Chapter 1

Chapter

One

Two Years Later

Lily sat in the women’s center staff break room, staring at her phone. Her hands were clammy.

Call me! Daisy’s text yelled at her. Now!

Working , she managed to tap out with shaking fingers.

As soon as you’re off!

Her sisters, mom, church friends, nursing friends, exercise friends, pretty much everyone she knew, had sent her texts asking how she was doing, including links to pictures of her former boyfriend, Miles Coleville, with the famous actress Eva Chevron in his tough arms. One of the world’s most beautiful women stared up at Miles with deep-brown eyes full of love. Miles had told Lily there was someone else. Wow. Miles was moving on with style. Good for him.

A week ago, she and Miles had officially broken up. She knew it was past time to not drag him along any longer and keep up their farce of a relationship. She’d also stressed every day since about how she would keep Dr. Brad Hampshire at bay when he somehow found out she wasn’t dating her Navy SEAL any longer.

The break room door opened. She scrambled to her feet, not wanting to be caught here alone with Dr. Hampshire.

“Hey, Lily.” Jacob Wildman, a friendly and good-looking anesthesiologist walked in. He’d moved here recently from the East Coast and asked her out on day two. Thankfully she could say no. Miles had protected her from a lot of unwanted advances over the past twelve years. She owed him many thanks and wished him every happiness. “I need a Diet Coke if I am going to make it through this shift.”

“I hear you.” Lily smiled and tried to act normal. She clutched her phone. “I’m headed out. You can have some peace and quiet with your caffeine.”

“You’re better company than my own thoughts.” He grinned. He had a boy next door or surfer kind of look with longish blond hair and greenish-brown eyes.

She managed an uneasy smile. There was nothing wrong with Jacob, but she wasn’t in the market for a new man. Unless Sheriff Clint Coleville was volunteering. She pushed that longing away.

“It’s been chaos today. You were there when that epidural only worked on half of that mom’s body.” He grimaced.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I know she was in so much pain that she didn’t remember that was one of the risks.”

“The husband was the worst.” He splayed his hands.

Lily nodded. The husband had flipped out on Jacob. Labor and delivery could be the happiest of locations. The Spirit was strong when a baby was born, and Lily relished those moments. But often the labor was excruciating and both mom and dad sometimes lost their cool.

“I feel as bad as they do when something doesn’t work right.”

“I know.” She did know. Pretty much everyone in the unit gave their heart and soul to their patients, but many things were out of their control. Her heart stretched as she tried to ease a new mom’s suffering during labor and it broke right in two those excruciating times the situation escalated to dangerous and sometimes perilous conditions.

“Have a great day,” she said. She wasn’t in the mood to chat with anyone today, too occupied with what she was going to say to Dr. Hampshire when he confronted her.

Lily hurried to the door. Her hand was on the handle when Jacob stopped her with, “Hey, I’m sorry that your boyfriend is … a cheater.”

“Oh … um … no, he’s not. It’s all good.” She turned from the door and pasted on a smile. Thank heavens no paparazzi would be taking photos of her reaction. She wondered how Miles, the humblest hero she knew, would handle all that attention. The beautiful, talented, and hilarious Eva Chevron must be more than worth any inconvenience. “I’m super happy for him. Eva Chevron is amazing.” Her words were true, but they didn’t come across as enthusiastic as she needed to be about this situation.

“You … aren’t furious?” Jacob’s brow knotted. He looked furious.

She took a step back but ran into the door. “We actually broke up … a bit ago. It’s been a long time coming. We grew apart. Long distance is rough. He’s a great guy and I am really, really happy for him.”

“Oh, that’s good.” One brow lifted and his hazel eyes suddenly sparkled. “So … you’re free to date? Asking for a friend.”

“I’m actually not free. I’m very serious with someone. Very serious.” Maybe Jacob would spread the word she was already dating someone and Dr. Hampshire would keep his distance. Doubtful, but maybe.

“Oh.” His lips drooped. “I’m too slow. You moved on as quick as Lieutenant Coleville.”

She shrugged and gave a weak laugh. “My mom’s been after me to get married. I’m thirty. No time to waste.”

“Hmm.” He studied her as if he knew she was a big fat liar. Her mom was after her to get married, but Lily was definitely lying about the new boyfriend.

Lily waved goodbye and rushed out the door, checking the hall each way before hurrying to check on the first mom on her rounds.

