Bachelor Sheriff by Paula Graves

Author:Paula Graves [Paula Graves]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-01-15T05:00:00+00:00

“I’VE CHANGED MY MIND.” Melissa stopped halfway up the flagstone path and turned back toward the car.

Aaron’s warm fingers closed over hers. “Are you sure? I still think this is a good idea, but you want to chicken out—”

She slanted a glare at him. “Don’t try to shame me into going through with this.”

He gave her hand a light squeeze and let it go. “I’m not, really. If you don’t want to do it, I’ll take you right back to the cottage. I just want you to be sure.”

She opened her mouth to assure him she knew what she wanted, but nothing came out. She pressed her lips closed, her mind holding an internal debate about whether or not having dinner with her parents was a good idea. Before she came to a conclusion, the front door opened and her mother stepped out onto the porch, beaming at her and Aaron with so much happiness Melissa knew she couldn’t back out now.

She caught Aaron’s hand and headed up the porch steps. “We brought dessert.”

Aaron let go of Melissa’s hand and gave Karen Draper the deep-dish peach cobbler Melissa had spent the afternoon making. She knew it was her mother’s favorite, and Beth Cooper had been generous enough to share some of the peach preserves she’d canned earlier that year from the bounty of the three peach trees that grew on the lakeside property. It had been awhile since Melissa had baked anything, but Aaron had sampled a small bite and assured her it was delicious.

She’d been too nervous to sample it herself to find out if he was just being kind.

“You didn’t have to, but thank you.” Karen gestured toward the door. “Come in. Your father is setting the table.”

Melissa blinked. Setting the table? Since when had her father ever set the table?

Aaron’s hand pressed firmly against the small of her back, nudging her forward when her feet faltered. “Is there anything we can do to help?” he asked politely.

“Just enjoy yourselves,” Karen said with a smile. She led them through the neat, simply-furnished living room into the dining room, where Melissa’s father, Derek, was setting a large pitcher of iced tea in the center of the round oak table.

He looked up at their entrance, his gaze locking with Melissa’s. The intensity in his blue eyes, so like her own, set off a wild flutter of apprehension in the center of her belly.

His gaze left her, finally, to meet Aaron’s. Derek’s smile seemed genuine. “Aaron Cooper. I hear you finally gave up your life of crime.”

Aaron’s smile in response was guarded. “Yes, sir, I did.” Melissa sensed that he had said much less than he might have wanted—trying to be on his best behavior, as she’d asked.

“And as for you, Missy Mae—”

She flinched at her father’s use of his favorite nickname for her.

“I swear you’ve been getting into more trouble now than when you were a teenager.” His tone was stern, but his eyes were gentle. He almost looked proud of her.

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