Lessons Learned

Because of her painful past, teacher Beth Ryken has one rule when it comes to men and marriage: never fall for a cop. So when the new sheriff’s deputy asks her to tutor his young son, she agrees to work with the boy while hoping to avoid the handsome widower. She knows former big-city detective Nicholas Grey moved to LeNaro, Michigan, to give his child a safe and stable life. But sometimes a cop’s job means risk and danger. As Beth works with Nick’s struggling son, she grows unexpectedly close with the small Grey family. How will she possibly protect her heart from breaking all over again?

“I was hoping to talk to you about Corey,” Beth said.

“Everything okay?” Nick asked.

“I’m not sure. Corey’s afraid you’ll send him back to his grandparents if he doesn’t read well.”

The woman didn’t beat around the bush. “Where would he get that idea?”

Beth shrugged. “Your son told me in confidence, but I thought you should know because he’s stressing about reading.”

Nick nodded, but his gut felt like it’d been shredded. He’d left Corey behind before so it only stood to reason that his son didn’t trust him not to do it again.

“You okay?” Beth’s voice was soft.

His little guy had so much riding on those seven-year-old shoulders.

“I think Corey wanted you to come today because he’s not easy around me anymore,” Nick said. “He thinks I’ll leave him. I don’t know what to do about it.”

“Maybe what you need is something fun to do together. Find some interests in common.”

Right now, that interest was Beth Ryken. Corey liked her, and so did Nick.

Maybe too much.

JENNA MINDEL

lives in northwest Michigan with her husband and their three dogs. She enjoys a career in banking that has spanned twenty-five years and several positions, but writing is her passion. A 2006 Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, Jenna has answered her heart’s call to write inspirational romances set near the Great Lakes.

The Deputy’s New Family

Jenna Mindel

www.millsandboon.co.uk

But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says: Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you;

I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown!

—Isaiah 43:1–2

To my sister, Lisa.

Although I was a pesky baby sister

who wouldn’t stay out of your stuff,

you inspired me to love words—reading them (yours) and then eventually writing them (mine).

You also taught me the real joy of haiku.

Thank you…for everything. I love you!

Acknowledgments

To Julie Mindel, Abby Carter and Tracey Miller: Thank you for your rich examples and answers to my many questions about reading levels, classroom activities and standards. I applaud what you ladies do! And I really appreciate your time as well as giving me a glimpse into your worlds. Thank you!

To Kyle Sitzema: Thank you for your firearm expertise. See, I finally wrote a red-headed hero!

To Christine Johnson: Thank you for sharing your sailing knowledge. I couldn’t have written that exhausting scene without you!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“Miss Ryken, you’ve got a new student.” The familiar voice of her school principal was warm but bore unwelcome news.

Beth Ryken didn’t like surprises and a new student when the school year was two months from over wasn’t good news at all. Core standard evaluations still had to be met and time at the end of the year was always fleeting.

Gathering her thoughts into a quick prayer for patience, Beth looked up but her gaze snagged on the tall man standing beside the principal. He was lean and mean looking in spite of the boyishness in his face. And he had short red hair. Not exactly a common combination. He also had an angular jaw and a strong nose that looked as if it might have been broken a time or two. Put him in a kilt and he’d be devastating to females everywhere.

Cool gray eyes assessed her. The man didn’t look pleased by her perusal. Annoyed, maybe. Cynical, definitely, but not at all happy.

Beth ignored those itchy fingers of attraction that scratched up her spine. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she focused on the boy standing in front of the man. Red hair like his father and the same colored eyes, which looked lost instead of cold.

Beth melted. “Hello.”

The boy gave her a hint of a smile aimed straight into her heart.

“This is Nick Grey and his son, Corey. They just moved to the area,” her principal explained. “Beth Ryken is one of two second-grade teachers here.”

“Welcome to LeNaro.” Beth held out her hand to the youngster. “Corey, I have the perfect spot for you next to Thomas. His table could use one more boy to make it even. We’re coloring tall ships right now and I’ll have Gracie get an extra page for you.”

Corey looked up at his father for direction.

He gave his approval with a quick nod while he released the hold he had on his son’s shoulders.

Nick Grey did not wear a wedding ring. There wasn’t an indentation or even a white mark left behind by a ring. If he’d been married, it must have been a long time ago. The only jewelry the man wore was a bulky watch clamped on to his wrist.

Typically, when dads dropped off their kids at a new school, it was safe to assume they were single, but something in Corey’s eyes hinted at sadness. Was there a custody battle going on?

“Everyone, I’d like you to say hello to Corey Grey. He’s new to our school.”

The kids mumbled their hellos and then quieted when they spotted Corey’s dad. Her students stared openly with awe, too. Mr. Grey’s hair wasn’t that red, so it had to be something else about the man. Like maybe how his pushed-up shirtsleeves revealed arms that were taut and whipcord lean. He reminded her of a power line that shot deadly sparks when snapped. Yeah, the guy looked a little dangerous.

Corey slipped his hand into hers.

Beth gave it a quick squeeze and led the boy toward the table and Thomas. “No backpack?”

Corey shook his head.

Beth glanced at his father before giving Corey a friendly wink. There was still a black one in the lost and found in the school’s office. He’d need something to carry his books and papers home. “We’ll get you set up.”

Once the boy had been seated and introduced to his tablemates, Beth turned her attention back to Nick Grey. Not hard to do. Something about the man invited long looks.

But Nick watched his son with steely concentration before resting his unsettling gaze upon her. “I’ll be back to pick him up after school.”

“Whoa, wait.” Beth held up her hand. “A little more information would be good.”

Nick cocked his head toward Tammy, her principal. “She can fill you in.” Then one more glance at his son. “I have to leave for an appointment.”

Not quite rude, but terse came to mind, and authoritative. Was he military? The only military base nearby was a Coast Guard air station in Traverse City twenty miles south. Long commute, but maybe he wanted his son in a small school setting.

Beth reached a hand out to Nick. He was a good few inches taller than her, a rarity since she hovered near the six-foot mark. “Okay, well, nice to meet you, Mr. Grey. I’m sure we’ll talk more once your son settles in.”

Nick looked at her offered hand a moment before accepting it. “Sounds good.”

First Beth registered his strength and then the warmth of his skin as his hand gripped hers for a firm shake. But looking into the man’s eyes was what made her breath hitch. He really looked at her, as if delving down deep to see who she was. Not that he could possibly know with only one look but Beth still shivered.

And then he gave her a nod, let go and left.

Beth blew out her breath with a whoosh. “What was that?”

Tammy laughed. “Odd man.”

Odd didn’t quite cover it. Beth’s heart still raced. “So what’s the deal here?”

Tammy shrugged and lowered her voice. “Pretty vague, really. Mr. Grey showed up early this morning with his son and his medical records and filled out the paperwork for admission. There’s no Mrs. Grey—she died a year ago. The boy’s maternal grandparents are listed as the second emergency contact.”

Beth’s heart twisted. Corey Grey lost his mom at a tender age. Yup, sad story. Poor kid. She watched as he quietly colored his paper. So far the boy kept to himself with little interaction with his tablemates. Even bubbly little Grace Cavanaugh couldn’t pull Corey into conversation. Was he shy? Or something else?

Beth continued to stare. Corey wanted a crayon, but he waited for Thomas to put it down before reaching for it. “What about testing?”

“Let’s see how he does over the next couple of weeks, and then we’ll meet and discuss a plan of action with the school counselor.”

Beth nodded. Tammy was an excellent principal with an elementary teaching background. LeNaro Elementary School prided itself on meeting its students’ educational needs first and foremost. They didn’t push kids through the lower grades if they weren’t ready to move on. If extra attention didn’t work, they often recommended a student be held back. Not a popular approach, but the bridge between first and second was a big one. Preparation for third grade with its state standards testing was bigger still.

Beth had a bad feeling about Corey Grey. Loss of his mother plus a tight-lipped father and a new school usually added up to trouble for a seven-year-old. She’d have to keep a close eye on the boy. It wouldn’t be hard to do. The kid had already stolen her heart.

Still, Beth needed to review the previous school’s assessments before making any assumptions, but her gut feelings usually turned out correct. In Corey’s case, that wasn’t a good thing. Her guess was Nick Grey wasn’t the kind of man who’d take bad news about his son very well.

She rubbed her arms as if a cold breeze had blown into the room. Nick Grey might be a difficult parent to deal with, but she’d find a way to figure it out. She always did.

* * *

At the end of the school day, Nick climbed into the driver’s seat as Corey buckled up in his booster seat in the back. “How was your first day?”