She went through the rest of the day glancing over her shoulder. Thankfully the unit was busy and she could focus on the task at hand and savor being part of the miracle of birth. Dr. Hampshire’s office was on the clinic side of the hospital. He had no reason to come near her, but somehow he made the unwanted run-ins happen.

Finally, her twelve-hour shift was over. She’d worked a twelve yesterday as well and stayed at Grandma’s house which was near the hospital. Grandma had home health coming in three times a week to bathe her and check in on her, but it was always great to stay with her, clean and shop for her, and spend some time together.

As soon as Lily walked down the steps and put her nurse responsibilities to rest, it hit her. All the stress of Miles and Eva revealing they were together and what that meant for her walloped into her like a sledgehammer.

What was she going to do? She needed a fake boyfriend. She looked around the brightly lit hospital foyer as if the right man would magically appear. There were single men here in Kalispell, but Jacob and Dr. Hampshire were the only ones she knew very well. Rhett Coleville built custom homes in town. She could look him up, but he was four years younger than her and she didn’t know him as well as Miles, Easton, and Walker. She wouldn’t let herself think about Clint.

At home in Coleville, the only single men close to her age were the Coleville brothers. They all were noble and handsome cowboys. They’d help her if she asked. Easton the bull rider was far too flirtatious. Walker, Easton’s twin brother, the roper, was ...

Walker would actually be perfect. He was thoughtful, handsome, tough, protective, and Lily had long suspected he had a crush on her. Would that be taking advantage of another Coleville brother? Miles had always been too kind to her. After their break-up conversation, she knew what she’d long suspected—he’d wanted to ‘set her free’ and end the relationship years ago. Though he appreciated having the support from her and a ‘girl back home’ had helped him at times too, recently he’d only stayed in it because she acted like she wanted to and it was more convenient not to break up and hurt her.

Lily was embarrassed that she couldn’t get away from Dr. Hampshire and felt guilty for using Miles. She couldn’t do that to Walker, knowing she wasn’t drawn to him and suspecting he was interested in her. Even if he went into it knowing it was fake, it wouldn’t be fair to him.

That left Clint.

An image of the rugged, handsome, mesmerizing cowboy sheriff played before her eyes. Succulent. If she told Clint she was in danger and the only way to stay safe was for him to be her fake boyfriend, he would agree. She knew he would, but only because he was a natural protector of women. He probably had ‘Valiant Protector’ tattooed across his back. Did he have tattoos? He hadn’t when they were younger. What would the man Clint Coleville tattoo on his back, or would it be clean, firm, tanned skin? Well-developed deltoids, trapezoids, and lats. Yummy. She was dying to see for herself. All that muscle.

I thought we weren’t thinking about Clint , a voice in her head that sounded suspiciously like Daisy’s teased as Lily exited the building and slowed her steps, glancing around the brightly lit parking lot. A few cars finding a spot. No sign of Dr. Hampshire.

The voice was right, and she hadn’t called Daisy. She’d call her later. Guaranteed Clint didn’t think about that night and their near-kiss. He’d been engaged six months ago and the witchy Sheryl Dracon had dumped him. Who could dump Clint Coleville? Lily could only imagine what being engaged to Clint would look like, feel like. She closed her eyes for just a moment and remembered his strong arms around her, his enticing lips trailing down her face.

No! It was a no, remember? She needed to focus on the issue at hand.

What was it about Dr. Hampshire that terrified her so much? Why did she instinctively feel like she needed to protect herself and Grandma from him? Maybe she was misconstruing his weird comments into threats and it was time she stood up to him, again, and dealt with the consequences.

But what if she was right and he was a man with a dangerous power complex who would hurt Grandma and get her fired? She’d have no support from the hospital board if she tried to expose him. What would her parents do? She’d never told them anything about her concerns and Dr. Hampshire’s flirtations. They raved about Dr. Hampshire and how he was helping Grandma have quality of life and prolonging her life. The ‘perfect doc’ was overly nice and attentive to her family, part of his ploy to manipulate Lily.

She jumped at every closed door, every motor starting, every set of footsteps she heard. She rushed toward the employee parking section, almost to her car, relief filling her as she saw it just down the row.

“Lily,” a voice called from the next row over.

No! Dr. Hampshire. Heart racing, she ducked and shuffled to her car.

“There you are,” he said in a delighted, sing-song voice as if they were kids playing hide and seek.

Crap. He’d spotted her. She straightened and pretended she hadn’t seen him, her heart thumping uncomfortably against her rib cage.

