The Accidental Sheriff by Cathy McDavid Read Free Book Online Page B

hand and made their way to her mouth. “That’s why I think if he hasn’t fired me by now, he won’t. Of course, I can forget about any more special assignments or promotions.” The last chip lodged in her throat as that dismal reality sank in, and she coughed to clear it.
    “I think you should quit,” Vi said hotly. “You have way too much talent for that dinky station.”
    Big sisters. Hate them one minute, love them the next.
    “What would I do for a job? The other stations in town aren’t hiring or I’d have heard.”
    “We’re shorthanded in the office.”
    Jake’s suggestion earned him a disgruntled groan. “Workfor you? No, thank you. Helping Mom is enough.” Like most of the family members, Carolina split herself between the ranch and an outside job. In her case, she assisted her mother, Millie, who was in charge of their many and frequently elaborate weddings. “Besides, I like working at the station. Most of the time,” she added. “I’m not ready to throw in the towel yet.”
    “Just in case, I think you should give Howard a call,” Jake said.
    Carolina frowned at the mention of the family’s attorney.
    “What all did this new acting sheriff say that would make you go against your boss?” Vi asked.
    Carolina reminded herself that her sister had moved away from Bear Creek Ranch almost ten years ago, and although she returned regularly to visit, she hadn’t met Neil yet.
    “You wouldn’t ask that question if you saw him.” Rachel’s radiant grin spoke volumes.
    “Oh.”
    “Yeah,” Carolina concurred with a sigh.
    “What?” Jake looked from one to the other, his expression befuddled. “Is this some sort of female code?”
    “Neil Lovitt is hot,” Rachel translated for him.
    “Seriously hot,” Briana chimed in, plopping down on the end of Carolina’s chaise longue. Her younger sisters, evidently reenergized from their snack, had returned to the hot tub, their little cousin in tow. “For, you know, an older guy and everything.”
    “Old?” Jake recoiled. “What does that make me?”
    Briana rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Carolina. “I don’t blame you for refusing to do the story. He’s really nice and doesn’t deserve to have his reputation trashed.”
    “He is nice.” Carolina smiled. “And not just because he cut you some slack with that ticket.” The things Neil had toldher about his late wife’s death and raising his daughter alone had deeply affected her. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him since their conversation.
    “Is that your only reason?” Jake asked.
    “Absolutely.” Carolina instantly put up her guard. She and Jake weren’t merely related, they were good friends. He knew her as well as, if not better than, her sisters. “He’s a nice guy, as Briana says, with a sad past. What other reason do I need?”
    “You forgot to mention hot.” Rachel, still grinning, rubbed sunscreen onto her bare arms.
    Jake’s gaze narrowed on Carolina. “I know for a fact there are a lot of nice, hot people with sad pasts that you wouldn’t risk your job for.”
    She didn’t answer him—which was a mistake because it became immediately obvious that everybody present over the age of ten suspected there was more to her motives for defending Neil than she’d admitted. Close families definitely had their drawbacks.
    “Be careful,” Jake warned. “No reason to screw up your life for some guy you hardly know.”
    “Language, please.” Vi glowered at Jake. Again.
    Carolina pondered Jake’s point while he and her sister debated whether or not Vi’s daughter had already heard the words he’d used at preschool.
    Neil wasn’t “some guy” as far as Carolina was concerned. She definitely experienced a connection with him, of the zing-clear-to-her-toes caliber. The connection could, she feared, be one-sided. He hadn’t exactly bubbled over with joy in the hospital cafeteria when she’d promised him she would defy her boss and not