The kid shrugged.

Nick gripped the steering wheel a little tighter and tried a more specific question. “What about your teacher? Is she nice?”

“Yeah, she’s nice.” Corey stared straight ahead.

“Good.” Nick was beginning to think maybe he’d been wrong in taking Corey from his grandparents.

He’d been wrong about so many things, but Nick believed a boy belonged with his father. Was it selfish to uproot Corey yet again, so soon after losing Susan? Or was all this the price of leaving his kid behind while he finished up a tough case?

Lord, help me out here, please.

Waiting in the line of cars belonging to parents picking up kids, Nick drummed his fingers along the base of the steering wheel. This sort of thing was all new to him, but he’d get used to it. After this morning’s appointment with the county sheriff to complete paperwork before he officially started as a deputy, Nick had finished unpacking their belongings. He had purchased a small house complete with a picket fence situated on two pretty acres a couple miles north of town. It was a start. A new start. One he prayed he’d get right.

“Hey, there’s Miss Ryken!” Corey had suddenly come to life and waved out the open window. “Beep the horn.”

“I’m not beeping the horn.”

No way did Nick want to invite her attention. She was everything he liked in a woman on the outside, but she looked a little bit like his dead wife. Only taller and fuller, which, he had to admit, he liked even better. Susan had been obsessed with losing weight when she didn’t need to. She constantly fussed over food, measuring and counting calories.

“Come on, Dad.”

“The line is moving.” Too late—Beth Ryken noticed them and walked toward their idling car. Nick swallowed hard.

“Hi, Corey. Mr. Grey. How was your first day?” She leaned down near the open window on Corey’s side and her blond hair fell forward in long waves.

Nick watched the two cars ahead of him creep and then stop. He wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. “He’s pretty stiff-lipped about today.”

Beth gave him an amused smile. “Like father, like son.”

Corey glanced at him and Nick thought he might have seen a glimmer of pride in his son’s eyes, but it came and went so fast, Nick couldn’t be sure.

“It was fun,” Corey finally said.

Beth’s perfectly shaped eyebrows rose. “Fun is good. That means you’ll come back tomorrow.”

Corey nodded.

“Miss Ryken.” Nick tried not to stare at her. “Do you know of any after-school programs or good caretakers in the area?”

Her brow furrowed as the cars in front of him started to move. “Why don’t you pull around so we don’t clog up the line?”

Nick nodded and nearly kicked himself for asking her instead of the principal, but he needed the information. Should have gotten the leads before he’d moved here, but he believed face-to-face was always better than over-the-phone conversations. He was a pretty good judge of character.

Most times.

He’d never been wise when it came to women, though. He fell too hard too fast.

He pulled out of line and parked and then got out. “Corey, stay in the car.”

His son stayed put.

Beth jogged toward him. Tall and strong. Confident.

Nick clenched his jaw. She was a sight to be savored.

“Are you looking for a structured program for Corey?”

“I start work soon, and I don’t want Corey home alone after school. Any recommendations?”

“I can send a list of care providers with Corey tomorrow. We have an art-and-crafts-focused program after school, but it’s only on Thursdays. I’m one of the teachers who staff it.”

Nick looked at his car. Corey hung on their every word as he looked out the window. “That sounds good. Sign him up.”

“I’ll send a release form for that, as well.” Her attention was caught by something across the street and then she waved.

Nick turned to see who it was and spotted an older woman dressed for yard work. Raking that lawn was bound to be a challenge considering all the flowers and statues that littered the grass.

“My mother,” she explained.

“So your folks live right there?”

Beth’s deep blue eyes clouded over. “Just my mom and me. My dad died when I was fourteen.”

“Sorry to hear that.” Nick tucked the knowledge away. He’d patrol this area soon and he’d pay special attention to that house with two women alone.

“Thank you. I understand that you’re widowed.”

“Yeah.” Nick narrowed his gaze. He knew the kind of offers that usually came after that information. He was in no place to get involved with anyone, let alone someone like Miss Ryken, whose sunny nature seemed too good to be real.

“That must be difficult for you both.” Her expression was open and honest. Sweet, even.

“It can be.” Nick braced for an invitation he might want but wouldn’t accept. He hadn’t missed the blatant interest in her eyes when she’d checked him out this morning.

“We have a really good school counselor.” Beth fished in her mammoth-sized purse. “Here’s her card. She meets with all the students, but it would be wise for you to make an appointment to talk with her right away.”

Nick swallowed his surprise and nodded. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Gotta run.” She smiled brighter than sunshine and headed toward the back of his car. “See you tomorrow, Corey.”

“See you tomorrow.” His son sounded eager.

Nick flipped the card for their school counselor/social worker into his wallet. He’d call the woman in the morning. This school stuff was all new to him. His wife had taken care of that. After Susan’s death, Nick’s mother had stepped in to finish out first grade and get the boy started with second grade until she got bogged down with his sister’s issues.

The past six months, Susan’s parents had kept Corey safe and sound with them while Nick finished a delicate undercover case that took him out of town most nights. He’d had few days off and they were erratic at best.

He watched Beth cross the street and slip inside the modest home where she lived while her mother made a feeble attempt to rake up dead leaves from last fall.

Nick needed to step up. He wanted to be the kind of father his boy deserved, only he wasn’t exactly sure how. He slipped behind the wheel and looked at his son. “Hungry? There’s a café in town or the mini-mart and then we have to hit the grocery store.”

Corey wasn’t listening. He watched where his second-grade teacher had gone like a hawk. “Is that where Miss Ryken lives?”

“It is.”

Corey looked at him. “Why can’t I go there after school?”

Nick coughed. Not exactly something he could ask his son’s teacher and she certainly hadn’t offered, but that sure would make things convenient. “You really like your new teacher.”

Corey nodded, looking deadly serious. “She’s kinda like Mom, on her good days.”

“I know.” Nick felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. Corey had noticed the resemblance, too.

How did he handle that one? Ignore it, as he’d tried to do with his wife? She’d had too many bad days, and some days Susan barely bothered to get out of bed. Nick and Corey had been a team then. A silent partnership of protection against Susan’s mood swings.

Nick hoped Miss Ryken’s blond hair and blue eyes were as far as the similarity to Susan went. Corey’s teacher had a sunny demeanor as well as good looks, but the instant attraction that had sliced sharp through him made him nervous. He’d fallen hard before, before he saw the darkness that lay underneath Susan’s cheerful facade.

If love was blind, then Nick had been deaf, too.

* * *

“Who was that you were talking to earlier?”

Beth picked through her mother’s latest shopping bag on the kitchen table, sorting out things to keep and return. “Do you have the receipt for these?”

“In my purse.”

“Mom, you really need to stop buying stuff you don’t need.”

“But they were on sale.”

Beth rubbed her eyes. Everything on sale ended up in her mother’s tiny house. “We’ve got to stick to your budget.”

Her mother gave her that look of tried patience. They’d been over this before. Several times in fact. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“What question?”

“Who was that tall man you were talking to?” Keen interest sparkled from her mom’s eyes. Her dishwater-blond hair was covered with a flamboyantly patterned silk scarf, another “on sale” purchase. Who did yard work wearing Ann Taylor?

Beth waved her hand in dismissal, but her heart skipped a few beats at the mere mention of Nick Grey. “Oh, he’s the dad of a new student in my class.”

“Married?”

Okay, so every one of her friends was either married or getting married and her mom hoped the same for her. At twenty-six, it wasn’t as if Beth was beyond hope, but she’d always been the proverbial bridesmaid. In a couple weeks, she’d repeat that role for her best bud and ex-roomie, Eva Marsh. Beth didn’t need a reminder of her very single status, nor did she need her mother ferreting out prospects. Not that Beth had much success on her own.

She let loose a sigh. “Mom...”

“Well, is he?”

“No. He’s widowed.”

Her mother’s smile grew even wider. “Interesting.”

Yeah, very. Who wouldn’t be moved by a handsome widowed man and his adorable son? “Can I have that receipt?”

“You’re awfully bossy since you moved back home.” Her mother bustled for her purse and then handed over the offensive slip of paper totaling the merchandise from a department store in Traverse City.

“Just trying to keep you out of bankruptcy.” Beth smiled sweetly. She’d moved home over Christmas after she’d gotten wind of her mother’s dwindling bank account. Something had to be done.

“You’ve got a smart mouth just like your father, God rest his soul.” Her mom stripped off her work gloves and washed her hands. “What do you want for dinner?”

Beth shrugged.