He hurried between cars and intercepted her just as she reached her Maxima.

“Lily.” He grinned, his handsome face distorted by the disturbing shadow lurking in his brown eyes. Why couldn’t anyone but her see what a slimy charlatan he was?

“Hi, Dr. Hampshire.” She clung to her keys and clicked the door unlocked. She rushed around him and grabbed her door handle.

“It’s Brad to you, Lily.” He put his smooth hand on her arm. “I’ve saved your grandmother’s life countless times. Surely that makes us close.” He ran his tongue over his bottom lip.

Gag. He was telling the truth about saving Grandma’s life. Could she appreciate his skills as a doctor while still thinking he was a dirtbag?

“We need to focus on a professional relationship,” she said, turning to face him head on, straightening her back, and forcing herself to hold his gaze. Her stomach turned over as darkness made his eyes darken from the color of sickly meconium to the murky brown of dried blood.

“I think you need to focus on your future.” He trailed his hands through her long ponytail and then along her arm.

She yanked back and her elbow hit the door. It hurt. She grasped it.

“Lily.” His voice was placating and sickening. He touched her elbow. “You’re going to hurt yourself and others if you don’t do what’s best for you.”

“I know what’s best for me,” she said, her breath coming in terrified pants. Would he really hurt Grandma? She yanked the door open and slid inside before he could say more. She tried to pull the door closed but Brad hung onto it.

Please help me know how to handle him , she begged heaven above. Nothing seemed to work.

“I was fascinated to see that your Lieutenant Miles Coleville is now dating Eva Chevron,” he said, staring down at her. “You need me and my protection more than ever, beautiful Lily, my flower.”

“I don’t need your protection; I have a very serious boyfriend.” What a lie.

He chuckled. “We’ve tried that route, Lily. Mr. Navy SEAL has made it clear to the world he’s dating Eva Chevron.”

“Not Miles. I’m actually engaged to … his brother.”

His brow furrowed and her heart raced even faster. What was she saying? Could she beg Clint or Walker to pretend she was engaged to them? For how long? She had to find another solution. She couldn’t take advantage of either of them. She and Miles had let their relationship drag on for far too long.

“Which one?” he demanded.

“Sheriff Clint Coleville,” she spit out before she could think better of it. She sucked in a breath. What had she done? Please let Dr. Hampshire believe the lie and she would never have to tell Clint.

“Maybe you’re confused, Lily. It happens sometimes at the end of back-to-back shifts.”

Her stomach curdled. He knew her schedule.

“I sure hope confusion like that never happens for me when I’m taking care of your sweet grandma.”

She gasped.

“Think about what story you want to go with, Lily.” He gave her a condescending look. “I can ensure your future success, keep Grandma healthy, and make you a very, very happy woman.” His tongue ran over his lower lip again.

She had no idea how to respond. Unless she could dump the guilt and ask Clint to be fake engaged to her, she was in an even bigger mess than before.

She yanked on the door and thankfully he released it. He stepped back as she pushed the start button, grinning as if he’d won already. Driving away as quickly as she could, she did not look back.

The ride home was excruciating. She was trapped, scared, and angry. She’d barely escaped from the slime, but she’d have to face him in the near future. How could she get Dr. Hampshire to leave her alone?

Her hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly, her neck ached and her knuckles turned white. She shook each hand out as she raced along roads lined with trees. The normally familiar and beautiful forest was dark and spooky looking in the deepening evening gloom.

She should call Daisy, but if she did, she’d end up spilling everything she’d kept hidden for so long. Daisy was feisty; she’d want to go to war for Lily, tell Mom, Dad, Rose, and Bennett the truth, and upset everyone.

No. She had to stay strong.

She turned on the radio, but it didn’t help much. Flipping through stations, she settled on Sirius XM’s The Highway station. She loved country. It reminded her of Clint.

Clint. Had she really claimed she was engaged to him? She rubbed at her aching neck. Talk about letting her inner desires manifest themselves. What was she going to do?

She tried to focus on the words of the country song playing.

She gave me her hand, I gave her a ring

Then as soon as I could, I gave her my last name

Groaning, she wished Russell Dickerson’s “God Gave Me a Girl” was her and Clint’s song and story. But it couldn’t be. He’d told her himself: You … me … it’s a no.

No way could she call Clint up and beg him to be engaged to her.

