1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Kayla

"Your new desk," Michelle tells me, pointing to a brand new desk in a corner of the office. "This one is mine, and that one belongs to Jason, but he's on vacation right now. I'm sorry you don't get your own office, but there simply isn't enough space around here."

"Are you kidding me? Back in Kansas City, I had a tiny desk crammed between a registry cabinet and a copy machine, right in the middle of an open space where at least sixty people worked at all hours. This?" I gesture to the quiet, spacious office. "It's practically paradise."

Michelle smirks. "Well, let's see if you still think so when Jason comes back. He clicks his pen all the time. I swear that sometimes all it takes is five minutes in here with him, and I'm ready to murder him on the spot." Michelle is a wispy woman in her fifties, who's even shorter than my five feet four, but when she fakes a murderous glare, she looks menacing.

"I wouldn't do that," I tease. "The sheriff's office is just down the hall, isn't it?"

That has Michelle laughing out loud and patting my shoulder. "You're funny, I love that. You know," she lowers her voice, "we've been a bit worried about getting some big city girl transferred here. Don't get me wrong, we're grateful for every new person since the caseload is enormous, but still, when word got around that someone from Kansas City would be transferring to tiny old Bluebell Springs…"

"You worried I'd be some stuck-up bitch," I finish for her. I have expected that, which is why I'm so grateful for Michelle's warm welcome. "Well, I like to think I'm not stuck-up, nor a bitch. I love what I've seen of the town so far, and I'm happy to be here." Also, I'm desperate to be accepted, but I don't tell her that. "Besides, do stuck-up bitches even work for CPS? I'd think they choose shinier careers."

"True," Michelle agrees, then pulls me into a warm embrace. "Come 'ere. I'm sorry I even mentioned it. I'm sure you'll fit in great. Let me show you the rest of the department."

Twenty minutes later, I've been introduced to the entire team of the Bluebell Springs CPS department, and my mind is buzzing as I desperately try to remember their names. Aside from Michelle and Jason, the pen clicker, there are eight other social workers and the department director, plus a lovely older lady who works at the reception.

They're all wary of me at first, but when Michelle throws her arm around me, giving me a silent stamp of approval, the others warm up to me. It's like a boulder has been lifted off my chest. I haven't even realized how terribly nervous I was and how badly I wanted them to like me. A lump forms in my throat as my eyes brim with tears, and I excuse myself before I do something stupid, such as burst into tears in front of the entire department on my first day at a new job. That would be one hell of a first impression.

After carefully drying up the few tears from under my eyes with a paper towel, I check that my makeup still holds, run a hand through the wild halo of my black curls, and smooth my sweater over my hips.

The door clicks, and I catch Michelle's smile in the mirror. "Are you okay?" she asks.

"Yes, thank you," I reply, my trembling voice betraying the emotions I'm trying to hide. "I'm just nervous."

"Aww, sweetheart," she coos. Despite only knowing me for an hour, she pulls me into another hug. "That's completely understandable. But the girls and guys here are really nice. And if they aren't, I'll kick their butts. Oh," she chuckles, releasing me. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm a hugger."

I grin, a single tear rolling down my cheek. "You don't say!"

"Well, I just thought I'd mention it, in case it wasn't obvious," Michelle teases. "Come on, new girl. I have yet to show you the most important part of the department."

"The coffee machine?"

"The coffee machine."

Laughing, we leave the restroom, and I walk straight into someone. Like the klutz I am, I collide with the man's chest—a very muscular chest, if I may point out—and stumble into a wall. He catches me before I can smash my face, his hands gripping my upper arms.

"Oh, I'm…I'm sorry…?" I blabber, my breath catching when I look at him.

A mop of unruly brown hair frames the handsomest face I've ever had the pleasure of viewing. His hazelnut eyes study me intently, as if he's committing every detail of my face to his memory.

Then, abruptly, he lets go of my arms and steps back. "No harm done," he says. "Michelle," he acknowledges her, then gives us both a formal nod and walks away.

He didn't even ask for my name, and it shouldn't bother me as much as it does. Because I'm not interested in men. Not. At. All. Not after that fucker Nick cheated on me. I came here to get a fresh start. Falling for some arrogant asshole I literally just ran into? Not a chance.

"Who was that?" The question slips out before my brain can stop it.

"Ethan Bennett," Michelle replies with a dreamy sigh. "Come on, let's grab a coffee and I'll fill you in."

One big cup of coffee later, I know all there is to know about the most desirable bachelor in Bluebell Springs.

According to Michelle, Ethan is nothing short of perfect. A brilliant private investigator who specializes in missing children and who sometimes works for CPS pro bono, just to help the kids in need.

He also participates in all kinds of fundraisers and is loved by the community. And of course, he's an absolute eye candy. He even posed half naked for some charity calendar thing, along with a couple of local firemen and police officers. Apparently, the picture of shirtless Ethan Bennet holding a puppy still decorates many homes in Bluebell Springs. The publisher needed to print two extra batches of the calendars to satisfy the demand.

In short, Mr. Arrogant is, in fact, Mr. SoFuckingPerfectEveryoneLovesHim. Mother Teresa in the body of a Greek god. Yuck, right?

"Don't get too excited over him," Michelle warns me at the end of her lecture. "He doesn't date. Ever. Some say he's gay, but I don't think so."

"Yeah, well, I don't date either," I mutter, determined to end this conversation. "I came to this town to help the kids here, not chase after some suspiciously perfect pricks. Plus, nobody is this perfect. I bet he's hiding something terrible."

Michelle grins. "Oh, so you are thinking about him!"

"I'm not! Well, not anymore. Ugh." I rinse the coffee mug and put it into the shared section of the cupboard. Tomorrow, I'll bring my own.

My answer only makes Michelle grin harder. "Sure, sure," she teases. "Let's go to the town hall administration. You need an employee badge. And it's right by the main exit. Perhaps we can catch a glimpse of Ethan as he leaves."

I suppress a groan, clenching my fist to stop myself from throwing something at Michelle. There's nothing I want less than seeing Mr. Arrogant again.