Her mother used to get in hot water with her father over spending habits, too. On a cop’s salary, they could afford only so much and her mother had expensive tastes. But she’d never been this bad with her shopping sprees before, had she? Maybe now that Beth saved every penny, her mother’s spending glared brighter.

Beth’s dad used to say the key to happiness was being content with what you had. He used to tell Beth to do whatever she loved and be grateful to God for everything. God had given her a passion. It was teaching. Her dad’s had been for police work. It got him killed.

“Beth?”

She shook off her thoughts. “What?”

“Dinner?” Her mom cocked her head. “My, my, that man really got to you, huh? What’s his name, this father of your new student?”

Nick. Nicholas Grey. The name kind of rolled easily around in her brain. “What about the leftovers from last night? Let’s eat those and I’ll make a salad.”

Her mother made a face. “I suppose.”

Beth chuckled. She’d called a halt to throwing out food, too. Her mother was a wonderful cook who loved to create masterpieces in the kitchen, but she made too much and then left it in the fridge too long. Since moving in, Beth never had to worry about packing something good for lunch.

Beth got up to make that salad while her mom reheated the chicken carbonara from Sunday’s dinner. Beth glanced at the woman who worried her. Ever since her mom’s work hours had been severely cut back at the airport in Traverse City, her mom’s handle on her finances had slipped. Even with Beth’s rent payments for living here. The shopping trips increased. Was she bored? Or was something else going on?

Nick Grey’s question about after-school day-care providers filtered through Beth’s mind. Could watching Corey bring meaning back to her mother’s daily routine? Something about that little boy’s reserve made Beth think her mom’s flamboyant style might be good for him. It didn’t get any more convenient than walking across the street from school.

The fact that Beth would get to see more of Nick Grey when he picked up his son brought a heady flip in her belly. Followed by guilt. This couldn’t be about exploring the immediate attraction she’d felt for Corey’s dad. Although it might be a nice side benefit.

Beth stopped cutting a carrot and looked at her mom. “Would you be interested in watching a seven-year-old boy after school?”

“Is he a good kid?”

“I think so.” Another gut feeling.

Her mom’s gaze narrowed. “Who?”

“Corey Grey, my new student. His mom died a year ago, and he seems a little lost.”

Her mom’s face fell. “How awful for him.”

“That’s why I was talking with his father. He asked about after-school care providers. If you’re interested, I can let him know. If not, no problem.”

“Let me think about it.” But her mother looked interested.

Her mom could use the extra money, but Beth knew that wouldn’t be the reason if she agreed. A softy at heart, Mary Ryken would be all over a child in need.

When they were done with dinner and cleanup in the kitchen, Beth headed for her usual spot at the dining room table to grade papers. After that she’d walk to the LeNaro community pool for her daily swim. Ever since moving back home, Beth found that several laps in the pool not only helped her relax, but it helped fight the extra calories from her mom’s cooking.

Beth was no skinny mini. She’d always been tall and full figured. She tried to whittle her hips with swimming, but her body refused to cooperate. Her mother said size fourteen was not fat but normal. Still, standing six foot in bare feet wasn’t exactly common for a woman. Not too many men were knocking down her door for a date.

She sighed and got back to work but the memory of looking up at Nick Grey invaded her concentration. He was certainly tall enough.

Later when Beth skipped down the stairs with her duffel bag ready for the pool, her mom stopped her with a raised hand.

“I think I will watch that boy after school. You can tell your Mr. Grey that I’ll do it until school’s out and then we’ll see. What’s he going to do for the summer?”

Beth shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’m sure he’ll figure something out. We’ve got a couple of months yet. I’ll let him know tomorrow. Maybe we could do a trial run, you know, make sure you and Corey click.”

Her mother nodded. “Yes, do that.”

Beth hesitated to leave. “You’re sure about this?”

Her face broke into a wide smile. “Very sure. Have a nice swim.”

“Thanks.”

Walking down the sidewalk, Beth didn’t bother to enjoy the sight of spring flowers blooming along the way or the mild warm night air. Her mind whirled. Would Nick agree to Corey staying with her mom after school? It might be good for both of them. And Beth couldn’t help feeling a shiver of excitement at the thought of seeing Nick Grey more often.

She’d have to be careful, though. It wasn’t smart to get involved with a student’s parent when there might be issues. Could get messy real quick.

Chapter Two

Nick made breakfast. The eggs were too hard and the bacon a little too crisp. He wasn’t a whiz in the kitchen, but he knew enough to get by. Knowing how to get by was what made him good at undercover work. God’s grace had kept him alive during his last assignment, which had taken him away from home most nights. But that line of work was over. For his son’s sake, he couldn’t take those risks anymore. So he’d kissed the adrenaline rush goodbye and transferred into a rural county sheriff’s department. About time, too.

Nick would never understand why that same grace hadn’t covered his wife when she’d wrapped her car around a tree. But then, Susan might have made her own decisions about that. It wasn’t that rainy the night she’d wrecked. He’d never know for sure. He’d make sure Corey never knew, either. He’d rather his son remember his mom’s good days.

He turned away from the stove to holler down the hall at his son, but the kid was already dressed and seated at the kitchen table.

Nick slipped a plate in front of his son.

Corey stared at it for a few seconds before digging in.

Susan’s mom made picture-perfect eggs. Susan had, too. When things were good, they were great, but then she’d hit a dark stretch and nothing worked well. If only they’d dated longer before they married, if they’d waited to have Corey, maybe...

Maybe he would have known, but then again, maybe not. Her wild bouts had come well after Corey was born.

“You’re ready early.” Nick sat across from his son and sprinkled his eggs with hot sauce before digging in.

Corey nodded.

Nick racked his brain for something else to ask. Getting his kid to talk to him was worse than questioning a perp. They went nowhere fast. “I’ll pick you up after school.”

Again the boy nodded.

They ate the rest of their meal in silence.

Nick grappled with frustration. He had a lot of ground to make up for leaving his boy behind for the past six months. Pretty hard to make a seven-year-old understand that he was safer with grandparents who lived an hour north of the city.

Another reason to transfer. Nick wanted to sleep better. He’d never grown used to worrying about some thug finding out where he lived. That had been the sole reason he’d refused to buy a house despite Susan’s prodding that she and Corey deserved better than their Grand Rapids apartment.

The quick drive to LeNaro Elementary School was a quiet one, but the closer they got, the more Corey came to life. He’d lean forward, look out his window and clutch the backpack given to him by his lovely teacher.

Nick parked and unbuckled his seat belt.

“I can walk in by myself.”

Nick looked at his son, careful not to bruise that seven-year-old ego. “I know you can.”

“Then why are you getting out?” Corey’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m going to talk to the school counselor. You being new and all, it’s probably a good idea, don’t you think?”

Corey shrugged. “I dunno.”

Nick didn’t, either. Beth Ryken had suggested it and since she probably knew more about kids than him, he was taking her advice. He didn’t start work for a few days yet, so now was as good a time as any to see what this school counselor was all about and let her know Corey’s background. He only prayed they wouldn’t label him as troubled like the last school.

Entering the elementary school, Nick was struck by the noise of kids banging their lockers shut and chattering as well as the smell of breakfast wafting from the cafeteria. Maybe Corey would have eaten better here? Once he started his morning shift, Corey probably would. The principal had informed him about the school’s breakfast program for kids dropped off early.

He looked down at his son with a mop of red hair and scattering of light freckles. The kid was the spitting image of himself as a boy. Sad, too. Nick’s parents had divorced the summer he had turned ten. As the oldest, Nick had always felt as if it was somehow his fault. His and his sister’s for fighting, for not being quiet when his dad came home exhausted from his shift as a Grand Rapids city cop.

A sharp tug at his heart kept him walking alongside Corey instead of turning into the school office. Crazy maybe, but he didn’t want to say goodbye to his son. If he had kept his boy out today, they could have spent more time together. Doing what, he didn’t know. Nick hadn’t spent enough time with Corey ever since Susan had died. He’d always regret that.

Nick let work come first too many times. Needing to get the bad guys never flew with Corey. Those big eyes of his son’s saw through his excuse for what it was. An excuse.

Nick was scared of raising a little boy on his own.

“What are you doing?”

“Thought since I’m here, I might as well walk you to class.”

“I’m not a baby.”

“I know.” Nick caught a glimpse of a flowered skirt attached to the pretty second-grade teacher standing in the doorway.

Beth Ryken gave them a sunny smile that nearly knocked him on his backside. The woman was that beautiful.

“Good morning, Corey and Mr. Grey.”

He gave her a nod. “Miss Ryken.”

