Page 15 of Daddy's Heart

“Now, be a good girl and lock the fucking door behind me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“It’s broken…” I hear her say, and my phone is already in my hand, calling in a favor.

“What’s up, Sheriff?” Jimmy Burns the locksmith in town answers.

“I need the best digital, wifi, blue tooth whatever locks you got. Installed, first thing in the morning…”

“Sure, chief, you’re putting locks on the cabin?”

“No, somewhere else, I’ll text you the address.”

I leave. Because Daddies are patient.

Six

Colt

I’ve been watching her for three hours.

From my truck across from Logan’s office, I’ve had a perfect line of sight. Watched her arrive this morning, pour coffee, add that oat milk she drinks. Watched her help Mrs. Patterson sort out her meds. Watched her laugh once, at something Logan said.

Now I’m tracking her afternoon rounds through binoculars. Totally normal sheriff behavior. Nothing psychotic about a little tactical observation of the woman you’re planning to marry.

“Jesus Christ, Colt.” A voice vibrates through the passenger window where my brother Cade’s stupid smiling face is staring at me.

He taps on the passenger window. I’m so distracted, I didn’t see his creeping ass sneaking up on me. I hit the button and roll the window down against my better judgment

“You stalking someone or casing the place?”

“Working,” I grunt.

“That what we’re calling it?” He slides into the passenger seat without asking. “The pretty nurse got you acting like a damn teenager.”

“Medical assistant.”

“Right. That makes this completely rational.” He steals my binoculars and peers toward Wildfire Home Health. “Which one is she again?”

I snatch them back. “Get out of my truck.”

“You’re fully gone,” Cade says, kicking his boots up on my dash like he’s staying. “You bringing her to Sunday brunch, or just gonna lurk until she files a restraining order?”

“Get your fucking dirty ass boots off my dash.” I reach over and shove his legs down. It’s my brother Beau’s turn to host Sunday brunch this week, but the image of Emery at the kitchen table nearly knocks the breath out of me. I picture her next to me, smiling at my brothers, nodding along like she belongs.

And she does. She would. She belongs next to me for the rest of my life.

“Haven’t asked her yet.”

Cade raises a brow. “Haven’t asked or haven’t worked up the balls?”

I give him a look that he should know. Brothers understand when they are about to get a right hook to the chin. Cade just grins like a dumbass.

“My money’s on balls. Speaking of which, how’s your ass? You gonna be able to sit through waffles on one cheek, or you healed up enough for full-seated syrup and moose jerky consumption?”

“I’m going to shoot you next.”

“Hard to be scary when your last bullet wound was self-inflicted to the backside.” He checks his watch. “Storm’s coming in tonight. Big one. Wrap up your stakeout before it floods the damn road.”

An hour later, I’m in my office, zero chill and zero focus as fat raindrops start to hit the window behind my desk. I stare out at darkening clouds wondering where she is.

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