Welcome Home, Bobby Winslow

They’d struck up a sociable wave-as-you-go-by friendship, often stopping to chat over the fence about simple things like the weather or the activities going on in Destiny.

But never about Leeann and Bobby’s past.

So where was Val now that Bobby was back in town?

Instead of asking, Leeann stated the obvious, “You haven’t lived here for over a decade.”

“Neither have you,” he countered.

How did he know that? They certainly hadn’t kept in touch over the years and she doubted he was a fan of high fashion, even when that had been her life. “I’ve been back in town for three years, living on Laurel Lane for the last two.”

Surprise flickered in his eyes as he put the name of her street together with his mother’s. If that surprised him, he’d be shocked to know that Leeann had driven his mom to the airport the night of his accident.

“Destiny is my home,” he replied with a vague thrust of his chin, the surprise now replaced with a hint of smugness. “And I’m here to check out my new digs just up the road.”

The new digs being the monstrous log mansion constructed over the summer. The rumor that the multimillion-dollar house was owned by the town’s favorite son had been confirmed in another newspaper article back in July.

Leeann hadn’t gone anywhere near the construction, dubbed “Castle Winslow” by the locals, especially after she’d learned who owned the company that had purchased her land months earlier.

“Well, at least your appearance explains the speed of your oversize home on wheels.” She waved at the camper, latching on to a familiar topic. “You never could resist tinkering with an engine. How much have you messed with the inner workings of that thing?”

“It’s a 362-horsepower 6.8 liter Super Duty V10 SEFI Triton engine and I haven’t done anything to it,” he said, with another hint of his familiar grin. “Yet.”

“You sure? You two were hauling butt.” Leeann handed the paperwork and license back to his friend, but kept her gaze on Bobby as a thought came to her. “Or maybe it wasn’t your friend here who was behind the wheel. Maybe it was you.”

The grin disappeared. “Believe me, I wasn’t driving.”

Less than seventy-two hours away from a rehabilitation center, probably not. Still, he was standing under his own power.

“I don’t recall too many times when you willingly sat shotgun,” she said.

“No, if memory serves, that spot usually belonged to my girlfriend.”

A low hum of fury at his mocking tone passed through her. She fought to keep her next words light. “So you’ve learned to share now?”

Bobby cocked his head to one side and his grin returned. “Only out of necessity. You know how I hate to give up a position of power.”

Power behind the wheel, power over her.

From the start of their teenage relationship, Leeann had never been able to resist the magnetic pull Bobby had over her. She’d been drawn to his wild, untamed and cocky personality from the moment they met. Maybe because he was so different from the starched and conventional home life she had with her parents.

Being with Bobby gave her a freedom she’d never known before, even after he’d surprised her with an engagement ring in February of their senior year and convinced her that getting married right after graduation was the best way to be together.

“Yes, I remember. It took having a diamond ring flung at your head before you finally took ‘no’ for an answer.”

His smile vanished as soon as the words left her mouth.

Leeann couldn’t believe she’d said that aloud and in front of an innocent bystander.

“I’m sorry, that wasn’t fair—”

“Don’t worry about it.” He cut her off with a wave of his hand. “I think we’ve had enough apologies between us to last a lifetime.”

His sharp tone brought back the memory instantly.

Not far from this very spot, between tears and apologies, she’d tried to explain why she’d decided to leave town.

Alone.

Why she’d accepted a modeling contract in New York City, the prize for winning a contest she hadn’t known her mother had entered Leeann into.

Why she’d changed her mind about marrying him before he was set to leave for the U.S. Army the week after their high school graduation. A ceremony that had only been days away.

Boy, he must’ve waited years to throw her words back in her face.

Leeann swallowed hard against an old ache she’d thought was long buried. Instead, she pasted on a counterfeit smile, honed to perfection from years in front of the camera. “Okay, well, let’s consider this a warning for both of you.”

She looked at Bobby’s friend, who’d remained quiet during this whole exchange. “Please obey the speed limits during your stay, Mr. Zippenella.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the man replied, shoving his license into his wallet before pocketing it. “But you can still call me Dean. Or Zippy. Hell, I’ll answer if you yell out a simple ‘hey you.’“

Leeann’s smile slipped from fake to genuine with ease. Boy, this guy had his namesake’s charm in spades. “I’ll keep that in mind, Dean.”

“So, are we free to go, Officer?”

Stepping back toward her cruiser, Leeann glanced at Bobby again, noticing a slight trembling in his ramrod-straight posture and a growing gleam of sweat dotting his skin.

An urge to ask again if he was okay filled her, but she quickly squashed it as she headed for the driver’s-side door. “Yes, gentleman, you are. Enjoy the rest of this beautiful fall day. And Bobby … welcome home.”

Chapter Two

Bobby dropped his arms, the movement causing him to sway again. Bracing his hands on his hips, he kept his eyes trained on Leeann’s cruiser until it disappeared over the hill.

A familiar shaking of his legs warned him that the searing pain he’d learned to live with over the past few months was fast approaching. He managed six steps toward the camper before his strength gave out and he crumpled into a heap near the front tire.

Zippy raced to his side, crouching next to him. “Dammit, Ace!”

Bobby’s gaze remained on the empty blacktop, his brain still trying to process the fact that the girl who’d walked away from their foolish teenage dreams in order to become a successful model was back in Destiny.

And working as a deputy sheriff.

If not for that low sexy voice of hers, smoky and smooth like the whiskey he’d come to favor over the years, he never would’ve believed his first love was the same person who’d stood in front of him in a khaki uniform, her once-famous waist-length hair now so short it barely brushed her shoulders.

A cop?

Really?

“Hey, bro?” Zip gave him a gentle nudge. “You okay?”