Prologue

Lily Lillywhite sat slumped with her feet in the cool lake and her rear growing stiff from the wood dock. A sliver of moon sparkled on the still water.

Her boyfriend Lieutenant Miles Coleville had called from his base in California earlier tonight. Instead of being thrilled to talk to him, she felt only frustration. With herself, with Miles, with Dr. Brad Hampshire, and with Sheriff Clint Coleville who she could never effectively shove out of her mind. Somehow the most alluring and out of reach man on the planet kept creeping into her thoughts and dreams.

Miles wasn’t at fault. He was incredible, everything she wanted in a man—humble, brave, kind, handsome, spiritual. If only she felt anything close to the magnetic pull she felt to his older brother. She watched a fish jump and wondered if she wasn’t the worst person in the world, dragging Miles along when she no longer had romantic feelings for him. They’d been “dating” for over ten years now. They hardly saw each other as he pursued his dreams of being a Navy SEAL and had no plans to retire and move home anytime soon.

She had no desire to relocate near Miles’s base in Southern California. She was too firmly rooted to her family, her hometown and church family, and her family’s ranch that was a refuge for people from all walks of life. She also loved her job as a labor and delivery nurse at the hospital in nearby Kalispell. Being part of the new mom and dad’s journey into parenthood and the moments an angelic baby came to earth were the highlights of her life.

If only Dr. Brad Hampshire would stop hitting on her. The doctor was well-respected, smart, talented, sneaky, and her beloved Grandma’s cardiologist. He used Grandma to quietly threaten Lily. He never said anything overt; it was always subtle.

I hope your grandmother stays healthy until you’re free to date me.

She’d tried to stand up for herself, but that had only made him laugh at her and increase his efforts to get her alone in the women’s center break room, the hospital parking lot, or a quiet corner of the cafeteria. She’d reported him to her supervisor multiple times and each instance she got a variation of the response, ‘Think carefully and you’d better have irrefutable proof. Dr. Hampshire is revered and essential to this community’s well-being.’

It was true. There was no other cardiologist within a hundred and fifty miles, and their community all but worshipped Dr. Hampshire. He gave her the creeps with his constant flirtations and understated threats to her grandma’s health. She’d tried to record him with her phone but had never been able to discreetly get anything incriminating as he always surprised her and when he saw her pull her phone out, he’d grin and walk away.

Over the past few years, they’d achieved an unsettling balance. She had the perfect excuse for not dating Dr. Hampshire—she had a serious boyfriend who was a tough and loyal Navy SEAL who wouldn’t appreciate another man coming onto her. Miles’s existence had kept Dr. Hampshire from progressing his annoying come-ons. Dr. Hampshire had thankfully never done anything besides flirt, Grandma was healthy as she could be with her condition, and Lily’s family was happy and clueless about her angst.

Miles had asked her the last few times they’d seen each other if she wanted to date other people. Panic had risen in her chest every time as she was certain he’d break up with her. Not knowing what to say, she had turned it around and asked if he wanted to date someone else. When he said no, she was relieved, pushed away the guilt of dragging Miles along, and the conversation moved to different subjects. She hoped they could keep the status quo, but she was also humiliated she couldn’t find a way out of the situation with Dr. Hampshire, and wished there was an end in sight for her and Miles.

Miles deserved to be free and find someone fabulous. The only fabulous man she wanted to date was Miles’s brother. Since that was never going to happen, she was relieved every time Miles said he didn’t want to date anyone else. She could keep pretending they had a healthy relationship for a while longer, if she could keep convincing herself she wasn’t hurting Miles with her deception.

Humiliation filled her. How could she be strong and independent in all parts of her life, except getting free of Dr. Hampshire and setting Miles free?

Footsteps sounded on the dock, and not just any footsteps—the sure, confident walk of Sheriff Clint Coleville. She peered through the night and saw his outline from the dim parking lot light behind him. She’d know those boots, lean legs in jeans, perfectly developed upper body in a T-shirt, and the hat shadowing his handsome face anywhere. Clint had a magnetism that had every woman she knew drooling over him. Somehow, he stayed detached and single despite constant feminine attention. Life’s mysteries unsolved.

She sighed and cautioned herself not to scream out that she loved him and beg him to give her a chance. He never would. Not unless she broke up with Miles. Probably not even then. If she broke up with Miles after ten years of being a ‘couple’ and her ‘supporting him in his Navy SEAL dreams,’ she’d be the biggest jerk in Coleville. She’d break both of their mamas’ hearts and she’d have to find another way to avoid dating Dr. Hampshire or risk her grandmother’s health.

