Almost Heaven

“Ooh, you’ve got a crush on that new deputy, don’t you?” Michelle sparkled with complete delight. “Sis, you’ve got great taste. What’s his name? Frank? I knew it. I knew the right man for you would come along if we prayed hard enough.”

See? This was exactly the type of thing she was trying to avoid. “I don’t have a crush on anyone.”

“Sure. I understand. You’re doing your civic duty. Thanking the eligible bachelor who protects our town.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Yep, sure, like I understand totally.” Michelle feigned absolute empathy, but there was no mistaking that look on her face. “I’m glad for you, Kendra. You deserve a fine man.”

Kendra opened her mouth to argue, but what would she say? Denial would only make it look like the truth. She loved Michelle for her kind words, but Michelle didn’t know what had happened that night when everything changed.

There’d be no man for her. It was that simple. Kendra had been in love once and it had hurt worse than anything she’d ever known. She’d spent the last half-dozen years picking up the pieces of her life.

She would never give another man that much power over her. She would never trust a man that much. No matter what.

So Michelle could hope all she liked. She could think whatever she wanted. It would not change the facts.

The window buzzed upward, and Kendra could feel Michelle’s elation. Now her entire family was going to hear about this. Yep, she definitely should have delivered the cookies later in the week, stale or not.

There was Cameron’s cruiser, parked neatly against the curb, polished and spotless.

And why was she noticing it? Didn’t she have enough on her mind with the thousand things she had to do next? She needed to clean Karen’s house, catch her up on her laundry and do a thorough grocery shop so her pantry would be well stocked. Then she needed to figure out what was she going to cook tonight for dinner for her entire family. That’s what she ought to be thinking about.

Not noticing that she had a perfect view of Cameron’s desk through the generous front window. And her stomach should certainly not be doing little quakes, as if butterflies were trapped there.

Why was she feeling this way? There was nothing to be anxious about. She intended to say hello, leave the plate on his desk and walk back out. Nothing personal about it. There was nothing personal between them.

Thank the good Lord that’s the way Cameron felt about her, too. It wasn’t as if he thought, as Michelle did, that romance could be blossoming.

Before she could reach for the tarnished brass knob, the door swung open. Cameron, looking fine in his navy-blue uniform, took a step back.

His smile was dazzling. “Come in. I never turn away a woman bringing baked goods.”

“It’s bad form to turn away free food,” a second man’s voice commented from inside the office.

Kendra pushed her sunglasses off her nose and up over her forehead, and the shadows became a burly uniformed man sitting behind a desk in the corner, but she hardly noticed him. Cameron drew her attention as the surprise on his face turned to appreciation.

Appreciation for the cookies, no doubt. She handed him the covered paper plate. “I made a batch with butterscotch chip and my gramma’s famous chocolate-chocolate chips.”

“I don’t think there are enough words to thank you.” Cameron took the plate eagerly and ripped off the foil. “Frank, you’ve got to try these chocolate cookies. They sell them over at the coffee shop.”

“Try them? Already have. I’m addicted to them.”

“Your grandmother could charge ten bucks for a single cookie and folks would still buy two.” Cameron snatched a cookie and took a bite.

“Ma’am, we sure do appreciate this.” The deputy chose a chocolate cookie from the plate. “I’ll just leave you two alone. I’ve got a report to file, uh, in the back room.”

There was no back room. Cameron appreciated Frank’s efforts, though, as the deputy disappeared into the storage closet, where they kept their coats and their spare office supplies.

That Frank was quick on the uptake. He saw right off that Kendra was the kind of woman a man wanted to be alone with instead of making small talk while other people watched.

“I hear your sister had her baby. A girl.” Cameron held the plate out, offering her a cookie.

Kendra shook her head, declining the offer. “I have another beautiful niece. I’m pretty lucky, being an aunt. It’s much better than being a parent, because I get all the snuggles and fun and I get to buy presents, but I don’t have the sleepless nights and all the work that goes with it.”

“Sounds like a good deal.” Cameron wondered at the false brightness he saw on Kendra’s face. A face that had small crinkles in the corners of her eyes, marks of character that he found attractive. Hers was not a face of sleek, artificial beauty, and a light within him flickered to life. “I’m glad to know Karen and her new baby are fine. Your other sister is expecting soon, isn’t she?”

“Yes, in a few months. We have a lot of blessings to be thankful for in my family. And speaking of blessings, thank you again for help with the tire.” Her sincerity shone soul-deep. “If these cookies aren’t enough, I can bring by another batch sometime.”

“This is more than enough.” He’d never tasted a more delicious cookie. He’d never seen a more beautiful woman. There was so much to respect about Kendra, he didn’t know where to begin, but if he made a list of all her attributes, it would be a long one.

She was certainly showing good manners in thanking him for helping her. After all, he’d told her he wouldn’t be averse to receiving baked goods if she wanted to repay him, but she’d actually come. That said a lot about her.

He’d definitely go with her stables, if he decided he could afford a horse. That was a big question he needed an answer to if he was going to go any further with this notion of his.

“You have a good day, now.” She was backing toward the door.

There was no time like the present while he had her here, even if she was halfway out the door. “Say, Kendra.”

She hesitated, one hand on her black-rimmed sunglasses perched on the top of her head. She crooked one eyebrow in question.

He didn’t wait for her to speak—or to escape. “I want to board my horse out at your place. Except there’s one small catch.”

“What’s that?”

“I don’t have a horse.”

“Right. I remember you told me.” A hint of a smile played along her soft mouth. “How are you going to board a horse you don’t have at my place?”

“That’s where you come in. I thought with your extensive horse knowledge combined with the fact that you don’t want to lose my business to your competition—”

“Isn’t that like extortion or something?”

“Sure, but I’m the law and I don’t mind a little extortion if it gets me what I need.”

Kendra couldn’t help it. He made her laugh. Who knew the serious and capable town sheriff had a sense of humor? “I guess when the criminals are in charge, what’s a poor business owner to do? How can I help?”

“I’ve looked in the classifieds and there seem to be plenty of horses for sale, but I don’t know where to start. I don’t know a thing about them. What’s the difference between a quarter horse and a paint? Which is better? The prices seem to range from a hundred bucks to tens of thousands of dollars. I’m lost. I need help.”

“I guess I’d better lend a hand, if I want to get your business.”

“I knew you’d see things my way. I’d hate to have to tail you through town and ticket you under false pretenses until you cooperate.”

“That would be a real bother.”

So that’s why he’d been acting friendlier than usual. He’d been too embarrassed to ask outright for help. Men were so funny. All ego and pride.

She wouldn’t mind helping him at all, even if he didn’t want to board at her stable. In this world, horse people had to help each other out.