Page 11 of The Sheriff & the Nurse

“Sure thing.”

“Then bring in a fingerprint kit and a large evidence bag. We’ll see if the perp left us any clues.”

“All right.” Mark turned to go.

Clint followed him into the living room. He stopped and turned, sliding his Glock into the holster and pulling out his phone. He took a couple photos of the poster for evidence. It made his gut churn. Some idiot was threatening Lily and Miles. Wait. She didn’t have another boyfriend yet … right?

He walked out onto the small front porch. Lily waited next to her dad, leaning against his shoulder.

Their gazes collided and the vulnerability and need in her glance tugged at him.

It was time to get some answers out of Lily and reassure her he was the man she could trust. He’d keep her safe.

Any other desires had to be shelved.

Chapter

Three

Lily waited nextto her dad, trying to keep up on the small talk about everything happening at the ranch, and asking where she could help out tomorrow and Friday. She nibbled at her lip, terrified and distracted, and prayed that Clint could find the intruder.

It would be even better if Clint and Mark could prove it was Dr. Hampshire. She knew Clint would want answers. What should she reveal? She’d kept this secret from everyone for so long it was like giving up a lung to rip it out. Could she simply beg the incredible but closed-off sheriff to be her fake boyfriend or fiancé?

No. That was being selfish, again, and she couldn’t do that to another Coleville man. Especially if Dr. Hampshire or whoever left that awful poster tried to hurt her ‘boyfriend’. Slit his throat. Horrifying. Her stomach flipped over, and she prayed harder, clenching her trembling hands together and leaning against her dad’s shoulder.

“Darlin’? You all right?” her dad asked.

“Just worn out.” At least that wasn’t a lie.

Mark walked out of the house and off the porch, lifting a hand to them before disappearing into the dark night. What was he doing? Searching for the intruder? Most likely.

“Wonder where he’s headed to?” her dad mused. “His truck is right here.”

“Weird. I think they have to check everything out when they get a call.” Her heart thudded faster. She was ashamed and frustrated that she’d kept this secret for so long and it kept getting worse. How could she call into question someone her family adored? What if they didn’t believe her? Even if they did, she could endanger Grandma if her dad or Bennett went after Dr. Hampshire. Her family had enough stress with her grandma sick and living an hour away.

Clint walked out the front door, pausing on the porch. Their eyes connected. Longing for him and fear her secrets would be exploited battled within her. His gaze was comforting yet determined. He needed answers and he would get them. Did he need her? She put a hand to her throat. She couldn’t let her mind go there.

He strode down the steps and toward them. She couldn’t catch a full breath. The determination and strength in his confident swagger and his handsome face and alluring blue eyes was too much. He was the most macho of heroes and the only man she wanted. She could hear her sister Daisy’s voice in her head. She loved to call Clint a ‘walking billboard of manly cowboy heroism.’ She was right. He was that and more. It took loads of self-control not to cry out that she loved and needed him.

She bit at her lip again to restrain herself. As he stopped a couple feet away, his gaze dropped to her lips before raising again. Heat rushed through her. Their near kiss wasn’t nearly enough. If he was willing and she wasn’t putting him in danger,she’d beg him to pretend to be her fiancé and pray she could make him fall in love with her through the ploy.

You … me … it’s a no.

She looked away, trying to regain control. She could never handle him telling her that again.

“Thank you, Klein,” Clint said in his friendly but authoritative sheriff’s voice. “I’ll walk Lily in.”

Lily’s gaze darted to him. Alone. With Clint. Safety for her physically but treacherous for her heart.

“Thank you, Sheriff.” Her dad beamed at Clint. He ushered Lily toward him. “Have a nice night. Don’t stay up too late, my Lily-love.” He grinned, pivoted, and walked back along the road to the main house. Stay up too late? As if this were a date. Yet Clint had said she wanted alone time with her favorite sheriff and the two of them had a ‘date’. Her body trembled.

“’Night,” Clint called. He studied her for half a beat. His gaze was too observant.

She looked away.

Clint moved to her side, placed his hand on her lower back, and directed her toward the house. “I think you and I need to chat about that poster and the man you think put it there.”

She swallowed, but her throat was dry. She said nothing as they walked up the steps together, his warm fingers and palm searing heat through her thin scrub top.

---