The Heartbreak Sheriff Read online

  “How?” Sarah whispered. “How does it change anything? Lucy is still mine. She’s my daughter, Jamie!”

  “Of course she is, honey. I just meant that it could shed new light on the abduction.”

  Finn’s shoulders straightened. Damn. As much as he hated to even consider the possibility, the birthmark and Teresa’s abrupt disappearance were hard to ignore. Jamie was right. If the unthinkable really was true, then Lucy’s kidnapping could be connected to that. The Bureau had been looking into people who might hold a grudge against Sarah, people who might want to punish her by stealing her child, but if the child was Teresa’s…well, that could provide a different motive. A different suspect.

  “The biological father,” Jamie spoke up, as if reading Finn’s thoughts. “That’s just one example of someone who might’ve taken Lucy.”

  Finn stiffened as a nauseating thought occurred to him. “I swear to God, Donovan, if you’re the father of that baby…”

  Cole flinched as if he’d been struck by a fist. “What? No. Teresa and I had already been separated when she moved to Raleigh.”

  “And you didn’t get together at all?” Finn asked with narrowed eyes.

  “I would rather have waxed my back than touch that woman.” With the contempt dripping from his tone, Cole’s declaration was more than convincing.

  Jamie held up her hand. “We’re getting off track here. Cole is not the father. We don’t even know if Teresa is the mother. But Sarah, we need to pursue this. We need to.”

  Sarah sagged against him and Finn felt her resolve begin to crumble. “Fine,” she relented, glancing at Cole. “Get your investigator to look into it, but don’t feel bad about wasting your money if this leads to a dead end.” She stuck out her chin. “Which I think it will be.”

  Cole was already flipping open his cell phone and moving toward the doorway. Jamie shot Sarah an apologetic look. “I guess we’ll head home, then. I’m so sorry for giving you such a shock. But Cole and I spoke about it and decided we had no choice but to tell you about our suspicions. We weren’t trying to hurt you, Sarah, please believe that.”

  Sarah let out a sigh. “I’m sorry I freaked. I know you weren’t trying to hurt me. Like you said, it was a shock.”

  Although he was reluctant to let go of her arm, Finn did, so he could escort Cole and Jamie to the door. He couldn’t resist frowning at the two of them as they left Sarah’s house.

  When he walked back to the living room, he forced Sarah to lie down, despite her insistence that she was perfectly all right. He asked her to humor him, which she did, though her lips twitched when he shoved a pillow behind her head.

  He wasn’t sure why he was acting like a mother hen, but he couldn’t shove away the image of Sarah collapsing onto the floor, or her pale, unconscious face. At least the doctor would be here soon, though Finn tensed when he realized he’d pretty much just given Travis Bennett an invitation to come over and spend time with Sarah.

  They were just friends, she’d told him the other day. He clung to those four words, determined to keep his growing jealousy at bay, but when Bennett showed up ten minutes later, Finn had trouble controlling himself.

  “Sarah, are you all right?” Travis demanded when he saw her sprawled on the couch.

  Friends, his ass. The way Bennett charged toward her like a damn white knight was hard to ignore. So was the way the good doctor knelt by the sofa and proceeded to put his hands all over her.

  All right, one hand. And he was just examining the red spot on Sarah’s temple. Nevertheless, the sight of another man touching Sarah made Finn see stars. Breathing through the sudden onslaught of protectiveness, he stood at the opposite end of the couch, keeping his hands pressed tightly to his sides.

  When Bennett finally took his hand back, Finn let out a slow breath. “It’s not a concussion,” Bennett concluded, smiling down at Sarah. “Your pupils are fine, no nausea and you’re completely coherent. I think you’ll live.”

  Finn gritted his teeth when Sarah returned the doctor’s smile. And then his jaw almost cracked when she reached to touch Bennett’s arm. “Thanks, Travis. I wasn’t worried, but Finn is a little overprotective.”

  Bennett glanced at Finn with warm brown eyes. “Well, not to worry, Sheriff. She’ll be just fine.”