“I got my backpack, see?” Corey stepped into class without a glance backward.

“That’s good. I’m going to talk to your dad a minute.”

Corey actually smiled at her. The woman had charmed his son, as well.

She stepped out of the doorway into the hall. “He’s a great kid. A little serious.”

Nick sighed. “It’s been tough on him since his mom died.”

Her blue eyes softened. “And on you, too, I imagine.”

Not as it should have been. He’d stayed undercover and sloughed off his kid first to his mom, then to Susan’s parents. Not fair to them, even though they’d welcomed Corey with open arms. He cleared his throat. “Yeah.”

“I wanted to tell you that I might have found an option for Corey after school.”

“Really? Where?”

She took a deep breath and smiled. “My mother.”

“Across the street?”

“Yes. She could use the extra income. I think she’d be great with Corey, but you’ll want to meet her and find that out for yourself.”

Nick couldn’t believe his ears. Corey had requested the same only yesterday. “And you’ll be there.”

She looked confused. “Ah, yeah, after I finish up my day here. But you’ll have to talk nuts and bolts with my mom. Pickup times, that sort of thing. I can introduce you after school today if that works.”

“That definitely works. I’ll pick up Corey here and then walk over with you.” It was nice to talk to a woman at eye level. Corey’s teacher smelled like spring and new beginnings. Like kissing in the rain. Whoa. Not a place his mind should go.

“And your mom’s name?”

“It’s Mary Ryken. She works part-time at the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City.” Beth Ryken sounded breathless.

Nick stepped back, away from the allure of the woman in front of him. Her mother needed the money, she’d said. With gas prices the way they were, her twenty-mile one-way commute would be expensive. “I look forward to meeting her, and then we’ll see.”

“Great.” That sunny smile again.

Nick couldn’t look away.

“I better get started with class.” Her cheeks went rosy pink.

“Oh. Yeah.” He extended his hand. “Hey, thanks for this.”

“You’re welcome.” She accepted his handshake and her skin felt soft.

He didn’t want to let go but had to before he made a fool of himself. “I’ll see you later, then.”

She nodded and slipped back into her classroom.

Nick walked down the hall and checked his watch. He’d see the school counselor and then head for the sheriff’s department. He’d run a background check on Mary Ryken before making any decisions.

* * *

Beth checked the clock on the wall. Just a couple minutes until the bell would ring, ending the school day. She glanced at her students working on their homework for tomorrow—a short reading passage with questions next to it.

Beth spotted Corey with his head down and wandered over. “Everything okay?”

He shrugged and sniffed.

Beth’s midsection tightened as she knelt down. “What’s up, Corey?”

“I don’t want to do this.” His eyes were red, but so far no tears had leaked out.

The bell rang and kids clamored for their jackets and backpacks. Corey stayed put and stared at his work sheet; he hadn’t answered any of the questions.

Beth directed the kids as they left, all while keeping a close eye on Corey, who looked devastated. She gathered his things from the cubby locker and dropped them on the seat next to him. Beth was about to sit down and have a chat with him when Nick Grey popped into the classroom.

“Hey, bud, why the long face?”

Corey quickly shoved the work sheet into his backpack and shrugged.

Nick looked at her for direction. For the meaning behind his son’s sulk.

She smiled, but her mind churned. “If you both don’t mind waiting a few minutes while I clean off my desk, we’ll head over to my mom’s.”

Corey’s head jerked up, his demeanor totally changed. “We’re going to your house?”

“Yes. To meet my mother.” That was all Beth would say, in case Nick chose another option for Corey’s after-school care.

“Cool.” Corey slipped into a navy windbreaker.

“Do you want us to wait in the car?” Nick’s worried gaze lingered on his son.

“Oh, no. I’ll only be a minute.” Beth kept her voice upbeat, but her initial worries about Corey returned.

Why had he been upset over a short reading assignment? The subject matter had been harmless enough. Tall ships and their sails. She’d have to talk to his father about that.

By the time they crossed the street, Beth had decided on discretion when she talked to Nick Grey. This was only Corey’s second day in her class. New school, new home, no friends yet—it all added up to stress. Her principal hadn’t received Corey’s transcripts from his old school yet, so she shouldn’t jump to conclusions.

Beth opened the front door and sniffed. Her mom had been baking. Nice. She gestured for Nick and Corey to come in and then kicked off her shoes. “Mom? I’m home and I brought guests as promised.”

Her mother came toward them and looked right at Corey. “You must be hungry for a snack. I’ve got chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven.”

Corey nodded and then looked at his dad.

“Thank you, Mrs. Ryken, that sounds wonderful.” Nick held out his hand. “My name’s Nick Grey and this is my boy, Corey.”

Her mom gave her a quick wink. “Yes, Beth told me about you both. Come on into the kitchen.”

The kitchen smelled like melted butter and chocolate, and Beth got busy pouring glasses of milk while her mom passed around a plate of warm cookies. Corey appeared to be on his best behavior. He took a napkin and carefully spread it on his lap before eating. That was definitely not a trick he’d learned from his father. Nick wolfed down a cookie with one bite while reaching for another.

Beth quietly slipped into a seat and grabbed a cookie, giving Corey a smile.

“I see you like flowers,” Nick said. “There’s quite a few in your yard.”

Her mom nodded. “I love having them pop up willy-nilly every spring. They keep spreading and I love the surprise of where they’ll go next. I won’t mow my lawn until after they’ve bloomed. But my annuals are a little more organized.”

That answer seemed to please him, and Beth nearly laughed. Nick was using her mother’s erratic gardening as some sort of test, and evidently, she’d passed the first question.

“Beth, why don’t you take Corey to fill up the birdfeeders while I talk to his father?” Her mom peeked at Nick over her designer-brand reading glasses. “If that’s okay with you.”

“It is.” Nick smiled. It was an awkward smile, as if he wasn’t used to doing it.

Beth let her gaze linger. Smiling was definitely something Nick should do more of.

Turning to the man’s son, Beth slapped her hands on her lap. “What do you think, Corey? Do you mind going outside with me?”

The boy had finished his second cookie and had chocolate smeared in the corners of his mouth. He gave her a heart-stealing grin. “Okay.”

Beth held out her hand to the boy. “Let’s go. I’m going to need your help.”

They stepped out of the kitchen onto the back deck. She knew they were in full view of Nick and her mom. A year before Beth’s father died, he had installed big windows and a sliding glass door along the back wall of the kitchen as a Mother’s Day present. Their backyard was large and her mother had birdfeeders scattered everywhere. Didn’t matter where a person sat in the kitchen or living room, they’d have a clear view of birds scattering seeds.

Beth opened the door to the shed and grabbed a bucket. “So what happened today, Corey? Why don’t you want to do the homework assignment?”

The boy shrugged. “I just don’t.”

She filled the bucket with birdseed and handed it to him. “Did you have homework at your old school?”

He shook his head.

“Did you get it done in school, then?”

He shrugged. “Grandma didn’t give homework.”

Beth frowned. “Tell me about your grandma.”

“She used to read to me a lot and show me how to count.”

“What about your teacher? Did she read to you, too? Or did she have you read the stories on your own?”

Corey stopped filling a low birdfeeder and looked at her as if she’d missed the obvious. “Grandma was my teacher.”

“Oh.” Beth closed her eyes. She definitely needed more information. She needed to talk to Nick.

* * *

Nick watched his son with Beth. He could tell that Corey talked to her. As they filled birdfeeders, Corey chatted easily.

He glanced at Beth’s mom, who’d been watching him. She was a nice lady, if a little scattered. “I think Corey will do well here after school.”

“I’d love to have him, and this works well with my weekday shift of seven till noon at the airport. Plenty of time for me to run errands and get home to meet Corey.”

“Some weeks I’ll have midweek days off and work the weekend. Would you mind Corey hanging out during the day on a weekend?”

Mary’s brow furrowed. “What is it that you do?”

“I start with the sheriff’s department in a few days.”

Mary Ryken’s eyebrow lifted, but the expression on her face had fallen into disappointment. “You’re in law enforcement.”

“Yes, ma’am. A deputy.” Nick drained his glass of milk. Mary had offered him cookies until he’d stuffed himself.

“My husband worked for the same but was killed on duty.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry for your loss.” He’d looked it up. It was what made her a good choice. Mary understood a cop’s life. She’d lived it. She’d understand if his shift ran late.

Her eyes grew stern. “Don’t let it happen to you. That boy needs you.”

Nick nodded. It was why he was here. Why he’d transferred out of undercover work. “I don’t plan on it.”

