Page 1 of Embracing Desire

Chapter One

“This stops now, Walter.”Katie Crane’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.“I’m not coming back to New York City.No matter what you or my father want.”Lord why hadn’t she blocked Walter’s number?Maybe out of guilt for leaving abruptly, but what did Walter expect?The man was a hypocrite like her father.

“Quit being a bitch and listen to reason.”

Katie saw red.She wasn’t the villain in this.“You’re a bastard.”She yanked off the Bluetooth earpiece and tossed it out the window of the moving car.If only it was that easy to get rid of her ex and her father, life would be grand, and she wouldn’t have run away eight years ago with her father when he promised her the world.

Now she was going home to Felton’s Creek Washington.Warmth spread through her.She’d already talked with her grandmother who, bless her, never held it against her for leaving when her father arrived shortly after her eighteenth birthday.

Katie sighed.She’d thought she could finally have a relationship with her father, but it wasn’t to be.It was a shame it took her so long to realize it.And what about… She shook her head.

She was coming home for more than the two men she abandoned.This was for her.She missed the simpler life of Felton’s Creek.New York City was always bustling, and because she worked for her father’s firm, full of business dinners and parties.She shivered.No more.

Her mind turned to Ry and Jed.How would they react to her coming back?Gran had told her they were angry when she left but accepted it.She hoped so or this homecoming was going to be very uncomfortable.

She bit her lip.Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.What if Ry and Jed didn’t want anything to do with her?Could she live with that?

After the past few years, yes, she could.She was tired of playing it safe and listening to the wrong people.Her home town might be small, but she could handle seeing them.She’d made the right decision.It was time to go home to stay.She missed Gran, and while talking to her, she’d found out Ry and Jed didn’t have anyone special in their lives.

Besides, after reporting her father to the government, he wasn’t going to be asking her back or coming after her.Her stomach churned.Walter calling her didn’t make sense.

A blinding blue light caught Katie’s eye.Oh crap.A large SUV with lights flashing filled her rearview mirror.Glancing at the speedometer confirmed she wasn’t speeding.The cruise control was engaged.

With a flick of her wrist, she turned her signal on and brought the car to a stop on the shoulder.Just what she needed, a ticket only ten miles from Felton’s Creek.She’d never live this down.

Katie kept her hands on the wheel while watching the vehicle in her rearview mirror.A tall, muscular man climbed out of the SUV.She caught a glimpse of dark hair before it was hidden beneath his hat.The moment he stepped up to her door, she lowered the window.

“Good afternoon, officer.”She was proud her voice was steady after the way Walter had badgered her.Her gaze shifted to the officer’s face.Oh my.His eyes were covered by reflective sunglasses, but those didn’t detract from a straight nose, sculptured cheekbones, and a stubborn chin.All things she shouldn’t be noticing right now.

“Good afternoon, ma’am.”His smooth whiskey voice slid over her skin in a gentle caress.“May I see your driver’s license, proof of insurance, and registration please?”

“Of course.”Katie gathered the documents from the glove compartment and her purse and handed them to the officer.His hand touched hers, and Katie caught her breath.

There was something familiar about him.Something she couldn’t put her finger on.When she left Felton’s Creek at eighteen, Ry’s father had been the sheriff.But that was before he’d passed away in an accident.Who was this new sheriff, and why was he familiar to her?She pushed her confusing thoughts away.No sense in muddying the waters.

“You drove all the way from New York City?”His tone held censure.

“I did.”Her chin rose.She wasn’t a child anymore.She was tired of men treating her like she was eighteen, a naïve eighteen at that.At twenty-six, she was a woman with her own mind and attitude.As her father found out when she left New York City five days ago.“Why did you pull me over, officer?”

He grinned as if she amused him.“Littering.”

“Littering?”She’d never littered in her life.

“You threw your earpiece out the window, and it shattered on the road.”

Katie’s mouth dropped.He pulled her over because of her earpiece?She started to speak, but there was a screech, and his radio went off.

“Excuse me.”Long, sensual fingers pressed the radio on his shoulder.“What’s up, Betty?”

“There’s a problem at the Red Dog.They’re requesting your assistance.”

“Tell them I’ll be right there.”He glanced at her license quickly and handed it and her other paperwork back.“Duty calls.Please drive carefully, and don’t litter.”

Katie took her documents and watched him in the mirror as he sauntered back to his vehicle and climbed in.A shiver of sensual excitement crawled up her spine.What was it about him?Something familiar, yet not.And damn if her heart wasn’t pounding, her hands shaking with excitement, and her pussy twitched.Not so good.

The SUV pulled out and around her vehicle before disappearing down the road.Katie shook off the sensual haze, put her things away, and pulled back onto the road, headed for home.The word wrapped her in a sense of warmth and security.

She never thought she’d miss her tiny home town as much as she had.Eight years in New York City was enough.But she’d missed more than the town.She’d missed her gran.Gran would be thrilled she was home to stay.She wondered how Ry and Jed looked today.She bet they’d changed.How would they feel now that she’d come home to stay?Because it was to stay.Right where she belonged.

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