The Cowboy's Second-Chance Family

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 (#u1de9e2a6-9ee8-5b6d-94ad-5af47e973bbe)

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.