“No one ever plans on it, but it happens. And it happens to the best of them.” Mary’s tone hardened.

He waited for her to pass on watching Corey but she didn’t say a word, only looked at him expectantly.

“The job’s yours if you want it.”

“I do.” She smiled. “And weekends are no trouble. I’m a homebody on weekends, and Corey can go with me to church if that’s okay with you. Our church has a good children’s program.”

“That would be great. We need to find one anyway.” He wanted to get back in the habit of going when he wasn’t working. It’d been a long time. A dry time.

Again Nick glanced out of the large windows. Beth and Corey had finished filling the birdfeeders and sat on a wooden swing together. Corey laughed at something Beth said. His son looked like what a seven-year-old should look like. Carefree.

Since he’d taken Corey back from his grandparents, the boy acted so careful, careful in what he did and said—if he said anything. Nick had learned to accept shrugs as their primary mode of communication. His boy had a lot to say to Miss Ryken.

Mary glanced at the clock.

Nick followed her gaze. It was closing in on four-thirty. Time to leave.

Mary smiled. “Why don’t you and Corey stay for dinner?”

That surprised him, but then it didn’t. If Mary Ryken cooked half as well as she baked, they were in for a real treat. He’d like to see how Corey responded to her. “Thank you, Mrs. Ryken. I appreciate your offer. We’ll stay.”

The woman stood. “Good, and please call me Mary.”

“What can I do to help?” He also got to his feet.

“Not a thing.” She waved him away and then stepped out of the sliding glass door. “Beth, why don’t you show Nick around since Corey will be coming here after school. And, Corey, would you like to help me in the kitchen?”

Nick gave Mary a double take. She’d turned down his help.

As if sensing his confusion, Mary explained, “I might as well get to know the boy a little better, and you’ll want to make sure everything is secure for him here. Beth will show you.”

“Oh. Yeah, thanks.” For a minute there, Nick thought she was throwing him and her daughter together.

Corey raced into the kitchen. “Really, I get to come here after school?”

Nick folded his arms. “That okay with you?”

His son nodded.

Nick remembered Corey’s comment about Beth reminding him of his mom. Of Nick’s wife. Was that why his son wanted to come here? To recapture a feeling of home and what he’d lost?

“Corey, why don’t you wash your hands in the bathroom around the corner and then come back and I’ll tell you what I need you to do.” Mary had a nice way of issuing orders.

“Yes, ma’am.” Corey had a nice way of following them, and he slipped out of sight.

Nick’s sense of ease at this choice hit a speed bump when Beth walked into the kitchen. Seeing her regularly might be a problem. He couldn’t muddy the waters of his life with an ill-timed relationship. Not when he needed to rebuild his relationship with Corey.

He sure could use a friend, though, and she was Corey’s teacher. Keeping it friendly presented a unique challenge considering his track record. But it was only a couple of months until school was done. He’d figure out somewhere else for Corey to spend his days during the summer months because Mary worked in the mornings.

Surely he’d survive the next two months. They’d all survive.

Beth stood before him. “I’ll give you the tour.”

“We’re staying for dinner.” He watched her reaction closely.

“Mom always makes more than enough.” She gave him another sunny smile.

“Do you mind?” They’d invaded her space.

“Not at all. Come on. We can chat about Corey.”

Nick blanched at the serious teacher look on Beth Ryken’s face. He got the feeling that she’d found something wrong with his boy and he was going to hear about it. “Lead the way.”

It didn’t take long to walk through the downstairs. Each room looked crowded with wall hangings and books and knickknacks. Beth’s mom had collected a lot of stuff over the years, and that stuff seemed to pop up in odd spots like her flowers outside.

“There’s a bathroom and two bedrooms upstairs. Just so you know, my father was in law enforcement and we have his firearms. But they’re locked in a safe upstairs.”

“No problem.” Nick had guns at home, too, locked up where Corey couldn’t get at them.

Someday he’d teach his son how to use and respect them. He’d start off with the BB gun his father had given Nick when he was Corey’s age. Keeping that gun had been one of many disagreements between him and Susan. She didn’t want their boy following in his father’s footsteps.

Nick stepped outside with Beth. The day had grown warm enough to forego jackets. The backyard was surrounded by a tall wooden fence. Huge trees grew along the other side and their branches shaded part of the yard, lending more privacy.

One of Mary’s more organized flower beds had been set up in the corner, complete with statues and greens poking up through the soil. The yard felt secluded, winsome even, as if he might find a secret passageway to some imaginary land, if a person was given to that kind of fancy. He wasn’t.

He glanced at Beth. “You wanted to talk about Corey?”

She nodded and headed for the swing she’d occupied with his son earlier. “Maybe we should sit down.”

He swallowed hard. “Okay....”

Whatever she had to say wasn’t going to be good. It hadn’t been good at Corey’s previous school, either. The social worker there had said Corey displayed antisocial behavior. What was so antisocial about being quiet? Corey had been withdrawn, but Nick couldn’t blame the kid. He’d lost his mom, and that school worried about how often he colored with a black crayon!

He waited for her to get comfortable before settling himself next to her, taking care to keep space between them. That pretty skirt she wore draped across her knees and swayed against her long legs, which were bare. Her feet were, too.

“What can you tell me about Corey’s education?”

He gathered his wandering thoughts. “What do you want to know?”

“Corey said his grandmother was his teacher?”

Nick nodded. “For a little bit. Corey lived with his grandparents the last six months before we moved here. His grandmother pulled him out of school after Christmas break. She homeschooled him. Why?”

“Why wasn’t he with you?” Beth’s eyes widened as if she hadn’t expected to ask that question. “I’m sorry, that’s way too personal.”

He felt his brow furrow. “No. It’s okay. At the time, it seemed like the perfect solution. My wife’s parents were glad to have him and I knew he’d be safe there. I was working a delicate undercover case that I couldn’t walk away from.”

“Undercover?” Beth’s expression froze. She even scooted away from him a little.

There it was. That look of distaste for what he did was written all over Miss Ryken’s face. Any interest she might have had in him died right then, he could tell. Probably a good thing, too.

“I worked as an undercover officer for years in Grand Rapids. I transferred into the sheriff’s department here and start next week as one of their deputies.”

“Oh.”

Evidently, the Ryken women didn’t like the idea of men in law enforcement. “I understand your father was a deputy sheriff, as well.”

Beth stared at her hands. “Yes. Look, Mr. Grey, back to Corey. Can I ask why you allowed him to be pulled out of school?”

Nick leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He’d been deep in finishing up his case and hadn’t the time to double-check. Maybe he should have made the time. “My mother-in-law thought it might be best for Corey. I trusted her judgment and agreed.”

“Did his grandmother follow a lesson plan, do you know?”

He should have known, but he didn’t. Another failure. “Why? Is there a problem?”

“I’m not sure. Do you read together?”

Nick had plenty of excuses like working nights and leaving education concerns to his wife. He hadn’t read to his boy since Corey started school. So many things he hadn’t done for his own son. But that was changing, starting with this move north.

“No.”

Beth gave him an encouraging smile. “I’ll send him home with some books. Read together and see how it goes.”

He narrowed his gaze. “What are you trying to say?”

“It’s too soon to say anything other than I think your boy struggles with reading.”

“Which means what?”

He watched her shutter her thoughts with a calm face. “We’ll cross that bridge when we know more. After I hear from Corey’s previous school.”

That bridge was looming awfully close considering it was April. He knew for a fact that Corey’s previous school had nothing good to report. It was why Nick had agreed to his in-laws pulling the boy out.

Nick looked into Beth’s eyes expecting to find more disappointment, even censure, but it wasn’t there. She was a blank page with that teacher face going.

At that moment Mary Ryken poked her head out of the sliding glass door to announce that dinner was ready.

“After you, Mr. Grey.” Beth stood and waited for him to do the same.

His appetite was pretty much gone, leveled flat by Beth’s concerns and the half-dozen cookies he’d ingested earlier. He’d make room, though.

As they walked away from the swing, Nick couldn’t get the conversation out of his head. Corey had issues with reading. His boy had enough stress in his life—he didn’t need more. As his father, Nick didn’t want Corey to feel like a failure or be ashamed of his lack of skill with words. His kid was smart. He’d always been good with numbers.

Before they reached the door that would take them back inside, Nick stalled Beth with the touch of his hand to her arm. “Whatever I need to do to help Corey, let me know.”

“Mr. Grey—”

He cut her off. “He can’t be held back.”

Her eyes widened.

Nick softened his tone. “This is important.”

