The Sheriff and the Baby Read Online Free

the rock of our family, but he’s lonely and I detected something in his voice this morning.”
    “Like what?” Becky imitated a deep voice. “Luke. I’m lonely. I need a wife.”
    Luke laughed. “You’ve been married to Will too long. That’s exactly what he’d say. I thought I’d get more sense out of you.”
    “Nope, got yourself the wrong gal. Will’s sense of humor has rubbed off on me and I kinda like it.”
    “Yeah, I guess you did need to lighten up.” Luke couldn’t resist teasing his formerly uptight sister-in-law.
    “Speak for yourself, Mr. Grumpy.”
    “Touché. Now, can we get serious and talk business?”
    “About finding Matt a wife? Sure. What can I do?”
     
    B ETH WAS FINISHING breakfast when there was a light knock at her door. She dabbed her mouth with her napkin and checked to make sure she’d done up her nightgown properly before inviting her caller in.
    The smile froze on her face as her visitor stepped intoher room. He held an enormous bunch of flowers, but that wasn’t what had her heart rate speeding.
    A police officer! Her heart pounded harder as prickles of fear crept up her spine and a thousand questions demanded answers. How had they found her? Had they traced her grandmother’s car? Damn! Why hadn’t she gotten the plates changed or sold it? “Ma’am?”
    The deep voice was familiar and the tone was gentle and unthreatening. But Beth knew better—cops weren’t to be trusted.
    The man removed his hat. Dark brown hair was revealed, along with his intense dark brown eyes. “I’m Matt O’Malley,” he said. “I brought you in last night.”
    Beth squeezed her eyes shut as she fought for control of her racing heart. The kindhearted stranger was a cop? How ironic! She opened her eyes and glared at him, daring him to approach.
    “You’re a cop!”
    “The county sheriff to be more precise.”
    “But…but you weren’t wearing a uniform last night.”
    “I don’t always wear one. Yesterday was one of those days.”
    Scattered memories of the previous night surfaced. The distant sound of a siren, driving snow, a car’s headlights blinding her, excruciating pain and her fear of not making it to the hospital in time. Yelling. She’d yelled a lot. She blushed. This man—this police man—had witnessed the birth of her daughter.
    “I remember a siren now. Was that you?”
    “Yes.”
    He paused as if waiting for her to say something. Maybe it was just a coincidence that he was here. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks that she’d used her grandmother’scar to drive to Colorado. Gran had said it would be safer, that way she wouldn’t risk anyone running a check on her own car’s plates. Hennessey would’ve posted an APB on her vehicle the day she fled California. Terror began to choke her at the thought of what Hennessey would do to her—what he’d do to her precious baby—if he ever found them.
    “Ma’am? Is there a problem?”
    Beth fought the urge to throw back the covers, grab her sleeping daughter and flee. She had to try to remain calm even though her nerves were stretched to the breaking point. If Matt O’Malley detected her nervousness, he’d get suspicious and make inquiries—if he hadn’t done so already. He wouldn’t have to search far to learn the truth.
    She made herself smile and said, “No, Sheriff, of course not. It…was just such a shock to…” She shook her head. “I mean, I wasn’t expecting any visitors.”
    He smiled and stepped toward the bed. “I stopped by to give you these,” he said almost shyly and handed her the pink roses.
    Taken aback by the gesture, Beth managed to say, “Thank you,” covering her nervousness by breathing in their delicate perfume, then laying them in her lap, not wanting him to see how badly her hands trembled. “They’re lovely,” she said and wondered if this was just a social visit, after all. “You really didn’t have to. You did more than enough for me last night.”
    “All in the