Finding The One (Meadowview Heroes 1; The Meadowview Series 5) (21 page)

Effervescent. Beautiful. Ball-bustingly sexy.

Not that she’d always been sexy. When he’d first met her she’d been as gawky as a newborn foal. But then a few years later she’d gone and grown up to become a woman who’d triggered every nerve in his body.

God, he’d missed her over the last five years. Because after she’d confessed to committing a crime he still couldn’t truly believe her guilty of—although the proof was there, she’d provided it herself—she’d ended up in AZ/PC, Arizona Women’s Penal Colony. He’d seen her there once, but after that she’d refused any other visits from him, making it clear that because he was on
that
side of the law, he wasn’t anyone she cared to see. Damn her for that rejection.

When she caught sight of him and brushed a cheery wave through the air, he blew out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. She seemed fine, but he needed to be sure. Get her over to County. X-Ray, CT scan, EKG, whatever it took.

Behind her crumpled Chevy sat Deputy Bill Curtis’s patrol car, its high-pitched siren still wailing, even as Bill was already out of his vehicle and making his way to Coraleen.

Wait—were those
handcuffs
in Bill’s hand?

“What the hell?” Remy muttered, kicking it up a notch and charging through the doorway. “Bill!”

But fueled by adrenaline, the bullheaded deputy didn’t seem to notice him and shouted, “You’re under arrest!”

Well, hell. This was not how Remy had wanted to welcome Coraleen back to town. Besides, she might be injured, even though she was standing on her own two feet and was beaming at him with a smile so bright he’d swear he was under a noonday sun, not the early spring morning it really was.

“Bill, do not cuff that woman,” he ordered. “Follow protocol. Check for injuries first. Besides, she’s not under arrest.”

“But Sheriff—”

“You okay?” he asked Coraleen, scanning her as he drew near. She hitched a breath when he came close, and her eyes grew wide. Her lips parted. Just the way they had all those years ago on that warm spring morning out at her grandfather’s ranch…the moment right before he’d almost kissed her.

Not only hadn’t that happened, but she’d immediately pulled away, confessed to the embezzlement her grandpop had been accused of, and demanded he put her under arrest.

He came to stand in front of her, close enough to catch her warm, vanilla-spiced scent, the way her chest rose and fell with each breath, and the flicker of a vein near her clavicle. No cuts or bruises on her bare arms and legs that he could see, and she hadn’t hit the building all that hard so he doubted there would be internal injuries from the seat belt, but still, the thought of anything happening to her…

“My brakes gave out,” she said, her voice shaky, her smile wavering for a brief moment.

He reached out and lifted the heavy blond hair from her forehead, then winced. Yep, there it was. An abrasion—a red mark that would soon turn purple. At least the skin remained unbroken; she wouldn’t need stitches.

“Bill, make sure a bus is on its way,” he ordered gruffly, letting Coraleen’s hair drop back down. But he didn’t shift his gaze from her face, instead taking in every detail. She’d slimmed down in the slammer, her cheekbones becoming more prominent, the hint of dimple on each cheek vividly clear.

“And put those damned cuffs back,” he growled out, not taking his eyes off Coraleen.

The deputy huffed. “You don’t understand, Sheriff. This girl was speeding, has a broken taillight and muffler, and was evading arrest. She’s broken the law and she’s trouble.” He moved closer to Coraleen.

Remy blew out a breath. Word spread quickly in Meadowview and if Bill didn’t back off, soon news would be rampant that the town’s favorite (and most vilified) convict was back—and being threatened with arrest.

“No, Bill,” he said more sharply than he’d intended. “Her brakes gave out. And she’s not
trouble
. She’s Coraleen.”

She beamed at him then, her dimples deepening. “Hey, Remy.”

Funny, how five years later, that soft voice still sent a burst of warmth to his chest.

“Hey, kid,” was all he could say.

* * *

C
oraleen’s
very last desire was to see Remy again. It’s pretty clear Remy is finding it difficult to resist the former convict. Read the rest of their love story by clicking to purchase
Always the One
and go on one heck of a wild ride with Coraleen, Remy, and the rest of Meadowview. Hope you enjoy!