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“The boys down at the precinct loved my seminar. At least four of ’em were in tears by the end. I got thank-you notes from a half-dozen wives.”
“That’s great, Dad.” Sam took a long drink of iced tea, wishing he wasn’t on duty. A cold one would be mighty helpful tonight. “I don’t see what that has to do with me or your unexpected visit to Brevia.”
His father pulled a flyer out of the briefcase at his feet and pushed it across the table. “While I’m down here, I thought we could organize a workshop.”
Sam glanced at the pamphlet. His stomach gave a hearty gurgle. Law with Love, Presented by Retired Police Captain Joseph Callahan. A picture of Joe hugging a group of uniformed officers filled the front page. Sam couldn’t remember ever being hugged by his craggy, hard-nosed father. Holy mother of...
“I don’t know. It’s only me and one deputy on the force.”
Joe tapped the sheet of paper. “It’s for firefighters and paramedics, too. We could bring in neighboring towns—make it a regional event. Plus civil servants, city council. You’re looking at a long-term reappointment, right? This could make quite an impression as far as your potential.”
At the mention of his possible future in Brevia, Sam lost the battle with his temper. “My potential as what? I’m the chief of police, not the hug-it-out type.”
His father’s sharp intake of breath made Sam regret his outburst. “Sorry. You know what a small town this is and—”
Joe held up a hand. “Don’t apologize.” He removed his bifocals and dabbed at his eyes with a napkin.
“You aren’t going to cry,” Sam muttered, disbelieving. “You don’t cry.”
“Yes. I am going to cry. To take a moment and feel my pain.”
Great. This was the second time today he’d brought someone to tears.
After a loud nose blow, Joe’s watery gaze met his. “I feel my pain, and I feel yours.”
“I’m not in pain.” Sam let his eyes drift shut. “Other than a raging headache.”
Joe ignored him and continued, “I did this to you, Sammy.”
Sammy? His father hadn’t called him Sammy since—
“When your mother died my whole world collapsed. I didn’t think I could live without her. I didn’t want to. It broke me a little more every day to see you and your brother that sad. I did the only thing I could to survive. I shut off my heart, and I made you do the same. I was wrong. I’m here to make it right again.”
Sam saw customers from the surrounding tables begin to stare. “It’s okay. Let’s go outside for a minute.”
Joe followed Sam’s gaze and shook his head. “I’m not embarrassed to show my feelings. Not anymore.” He took another breath, this one steadier. “Ever since the incident with my ole ticker.” He thumped his sweatshirt. “They say facing death can make you reevaluate your whole life.”
“It was indigestion, Dad. Not a real heart attack. Remember?”
“Doesn’t matter. The change to my heart was real. The effect on my life was real.” He readjusted his glasses. “I want the same change for you. I want you to be happy.”
“I’m fine.” Sam gulped a mouthful of ice and crunched. “Happy as a clam.”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
Alarm bells went off in Sam’s head. “I...sure...am actually. She’s great.” He looked away from his father’s expectant face, unable to lie to him directly. He glanced around the crowded restaurant and his gaze landed on Julia at a booth in the back. He hadn’t noticed her when he’d first walked in, but now he couldn’t pull his eyes away.
This must be the meeting with her ex-boyfriend’s family she’d told him about. The faces of the two women seated across from her were blocked, but Julia’s cheeks flamed pink. Her palm smacked the table as if she was about to lose control.
Easy there, sweetheart, he counseled silently.
As if she’d heard him, her eyes met his and held for several moments. His pulse hammered against his throat. Then she squared her shoulders and folded her hands in her lap.
He turned back to his father. “You’d like her. She’s a real spitfire.”
Joe smiled. “Like your mother.”
Sam forced himself not to look at Julia again. “I was ten when she died. I don’t remember that much.”
“This one’s different than your other girls?”
Sam caught the waitress’s attention and signaled for the check.
“Because I think you need a new perspective. After what happened with...”
“I don’t want to rehash my relationship history.”
Joe reached across the table and clasped Sam’s hand in his. “I know you want to find love and settle down.”
Sam heard a loud cough behind him and found the young waitress staring. Her look could only be described as predatory. Fantastic. Sam had dated some when he’d first come to town but had kept to himself recently, finding it easier and less complicated to be alone. The way gossip went viral in Brevia, he’d have a fresh line of eligible women in front of his office by morning.