“Of course it is. All my students are important.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

She held up her hand. “I know, Mr. Grey. We’ll do everything we can.”

“Thank you.” But Nick had the sinking feeling that Corey’s second-grade teacher had already written the boy off as a lost cause for this year. That didn’t sit well. Nick had succeeded in getting some really bad guys off the streets, but at what cost?

Walking into the house, Nick was struck by the sound of his son chattering about baseball with Mary Ryken as they set the table.

“My mom’s a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan,” Beth said.

Nick nodded. Corey loved baseball. They used to watch games together on TV. One more thing they hadn’t done in a long time. But all that would change, starting today with bringing his son to the Ryken house. He’d made a good move.

For Corey and maybe, with time, him, too.

Chapter Three

“Here, Corey, try this one.” Beth handed him a beginning-level reader book about puppies.

Corey glanced at her and then cracked the cover. He stared at the page, muttered a couple of correctly read words and then pushed the book away. “I don’t feel like reading.”

She smiled at him, knowing this was the excuse he hid behind. “It’ll get better with practice. I promise.”

“Can I go across the street now?”

“Let’s get through this book first.”

The boy slumped lower in his chair.

“I know you can do it, Corey. And I’m here to help. Let’s try again.”

The boy let out a sigh and picked the book back up. Hearing the kid stumble over several words in a row, Beth’s heart sank. Her suspicions had been correct. Corey Grey was nowhere near a second-grade reading level. “Let’s sound this word out....”

It took a while to get through only a few pages. Beth was glad she’d called her mom before they’d even started and let her know that Corey was going to hang out with her after school. This was going to take patience, something she wasn’t sure Corey’s father had.

Nick Grey’s reaction to Beth’s concerns a few days ago still bothered her. He’d displayed such vehemence that his boy pass second grade. Was it a pride thing? Nick seemed to have more depth than that. She hoped he did.

Holding back a child to repeat a grade was openly debated within the LeNaro school district. Beth believed in some cases the hard choice was needed. Might even be needed here. But she wouldn’t get Nick’s cooperation, that was for sure. He wasn’t offering up any information about Corey’s old school, either. Beth called to rush those transcripts. The sooner she reviewed what was there, the sooner she’d figure out what to do. And find out why Nick had allowed his son to be pulled out.

She couldn’t ignore Corey’s failure to meet reading benchmarks, move him forward and hope for the best. The chances of him becoming more lost and falling further behind were too great. He excelled with math, proving the boy both was bright and could see. The need for glasses wasn’t the issue here. So why did he lag so far behind in reading? What had he missed? And more important, could he catch up before the end of the school year?

By the time Beth and Corey finished the book and made their way to Beth’s home across the street, Beth knew it’d take a lot of work to get Corey reading where he should. She had a theory, though. If she was correct, maybe they could go back and fix what Corey had missed.

“What took you two so long?” Beth’s mom was decked out in a ruffled apron she’d purchased off a home-shopping show.

Beth smiled at Corey. “We were working.”

Corey didn’t look amused. Frustrated for sure.

Her mom clicked her tongue. “Corey, did you have anything to eat since lunch?”

“No.”

“Well, dinner’s almost ready. Go wash up and we’ll eat right away. Your dad called. He’ll be a little late.”

Beth watched the boy do as her mother asked without hesitation, before she let loose her irritation. “This better not become a habit.”

Her mom lifted her chin. “What are you talking about?”

“Corey’s dad being late.”

Her mother gave her a hard look. “That’s between him and me. He promised to pay me extra when he’s late.”

Beth sighed. She couldn’t really argue with that. Her father used to be late a lot, too. At least Nick had called.

“So why’d you keep Corey at school so long? The poor kid needs an afternoon snack.”

Beth scrunched her nose. How much could she really share with her mom? “We were reading.”

“He’s behind, isn’t he?”

Beth’s eyes widened. “How’d you know?”

Her mom shrugged as her gaze shifted behind her before she focused back on Beth. “Set the table, would you? Corey, you can help.”

The boy had returned. Reason enough for her mother’s quick change of subject. But still, how’d she know? And if it was that easy for her mother to figure it out, why hadn’t Nick? Or Corey’s grandparents? Even worse, why hadn’t someone done something to help the child?

Beth set the table, letting the dishes clunk hard as she laid them down.

Corey gave her a quick look with wide eyes. “Are you mad?”

That question stopped her cold. It wasn’t exactly fear she read in his face but something close to it. Almost as if he’d braced for impact. It made her sick to ponder the implications of that single glance from a sad-eyed seven-year-old.

She wouldn’t jump to conclusions. Not before reading those reports from Corey’s previous school, if they ever got here.

Beth smiled, feeling like a heel. “No. I’m not mad. More irritated that I have to set the table, something I don’t like to do, but I shouldn’t take it out on the plates, huh?”

Corey surprised her with a big grin. The fear was gone, replaced by a sardonic expression that looked much too old for the child giving it. He looked so much like his dad. “They could break.”

Beth grinned back. Had she read way too much into Corey’s expression? “I suppose my mom wouldn’t like it if I broke her dishes.”

“No.” Corey shook his head. “I don’t think she would.”

Beth watched him lay down forks and knives around each plate. He’d been through a lot at a young age, but were there additional concerns she should worry about?

A fierce sense of protection for Corey filled her. She’d find out, real quick. Starting with the boy’s father.

* * *

Nick pulled into Mary Ryken’s driveway. A few raindrops splashed against the windshield of his patrol car, promising more soon. He got out and rushed for the front porch and made it before the deluge.

Beth Ryken came out looking darker than the rain clouds overhead. “Can I talk to you a minute?”

That sounded like trouble. She looked stern. Still beautiful, though. Always beautiful. He took a deep breath. “Hey, sorry I’m late. I had to finish up the paperwork of an arrest.”

“It’s not that.” A crease of worry marred her otherwise-perfect forehead. “Nothing serious?”

He let out a bark of laughter. “Maybe for the drunk and disorderly seventy-eight-year-old woman who refused to get out of the vehicle of the man who picked her up hitchhiking. The poor guy didn’t dare touch her, so he called us. I thought the whole thing was pretty funny.”

That didn’t earn him any points. Beth’s gaze grew cool. Icy. “Have you been using the books I sent home with Corey?”

He nodded. “Every night before bed we read one of those storybooks.” Nick enjoyed revisiting that quiet time together.

“Who’s doing the reading?” Her gaze narrowed.

“Both of us. Corey struggles, but I help him out.” What was up with this woman? Two days ago she sent home the books. Why the grief when he followed her directions?

“They’re barely first-grade level.” Her voice had dropped to nearly a whisper.

The rain pounded the ground, but that was nothing compared to the bomb his son’s teacher had thrown at him. “But I’ve seen him reading the backs of cereal boxes, and comic books.”

“Probably following the pictures.”

Nick stared at her with dread crawling up his spine. He didn’t know what kinds of books kids read in what grades. Nick clenched his fists. Had she sent those books home to entrap him? To prove her point? That wasn’t fair. Not fair to his son. To him.

At that moment Corey flew out the door. “Hi, Dad.”

Nick looked at his boy. “Corey, can you wait in the car?”

His son glanced at Beth and then back at him. “Okay....”

“I’ll only be a minute. Don’t touch anything.”

Corey’s shoulders slumped and he flipped up the hood of his rain slicker and dashed for the vehicle.

Nick watched him get into the SUV cruiser and then focused on Beth. “There has to be something I can do.”

“This late in the school year, I don’t know. I’m sorry.” Beth Ryken didn’t beat around the bush, that was for sure.

“But there has to be something—”

The front screen door opened with a squeak, and Mary Ryken had a loaded plate wrapped in foil. Dinner? “We had more than enough.”

Mary had made enough for both him and Corey to take home the previous night, too. “Thank you.”

Nick’s focus followed to where Beth pointed, toward the sheriff patrol vehicle. Corey was messing with something. “I’ve got to go.” He stared hard at his son’s teacher. “But this conversation is far from over.”

He saw how Beth’s eyes widened, but she didn’t say another word as he ran for the car. His uniform got soaked in the process.

Nick slipped behind the wheel and set the foil-wrapped plate on the backseat. “I asked you not to touch anything.”

Corey looked at him. “Are there games on this?”

Nick turned his computer monitor back around. “No. No games.”

As Nick backed out of the Rykens’ driveway, he glanced at the porch. Beth waved. Corey waved back. “What did you do at Mary’s today?”

“I was at school with Miss Ryken.”

“How come?”

Corey shrugged.

Nick drove with care, slow and sure. “Did she ask you to read?”

