Tempting The Sheriff

Tempting The Sheriff
Kathy Altman

The hardest person to serve and protect is herselfShe didn’t ask for a new deputy. Well, technically, she did ask. But Lily Tate didn’t expect city cop Vaughn Fulton to come swaggering into her sheriff's office, making her feel things she has no right to feel. Not since she lost what she loved most in a tragedy she should have seen coming. Lily can see exactly where she and Vaughn are headed. As hard as he is to resist—and as much as he seems to want her—Vaughn plans to ditch the small-town life when his stint at the Sheriff’s Department is over. Lily’s already handled enough heartbreak. What kind of fool would make the same mistake twice?

The hardest person to serve and protect is herself

She didn’t ask for a new deputy. Well, technically, she did ask. But Lily Tate didn’t expect city cop Vaughn Fulton to come swaggering into her sheriff’s office, making her feel things she has no right to feel. Not since she lost what she loved most in a tragedy she should have seen coming. Lily can see exactly where she and Vaughn are headed. As hard as he is to resist—and as much as he seems to want her—Vaughn plans to ditch the small-town life when his stint at the Sheriff’s Department is over. Lily’s already handled enough heartbreak. What kind of fool would make the same mistake twice?

A deep, unfamiliar voice rumbled along Lily’s spine.

She curbed her irritation. Time to make nice. She had no choice. If she didn’t honor the mayor’s request to hire Vaughn Fulton as her deputy, he’d only saddle her with a seventy-year-old retiree. Or he’d veto every candidate she put forth. When Mayor Whitby was coming off a sugar high, that was just the way he rolled.

So suck it up, Lily Anne.

She swiveled toward the counter that separated the office space from the reception area.

A man wearing jeans and a short-sleeved navy T-shirt that barely concealed a hip holster stood in the doorway, shoulder propped against the jamb, posture as cocky as his voice. Midtwenties, six-one or so, trimmed dark hair and troublemaker eyes. One look and she was as clear about who he was as the muscles stretching his shirt. If the man were in motion, he’d be swaggering.

Beside her, Clarissa hummed her approval. Lily could practically hear the drool hitting the floor.

Yeah. Swagger. He planted his palms on the countertop, locked his arms and leaned in.

“Vaughn Fulton reporting for duty, ma’am.”

Dear Reader (#uee132a9d-4daf-5ee0-9b35-21166393ed89),

It’s wonderful to have you back in Castle Creek! You caught a glimpse of the prickly Sheriff Lily Tate in Staying at Joe’s, and learned of her tragic history in A Family After All. In Tempting the Sheriff, Lily continues her fight to keep everyone at arm’s length—especially city cop Vaughn Fulton, a temporary deputy with a hefty chip on his shoulder. Eventually these two crazy kids fall head over heels, but Vaughn isn’t interested in staying in Castle Creek, and Lily herself won’t consider moving to the city. So now what?

When I started writing Lily’s story, I had already decided which character would risk their entire way of life to make couplehood happen. Imagine my surprise when the other character insisted on being the one to make the sacrifice! I hope you find Lily and Vaughn’s journey as gratifying as I did.

I always enjoy hearing from readers! You can email me at kathy@kathyaltman.com, or visit me at www.kathyaltman.com (http://www.kathyaltman.com), where you can find the recipe for gobs, those Devil Dogs–type treats Vaughn reminisces about. Depending on where you’re from, you may know them as whoopie pies, but they’ll always be gobs to me, and one of my sweetest memories of Johnstown, PA, where my dad grew up.

All my best,

Kathy Altman

Tempting the Sheriff

Kathy Altman

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

KATHY ALTMAN writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense and the occasional ode to chocolate. She’s also a regular contributor to USATODAY.com’s Happy Ever After blog. Kathy prefers her chocolate with nuts, her Friday afternoons with wine and her love stories with happy-ever-afters. Find Kathy online at www.kathyaltman.com (http://www.kathyaltman.com). She’d enjoy hearing from you!

To Toni Anderson, outstanding writer, critique partner and friend. Here’s to the next dozen years of buddy-ship (and all those bug hugs that keep me going)!

Acknowledgments (#uee132a9d-4daf-5ee0-9b35-21166393ed89)

I owe a great, big, humongous THANK YOU to editor Claire Caldwell, who is unfailingly gracious, encouraging and all kinds of savvy. Claire, I’m a better writer thanks to you, and I’ll miss working with you!

As always, I’m grateful for my entire family, who are even more supportive than they are screwy. (Seriously, folks, that’s a lot of support.)

And many, many thanks to the readers who appreciate happy endings as much as I do. I cherish every one of you!

Contents

Cover (#u7ccbd001-f871-5121-a1f4-a965a99ad526)

Back Cover Text (#u15d018fe-ff6b-5fab-813c-fe2d2b63690e)

Introduction (#u3ddc00f3-2f82-54c5-ae2f-7e3c017a74f0)

Dear Reader (#u6873f8fc-4a66-553d-a86e-63889ef1a7bc)

Title Page (#u27f4c7f9-98c9-5c55-86b2-0ee7973011a3)

About the Author (#ua76ecef4-5d7b-59c4-a8cc-1a2aefecf664)

Dedication (#u83099587-1e50-55ae-8e1e-b83f15cd7022)

Acknowledgments (#u00b3d075-8bfd-5148-9b9d-8cac3282d463)

CHAPTER ONE (#ud04ec13a-96da-51ef-b764-5bb066322759)

CHAPTER TWO (#u2cd748e0-5aed-565e-9eb3-a22619dd917b)

CHAPTER THREE (#ucd50ef1b-9d0c-5f01-9393-b3058eb06332)

CHAPTER FOUR (#uebb00750-c43d-59be-8008-b26df9fb6cf7)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)