Single Dad Sheriff (Harlequin American Romance) by LISA CHILDS Read Free Book Online Page A

lifted her head and met his gaze through the store window. He’d rather not have to deal with her right now, not when he was so mad at Robyn for doing the same thing to him that Jessie might be doing to Tommy’s dad.
    But it was too late for him to escape. Tommy had already seen Chance and the little boy tugged free ofhis mom’s hand on his shoulder and rushed out the door. “Sheriff Drayton! Sheriff Drayton!”
    â€œHey, Tommy.”
    The little boy grabbed Chance’s hand, wrapping both of his around it. “I need your help!”
    Chance swallowed a groan. Damn. The kid hadn’t given up. “I’m sorry. I haven’t been able to find—”
    â€œSheriff!” Jessie called out his title now as she joined them on the sidewalk. Standing behind her son, she directed a pointed stare at Chance; her green-eyed gaze was very intense. Her hair was loose around her shoulders now, but made her look no older than the ponytail had. “That’s not what he wants help with.”
    He released a shallow breath in relief. “Okay then. What do you need?”
    Tommy tugged on Chance’s hand, pulling him toward the open door of the sporting goods store. “I need your ’pinion.”
    â€œI’m sure the sheriff is very busy, Tommy,” Jessie said, easing her son away from Chance. “He doesn’t have time to go shopping with us.”
    Something shifted in his chest at the image Jessie’s words conjured in his mind: a happy family hanging out together. He’d always hated shopping, though, and so had Matthew. They would have rather been out playing sports than buying the equipment for them.
    â€œHe’s just standing out here,” Tommy pointed out. “He’s not doing anything.”
    â€œHe’s the sheriff,” Jessie reminded her son. “He’s always working.” She glanced to the cell phone he clutched in his palm. Maybe she’d seen him on it, arguing with his lawyer.
    She’d been inside the store, so she wouldn’t have beenable to overhear any of his conversation, which was good. Since she wouldn’t share her secrets, he wouldn’t be thrilled if she learned his, especially since she would realize why he might not be entirely objective about Tommy being denied a relationship with his dad.
    â€œActually I was just having lunch with the mayor and had to step out to take a call,” he said. “I should probably rejoin him.” But when he glanced back toward the diner two buildings down, the mayor was walking out with a couple of old cronies. Mayor Applegate lifted his hand in a wave at Chance, and then slid behind the wheel of his vintage pickup truck.
    â€œThat’s not going to work,” she murmured. With a slight nudge, she urged Tommy, “Go back inside and we’ll meet you there in a minute.”
    â€œWhat’s not going to work?” Chance asked, wary of being left alone with her. Even though he didn’t agree with or understand the woman, she fascinated him.
    â€œYour excuse to escape,” she replied with an unladylike snort of disgust. “It’s not going to work.”
    â€œWhat makes you think I want to escape?”
    â€œYou don’t exactly look like you’re in the mood for shopping,” she said, her eyes narrowed as she studied his face. “In fact, you look pretty mad right now.”
    She couldn’t have overheard his conversation but she’d definitely picked up on his reaction to it.
    â€œI’m fine with this,” Chance insisted. “I thought you were the one who might have a problem with my hanging out with Tommy.”
    â€œYou’re not hanging out with my son,” she said. “You’re going in there and giving your—”
    â€œâ€™Pinion?”
    â€œYes.” Her anger with him a few days ago wasapparently forgotten now, and she smiled. “That’s all he wants.”
    She