She finally pulled onto the dirt road that led to her family’s ranch. Since her sister Rose had won a million dollars on a reality television show sponsored by the deceased and angelic Mercedes Belle and married the gentle giant retired Major Bennett Mason, the ranch had expanded a lot. They’d updated the cabins and bunkhouse for the refugees. Bennett had built a house for him, Rose, Tyler, and Jack, their adopted teenage sons, and his mama when she wasn’t home in Alabama. Lily and her younger sister Daisy had fixed up one of the older cabins on the property, but now Daisy was finishing her PT schooling at Texas A&M.

Lily liked living alone. Except nights like tonight when fear consumed her. Her fingers zinged with sharp prickles and her eyes darted around as she parked her car on the gravel in front of her cabin.

What if he followed her and attacked her? Okay, maybe that was dramatic. She had no idea what Dr. Hampshire might do, but she feared it would be something diabolical.

She hurried up the steps to the small porch, relief filling her as the exterior light flickered on. Once she was inside with the dead bolt turned, she could finally relax, pray hard, and come up with a solution. She wasn’t due back at the hospital until Saturday. Two days off. She’d deal with Dr. Hampshire then. Somehow. Maybe it was time to confide in her dad or Bennett or … Clint.

No. She and Clint were a no. She could not believe that she’d thrown his name out there as the man she was engaged to. Repressed longings for certain. And Dr. Hampshire hadn’t even bought it.

She pulled the key out of her purse, but as she lifted it to the door, she realized the door wasn’t latched.

What?

Her eyes widened and she backed up. She’d locked her front door when she left early yesterday morning. She felt safe on the ranch with Bennett in charge of security and her parents’ home only a couple hundred yards through the trees, but her sister Rose had been attacked in the bunkhouses by a security guard and there was always the lingering threat of Dr. Hampshire in the background.

Pulling her phone out of her purse, she swiped it open and then clicked on the phone app. She dialed 911 but didn’t push send. She wasn’t calling emergency services because her door was slightly ajar and risk having the sheriff himself show up.

A thrill went through her that counteracted the fear of her door being open and a possible intruder lurking inside. Sheriff Clint Coleville. She could cuddle into that enticing chest. Tell him she needed him to protect her and to pretend he loved her. What would that look like?

Focus, she demanded herself. Should she go investigate? Should she wait in her car and see if somebody came out her front door? She could have Bennett come check it out. No intruder could win against the former Green Beret Major and gentle giant who was her favorite, and only, brother-in-law.

No. She wasn’t waiting, and she wasn’t involving Bennett. She’d hidden this problem successfully for years. None of her family knew about the stress of Dr. Hampshire and she wanted to keep it that way. Her parents thought the doctor was a hero. So gross.

She was sick of Dr. Hampshire and his mind games, sick of being afraid.

Please help me , she begged heaven above.

Standing tall, she lifted the small canister of pepper spray on her key chain and twisted the cap to arm it. Her finger trembled on the button as she shoved hard on the wooden front door. It swung wide. She darted her hand inside and flicked on the light switches. Looking around, her stomach pitched and then dropped. Nobody sprung out at her, the house wasn’t trashed, but a huge sign, white butcher block paper with precise black writing, hung over the fireplace mantle with balloons attached. She’d think Rose or her mom had made it to celebrate something if not for the words printed neatly on it:

It’s time to choose, Lily Lillywhite.

Dump your boyfriend or I slit his throat.

We’re meant to be together.

I’m going to make you so happy.

She backed onto the porch, holding the pepper spray out in front of her. Leaving the door gaping open, she stumbled down the steps and rushed for her car.

She slammed herself inside, hit the lock button, shifted her pepper spray to her left hand, and pushed the button to dial 911. Her eyes darted around as she answered the questions from the operator.

Dr. Hampshire was a psycho. How could she prove that he’d put the poster up? He couldn’t have beaten her here from the hospital. Had he paid someone to do it? Her family’s ranch had security, but there weren’t cameras on her house.

One thought that kept intruding as she stared at her little cabin and around the yard, all seemingly quiet and peaceful. Would Sheriff Clint come himself or would they send a deputy?

She longed for the safety and protection the ultra-tough and confident sheriff offered, but she didn’t want to let down her guard around him again. It had almost destroyed her two years ago.

If she asked him to be her fake fiancé, would he say in that tortured voice, ‘You … me … it’s a no’? Or would he make all her dreams of love and safety come true and agree to the farce? The problem was, she didn’t know that she could handle being that close to Clint without admitting she’d always longed for him and him alone.