  “Then I guess you can be leaving now, doc,” Finn said brusquely. “I’ll take it from here.”

  With a tender smile, Bennett reached out to give Sarah’s arm a squeeze.

  Finn clenched his jaw again.

  “Take it easy tonight,” Bennett told his patient. “And remember, don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”

  “I’ll take care of her,” Finn practically snapped, advancing on the doctor.

  Taking the hint, Bennett zipped up his black Windbreaker and allowed Finn to march him out the door. When Finn returned to the living room, Sarah was sitting up, a frown marring her mouth.

  “You didn’t have to be so rude to him,” she said coldly.

  “I didn’t like the way he was touching you,” he retorted, a note of anger in his voice.

  “He was examining me. At your request.” She blew a stray strand of hair out of her face, her frown deepening. “What’s your problem with him, anyway? Travis is a nice man.”

  Finn mumbled something under his breath.

  “Was that even English?” she demanded. “Seriously, Finn, quit acting like a damn caveman. Travis is my friend, and I didn’t appreciate the way you treated him.”

  “And I didn’t appreciate him touching you,” he grumbled back.

  She shook her head, her liquid brown eyes filling with amazement. “So what if he touched me? Why do you care if—”

  “Because I want to be the one touching you,” he interrupted, frustration coursing through his blood. “Because I want to be your damn friend.” He cursed loudly. “No, scratch that, I don’t want to be your friend, Sarah. I want to be your everything.”

  She went stricken. “What…what are you saying exactly?”

  “I’m saying I love you.”

  The baby wouldn’t stop crying. She’d endured three hours of Lucy’s earsplitting howls and it was beginning to seriously try her patience. She wasn’t sure she blamed the baby, though. She was pretty miserable, too, holed up in this isolated cabin instead of boarding a plane that would take them to the Bahamas. But arrangements were still being made for the little beach house in Nassau, and there was no way she could show up at the airport with Lucy in her arms. No, not until the media storm died down and news of the kidnapping faded from people’s minds.

  She rocked Lucy in her arms, watching the rain streak the dirty windowpane. The baby’s sobs were finally ebbing, much to her relief.

  “I know you don’t like it here,” she murmured. “I don’t, either. But I promise you, it’s only temporary. Soon we’ll be somewhere warm and sunny, and we’ll walk along the sand and look at the ocean….”

  Lucy’s tiny eyelids started fluttering.

  She experienced a burst of joy. Was the baby starting to feel comfortable with her? It was about time. She was Lucy’s mother now, and these past two days of hearing Lucy cry and cry hadn’t been a walk in the park.

  As the baby slept in her arms, she gazed dreamily out the window, pretending she was looking at the calm turquoise ocean in the Bahamas. Soon. God, soon.

  The cell phone on the little wooden table beside the rocking chair started to vibrate, yanking her from her happy thoughts. Shifting the baby, she snatched up the phone and pressed Talk before the vibrations woke Lucy.

  “It’s about time,” she said after recognizing the caller ID. “You said you’d call four hours ago.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” The voice on the other end of the line sounded strained. “I had some things to take care of.”

  “I hope you’re referring to the travel arrangements,” she snapped, “because I’m getting sick of this place. So is Lucy.”

  “I’m doing everything I can, but we discusse
d this. The kidnapping is all over the news. Lucy needs to stay hidden for a while.”

  She frowned. “How long is a while?”

  “Until people forget about her. Until you can take her out in public without someone yelling kidnapper and calling the police.”

  Valid point. She bit back the urge to argue, knowing that hiding was the smartest move at the moment.

  “But you’re making plans,” she pressed, unable to mask the urgency in her tone.

  “Of course I am.” There was a pause. “Don’t worry, everything is under control. Just stay inside and take care of the baby. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  She hung up the phone and cuddled the baby against her breasts, happiness suffusing her body and bringing a rush of serenity.

  “Soon,” she whispered to the sleeping child. “We’ll get out of here soon, baby girl. And then we’ll disappear, far away, where nobody can ever take you away from me.”