“Evenin’, Lily Lillywhite,” Clint said in a deep, cowboy drawl that sent shivers down her spine. Good shivers. He was like John Wayne reincarnated, only more handsome and appealing.

“Hi, Clint.” She peered up, not yet ready to stand and face him. It was better for her if she wasn’t within reaching distance of the man she craved. Her boyfriend’s brother. What kind of unfaithful woman longed for her boyfriend’s brother? Her, apparently.

“I’m supposed to clear the dock of beautiful and charitable nurses. Park closes at dusk.” He smiled.

She tried to smile but failed. Her lip trembled and she feared she’d cry. She wasn’t a crier. But tonight it was all too ‘heavy,’ as her sister Rose would say. Why did it have to be Clint who came upon her when she was struggling and wondering how she could selfishly keep holding onto Miles instead of figuring out how to expose Dr. Hampshire without hurting her grandmother?

Especially when it was Miles’s brother she wanted. How had she let this go on for so long? For a while now, she’d known she and Miles weren’t progressing with their relationship, but long distance made it easy not to do anything about it. The past three years she’d needed the relationship with Miles more than ever, knowing Dr. Hampshire was a despicable slime but having no idea how to get out of the weird association with him.

A tear crested her eyelid and rolled down her cheek. No! She never liked to cry, but especially not in front of Clint. She prayed it was dark enough he couldn’t see her clearly.

“Hey now.” Clint squatted down next to her and brushed the tear off her cheek with the pad of his thumb.

Prayer not answered—or maybe answered in the way she’d been dreaming of.

Her entire body responded to his simple touch. Her pulse sped up, her breathing became shallow, her heart palpitated, her skin grew warm and flushed.

Clint froze with his thumb touching her cheek. He stared intently at her, his bright blue eyes darker in the night, as if trying to figure out what had just happened. Did he feel like he’d been struck by lightning or was that just her?

A heartbeat passed, then another. Neither of them moved. Lily had no desire to break the magical cocoon that wrapped around them.

Pulling his hand back, Clint cleared his throat and murmured, “Let’s get you to your car.”

“Okay.” She doubted the ultimate alpha male Sheriff Clint Coleville could make a suggestion to any female that she wouldn’t agree with.

She scrambled to her feet as he straightened. Bumping against his chest with her shoulder, she let out a gasp.

“Apologies,” he said, wrapping an arm around her lower back to stabilize her.

Lily leaned into him, her hands latching onto his arms—his muscular, firm, virile arms. Why did everything about him have to be so appealing?

His breath rushed out. A sweet longing filled his blue eyes that stole the oxygen from her lungs. He was drawn to her. There was no way he could deny his yearning for her at this moment.

He would deny it if she asked. Not that she would ever form the question.

“Lily.” His voice was so raw and husky that a tremor went through her. She wanted to hear him say her name like that every hour for the rest of her life.

“Clint,” she whispered, sliding her hands up his beautiful arms and to his broad shoulders, appreciating each striation of muscle and firm skin.

His eyes widened, and he trembled under her touch. She had the oddest sensation, as if the tough, closed-off, and accomplished sheriff was in her power.

Her hands worked their way around to his back, reveling in the strength she found there. She cuddled into his chest, her forehead brushing his stubbled jawline.

Clint didn’t respond for half a beat, and she feared she was alone in her longing for him and had overstepped every boundary that existed between them. They were always friendly to each other, but there was an unwritten agreement that they not get too close. Maybe they’d both sensed that this would happen—sparks, happiness, warmth, and comfort that was unequaled by any other man’s touch.

Suddenly both of his hands slid around her lower back, and he pulled her flush against him.

Joy filled her. Every touch, every sensation was more than she’d ever experienced, ever dreamed of. Clint Coleville was the man written in her heart. Was it finally the right time to tell him? This stud of a sheriff would protect her from Dr. Hampshire.

His cowboy hat shielded them from the dark night and his warm, strong body protected her from every worry. His head turned just enough for his lips to trail across her forehead. Fire raced through her. She didn’t dare move and break the spell that had wrapped around them as surely as his arms held her fast.

The soft lapping of the water against the dock, the crickets singing a nighttime tune, the moon reflecting off the glistening water, and the forested mountainside sloping added to the romance of the moment.

“I’ve got you, Lily,” he murmured against her forehead. Her stomach hopped happily in response. She ran her hands up his back and around his neck.