“I told you,” Sam said, loud enough for the waitress to hear. “I’ve got a girlfriend. We’re very happy.”
The waitress dropped the check on the table with a humph and stalked away.
“It’s serious?” Joe asked.
Sam’s gaze wandered to Julia again. “Very,” he muttered as she jabbed a finger across the table. This time his mental warning to not lose control didn’t reach her. Her voice grew so loud that people at surrounding tables turned.
“I want to meet her,” his dad said, rubbing his palms together, oblivious to the commotion behind him. “Why don’t you give her a call and see if she can meet us for dessert? If she’s so wonderful, I can help make sure you don’t blow it.”
At the moment, Sam wasn’t worried about screwing up anything himself or producing a nonexistent girlfriend for his dad to fawn over. Instead he felt the need to avert someone else’s disaster. “I’ll be right back.”
Joe grabbed his arm as he started past. “Don’t be sore, Sammy. I was joking. You’re a great catch.”
Sam shrugged out of his father’s grasp. “I need a minute. Stay here.”
He darted around a passing waiter as he made his way to Julia, who now stood in front of the booth.
“You have no idea what I’m capable of,” she shouted. All eyes on this side of the restaurant were glued to her.
Just as he reached her, Julia picked up a glass of water from the table. Sam leaned in and wrapped his fingers around hers before she could hurl it at anyone.
“Hey there, sugar,” he said as he pulled her tense body tight to his side. “I didn’t realize your meeting was at Carl’s tonight. You doing okay?”
“Let go of me,” she said on a hiss of breath. “This is none of your concern.”
“Well, I am concerned,” he whispered then plastered on a wide smile. “I haven’t met your new friends yet.”
She squirmed against him. “They aren’t my—”
“Howdy, folks,” Sam interrupted, turning his attention to the two strangers staring at him. “I’m Sam Callahan. A...uh...friend of Julia’s.”
The woman in the corner practically screamed “old money,” from her sophisticated haircut to her tailored suit. A thick strand of pearls hung around her neck and a massive diamond sparkled on her left hand. The way her gaze narrowed, she must be Charlie’s paternal grandmother. Next to her was a younger woman, tiny and bookish. Her big owl eyes blinked from behind retro glasses. Faint streaks of color stole up her neck from the collar of her starched oxford shirt as she watched the two of them.
“Friend?” The older woman scoffed. “Latest conquest, no doubt.” She nudged the woman beside her. “Are you taking notes on this? She’s now flaunting her boy toy in front of us.”
Boy toy? Sam’s smile vanished and he worked to keep his voice pleasant. “Excuse me, ma’am, you have the wrong idea—”
She continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “Can you imagine what my grandson’s been subjected to when his mother is obviously a tramp? When the judge hears—”
Sam held up a hand. “Wait just one minute, lady. If you think you can waltz in here—”
Julia’s fingernails dug into his arm. “I don’t need your help. Walk away.”
He glanced down at her and saw embarrassment shimmering along with anger in her expression. And fear. At the mention of the word judge, he’d felt some of the fight go out of her. He wished he hadn’t interrupted, that he’d let her handle her own problems, the way she’d wanted to in the first place. But a part of Sam needed to be the hero just so he could feel something. It was what he was used to, one of the few things he could count on. That part of him couldn’t walk away.
He released Julia and leveled his best law-enforcement stare at the grandmother. As he expected, she shrank back and darted a nervous glance at her companion. “I’m Sam Callahan, Brevia’s police chief.” Hands on hips, he held her gaze. “To be clear, I am no one’s boy toy and would appreciate if you’d conduct yourself in a more civilized manner in my town. We don’t take kindly to strangers spreading malicious rumors about our own. Do I make myself clear?”
Several beats passed before the studious-looking woman cleared her throat. “Mr. Callahan—”
Sam squared his shoulders. “You can call me Chief.”
The attorney swallowed. “Chief Callahan, I’m Lexi Preston. I represent the interests of Charlie Morgan’s father, Jeff Johnson, and grandparents, Dennis and Maria Johnson. My father is the Johnsons’ family attorney and he asked me—”
“Get to the point.”
