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Lone Star Hero
Jolene Navarro
A Second Chance At LoveSingle mom Vickie Lawson is back in her Texas hometown, intent on making a better life for her children. But when her son's troubles lead childhood sweetheart Jake Torres to her door, she realizes her feelings for him never went away. Now a State Trooper, Jake vows not to be distracted by the beautiful woman who once held his heart. He's never revealed to her the secret that tore them apart. Jake fears if he does, she–and the whole town–will never forgive him. But if Vickie and Jake can untangle the past, they may have another chance at forever.
A Second Chance At Love
Single mom Vickie Lawson is back in her Texas hometown, intent on making a better life for her children. But when her son’s troubles lead childhood sweetheart Jake Torres to her door, she realizes her feelings for him never went away. Now a State Trooper, Jake vows not to be distracted by the beautiful woman who once held his heart. He’s never revealed to her the secret that tore them apart. Jake fears if he does, she—and the whole town—will never forgive him. But if Vickie and Jake can untangle the past, they may have another chance at forever.
“Jake, it’s our song!”
His brows shot up in a question. “I didn’t know we had a song.”
Hands on her hips, she shook her head at his cluelessness. “As chair of the prom committee, I selected the song for the king-and-queen dance. I knew we had received the most votes.” A sad smile formed. “I picked it for us.”
His forehead wrinkled. “You danced it with Tommy.”
“’Cause you never showed up.” She pointed the spatula at him. “You had the most votes. You were voted king. Because you weren’t there I had to dance with Tommy.”
She felt the warmth of his presence as he moved closer to her. He stopped two steps away from where she stood.
“We could dance it now.”
JOLENE NAVARRO
Jolene’s life, much like her stories, is filled with faith, family, football, art, laughter, dirty dishes and all of life’s wonderful messiness. She knows that, as much as the world changes, people stay the same. Good and evil. Vow-keepers and heartbreakers. Jolene married a vow-keeper who showed her that holding hands and dancing in the rain never gets old. When she’s not teaching art to energetic middle-schoolers or hanging out with her four kids, she loves creating stories of love and faith in her much-loved Texas.
Lone Star Hero
Jolene Navarro
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
You have journeyed up a steep, rugged path in recent days. The way ahead is shrouded in uncertainty. Look neither behind you nor before you. Instead, focus your attention on Me, your constant Companion. Trust that I will equip you fully for whatever awaits you on your journey.
—Psalms 143:8
To my sisters Tracye Ward and Amanda Warren—you have become amazing women and great mothers. I know our parents would be proud. Always to Fred Navarro, husband extraordinaire.
Acknowledgments (#ulink_12242c16-61d9-5adb-9641-64ace2f1f92b)
There are so many people that made my dream of being a writer become reality.
First to the gifted writers at San Antonio Romance Authors for sharing their time and talents, especially Linda Carroll-Bradd, who taught me what POV meant and how to use it.
Joni, Marilyn, Sasha and Storm, thank you for listening and reading.
To Jodi Thomas and Alexandra Sokolof, two of the most talented and giving people I know.
To the best agent ever, Pam Hopkins.
To the remarkable Emily Rodmell, thank you for giving me the opportunity to share Clear Water, Texas, with the world. My stories are better because of your insight and knowledge.
Contents
Cover (#ubee80fe8-5203-5bc2-bf50-cbe4acf349b3)
Back Cover Text (#u41339f80-be85-5d30-9b09-86f381f7d662)
Introduction (#u6a5ea830-a56e-599a-b4d4-818b1b84d400)
About the Author (#u305d586a-c147-5a40-aeba-07d4bae54522)
Title Page (#uf35af5be-2bde-54f6-bbe6-faa2cb40dd57)
Bible Verse (#u624c31a8-93ff-5efe-bdee-83f9d6ca4d28)
Dedication (#ua5fbd1e0-4717-5a06-a5c2-e633745d38de)
Acknowledgments (#ulink_f06be25d-a6de-5f23-8a6e-8825b8109566)
Chapter One (#ulink_17e9a745-c78f-5acf-b8fd-7388a8a15874)
Chapter Two (#ulink_c72f52a6-17f5-57f4-b52a-256f15b9743d)
Chapter Three (#ulink_ecb5a816-6297-5194-96bc-ee7678142316)
Chapter Four (#ulink_a4ed67cc-93ec-509c-94ee-8b15d538f248)
Chapter Five (#ulink_8e35a48b-599b-5f37-9912-aeb049c4392a)
Chapter Six (#ulink_c0a6991a-91c8-568a-8887-aec4b0381507)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Three (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Four (#litres_trial_promo)
Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)
Questions for Discussion (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#ulink_e02b7b43-547a-53d3-a8b5-abd60a0f5460)
The blue and red lights flashed. Polished cowboy boots stepped out of the looming SUV. Each step stirred pale dust into the dry air. She didn’t need to look at his face to know who had pulled her over. Ever since her return to Clear Water, Texas, she had done her best to avoid this state trooper.