  Chapter 11

  Sarah was dizzy again, only this time it had nothing to do with her recent fainting spell and everything to do with the fact that Finn had just said he’d loved her.

  A part of her was basking in the warmth of those three words, fighting the temptation to hurl herself into his arms and never let go. But that was the old Sarah. The one who’d been madly in love with this man and dreamed of sharing her life with him.

  The new Sarah was older. Wiser. The new Sarah had put the past behind her and accepted that she and Patrick Finnegan were simply not meant to be. They’d had their shot over four years ago. And they’d failed. When a cruel twist of fate had mercilessly destroyed their lives, they’d had a choice: swim together or sink alone.

  Well, Sarah had wound up at the bottom of a cold, dark abyss. She’d drowned in grief and depression, wildly flailing her arms in hopes that Finn would pull her out of that terrible place. But he hadn’t been there for her.

  So go ahead and call her a coward, but she had no intention of drowning again, and that’s what getting involved with Finn represented to her.

  “Did you hear me?” he asked gruffly, slowly sinking down on the other end of the sofa.

  “I heard you,” she murmured.

  His blue eyes narrowed. “And you have nothing to say? No reaction?”

  Sighing, she linked her fingers together and rested them on her thighs. “What is there to say? I’m sure you meant what you said, but—”

  “Damn right, I meant it. I love you, Sarah. I’ve loved you since the day we ran into each other at the lake.”

  She fought the wave of nostalgia that swelled in her belly. “That was a long time ago.”

  “Maybe it was. But my feelings for you have never changed.”

  He edged closer, so that his hard thigh was inches from her socked feet. She wanted to pull her legs up, to avoid contact, but she was rooted in place, drawn to the fierce look on his handsome face.

  “I’m a different man, sweetheart,” he began, his voice raspy and thick with emotion. “Back then, I wasn’t strong enough to handle everything that happened. I left because I didn’t have the balls to fix things, and it’s a choice I’ve regretted every day for these last few years.”

  Exasperation rose in her throat. “We can’t keep talking about this, over and over again. You already told me all of this, and I believe you, Finn. I truly believe you regret what happened between us.” She drew much-needed air into her lungs. “And I can see that you’ve changed. You’re more mature, calmer. I see that.”

  He sounded as frustrated as she felt. “Then why are you holding back? Why not give us another chance?”

  “Because I’ve changed, too.”

  Finn looked startled by her admission. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that I’m not the same twenty-three year old who buried her son. I had a mental breakdown, for God’s sake. I spent two years in therapy trying to put my life back together piece by piece. I grew up, too.”

  “Then we’re both in a better place. A healthier place.” He let out a breath. “Let me prove to you that I can be different this time around. That I can be there for you, and take care of you.”

  “Take care of me? You arrested me!” A muscle in her jaw twitched. “Besides, I can take care of myself.”

  “I know you can. That’s not what I meant.” He looked frazzled. “I’m just saying I want another chance.”

  “And I’m saying I don’t think I want to give it to you.”

  Pain descended on his face, but since she’d already come this far, she might as well finish.

  “I don’t trust you, Finn. And I don’t have that same rosy outlook you suddenly seem to possess. Obstacles are always going to pop up. Even if we did get back together, there would be rough patches, arguments.” She swallowed. “I don’t trust that you’ll stick around.”

  “You’ll never know if you don’t give me a chance.”

  “Maybe if I didn’t have Lucy, I could do that. But I’m a mother now. I need to provide stability for my child, to give her a happy, healthy life. What if I bring you into our home and she gets attached to you, only to be abandoned if things get too tough for you again? I won’t take that chance.”

  He recoiled as if she’d slapped him. And then his features went hard. “I won’t give up, you know. I will make you trust me again, Sarah.”

  She almost smiled. The steely resolve in his eyes was so achingly familiar. She was reminded of that bad boy who’d been determined to win her over all those years ago. On their first date, he’d pushed for a second. On their second, a third. When she’d gotten cold feet about moving in with him, he’d seduced her with red roses and a gourmet dinner and mind-blowing sex, until she’d given in.

