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

battle.
    He narrowed his eyes as the brake lights burned red. “Please, put the car in Park,” he directed the driver. He didn’t want to step from his vehicle only to have the other car flee before he could approach it.
    But the car didn’t drive off. Instead it backed right into him—with such force than the air bag burst free of the steering wheel and exploded in his face.
    Â 
    â€œI S SHE okay?” he asked.
    Jessie glanced across to where Chance sat in the passenger seat—of her car. Because of the deployed air bag, his had been towed to the body shop.
    â€œYour car?” she asked. She’d had little experience with men; did they assign their vehicles genders?
    He shook his head. “No. Mrs. Applegate. Is she all right? She was pretty shaken up when I helped her out of her Cadillac. I was worried she might have had a heart attack or a stroke.”
    â€œShe’s fine,” Jessie assured him, moved by his concern for the elderly woman who could have killed him had he stepped out of the vehicle before she’d slammed hers into Reverse. “You’re the one who’s been hurt.”
    He lifted a hand toward his face. “Just some burns from the air bag,” he said, dismissing his injuries. “It’s nothing.”
    â€œThe chemical burned your eyes, too,” she reminded him. “You can barely see right now.”
    â€œAnd Doc Malewitz put some drops in to treat them.” He squinted at her, grimaced and added, “I can see better already.”
    â€œClose your eyes,” she directed him, with a smile at his stubborn male pride. “Let them rest.”
    He expelled a ragged breath. “How come you keep getting the duty of driving me home?”
    â€œI’m low man on the totem pole.” She hoped like hell that was all it was. That the doctor and his wife were just too busy to drive patients home. She hoped she had just imagined the look that had passed between the sweet married couple and that they weren’t trying to match her and the sheriff.
    Maybe that was their contingency plan in case whoever eventually took over their practice didn’t keep her on as the medical secretary. Since she might lose her job, did they intend to find her a husband to support her? They had finally had that talk with her—the one she’d feared was coming for a while, because she’d seen the reluctance and guilt in their eyes. As soon as they found someone to take over their practice, they were going to retire to a warmer climate.
    She sighed now and pushed aside her sense of abandonment. It wasn’t like eight years ago when her parents had retired on her and moved back to Germany when Jessie had needed them most—when she’d been pregnant, scared and alone. It wasn’t like that now because she had Tommy; she wasn’t alone. And in a year, she’d have her nursing degree.
    â€œI could have called Eleanor or one of the deputies to drive me home,” he said.
    â€œBut you didn’t,” she remarked. “Last time or this time. Why not?”
    He sighed. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve wanted to spend some time with you.”
    Her heart raced then slowed with dread as she realized what he meant. “You’re still working on keeping that promise to my son. You want me to tell you about his dad.”
    â€œI’d rather you told him .”
    â€œI will,” she said, “when he’s old enough to understand.” Her breath shortened as a familiar panic returned. She knew she wouldn’t be able to put it off much longer.
    â€œI’m old enough,” Chance pointed out. “Tell me. Let me help you.”
    â€œI don’t need your help,” she insisted. “Tommy’s my son. I can handle this on my own. I don’t need the local sheriff involved in my personal life.”
    â€œI don’t want to get involved,” Chance insisted,