Page 28 of The Sheriff & the Nurse

“So you’ll be listening to what I say all day?”

“Does that bother you?”

“Yeah.” She gave him a challenging look. “I don’t need you making fun of any inane conversations, or how I react when a sweet baby arrives straight from heaven.”

“Lily.” His voice deepened. “I have never, and would never, make fun of you.”

She studied him and then she swallowed, picked up her glass, and took a long drink. “I know that.”

He drew in a breath. He had to tell her. “Aiden Porter’s team couldn’t find anything out of line about Dr. Hampshire. He graduated top of his class and is well-liked and well-respected. Every report they found was sunshine and roses.”

Her shoulders slumped. “Do you think I’m over-exaggerating his flirtations? Maybe it’s just me.”

Clint knew how to move quick and before he could second-guess himself he was in her space, one hand planted against the counter top, brushing her hip, the other hand framing her smooth and appealing jawline.

“Sweetheart,” he said huskily, studying her beautiful face upturned toward his and hoping she wouldn’t tell him she wasn’t his sweetheart like she had that fateful night on the dock.

Her gaze was full of him and her breath shortened, but she didn’t say anything. How easy it would be to lower his head and claim her enticing lips. “If you’ve hidden the weirdness of this guy’s flirtations and subtle threats from your family for years and only kept him at bay because of Miles, there’s something there. I trust you and your instincts.”

“Thank you.” She placed her soft hand on the arm that was braced against the counter.

“We’ll figure out who left that poster and what Dr. Hampshire’s about,” he reassured her, though his mind was far from investigative work.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Clint.” The words were sweet, the look in her brown sugar eyes even sweeter.

“I hope you never have to find out.”

Her eyes widened and filled with warmth.

He meant those words. Could he segue into them dating and seeing if this fake engagement could someday be real? Someday very, very soon. What about Walker? Would his brother give upon his dibs or could he possibly feel as strongly about Lily as Clint did?

She lifted her free hand and wrapped it around his bicep. Clint’s blood heated up. He wrapped one arm around her lower back and lowered his head to hers.

Her lips parted slightly as if welcoming him and she arched up onto tiptoes, clinging to his bicep and running her other hand up to his shoulder. Her warm fingers sent thrills of pleasure through him. He’d believed he loved Sheryl, but he’d never felt this way when she touched him, had never craved a kiss like he did Lily’s.

Clint bent his head to claim her mouth with his own. Thrills of anticipation shot through him.

The doorbell rang.

Lily’s head darted around as if she could see who was there.

Clint wanted to curse. “They’ll go away,” he growled.

But as the sheriff, he needed to answer that door.

He really wanted to curse.

Lily smiled at those words, or maybe at his tone.

A loud rap came on the front door. Clint pushed out a heavy breath and straightened. “I’d better get it. You stay out of sight.”

“Okay. I’ll stay in here. If I hear you coming, I’ll go hide in the laundry room.”

“Obliged.” He forced himself to release her and step away. It was painful. Striding through the living area, around the stairs and to the front entry, he pulled out his phone and clicked on the camera app, then on the front doorbell view.

Walker.

He wanted to curse again. He loved his brothers. He didn’t want Walker here right now. He’d hated fighting Miles about Lily and Eva last week. He’d hated fighting Cade about Sheryl. He didn’t want to fight with Walker, hurt him, or go back on his word.

---