Page 19 of The Sheriff & the Nurse

The lights in his open living space came on and he heard Lily take in a breath as she surveyed the large room. The entire back of the house was an open two stories. The leather couches, cherry wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops were all top of the line. A floating staircase ran from the front entry to a loft area above. There were two bedrooms arranged at the front of the upstairs, stacked above the front office and formal dining room. His spacious master suite was above the three-car garage. He was proud of his house and his brother.

“My goodness.” Lily did a second take. “First of all, I can’t wait to see the view out of all those windows in the daylight.” She pointed to the back of the house and the two-story wall of windows that showcased his backyard and the forest beyond.“Second of all, the sheriff’s salary must be twenty times what I make as an RN.”

He chuckled at that. His sheriff’s salary wasn’t what had built this house. “I worked on the ranch from the time I turned eight, raised and sold cattle and bulls on my own, and my dad is a genius at investing.” His dad had real estate ventures throughout the West and had given each of his sons opportunities to invest. Clint’s monthly dividends were five times what he made as a sheriff.

“Oh.” She studied him for a moment and then looked away. “Well, this is gorgeous. Thank you for letting me stay.”

Clint should have used some restraint, but he released the suitcase handle and stepped closer to her. “I’m not just letting you stay. We’re engaged now, remember?”

The pulse point in her neck became more pronounced. Clint had dreams of lowering his head way, way down and tasting that sweet neck of hers.

“How could I forget?” She gave him an unsteady smile. “Thank you for being willing to protect me. You and Miles are cut from the same cloth.”

That cooled his desire to kiss her neck. How many times had his little brother kissed it? That thought turned his stomach over.

If Walker dated her, it would be another little brother’s privilege to kiss Lily. Never his.

“Yes, we are,” he said, then he gestured. “Bedrooms are all upstairs. Let’s get you settled.”

It was only nine-thirty. Would she want to rest after a two-day shift at the hospital and all the stress and worry over what had happened tonight? Probably. He’d love to stay up and … eat a bowl of ice cream, play a card game, watch a show, talk away the night, tug her close and kiss her until she knew this engagement did not need to be fake.

Please help me, heaven above.

How on earth was he going to honor what he had promised Walker all those years ago? He thumped his fist against his leg.

She walked toward the entry and the staircase, peering into his home office and the formal dining area up front. “Exceptional,” she said as she started up the stairs. “Rhett built this?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Impressive.”

“He is. Have you been through any of the homes he’s built in Kalispell?”

“No, but I’ve heard some of the physicians brag about him being their builder.”

“He’s done well.” Clint was proud of Rhett. Of all his brothers. Well, except for Easton. That blockhead needed to stop riding bulls, risking his life, and thinking he was the charmer of all women.

Then he thought of Walker. This ‘engagement’ would hurt his brother. No matter how he justified his actions tonight, Clint was swooping in and taking away Walker’s opportunity to date Lily. He didn’t want to ruin Walker’s chances for happiness, and loyalty to his family was everything to him.

But why did he feel deep down that Lily was meant to be his? Lily had named him as her fiancé, chosen him. He couldn’t change that. Had she only said his name because, like she’d said, he was the sheriff and would intimidate Dr. Hampshire? Or was there an underlying need for him like he felt for her?

They reached the top of the staircase and the balcony overlooking the great room area. He set her suitcase down, turned and pointed at the area running along the front of the house. “Two bedrooms here with a Jack and Jill bath between them. Take your pick.”

“Thank you.” She tilted her head to the right and the far end of the balcony. “Your bedroom?”

He nodded, folding his arms across his chest and leaning against the banister. “Would you like a tour?” His heart thumped faster thinking about her walking through his bedroom, walk-in-closet, and large bathroom. What would she think? Would that feel too intimate for the situation they were in?

Her eyes said she would like the tour. “No thank you. I’m … exhausted. I’ll just get ready for bed and rest. Don’t worry about me. Thank you for everything. G’night.”

She grabbed her suitcase and all but ran for the bedroom closest to his. Pushing through the door, she paused in the doorway and glanced back. Her brown sugar eyes all but begged him to come after her. Was he reading that correctly?

He was Easton Coleville’s brother. He’d never in his life utilized Easton’s charming lines, but he knew how Easton’s charisma—or ‘rizz’ as his brother called it—was accomplished.

Straightening away from the banister, he strutted toward her, focused on her and her alone.

Lily released her suitcase handle and leaned into the doorframe. Her mouth parted and her lips looked insanely kissable. Clint’s heart raced.

He should turn around, lock himself in his room, and cool off.

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