Jake Torres made it too easy to doubt her resolve to be independent. After a disastrous marriage with one hometown boy, she couldn’t contemplate a relationship with another, even if he had been her best friend once upon a time.
Now her ex-friend was going to give her a ticket on Valentine’s Day. Great. Another memento to add to this wonderful day.
Turning away from the rearview mirror, she glanced at the box of pink penguin cupcakes. They had taken her twice as long to decorate as she’d planned.
“Mom! We’re going to be late!” Ashley, her seven-year-old daughter, cried from the backseat.
She closed her eyes for a moment to control the burning acid in her stomach.
More money gone. She didn’t even have enough to buy her daughter the lollipop Valentine cards she wanted. With a quick check in the mirror, she noticed Ashley going through the handmade cards. A weak smile eased some of the tension as she thought of the fun they’d had while cutting and gluing scrap pieces of construction paper. Even Seth, her preteen son, had made a couple of glittery masterpieces.
An unwanted memory surfaced. The sparkly red heart she had created as an eleven-year-old. She could see Jake’s fingers take the Valentine card made just for him. She’d held her breath watching him read the question she had so carefully printed. Looking up at her, he had smiled and laughed at her. “Vickie, you’re crazy.”
“Vickie?” A baritone voice of the grown version of her childhood crush brought her back to the present. He now stood in his state trooper uniform and looked at her as if he still doubted her sanity.
“Officer Torres.” She replied in her most professional voice.
He leaned in a bit and looked past her. “Hi, Ashley. You’re looking pretty today.”
“Thank you. We’re going to the horse club’s Valentine’s party.”
He smiled and nodded before looking back at her. Well, she assumed he looked at her. With the dark aviators, all she saw was her own reflection. Not pretty.
“License and insurance?”
She handed him the documents. He always looked so good in cowboy hats. She made sure not to gaze at him. Instead, she focused on the empty country road stretched out in front of her. The outline of the hills surrounding them hid any sign of civilization.
A silver truck sped by and honked. Vickie scooted farther down in her seat and looked to her right. The Black Angus heifers went on with their eating. Her father’s cattle couldn’t care less about her problems.
“How is Seth doing?” Jake pulled her attention back to him.
Her knuckles went white around her worn and cracked steering wheel. Just two months ago, her son snuck out, making plans to run away and ended up in the shallow river in the dark. Her heart still stopped whenever she thought how close she came to losing her son. The image of his still form loaded into the ambulance burned forever in her mind.
“Last week the doctor released him for all regular activities. He’s a hundred percent recovered, physically anyway.” She took a breath and looked up. “Thank you for being there, for searching for him and helping me hold it together.” It had been the worst night of her life, and Jake had stayed by her side until they found Seth. He drove her to the ambulance and helped her stay calm when it felt as if she was going to fall to pieces.
He paused and brought his face back to her. “I’m glad I was there. Vickie, you know if you ever need anything you can call me.”
Yeah, that was Jake, everyone’s hero. Giving her a speeding ticket, probably for her own good. “You wouldn’t consider just giving me a warning, would you?” She tried to smile, but visions of her measly savings dwindling even further made it difficult.
“The sun’s almost down. It’s hard to see deer, and in your small car that can be dangerous. Just the other day...” His voice dropped off as he looked back to his new handheld scanner. “Um...Vickie?”
That didn’t sound good. “Yes?”
“Are you aware you have a warrant out for your arrest?”
“What?” Her voice squeaked as it caught in her throat. “Oh, no! I had a ticket somewhere in East Texas. I didn’t...oh, then Tommy and Seth...” She covered her face with her cold, clammy hands. You will not cry, Victoria Maria Lawson. You will not cry.
“Mommy?”
“Vickie, take a breath. It’s okay. You have a way to pay it, right? You can ask your father.” He took the dark shades off. “As soon as you pay it in full they’ll remove the warrant.”
“I’m not asking Daddy. I just forgot about it.” Did she have enough in her savings? Was she ever going to get to the point where she put more in than she withdrew? She looked in the rearview mirror. Ashley’s big eyes were even wider. “It’s okay, sweetheart.” She glanced up at Jake. “I have Ash...”
“Vickie. I don’t want to arrest you, but you have to pay it. Call your dad. He’ll help you.”
“I have the money. I’m not asking Daddy to save me. I completely forgot... How could I...?” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. How did she let this happen? With Seth’s near-death excursion and Tommy getting remarried she just...
“Mommy, are we still going to the horse club meeting?”
Oh, Ashley. “I don...”
“Vickie, take her to the party.” He lowered his chin and stared at her a moment before speaking again. “I’ll follow. Ashley can go into the exhibit hall and you can take care of the ticket over the phone.”
His thoughts were hidden behind the depth of his dark eyes. The intense gaze made her want to hide.
“Take it slow. Being late is not the worst thing that can happen.” He glanced down. “You need new tires. These are bald, and your inspection sticker needs to be renewed.” He took a step back.
She managed to nod. “Thank you. I can pay it. I just forgot.” He didn’t get it. She grew up relying on her parents then Tommy. She refused to ask them for help. She had to do this on her own.