His boy’s face fell. “Yeah.”

“And you had trouble, huh? Like with the books we have.”

More dejection. “Yeah.”

Nick swallowed hard. “Corey, why didn’t you tell me you were having a hard time reading words? I could have helped.”

“You weren’t there.”

The barb hit hard and true, piercing his heart with bitter regret. “Grandma and Grandpa would have helped you to read better.”

Corey shrugged again.

It wasn’t the kid’s fault. Why hadn’t Susan’s parents picked up on it? Nick rubbed the bridge of his nose. They were dealing, too. He couldn’t blame them. Maybe if he’d made Corey read more. If he’d been around...

“Dad?”

“What?”

“I think I made Miss Ryken mad.”

Nick felt himself frown. “I’m sure you didn’t, son.”

“But she slammed the plates on the table. But not like Mom. Miss Ryken didn’t break any.”

Nick couldn’t breathe. He never had the right words to explain Susan’s odd behavior. Couldn’t excuse it, either. They’d argued so much toward the end. Way too much.

“Don’t worry. Miss Ryken wasn’t mad at you.” She was probably madder than a hornet at him, though, for letting his boy down. And rightly so.

Nick turned left onto the road that took them north of town to where they now lived. He needed to talk to Beth Ryken.

“Hey, bud, do you have recess before your lunch break or after?”

“After,” Corey said. “Why?”

“Just wondered.”

Nick knew his son ate lunch around noontime. So, maybe he’d stop by tomorrow. And see if he couldn’t have a chat with Miss Ryken.

* * *

Beth checked her watch and growled. She was late. Way too late for her early-morning dentist appointment. She pushed down on the gas pedal and picked up speed. And then spotted the flashing lights.

“Really?” Beth slowed and pulled over to the side of the road.

Another growl escaped while she checked her glove box for registration and proof of insurance. Beth jumped at the quick tap to her driver’s-side window. And then her stomach sank.

Deputy Officer Nick Grey with a shining gold star on his chest opened the door for her. He stood there tall and solemn. His mouth twisted into a crooked grin. “In a hurry this morning, Miss Ryken?”

Her stomach, which had dropped somewhere near her sandal-clad feet, now fluttered back to life. Why’d the man have to look so good in that brown uniform?

She let out a sigh. “Late for an appointment. I guess I was going a little too fast, but there’s no point now—I’ll never make it in time.”

“Do you know what the speed limit is on these roads?”

She squinted at him. Seriously? “My dad was a cop, remember? Fifty-five.”

He cocked one eyebrow, but there was a definite twinkle in his eye. “I clocked you at sixty-eight. Not wise on back roads with deer roaming in the fields.”

Irritation filled her. Irritation that she’d get a ticket, irritation that Nick Grey might be a low-down scoundrel who not only scared his little boy but didn’t attend to his education. Even more irritating still was despite all that, Nick Grey grew more attractive every time she looked. “Just give me the ticket and we’ll both be on our way.”

“Would you step out of the car?”

Her eyes flew wide. “What! Why? I’ve got my papers right here. Look me up and you’ll see I don’t have a history of speeding tickets. This will be my first one.”

His brows drew together and he looked stern. Downright scary, too. For a skinny guy, Nick was pretty intimidating. “I’m not giving you a ticket.”

“Then why...?”

“I need to talk to you. Please?”

Oh, there was no denying that pleading look he gave her. And that only fueled the anger simmering inside. She got out of her car and slammed the door harder than she’d intended. “What do you want?”

“What’s with the attitude?”

Beth didn’t hold back. “I saw fear in your son’s eyes last night and I’d like to know why.”

Again the man only cocked one eyebrow, cool as can be. “When you slammed the plates on the table?”

Beth gasped and then sputtered, “I, uh—”

“Corey told me. Look, Miss Ryken, there’s something you should probably know. My wife had mood swings. During one of her more manic ones, she smashed a stack of plates because I was late for dinner. Corey’s a little sensitive.”

Beth’s mouth dropped open, and she slapped her hand over it. She was going to be sick. Corey wasn’t afraid of his father; he’d been afraid of her!

“It’s okay. No harm done. But it hasn’t been easy for Corey, and I didn’t make it any easier by sending him to live with his grandparents. But I’d run out of options.”

Beth’s heart broke all over again. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what? Thinking ill of me? You should. I let my boy down.”

“No, for scaring your son.” Beth leaned against her car and stared at the cherry orchard across the street. She’d called that one all wrong.

The sun shone on dewdrops clinging to the tree buds, turning them into sparkling crystals. Those cherry buds would soon burst open into white blossoms. Just one of many breathtaking sights in Northern Michigan. She sidled a glance at Nick. Yup, breathtaking sights everywhere.

“It’s okay, really. No harm done. His grandparents sugarcoated everything, afraid to raise their voices. I don’t know, maybe they thought they were protecting him.”

“Is that why you moved here? To get away from them?”

He shook his head. “I need to reconnect with my boy. His mom’s issues forced us into a partnership, but then I left my partner behind and abandoned him.”

“Living with his grandparents for a while is hardly abandonment,” Beth pointed out.

“Tell that to a seven-year-old.”

Beth gave him a sharp look. “I see what you mean.”

He nodded and then leaned against her car, too. Right next to her. “You see why I won’t let him repeat second grade? He’s had so much taken out of his hands beyond his control. This will feel like one more failure for him. Another left behind.”

It would feel that way to a seven-year-old. What a tough spot. Beth dropped her head back to look up at the clouds above. Her arm brushed against Nick’s, connecting with what felt like a hard beam of steel.

She scooted away and faced him. “But it’s so late in the year. I don’t want him to get lost in the shuffle if he’s moved ahead.”

“It’s never too late.” Nick’s voice was soft.

Beth drew in a sharp breath. Awareness hummed between them as he watched her. In his eyes she saw something stark and lonely and her heart responded. But she couldn’t erase his worries and fix what had gone wrong in his life. He was off-limits.

She wasn’t stupid. Beth knew mutual attraction when she saw it. When she felt it. There was no way she’d let herself get romantically involved with this man. Not when Beth knew how quickly his life could be snuffed out.

“I want to ask you a favor.”

Beth tipped her head. Sounded like a big favor, too. “What’s that?”

“Will you tutor Corey in reading?”

Beth stood straight and stepped away from her car. Away from him. He made her dizzy.

“I’ll pay you, of course. Whatever it takes.” He straightened, as well.

Beth whirled around. “I can’t accept your money. I won’t. He’s my student. It’s my job to help where I can....”

“But?”

She looked Nick in the eyes. So easy to do. “Repeating second grade might be the best thing for Corey. Have you considered that? He’s new—it’s not like there’s peer pressure to deal with. Not yet. He could even go to the other second-grade class so I’m not his teacher.”

“It’s not the best thing. Not for Corey. And not for me.”

Beth felt her spine stiffen. “That sounds like pride talking.”

Nick laughed at her then. “Is that what you think?”

She folded her arms across her chest and stared down the deputy officer in front of her, knowing that wasn’t it at all.

“Look, I can work with him all summer long, every single night, but I need a game plan. Something you’re trained to give. All I’m asking is to get him where I can then pick up the slack come summer. Do whatever you need to do, only don’t throw your hands up and recommend he be pushed back a year because there’s only two months left of this one.” Nick’s steely gray eyes showed resolve.

Beth frowned and rubbed her forehead. Corey was already at her house in the evening. She’d have to get it cleared through her boss, but this was a special circumstance. What she did on her own time was her business. In the few days the boy had been with her and her mom, Beth had already come to love the kid. She didn’t want to let him down, either.

She glanced at Nick.

“A big difference can be made in two months.” He gently thumped his ticket pad in his hand. A reminder of the speeding ticket she rightfully deserved.

She laughed. “You know, extortion is illegal.”

He gave her a slow grin that made her heart race. “Blackmail was never my intent.”

Beth felt herself slipping, giving in. “You’ll need to finish Corey’s reading assignments after he leaves my mom’s. And I’m going to hound you.”

“I’ve had worse nightmares.”

She imagined that was true. There was so much strength hidden inside that wiry, well-over-six-foot steel frame of his. And a lot of feelings were locked behind those gray eyes, too.

Beth held out her hand. “I’ll do what I can. Have we got a deal, Mr. Grey?”

“I think we do, Miss Ryken. And we’ll work hard on our end—I promise you that.” He took her hand and held on, wrapping warmth and strength and all kinds of promises in one not-so-simple handshake.

