The Lawman's Baby by Patricia Johns

Author:Patricia Johns
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-04-04T13:03:08+00:00

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PAIGE LIVED ON a street just south of downtown Eagle’s Rest. As Mike navigated the open roads to get to her address, Paige’s mind spun. What had just happened? Her jaw still hurt from where Craig had clamped down on her, and her initial feelings of concern for him had melted away. Now, she felt shaken and scared. And a bit angry. If Mike hadn’t been there today, would Craig have done more than he already had?

Paige leaned back on the headrest. She wasn’t having a panic attack right now, and frankly, that was surprising. She’d just been through a terrifying confrontation, and now that an emotional meltdown would be fully justified, her body seemed to not require one.

“You’re welcome to stay at my place,” he added.

“No, I’m fine.” Surprisingly fine—she wasn’t sure she even understood why. “What’s going to happen to Craig?”

“He’ll be in holding,” Mike replied. “The state of Colorado will press charges against him for assault and public intoxication, and he’ll be one step closer to being forced into getting that help he needs.”

“I can understand his anger, though,” she said. “He’s a father—albeit a bad one right now. And we’ve taken his kids away.”

“To protect them,” Mike replied.

“Yes, and I’m not excusing his behavior. Those kids were neglected and scared. They need adults they can trust. And I’m certainly not excusing his behavior today. But I understand what he’s feeling.”

“That isn’t your job,” Mike countered.

“It is my job!” she shot back. “What use am I to my clients if I can’t at least understand where they’re coming from?”

Mike fell silent, and Paige sighed.

“I didn’t mean to snap at you,” she said. “I do appreciate you stepping in.”

He signaled a turn. “How are you feeling? You think you need a doctor?”

“No, I’ll be fine,” she replied.

But she might have to explain a bruised face to her friends and family over the next week, and that would prove tiring.

They were on her street now, and Mike slowed.

“There—just ahead. The yellow house with the white shutters,” she said. “Number 36.”

He pulled to a stop, then looked over at her. “I can see why you might want out of Social Services.”

“Ironically, it isn’t the confrontation that gets to me the most,” she said. “I just got manhandled by a furious client, and I didn’t get a panic attack. Don’t get me wrong—that scared me. But what really gets to me is my inability to fix things. I can’t make Craig do what he needs to do to reunite his family. I can’t protect him from himself. And if I cared less, I’d just file that away as not my responsibility.”

“He has to want to change,” Mike said.

“And I know that.”

“No one is looking to you to fix him.”

“I know that, too.” Paige shrugged. “When I started this job seven years ago, I was more optimistic. I thought that given enough time, enough support, enough people who truly cared, that a man could change. I no longer believe that.”

“You

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