  Not that it had been a chore. Back then she would’ve done anything to be with this man. Nobody knew her like Finn. They got each other. They both tended to be too serious, neither was quick to laugh, but together, they laughed and teased and spoke of things neither of them had told anyone else before. She’d always been scared of that deep bond, that unbreakable connection.

  Well, not so unbreakable. Finn had severed it when he’d walked out the door.

  And she hadn’t been lying. Maybe things could have been different if Lucy weren’t in her life. Maybe she could have risked her heart and allowed him back in. But she would never risk her daughter’s heart. Never.

  Finn’s cell phone jolted her back to reality. Saved by the foghorn. She got the feeling they would’ve talked around in circles if not for the interruption, and though the twinge of hurt in Finn’s eyes made her heart ache, she was glad she’d told him where she stood.

  Finn glanced at the screen, then muttered an expletive.

  Sarah’s heart stopped. “Is it about Lucy?”

  “No, it’s the D.A.” He lifted the phone to his ear and said, “Finnegan.”

  Sarah watched with growing anxiety as Finn spoke with Jonas Gregory. Well, Finn did most of the listening, and whatever Gregory was saying, Finn didn’t look happy. He said “Yes, sir” several times, and at one point, she noticed his fingers tightening over the phone, knuckles turning white.

  When he finally hung up, her anxiety was at an all-time high. “What did he say? Was it about the case?”

  Finn gave a quick nod.

  “What did he say?” she repeated.

  After a second of visible reluctance, Finn spoke. “He wants me to send him a report and some supporting documents of the evidence against you. He’s taking the case to the grand jury for an indictment.”

  The breath drained from her lungs. “What does that mean?”

  “The grand jury will decide the charges that will officially be brought against you.”

  She swallowed. “But they might also dismiss the case altogether, right?”

  “It’s possible but unlikely. I think you’re going to be indicted, Sarah.”

  She suddenly felt really, really cold. “When is Gregory meeting with them?”

  “Monday.”

  Monday. That gave the
m five days. Five days to find Lucy and catch Teresa’s real killer. Talk about pressure.

  Fortunately, Finn looked shockingly calm about it. She watched as determination crept into his blue eyes, burning like a roaring bonfire. “When I told you I would get you out of this mess, I meant it,” he said sternly. “I won’t let you go to prison for something you didn’t do.”

  “And if I’m indicted? If I’m convicted?” She couldn’t keep the terror from her voice.

  His jaw hardened. “You won’t go to jail. Even if I have to whisk you from the damn country, you won’t be going to jail.”

  Shock crashed into her like a tidal wave. Was she hearing him right? Had he actually just admitted he’d break the law before letting her be incarcerated?

  For one long moment, she was tempted to take back everything she’d said only minutes ago. Maybe she could trust him again. Maybe that leap of faith he’d begged her to take didn’t have such a steep drop. Finn loved his job. He was proud of his position, his service to the people of Serenade. If he could even consider throwing it away just to help her, then maybe he truly had changed. Enough to merit a second chance.

  Her mind started spinning again. It seemed to be doing that a lot these days.

  God, she couldn’t think about this anymore. Not when her daughter was missing. Lucy was her main focus right now—her only focus.

  And everything else, her conflicting feelings for Patrick Finnegan, her fear and doubts, heck, even her impending indictment…it would all take the backseat until her daughter was returned to her arms, safe and sound.

  Sarah walked into the living room the next morning and found Finn sprawled on her sofa, dead to the world. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. He wore nothing but a pair of black boxer-briefs that couldn’t hide the impressive bulge at his groin. She swept her gaze over his bare chest and admired his defined pectorals, the dusting of dark hair that led to his waistband. Her heart thumped in a persistent drumbeat, getting faster as she stared at his muscular thighs, the long legs dangling off the end of her couch. He was the most perfect male specimen, all muscle and sinew and sleek golden skin.