Chapter Four

Come up with a plan. Nick had said that days ago and Beth had one. It had been slow coming together between progress reports for her other students and running it by her principal, but she’d done it. She’d even made up a progress booklet for Nick.

She riffled through the papers on her desk—Corey’s papers from his previous school. Corey’s old school reports were as confusing as they were disheartening. The transcripts showed a downward spiral that started before Corey’s mom had died and then plummeted steeply afterward.

“Poor kid.” Beth felt that undeniable pull for the boy.

Corey had been jostled between special reading groups, and he’d been labeled with emotional problems that were never clearly explained. Had no one seen through to the obvious? Corey didn’t have a handle on phonics. Somewhere along the line, he’d missed the mark and by the time his mother had died, his emotional stresses had kicked in and his dwindling grasp on vowel sounds and rules had slipped. It was no wonder he got lost along the way. He’d never mastered how to identify the trail markers.

Well, Beth knew a few things about marking trails. She’d start with flash cards, games, work sheets, whatever it took to get Corey more familiar with identifying sounds. And she had a stack of books for Nick so he could continue working with Corey at home in the evenings and on his days off. If he spent half an hour every day reading with Corey, it’d make a difference.

Beth’s mom even promised to help where she could. The only variable she couldn’t predict was Corey’s reaction. His willingness to learn was key.

She put away the sensitive papers, locked the drawer of her desk and then scooped up her stuff. Exiting her classroom, she spotted the other second-grade teacher, Julie, calling it a day, as well.

“So, Beth, are you up for sailing the Manitous again this year?” Julie’s husband was a hotshot attorney with one sweet sailboat. Gerry was more than the average amateur sailor. Sailing with them had become a tradition and a fun way to celebrate the end of the school year and the start of summer.

“I sure am.” Beth nodded. “Count me in, only please, no setups this year.”

Julie frowned. “Oh, come on, he wasn’t so bad.”

Beth tipped her head. Julie and Gerry had arranged a blind date with a guy from Gerry’s office. He was way too short and arrogant besides.

Julie smiled. “You bring someone, then.”

Beth’s mind immediately shifted to Nick, but that brown uniform he wore made her shake away any thoughts of sunset sailing with the handsome redhead. “We’ll see.”

When Beth made it across the street to her mom’s house, she was armed with phonics lessons. Walking into the living room, she expected to find Corey in front of the TV. Instead he sat at the dining room table across from her mom. The two playing a game of Battleship.

“B-3.” Corey’s hair hung in his eyes.

Beth’s fingers itched to brush the kid’s bangs back, but she remained quiet and watched.

“Nope. Miss.” Her mom wore an evil-looking grin. “My turn. F-8.”

Corey’s face crumpled into irritation. “Hit.”

“I’m home.”

Neither one acknowledged her. They were caught up in the game. And it was close. Each had only one ship left, and Beth’s mom dove in for the kill on Corey’s big destroyer. It made Beth smile as she slipped upstairs to change into jeans.

When she returned, Corey had put away the pieces while her mom started dinner. “Who won?”

The look of disgust on Corey’s face clued her in.

“Sorry. She always beat me, too. Are you ready to play some different games?”

The boy looked cautious. “Like what?”

“Sound games.” Beth spread out her flash cards.

“That’s schoolwork, isn’t it?”

Beth met the boy’s wary eyes. “Did your dad tell you that he asked me to be your tutor?”

“Yeah.”

“Did he say why?”

Corey looked down. “Because I don’t read good.”

Beth touched his hand and gave him a big smile. “You will, Corey. I promise, in time you will read much better.”

He looked at her with a lot of doubt in his face, but she spotted hope shining in his eyes.

* * *

Thursdays after school, Beth helped staff a kids’ art program. She milled between tables, helping where needed but mostly watching kids create. Corey sat at a table littered with paper, crayons and markers he hadn’t touched.

Grace Cavanaugh worked beside him drawing a house on a piece of yellow construction paper. She cut out trees made of brown and green paper and then pasted them on the yellow. She glued cotton balls for clouds.

“Don’t you like to color?” the little girl asked.

Corey shook his head.

“Why?”

He shrugged.

“This is our house. It’s for my mom.” Grace stuck the paper in Corey’s face.

“My mom died.” Corey flicked the edge of the paper away.

Beth sucked in a breath, but she remained quiet and watched the two kids interact.

Grace set her paper down and tipped her head. She considered what Corey had said for a few seconds and then shrugged her shoulders. “That’s okay. I don’t have a dad. Maybe you’ll get a new mommy. Want me to help you get started? I know where everything’s at.”

Corey nodded.

“C’mere, then.”

Beth’s eyes stung when Corey followed Gracie to the paper bins. She directed him to pick a color and he did. And then he followed her back to the table while she rattled off a host of things he could draw and she promised to help. God bless little Gracie. She’d broken into Corey’s shell.

“Hey, Beth, got a minute?” Diane, their school counselor, leaned against the door.

Beth scanned the room for the other teacher helping out. She spotted her assembling the supplies they’d need for tonight’s lesson in painting. The kids were busy chatting and hanging up their backpacks. She could duck out for a few. “Yeah, sure.”

Diane nodded toward the hall.

Beth gave the other teacher a heads-up and then followed Diane out of the art room. “What’s on your mind?”

“I understand you’re tutoring one of your students. The new boy, Grey, is it?”

Beth folded her arms. “Corey Grey. I cleared it through Tammy. The boy’s behind in reading.”

“Where are you working with him?”

“My mom watches him after school, so we work at home. Why?”

Diane looked concerned. “I had a long talk with Mr. Grey about his boy still grieving. Corey might latch on to you as a maternal replacement, so it might be wise to stay in teacher mode.”

Gracie’s words whispered through Beth’s mind. Maybe you’ll get a new mommy. And something deep inside twisted, wishing...

Not going there. Beth cleared her mind with a firm nod. “Gotcha.”

“We should compare notes in a week or so to see how he’s settling in. Check for improvement.”

“Sure. That’d be great.” Beth knew the routine.

Because it was a small elementary school, grade-level teachers worked together as a team sharing lesson-plan notes and progress reports. But Diane seemed more careful than usual with Corey. Was it because of Nick’s position or Corey’s transcripts?

Beth gestured toward the classroom. “He’s working with Grace Cavanaugh right now. And Thomas Clark has taken Corey under his wing, too. They’re all tablemates in the classroom.”

“Good.” Diane gave her a nod. “Good pairings there.”

Beth wanted to roll her eyes. That was why she’d placed Corey at their table. “I thought so.”

Diane nodded again. “Okay, then, I’m heading home. We’ll meet soon.”

“Sure thing.” Beth slipped back into the art room.

“Miss Ryken, can you help us?” Gracie’s hand was in the air with a tube of paint. “We can’t get this open.”

Beth popped the plastic top and handed it back. Both kids had donned aprons. Each one held a paintbrush.

Corey looked nervous as he stared at the blank white paper clipped to a tabletop easel.

Beth stood next to him and stared, too.

Corey looked at her, his eyes unsure.

“Let it fly, Corey.”

“I don’t know what to make.”

Gracie was busy painting big red flowers.

Corey seemed too tentative. He did fine coloring preprinted pictures like the tall-ship work sheets in class, but the blank page intimidated him. Was that the result of his previous school making too much of the dark pictures the boy drew?

“Sometimes playing with the colors creates something special all by itself. Give it a try.”

Corey thought about that a moment and then dipped his brush into Gracie’s red paint. He slathered the paper and then rinsed the brush to try another color. Blue.

“There you go.” Beth patted his shoulder. “Nice.”

Corey looked at her again and smiled.

“You got it, Corey. Now have fun with it.” Maybe he’d paint what was inside his heart.

Beth made her rounds, helping other kids and doling out encouragement. But she made her way back to Corey, curious.

“Wow!” She stared at his painting and smiled. “That’s beautiful.”

Corey had made a sloppy rainbow that ran off the page, but it arched over a corner painted black. None of the white paper showed. He’d filled it all with color. Did it mean something good? Beth couldn’t help but think it did.

“You can have it.”

Beth hesitated in accepting. Teacher mode, Diane had said. Her kids made pictures for her all the time. She had a slew of them in her desk. But this one was special. Like the boy in front of her. “What about your dad? He might like it, too.”

Corey shrugged and looked away.

Beth regrouped. She didn’t want to hurt the boy’s feelings by refusing. Nick wouldn’t mind, would he? “Thank you, Corey. I know right where it’ll go.”

His eyes brightened. “Really?”

“Really. Would you like to make another one?”

“Nope.” Corey gathered up his brushes and headed for the sink. “I’m done.”

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