The Accidental Sheriff Read Free

then, she’d still be alive.
    Neil retrieved his sunglasses from his breast pocket and put them back on.
    “If you need anything, you have my number.” The major and his wife returned to their rented SUV after saying goodbye.
    “Look, I know the accident was Briana’s fault.” Carolina moved to stand beside Neil. “But is there any way you can cut her some slack?”
    “What are you suggesting, Ms. Sweetwater?”
    “A warning?”
    “Carolina,” Jake interrupted, his tone clearly telling her to butt out.
    In truth, Neil was inclined to cut Briana a little slack, but not because of her father or Carolina. His instincts told himBriana was a good kid, if not a good driver. And as scared as she was at this moment, she’d definitely exercise more caution in the future.
    “You committed two violations.” He ignored everyone else and addressed Briana. “The first was failure to yield the right-of-way, and the second was driving without a valid license.”
    She nodded resignedly.
    “Today—and only today—I’m going to let you off with a warning.”
    “No way!” Her jaw dropped, and her eyes bugged.
    “If I’m called out again to an accident in which you’re involved, rest assured I’ll throw the book at you.”
    “I promise. I’ll be really, really careful from now on. I’ll check both ways three times and never go over thirty miles an hour.”
    “Just practice reasonable caution.” Neil made a few more notes, then wrote up Briana’s warning. “That’s all I ask.”
    He received three thank-yous. Briana’s was relieved, Jake’s appreciative and Carolina’s accompanied by a flirty smile. Oh, boy.
    Neil wasn’t a recluse. He dated once in a while, but not seriously and not with the intention of remarrying. He liked it that way. From what he’d heard around town about Carolina Sweetwater, she subscribed to a similar philosophy. It should be a perfect match.
    But he had no interest in finding that out.
    What Neil saw when he looked at her was a woman he wouldn’t mind getting to know a whole lot better. And when he linked her name and the idea of remarrying, his stomach didn’t turn to stone. For those two reasons, he diligently maintained a safe distance from her. His job was dangerous. It had cost him his wife and his child her mother. He refused to put another person he cared about in danger, the way hehad Lynne. Avoiding serious involvements seemed the easiest solution.
    “Is that all?” Briana returned his citation book after signing the warning. She was doing her best to gnaw her bottom lip in half.
    “For now.” He tried to sound stern. Inside, he was chuckling. “Good day, everyone.” Touching his fingers to the brim of his hat, he took his leave. “I trust I won’t see any inebriated wedding guests on the road this evening.”
    “Absolutely not,” Jake assured him.
    Neil’s exit was delayed by a soft, feminine hand on his arm.
    Carolina’s.
    “Would you like a piece of cake for the road? And maybe one for your daughter? I could pull a few strings and arrange for an icing rose to be on it.”
    She smelled nice, the scent light and floral. He remembered it from the night they’d double-dated, when he realized his interest in her was more than casual and not at all appropriate for someone his coworker was taking out.
    “Thank you, ma’am, but no.” She had yet to remove her hand, and Neil could feel a slight warming where her fingers pressed into his skin.
    “Okay,” she said smoothly. “I guess I’ll see you around, then.”
    Maintaining that safe distance was a lot harder when she was standing three inches away and touching him. Neil slipped up.
    “I’m looking forward to it, Carolina.”
    “Me, too.”
    He returned to his car before committing a second blunder, taking her floral scent with him. The last thing he saw before pulling out of the ranch parking lot was Carolina climbing thestone walkway, the setting sun gleaming off her lime-green dress. It was a sight he