The Sheriff and the Baby by C.C. Coburn Read Free Book Online Page A

she placed her in the crib.
    Despite not wanting to see Matt today, she was grateful he’d shown up, if only to give her a break from Sarah.
    When she’d seen him standing there, looking so dependable, his eyes full of compassion, Beth had felt gratitude right down to her toes.
    Careful! she warned herself. It isn’t wise to rely on Matt O’Malley. He’s a cop.
    In her mind she believed this, but her heart was having trouble agreeing. Ever since he’d lifted her from the car, she’d felt safe, protected. The way he’d held her securely against him as he carried her to his vehicle had penetratedthrough the pain, instilling a sense of calm and sheltering her from her fear of what was to come. And he hadn’t deserted her when he’d got her to the hospital. Instead, he’d stayed, held her hand and provided her with some focus outside the pain of childbirth.
    No matter how hard she tried to deny it, she felt a bond with Matt O’Malley.
    When a light knock sounded at the door, Beth glanced up, hoping Matt had returned.
    The man who stood in the doorway bore every indication of being a close relative of Matt’s. He was tall, with thick, dark brown hair graying at the temples, brown eyes and a lazy smile. He held a large bunch of flowers. “Hi, there. I’m Luke O’Malley,” he said. “May I come in?”
    Since it would be downright rude to refuse, she said, “Of course. Matt’s just stepped out for a moment.”
    Luke advanced toward her bed. “I brought you these to cheer up your room,” he said and laid the flowers in her arms. “Becky told me she visited you yesterday, so I knew you’d only get candy from her.”
    “You seem to know your sister-in-law very well.” She smiled and offered her hand. “I’m Beth, and thank you. The flowers are lovely.”
    He shook her hand, and Beth noted that she didn’t experience the same wonderful feeling as when Matt had accidentally touched her the day before.
    “Pleased to meet you,” he drawled and released her hand. “Matt’s told me a lot about you, and I’m pleased to make your acquaintance at last.”
    He turned his attention to Sarah lying peacefully asleep in her crib. “Now, isn’t she just the prettiest little lady? Reminds me of my own beautiful daughters when they were babies. You’ll have to come out to the ranch and meetthem. They’ve grown up into beautiful girls. ’Course they miss having a mom—”
    “Luke!” Matt stood in the doorway; his expression was thunderous.
    Deep in her belly, Beth felt a prickle of something she couldn’t quite name. Sarah stirred in her crib.
    “Hush, Matt! Now look what you’ve done,” Luke admonished. “You’ve gone and woken the little darlin’ up.”
     
    I MMEDIATELY SUSPICIOUS of the stupid grin his brother wore, Matt narrowed his eyes in warning. He’d watched Luke weave his charm from the doorway and didn’t like it one bit.
    He moved to Sarah’s crib and lifted her into his arms. “There, there, sweetie,” he soothed, and Sarah rewarded him by returning immediately to sleep.
    Luke had resumed his pathetic attempts to charm Beth, oozing his best country-bumpkin charm and prattling on about her and Sarah coming to visit his ranch. Last time Matt had heard, Two Elk belonged to all the O’Malleys!
    Luke was saying, “Just give me a call and I’ll come and get you.”
    Fixing his brother with a look of contempt, Matt snarled, “Hadn’t you better be getting along? I’m sure you’ve got calves to brand or torture in some other diabolical way.”
    When Luke refused to budge, Matt suspected he was up to something, and if his instincts were right, Becky was in collusion with him.
    Luke crossed his arms over his chest and set his feet at a wider stance. “Now, now, Matt, you can’t go keeping Beth all to yourself. I’m sure she’d like to meet the rest of the single O’Malley men.”
    Luke’s challenging stance meant he thought he was settling in for a long session. Matt needed to get him