Prince Charming Wears a Badge Read Online Free Page B

had an explosive temper. He hadn’t believed it until he’d seen it firsthand.
    Was that what had forced her return to Whittler’s Creek? Had her temper done her in?
    A loud knock on the frame of his office door had him opening his eyes. He hadn’t even realized he’d closed them. “Yes?” he said to the youngest of his three patrolmen on the Whittler’s Creek Police Force.
    â€œYou have a visitor, Chief.” Pete Meyers ran a hand over his bald head. He was only a few years older than Tyler’s thirty, but between losing his hair and being overweight by a good forty pounds, Pete looked older than his years. “Callie something.”
    â€œCallie James.” She’d come up to the doorway behind Pete.
    Tyler would have recognized her voice without even seeing her.
    Physically, she was everything he remembered and more. She wore a navy suit jacket and matching pencil skirt that stopped a few inches above her knees. Her filmy white blouse had several of the top buttons open to reveal multiple strands of large gold chains around her neck. Her neutral-tan pumps added about four inches to her average height.
    She still had the ability to heat his blood, but he was an adult now and knew better than to get too close to a smoldering fire.
    â€œThanks, Pete.” He waved Callie in and rose from his chair. Her deep blue eyes with long lashes gave her an innocent quality. “Have a seat.” He pointed to one of the two beat-up chairs on the other side of his desk. He sat when she did. “I apologize for the heat. The AC repairman was here three times last week, but the system needs to be replaced.” He swallowed, feeling like he was babbling. “I haven’t seen you since high school, Callie. How have you been?”
    She crossed one bare leg over the other. “Pretty good, until I had to come back here.”
    He nodded, forcing his eyes from her legs to her face.
    â€œWhat about you? I didn’t realize you were the one I’d be reporting to.” She looked around his cramped office. “What are you doing back here? Weren’t you going to West Point? Planning to make the Army a career?”
    â€œI left the Army. Plans change.” He didn’t want to get into the details of his own life. That wasn’t why she sat across from him.
    â€œSo you’re the Chief of Police now?”
    â€œThat’s right. For about a year now.” He checked the email again from Dr. Hammond. “It says here you need to perform community service hours. You couldn’t do them where you’re living?”
    â€œI was going to, but Dr. Hammond thought I should come back here to see my family.”
    â€œHow long has it been?”
    She twisted a lock of her still-long hair. “Eleven years. I guess he figured it would take more than a day trip for me to resolve things to his satisfaction.”
    â€œEleven years is a long time to not see your family.” He couldn’t imagine how painful it would be if either of his young daughters someday decided to stay away from him for that long.
    She shrugged. “If I’d been given a choice, I would never have come back.”
    * * *
    W HEN T YLER DIDN ’ T COMMENT , Callie turned the focus on him. “What about your dad? Is he still living in town?”
    Tyler hesitated and cleared his throat. “He died almost a year and a half ago.”
    Callie leaned forward. “I’m so sorry. He was a great guy.” Tyler’s dad had been very active in youth sports when they were growing up. As the owner of Garrett’s Hardware Store, he’d had flexible hours, allowing him to be on the practice fields after school. He was also very generous when it came to sponsoring teams. Callie’s softball shirt with Garrett’s across the back came to mind. “What about the store? Is someone still running it?”
    Tyler shook his head. “Dad closed it when he got