Accidental Father. Lauren Nichols

look.

      “Sheriff,” Sarah murmured.

      “My name is Jake, Sarah,” he said pointedly.

      With a smile that lit her whole face, Kylie scrambled to her feet in the booster chair and teetered precariously. “Hi, Jake! Want a fench fwy?”

      Adrenaline shot through him. Before Jake could lunge for Kylie, Sarah sprang from her chair and sat Kylie back down. He blew out a relieved breath as she scolded her daughter softly, then shook his head at Ruby.

      “Kids,” Ruby chuckled, levering herself out of her seat. “As fer them fries, from the looks of ’em, you’d be happier with pie.”

      Jake chuckled, too. “Thanks, but I’m still full of stuffed peppers.”

      “Then I’ll git you some pie to take along. Yer too skinny. Wouldn’t take a good wind long to blow you clear to Livingston.” She started away at a brisk clip. “While I’m at it, I’ll git a washcloth for our little honey-girl.”

      “That’s okay,” Sarah called, and Jake could hear a hint of alarm in her voice. “I’ll just take her to the ladies’ room. Aunt Ruby? I think the sheriff wants to talk to you.” But Ruby was too far away to hear.

      “Actually,” Jake said, sliding into the booth across from her and setting his hat beside him. “It’s you I want to talk to, Sarah.”

      Chapter 3

      With her nerves bouncing around like jumping beans, it was difficult for Sarah to keep her features composed. The last time this man said he wanted to talk, she’d had a home she could escape to. Now she was trapped.

      Lifting Kylie out of the booster seat, she grabbed a napkin and mopped the worst of the ketchup from her daughter’s hands and face. Then she sent Kylie running to Aunt Ruby so she could finish the job with a washcloth.

      Sarah brought her gaze back to Jake. He looked disappointed that she’d sent their daughter away, but that’s the way it had to be. She wanted to know him a lot better before he spent more time with Kylie.

      “You wanted to talk?” she reminded him. Scooping up Kylie’s toys, Sarah stuffed them into the tote bag, glad to have something to do with her hands.

      “Yes,” he said, adding building blocks to her tote. “I need a favor.”

      Sarah glanced up in surprise.

      “I didn’t plan on asking you until I saw you sitting back here,” he added.

      “What kind of favor?” she asked warily.

      “I picked up a young runaway a few minutes ago—barely fifteen. Her idiot boyfriend dumped her outside of town. Jeannie’s putting together a lunch for her, but all the girl has are the clothes on her back, and they’re in bad shape. She needs something decent to wear.”

      Then…this conversation wasn’t about Kylie? Were all of his questions the other day idle curiosity, and not the threat she’d thought them to be? Had she overreacted?

      “Maggie’s helping her get cleaned up and giving her the standard orange jumpsuit for now, but the girl’s parents are on their way. She shouldn’t have to face her folks dressed like a criminal.”

      Finally seeing where this conversation was headed, Sarah hid an enormous sigh of relief and nodded in complete agreement. “No. No, she shouldn’t. If we’re about the same size, I’m sure there’s something in my closet—”

      “Thanks, but all I’m asking for is a few minutes of your time. I need someone to shop for her.”

      He took a sheet of paper from his breast pocket and unfolded it on the table. And without warning, the detailed signet ring he wore on his strong, capable right hand sparked a memory that brought a flush to Sarah’s face. In his haste to be rid of her panties that night, his ring had caught on them and they’d torn. But she hadn’t cared…and Jake hadn’t known.

      Sarah pushed away the image and jerked her attention back to his face. But in glancing up so quickly, she caught a flash of heat in his eyes—something he obviously hadn’t intended her to see—and she swallowed. Was this the way chemistry worked? she wondered. One lover had a thought…and the other automatically received it?

      Clearing his throat, Jake got back to business. “Maggie listed the sizes for me, but shopping for a young girl isn’t my strong suit. Would you mind? Maggie’s not feeling well today, or she’d do it.”

      Nerves still thrumming, Sarah nodded. Like Kylie, this young girl had once been some mother’s toddler, some mother’s joy. Sarah hoped that if Kylie ever needed help someone would step in for her. But after buying the clothing, she’d have to deliver them, and that made her uneasy. They didn’t need more contact with these disturbing undercurrents between them.

      Jake stood and pulled several bills from his wallet.

      “You’re taking care of this?” she asked. “You personally?”

      “Yep.”

      “May I ask why?”

      “Because she’s a nice girl beneath the attitude, and she needs them.” He handed her the money. “Try to find her something soft-looking.”

      Sarah tingled as his gaze fell to the light pink sweater that topped her jeans, then lingered a bit longer than necessary.

      “Something like you’re wearing,” he continued. “It has to dull the impact of a dyed-black Mohawk and a dozen earrings.”

      Jeannie called to him from the lunch counter and raised a take-out bag, and Jake called back that he’d be right there.

      He swept back his hair and tugged his hat on. “Thank you,” he said quietly, and Sarah felt that tingle again.

      “Glad to help.”

      Just then, Kylie raced back to them and hurled herself onto Sarah’s lap. Her face was clean and glowing, and looking at her brought back the anxiety Sarah had momentarily forgotten. Who wouldn’t want this child for his own?

      “We won’t be long,” she said, standing and taking Kylie’s hand. “We’ll drop the clothes off at your office.”

      “Great,” he said, then bent down to grin at Kylie and tap her nose with his fingertip. “Bye-bye, funny face.”

      Giggling, she jabbed a tiny finger right back at him. “You’re a funny face!”

      Sarah’s heart nearly stopped. Then to her relief, Kylie’s father waved, collected his order and left.

      She didn’t move again until she was sure he’d stepped off the wooden boardwalk outside and headed for his office. Then she reclaimed Kylie’s hand, paid her bill and left, conflicting emotions stirring her up again.

      On one hand, that silly, nose-tapping moment was a frightening thing. On the other, she’d just watched Kylie interact with her daddy, and it had evoked feelings of tenderness and warmth she’d never expected.

      She would tell him. As soon as she was absolutely certain that Jake Russell was father material, she would tell him.

      But what would he do with that knowledge? she wondered.

      She wondered something else, too, as they walked the boardwalk, passing restored 1890s storefronts and stone buildings that recalled Comfort’s early days as a booming gold and cattle town.

      She wondered about his generosity in paying for the girl’s clothes. She’d learned some things about him the night he’d let his guard down…the night they’d made love. In some respects, she knew more about Jake than she’d known about her own husband. Certainly, Vince had never opened up to her emotionally. Was helping a young girl Jake’s way of repaying a kindness done to him when Jake was the young runaway?

      Or had there been no one there for Jake…and he wouldn’t see another child do