shoulder. The action shifted the scooped neckline of her T-shirt, baring a hint of lace and silky smooth skin. Noticing, Colt felt himself stir.

Not good. Not good at all. The last thing they needed was their former chemistry sparking to life. The two of them were just too different. He hadn’t ever completely thawed her in the past.

He sure wasn’t going to do it now.

Her son was much more welcoming. The little boy proudly showed Colt his truck and said, “Mine. My truck.”

“It sure is your truck,” he agreed.

Satisfied that Colt understood the import of what he was holding, Austin turned back to Shelley. “Down, Momma. Want down.”

Shelley looked at Buddy, who was sitting next to where Colt was standing in a perfect sit-stay.

Although it wasn’t necessary, Colt took his dog over to a cushioned wicker chair that had also been there for years. He pointed to the section of the porch beside it, and Buddy obediently lay down. Paws stretched out in front of them, he waited.

Colt sat down next to Buddy, and then Shelley set her son on the other end of the wide front porch.

Oblivious to the tension between the adults, Austin walked over to a wicker basket full of toys. He pulled a wooden cube from the pile, opened the lid and dumped the shaped blocks out onto the painted floor. Grinning, he plopped down beside it, shut the lid and began fitting a piece into the similarly shaped slots, while Shelley looked on happily.

“I hear you are going to be teaching dance classes at the community center full-time now,” Colt said.

Shelley smiled. “Classes start tomorrow afternoon.”

Colt recalled her on the dance line for the marching band, in that short skirt, skimpier top and boots. She’d been the captain of the group, and man, she had been able to move—to the point that no one could take their eyes off her. Especially him. Not that he needed to be remembering that.

“I hear you’re in law enforcement.”

Colt nodded. “I’m a deputy with the sheriff’s department.”

Shelley shook her head, clearly perplexed. “I never thought you’d go through with that.”

“Why not?” Colt returned, holding her gaze.

She lifted her slender shoulder in an elegant shrug. “You were never the hall monitor type.”

The truth was, he did have the softest heart in the department. But not about to admit that, Colt pointed out instead, “You said you always wanted to be rich and live in the big city...yet here you are, back in Laramie, moving into the house you grew up in.”

A mixture of regret and disappointment flickered across her face. “I guess that’s what the saying ‘Life happens while you are making other plans’ means.”

Abruptly, she looked so sad and disillusioned Colt’s heart went out to her. “What happened to you?” he asked gently.

She didn’t take her eyes off his. “I got divorced.”

There it was. Another link between them. Something else they unexpectedly had in common. “Me, too,” he said quietly.

She looked at him with understanding. “When?”

He cleared his throat. “Five years ago.”

Suddenly, Colt wanted to know the facts he hadn’t let anyone else tell him. Not that Shelley had ever been particularly forthcoming about the failures in her life. Appreciating the way her auburn hair fell softly over her shoulders, he pinned her with a glance and asked, “You?”

“My marriage officially ended two years ago, although we were separated for nine months before that.”

Colt’s glance slid to her son.

Shelley answered the question before he could ask.

“Yes, Austin is Tully Laffer’s son. We separated right after I learned I was pregnant.” She emitted a rueful sigh that let him know she was as disappointed in the turns her romantic life had taken as he was in his. “Anyway, our divorce became final shortly after Austin was born. I stayed in Dallas for a while, then finally decided to come back home. I figured it would be easier to raise my son here.”

There seemed to be a lot she was leaving out—and he wanted to know what. Which was odd. He usually wasn’t this nosy. “Your ex doesn’t mind?”

Shelley turned a fond glance to her son and sat back in her chair. She crossed her legs at the knee. Her khaki skirt rose higher on her thigh, giving him a glimpse of taut, tan skin. “Turns out Tully’s not interested in the whole parenting thing.”

That was no surprise to Colt. He’d only had to meet the guy once to know the spoiled rich kid was all wrong for Shelley. Not that she’d listened to him, or anyone else in Laramie for that matter.

“What about his family?”

Shelley grimaced. “His parents were barely there when he was growing up. They have a jet-setting lifestyle that has them constantly on the go. The last thing they want is any demands from grandchildren.”

“I’m sorry.”

“So am I.” She linked her hands around her knee. “I think they’re all really missing out.”

No kidding, Colt thought, his glance moving briefly back to Austin, who was still playing contentedly.

Her son certainly deserved better. As did Shelley. Aware he had an apology of his own to give that was long overdue, Colt leaned toward her and cleared his throat. “So...about prom.”

Pink color flooded Shelley’s cheeks. “I’m sorry.” She lifted a staying hand and continued gazing deep into his eyes, as serious now about burying the hatchet between them as he was. “I shouldn’t still be upset about that.”

Colt winced. “Yeah, you should.”

She lifted her brow. He felt the pull of attraction and knew it was time for him to set the record straight. “I should have called you that night to let you know what was going on.”

Her expression gentled. “In your defense, you were a little busy helping to comfort a lost puppy who’d gotten his leg stuck between a rock and a fallen tree. A puppy who likely would have died had you not spotted him and stopped to help.”

Colt reached over and patted Buddy’s head, taking comfort in the way his pet leaned into him affectionately. “Once the fire and rescue team arrived, I should have taken the time to call and tell you what was going on.”

Looking as if she appreciated his honesty, she asked in return, “Why didn’t you?”

“I told myself it was because this guy needed me with him in order to stay calm while the firefighters sawed that tree.”