He had her. Clint would take care of her, protect her, light up her world with his warm and thrilling hands, change her life’s path with his tender and passionate kisses.

She’d been low and hopeless only moments ago. But the rightness of being in Clint’s arms, protected, safe, and happy dispelled any darkness, any fear, any pain. She’d never dared imagine such a future was possible for her, for them. At this moment, anything seemed possible. Happiness and purpose intertwined in her future. A future with Clint.

He softly kissed her temple, and she let out a sigh of longing. His breath was quick and warm against her face. For exhilarating seconds they held onto each other, and she savored his touch and every well-developed muscle in his beautiful body that was pressed against her.

He gave her another lingering kiss on her cheek and then her jaw. Each kiss was the stuff dreams were made of.

His lips slowly edged closer to hers, and then he kissed the corner of her mouth.

Lily couldn’t breathe, couldn’t support her own weight. She leaned into Clint and hoped beyond hope that his lips would move just enough to capture hers.

Moments passed as they clung to each other, every fast beat of her heart another beat that they were together. The hope of him kissing her lips and changing her future into one of happiness and love with the right man for her made it hard to catch a breath and impossible to think straight.

“Lily,” he said in that husky, tender tone she’d never heard from him. She doubted anyone in this world was privy to that tone from Clint. It added to the wondrous experience of tonight. She’d gone from despair to soaring in the cocoon of his arms, a hope for a future she hadn’t dared formulate, and a breath away from the kiss to end all kisses.

He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze. His eyes were liquid sapphires, full of her and full of a need that made her lightheaded. Her stomach gave a happy pitch and her body tingled. She was the woman Clint longed for. She knew it as surely as she knew her parents’ love.

His gaze dropped to her lips and then met hers again. Heat rushed through her. She ran her hands around to the front of his neck, savoring the warm flesh and his strong pulse under her fingertips. Her hands trailed down to his chest, and he let out a very telling groan from deep in his throat.

A thrill raced through her. Her touch affected him just as surely as his touch did her. This was the moment she’d been waiting for all her life.

She gave him what she hoped was an alluring smile. He moistened his lips, and her pulse skittered.

A splash came from behind them. Lily whirled to look at the dark lake. Was someone there? Clint would protect her.

“A fish jumping,” he said.

“Oh.”

As she focused back on him, she realized something had changed in his eyes. That slight interruption had thrown him out of the moment. Frustration and yearning battled in the blue depths of his gorgeous eyes.

Catching her hands in his, he stepped back.

She swayed on her feet. She would’ve fallen off the dock, but Clint steadied her with both hands wrapped around hers.

He held her gaze, and her throat was suddenly thick. Everything that had just transpired between them felt like an ethereal dream—nothing she could hold onto or call back.

“Lily.” His voice was scratchy and painful to listen to now. “You … me …” He shook his head, released her hands, then took off his cowboy hat and ruffled his hair. Putting his hat back on, he shook his head again. As if once wasn’t enough to ruin her dreams. “It’s a no.”

She tried to swallow but couldn’t. Tears sprang to her eyes and trailed down her cheeks. Her hopes were dashed to the wooden dock, buried in the deepest part of the lake, stomped on by his formerly alluring cowboy boots.

“Ah, Lily …” Clint reached out as if to wipe a tear away, his gaze now tender and still full of regret. His hand stopped inches from her cheek. He was probably remembering that a tear wiped away was what had gotten them into such a close and vulnerable position.

What if he had kissed her?

Warmth and agony warred within her at the thought of kissing him. She understood the tortured look in Clint’s eyes. She couldn’t kiss him. She was dating his brother. She and Miles didn’t have much of a relationship at this point, too much distance and time between them, but what did that matter? Miles was loyal to her, she knew he was, and without even knowing it, Miles protected her. She’d been loyal to him too.

And tonight, she’d almost kissed his tantalizing older brother. The sheriff. The man who should have ‘off limits’ tattooed across his forehead. At least for her.

She backed away.

Her foot met nothing but air. Off balance, unsupported, unloved, she toppled backward.

Clint reached for her. His hand brushed her arm, but her backward momentum carried her off the dock and down toward the water.

Freezing liquid greeted her. Her head went under, and she gasped at the shock of the cold water wrapping around her and stinging her skin. Darkness and cold desolation wrapped around her.

She pushed off the bottom and surfaced, sputtering and dripping and humiliated.

Steady hands found her thrashing form. They wrapped under her arms, anchoring her into stillness. Glancing up, all she could see was Clint. His handsome face and strong form overshadowed her and took away the fear.

