Read Online Faith's Sheriff (Montgomery Family and Friends) by Iris Abbott - Free Book Online Page B

that felt like it was about to pound its way through her skin. 
    “Oh my God, Cole you almost scared me to death.”  He’d been doing that a lot lately Faith thought. 
    Cole finally came to his senses.  He opened the doors and joined Faith on the patio.  “Sorry I probably should have said something to let you know I was here, but you looked so peaceful, I didn’t want to disturb you.”  He gave her a slow sexy grin and held out the flowers.  “I saw these in the store and thought about you.  They’re almost as pretty as you,” he added and was pleased to see her eyes light up and a smile take the place of the frown she’d been wearing.    
    Wow, just wow!  Faith couldn’t remember the last time someone had given her flowers.  Before she even realized what she was doing she jumped up from the chair and flung her arms around Cole.  “Thank you so much!  They’re beautiful.”  She used the back of one hand to brush away a lone tear.
    “Yeah, well so are you.”  Cole tightened his arms around Faith and pulled her just a little bit closer.
    Faith felt Cole tugging her nearer and let him.  It felt good to be embraced by someone as strong and capable as the sheriff.  She felt safe and protected in the harbor of his arms.  This was different from feeling manipulated and controlled.  And after the night she’d just experienced safe and protected was nothing to scoff at that was for sure. 
    She felt something else too, a slow burn of heat that seemed to flicker to life every time Cole was near.  She let out a soft groan and then quickly stepped away from Cole and the temptations he represented.  She had enough trouble with the threat of a potential murderer trying to run her out of town.  She didn’t need any more complications and Cole could be a very big complication if she let him.  She had no doubts about that.
    Cole heard the groan and had to bite his tongue to keep from chuckling out loud.  No need to antagonize her.  She was already jumpy around him.  One thing was clear to Cole however.  She could deny it all she wanted, but Faith had to feel the electricity their bodies generated when they were near each other otherwise she wouldn’t react to him the way she did.
    “Umm, so Sheriff Duncan,” she used the formal address in an attempt to back away emotionally as well as physically.  “Is there any news yet on Richard Tome or the vandalism of my house?”
    “Afraid not,” Cole told her.  “We still have an APB issued for Tome, but we haven’t found him yet.  The department has been swamped with hundreds of tips from the hotline we established, but so far nothing.  Whether he’s the murderer or a victim, he’s doing a great job of staying hidden.”
    Faith felt a chill settle over her despite the warm afternoon sun.  She wrapped her arms around her body and hugged herself.  “Nothing about the rock that ended up in the middle of my living room floor either I guess?”
    “No there’s not.  I’m sorry, Faith.  I know it must seem like nothing is being done and everything is moving at a snail’s pace, but we will find out who did this to you and why.  I put in a call to law enforcement in your hometown.  I filled them in on what was happening down here.  They are going to round up Patrick Riley and ask him a few questions.  They’ll get back to me as soon as they’re done.  If he has an alibi then we’ll shift focus from him to Tome and the murder case the two of us inadvertently walked into last night.”
    Faith shivered at the reminder of the gruesome events from the night before.
    Cole noticed her reaction and lightly cupped her elbow.  It was time for a distraction.  “How about we go inside and see what’s taking Caroline so long with that tea she promised to make for me.”  He once again offered her the bouquet of flowers that had been forgotten when they hugged each other.  “That way you can find a container for your flowers.  They’re