“Yes, well...” Lexi mumbled as she shuffled papers around the table. “I was simply explaining to Ms. Morgan the facts of her case, or lack thereof, when she became hostile and confrontational. My client is not to blame for this unfortunate disturbance. We have statements from a number of Ms. Morgan’s former acquaintances as to her character, so Dr. Johnson’s assertion, while ill-advised, is not without foundation.”
He heard Julia suck in a breath but kept his attention on the two women. “I don’t care what your so-called statements allege. You’re not going to drag Julia’s name through the mud.”
Preston collected the rest of the papers. “Why is Ms. Morgan’s reputation your business? Is she under investigation by local law enforcement?”
“This can’t get any worse,” Julia whispered so low only he could here. “Go away, Sam. Now.”
From the corner of his eye, Sam saw his father standing a few feet away, watching him intently. Sam was a good cop and he played things by the book, having learned the hard way not to bite off more than he could chew.
But some lessons didn’t stick.
He peeled Julia’s hand from its death grip around his upper arm and laced her fingers with his. “It’s my business, Counselor, because I’m not going to let you or anyone hurt the woman I intend to marry.”
Chapter Two
Julia thought things couldn’t get worse.
Until they did.
She glanced around the restaurant, as dumbfounded as the people who stared at her from the surrounding tables. She recognized a lot of them; Carl’s was a popular spot for Brevia locals.
Yanking Sam away from the table a few steps, she smiled up into his face, well aware of their audience. It took all her willpower to resist the urge to slap him silly. “Have you lost your mind?” she said, keeping her voice low.
The corners of his mouth were tight as he returned her smile. “Apparently.”
“Fix this. You have to fix this.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do.” He smoothed a stray hair from her cheek. “Trust me.”
No way. Julia didn’t trust men. She had a long line of heartbreak in her past. Mountains of collateral damage that made her sure she was the only person she could trust to take care of her and Charlie. “Don’t touch me,” she whispered through gritted teeth.
His hand dropped from her face. “I’m going to help you. But you can’t fight me. Not here.”
She glanced over his shoulder at the attorney and Charlie’s grandmother. For a fraction of a second, worry marred Maria Johnson’s perfect features. Julia didn’t understand the break in the ice queen’s armor, but it must have had something to do with Sam.
“Fine.” She reached forward and clasped both of his rock-solid arms, as if she could make him understand the gravity of her situation through a simple squeeze. “You better make it count. Charlie’s future is on the line.”
He searched her gaze for a long moment, then bent onto one knee. He took her fingers in his, tugging softly when she would have pulled away.
“I didn’t mean...”
“Julia Morgan,” he said, and his deep, clear voice rang out in the restaurant. “We’ve kept this quiet—no easy task in Brevia—but it’s long past time to make things official.” He cleared his throat, adjusting the collar of his starched uniform shirt. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Julia blinked back sudden tears. A marriage proposal was what she’d wanted, once upon a time. She’d wanted Jeff to see they could build a real life together. Foolishly sure he was the one, she’d been reckless and selfish. Then the universe had blessed her with a beautiful son. She was working day and night to make a good life for Charlie. Now that she wanted to do the right thing, she risked losing him.
Not for the first time, she wondered if he’d be better off with the Johnsons and the privileged life filled with opportunities they could provide.
She squeezed her eyes shut to clear her thoughts. She was Charlie’s mother, no matter what, and wouldn’t ever stop fighting for him.
Sam ran his finger along the inside of her wrist. “Are you going to answer the question? My leg is cramping.”
“Oh, no. Sorry.”
“No?” he asked over the collective gasp.
“I mean yes. Get up, you big oaf.” Heat flooded her face and her stomach churned. What was she doing? She’d learned not to rely on a man for anything and now she was putting her entire future in Sam’s hands. Impulsive as ever, she repeated, “Yes. My answer is yes.”
He stood, rubbing one knee. “Cool it on the name-calling. We’re in love, remember.”
“You betcha, honey-bunny.”
That produced a genuine grin from him, and she was again caught off guard by her body’s reaction as tiny butterflies did a fast samba across her belly. Oblivious to his effect on her, Sam turned to the booth.
Before he could speak, an older man wrapped them both in a tight hug. “This is amazing.”
Amazing? Not quite.
Sam caught her gaze, his eyes dark and unreadable. “I forgot to tell you earlier. My dad came to town today. Meet Joe Callahan, your future father-in-law.”
Uh-oh.