She stared at Clint’s unruffled face as he plucked her out of the water and settled her onto the dock, wrapping her up in his arms again.

“Ah, sweetheart.” That tender, deep, husky baritone was back. “Are you all right?”

Lily gaped at him. She shivered. From the cooler night air and cold water or the thrill of him calling her sweetheart in that tone of voice … she couldn’t be certain what had her trembling.

He held her in his arms as she cuddled into him, dripping water onto him and the dock. The liquid ran down her face and pooled in her shoes. Her phone was probably ruined along with her keyless car entry.

All she could care about was Clint, worried about her, still so close, calling her ‘sweetheart’.

You … me … it’s a no.

She would hear those awful words in that raspy, pained voice for the rest of her life. Her spine straightened and despite the humiliation of falling in the lake, being a drowned rat, and not being able to get out of the awful situation with Dr. Hampshire by herself, she remembered who she was. Lily Lillywhite might have a comical name, but she was an accomplished nurse, a daughter and granddaughter who dealt with Dr. Hampshire rather than hurting her family, a woman who’d been loyal to a long-distance Navy SEAL for ten years. Yes, Clint was the most tempting man on the planet, but he wasn’t her man and she couldn’t let down her guard around him.

“I am not your sweetheart,” she managed, edging away from him and toward the middle of the dock. She could be stable and not fall in the water or against Clint’s beautiful chest again.

Clint released her and pushed out a frustrated breath. “I know that.” He shook his head and hit his clenched fist against his outer thigh. It was a move so Clint she wanted to just stand there dripping and watch him do it. “I apologize …” His jaw clenched and a muscle worked in it.

She was the one who should be sorry. She was the one in a committed relationship with his brother and she’d almost given into her longing for Clint. Even at this mortifying and uncomfortable moment, she found her hand longing to reach out and touch that strong jaw of his.

“Don’t apologize.” She held up a hand and then spun and sloshed off down the dock as gracefully as she could. The squelch of her wet shoes with every step was annoying and something to focus on besides her discomfort. Discomfort that had little to do with being soaking wet.

Clint followed her but said nothing. She yanked her phone and her keyless entry out of her scrubs’ pockets as she walked, holding the button down to power off the phone and blowing on the gadget in the hope the car would still open and start.

She got to the end of the dock and hurried across the grass and to the small parking lot. Clint shadowed her. Could this night get any worse? It was bad enough she’d been denied the kiss she’d always dreamed about, but to have to deal with knowing she’d also almost betrayed her faithful boyfriend, to know Clint thought they were a ‘no’, and then to fall into the lake? Adding insult to injury.

She’d long let herself believe if she could only tell Clint how she felt, he’d support her as she broke up with Miles and then protect and love her forever. They’d marry and Dr. Hampshire would never dare cross the mighty Sheriff Clint Coleville. Even in Kalispell, Clint’s reputation was well-known and esteemed. Every dream had been dashed tonight, and knowing how incredible it felt to be in Clint’s arms, centimeters from a kiss, would only make life and a future without him more dismal.

Finally reaching her Maxima, she was relieved when it beeped at her and the lock clicked open. She grabbed at her door handle. Clint was right there, opening the door for her and holding it.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

Why wouldn’t he go away? Let her wallow in her misery alone.

She slid into the seat, her wet scrubs sticking to the leather. She’d have to wipe it down when she got home.

“You’ll be all right?” Clint stared down at her as he held the door.

“Fine. Goodnight.”

He studied her, obviously knowing she was leap-years from ‘fine’.

“Night,” he finally murmured and then closed the door.

She leaned her head back against the headrest and let the tears come. Wiping at her cheeks, she glanced out the window. Clint hadn’t moved. The parking lot had a dim overhead light, and she could clearly see the compassion in his eyes.

Please, Lord, just kill me now .

Facing forward, she started the car and hurried to put it into gear and drive away. As she raced toward her parents’ ranch, she could see in her rearview … the Sheriff’s truck following her.

Clint. Of course he was too much of a gentleman to not make sure she got home safe.

She touched the side of her mouth where his lips had lingered.

She should be full of regrets about tonight, most especially how she’d clung to him, all but begged for him to kiss her, let him see her cry.

All she could focus on was the feel of him surrounding her and his soft but firm lips on her skin.

She slammed her palm against the wheel. It was a no.

She vowed to never tell anyone about tonight—especially not her sisters. She would focus on Miles and be ultra-loyal to him. And she would never let down her guard around the devastatingly enticing Sheriff Clint Coleville.

Never again.