Read Online Single Dad Sheriff (Harlequin American Romance) by LISA CHILDS - Free Book Online

home?”
    â€œNo—” Belinda leaned over and tugged on a lock of Jessie’s hair “—that they’re involved.”
    Jessie struggled to hold in a laugh as she lowered hervoice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Then I guess he and Mrs. Wilson must have something going.”
    Belinda gasped. “Mrs. Wilson? The crazy cat lady?”
    â€œYeah, she drove his car before I did, so if anyone has dibs on Sheriff Drayton, she does.” She sighed in mock resignation.
    Belinda dissolved into giggles. “The crazy cat lady and the ex-Marine. Yeah, right…”
    It made about as much sense as her and Chance Drayton, Jessie thought. She had absolutely no interest in the man, beyond making certain that he didn’t make any more promises to her son that he couldn’t keep. She doubted he intended to stay in Forest Glen anyhow; he’d be going back to Chicago someday. Soon, she hoped.
    Â 
    C HANCE COULD BARELY LOOK at his own reflection in the rearview mirror. Tommy Phillips had been right the other day; he was a liar. Well, he hadn’t been lying when he’d made that promise to Tommy, but by not keeping that promise, he had become one. He couldn’t blame the kid for not wanting to hang out with him, as Chance had offered. Hell, his own kid must not want to spend time with him, or Robyn would have at least agreed to visitation. She loved their son, or so she said when she claimed that she was only trying to protect him.
    And right now all Chance had to protect was the citizens of Forest Glen. But not a lot happened here. His allergic reaction was still the talk of the small town. As the story was retold, it got more dramatic. Apparently he’d barely survived the cat attack. He glanced down at the scabbed over scratches on his arm. Damn cat…
    But the feline was the only thing that had come closeto breaking the law in Forest Glen. As far as he could determine, Jessie Phillips hadn’t. But he was pretty damn certain she knew who Tommy’s father was. So why had she lied about his identity on her son’s birth certificate?
    She’d denied she was in danger—from anyone but Chance. Thoroughly frustrated, he groaned. Hell, maybe he needed to leave it—and her and her son—alone. He had to stop fixating on Jessie and Tommy Phillips. He had to focus instead on his job. And so he returned his attention to the road as he cruised the outskirts of the town square. Since almost everyone was in school or at work, the road was pretty much deserted except for his car and the vehicle ahead of him, which moved so slowly he nearly rear-ended the heavy, metal bumper.
    The ancient Cadillac straddled the yellow line now, weaving back and forth across it. He flipped on the lights and sirens. The car slowed, or maybe it continued at the same pace, but it didn’t move toward the shoulder of the road. Instead the faded pink Caddy continued to weave across the line.
    Thankfully there was no oncoming traffic. Chance hit the lights and siren again but the car did not stop. He reached for the PA and spoke into the mike. “Please, pull off to the shoulder of the road.”
    But whom was he talking to? Through the rear window, he couldn’t even see the top of a head. The driver could have been an elderly person or a kid. He smiled. Hell, maybe it was Tommy Phillips. Maybe Jessie had confiscated his bike, so he’d stolen a car and set off in search of his father himself. Seeing the kid’s frustration the other day and knowing his determination, Chance wouldn’t put it past him.
    â€œPull off to the side of the road,” he repeated into the mike, his voice echoing on the quiet country road.
    Finally brake lights flashed red as the car slowed, then headed toward the shoulder. He pulled behind it at an angle, so that he could walk up to the driver’s window without other traffic running him over. More cops got injured in traffic stops than gun