What was forbidden then...has become irresistible now

The last thing police chief Devin Cassidy needs is for Elodie Winchester to return home and remind him of all he’s been denied. But they’re not teenagers now, and she’s no longer a wealthy heiress. There’s nothing stopping him from taking what he wants, what he’s always wanted: her.

Elodie came home to deal with the Winchester mansion, the only inheritance she has left. She didn’t expect to encounter a very grown-up Dev, or to want him as much as she ever did. He makes it clear that he’s not going to let anything stand between them again. But in this town, name is everything. And to protect a Winchester, Dev will be forced to sacrifice his reputation...including his unexpected tie to the Quinn family.

Praise for Kate Hoffmann’s The Mighty Quinns

“[Kate] Hoffmann always does a great job creating different stories for the members of the Quinn clan.”

—RT Book Reviews on The Mighty Quinns: Rogan

“A winning combination of exciting adventure and romance... This is a sweet and sexy read that kept me entertained from start to finish.”

—Harlequin Junkie on The Mighty Quinns: Malcolm

“[Hoffmann] continues to do a wonderful job with her beloved Quinn family saga. A perfectly paced page-turner, this setup novel for the New Zealand Quinns is firmly in place and off to a great start.”

—RT Book Reviews on The Mighty Quinns: Malcolm

“As usual, Hoffmann has written a light yet compelling tale with just enough angst and long-term background story to provide momentum for the next member of the Quinn family we are most certainly going to meet.”

—RT Book Reviews on The Mighty Quinns: Ryan

“This is a fast read that is hard to tear the eyes from. Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down.”

—Fresh Fiction on The Mighty Quinns: Dermot

Dear Reader,

One of the best things about being a romance writer is the ability to travel—in my mind. When I really need a vacation, I choose a setting that appeals to me and start to write.

As I write this, it’s the middle of winter here in Wisconsin. The weather bounces between brutal (-30 windchills) to balmy (above-freezing days). I woke this morning to more snow. But later today, I’ll be comfortably sitting in July humidity on a veranda in a small North Carolina town. It almost makes winter bearable.

I hope you enjoy the next installment in the Mighty Quinns series. By the time this hits the shelves, it will be summer in Wisconsin and I’ll probably be writing a book set in the middle of a snowstorm!

Happy reading,

The Mighty Quinns: Devin

Kate Hoffmann

www.millsandboon.co.uk

KATE HOFFMANN celebrated her twentieth anniversary as a Harlequin author in August 2013. She has published over eighty books, novellas and short stories for Harlequin Temptation and Harlequin Blaze. She spent time as a music teacher, a retail assistant and an advertising exec before she settled into a career as a full-time writer. Her other interests include genealogy, musical theater and vegan cooking. She lives in southeastern Wisconsin with her two cats, Winnie and Gracie.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Praise for Kate Hoffmann’s The Mighty Quinns

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Prologue

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Prologue

“STAND UP STRAIGHT, don’t chew with your mouth open, and say ‘thank you’ when they give you your gift.”

Devin Cassidy glanced over at his mother as they strode down the icy sidewalk. Mary Cassidy’s gaze was fixed in front of her, her lips pressed into a hard line. She’d worked as a housekeeper for the powerful Winchester family for as long as Dev could remember and she took her position in the household very seriously.

Every morning except for Sundays, she’d leave the house before sunrise, dressed in a simple gray uniform, and return an hour before he went to bed. She was usually too exhausted to do more than acknowledge his existence before flopping down onto the sofa in the corner of the living room with a glass of whiskey and cool washcloth for her head. Dev would prepare supper for her and place it on a tray table next to the sofa, then turn on the television before retreating to his tiny bedroom.

When he was younger, he’d wondered why he didn’t have a normal family as many of his friends did—a father, a mother, a few siblings, even a pair of grandparents. But when he’d questioned his mother, his inquiries had always been met with stony silence. “I’m your mother,” she’d say. “I provide for you. You won’t need anyone else in the world.”

He didn’t ask anymore. He’d lived without a father for this long. They didn’t need some undependable guy walking into their lives and turning everything upside down. They got by fine just the two of them.

By the time they reached the Winchester mansion, his feet and fingers were numb with cold and his nose was running. His mother examined his appearance carefully, wiping his nose with her lace-edged handkerchief and smoothing his ruffled hair with her fingers. “The Winchesters believe children should be seen and not heard,” she reminded him.

“I’m not a child,” he muttered. Hell, he was nearly thirteen years old and he’d been making this same walk to the Winchesters every Christmas since he could remember. But his attitude about the party at the end of the walk had changed.

Used to be that the prospect of getting an expensive gift was all he could think about. There had never been much money for Santa, so the Winchester gift always made up for it. On top of that, there was food—all sorts of treats that he’d never tasted. And he got to gaze at the beautiful Christmas tree that soared to the ceiling in the front parlor, and indulge in cups of punch that tasted like fizzy sherbet.

The Winchesters were different...special. Everyone knew they were rich, but with all that money came respect and undeniable power. One did not speak badly of the Winchesters. In fact, everyone in town was beholden to them.

Frederick Winchester owned the town—he owned the huge textile mill that sat on the river, most of the businesses in the quaint downtown, many of the smaller homes that lined the quiet streets. If the family didn’t like someone, it became impossible for him to live in Winchester.

Without her job in the Winchester mansion, Dev’s mother had nothing. They paid rent on their little house directly to Frederick Winchester, they bought things on credit at the grocers—also owned by Winchester—and when someone was sick, they went to the Winchester Clinic.

Dev stood behind his mother as she rapped sharply on the ornately carved front door. A few moments later, one of the Winchester children opened the front door. There were no servants on duty that night. For one night a year, the family would wait on their staff.

It was a Christmas tradition, but even with the forced gaiety, it made for an uncomfortable evening. At no other time were the stark differences between the “haves” and the “have-nots” clearer.

“Good evening,” the young girl said.

“Good evening, Miss Elodie,” his mother replied. “You look lovely tonight.”

“Thank you, Mary. So do you.” She stepped aside, and Dev and his mother walked into the wide entry hall. Elodie turned to Dev and held out her hand. “Hello, Devin. It’s nice to see you again. May I take your coats?”

Dev stared at her hand for a long moment, then gave it a quick shake. “Thanks,” he muttered. He slipped out of his jacket and waited as his mother handed the girl her coat, as well. Elodie disappeared for a moment, then returned without the coats.

“Let me take you in,” she said, leading them toward the huge parlor to the right of the sweeping stairway. Dev kept his eyes fixed on Elodie. He remembered her from Christmases past, but she’d grown up over the past year. She wasn’t a little girl anymore but a confident young lady, tall and graceful and—pretty.

“Mama, Papa, look who’s here. Mary and her son, Devin.”

The entire family surrounded them, offering Mary their holiday greetings. Dev did as was expected of him. He shook their hands and made his greetings. When the family pointed to the tables loaded with food, Dev politely chose some treats, then found a quiet place to sit near the butler’s pantry. There were other children at the party, but they’d also been warned to mind their manners and they were sitting quietly, enjoying the cakes and candies near the Christmas tree.

The grand finale of the party would be the gift-giving, the part that Dev hated most of all. Frederick Winchester would present each of the children with an extravagant gift and then would wait for each of his employees to express their deepest gratitude to Winchester for giving them the job that fed their families and put a roof over their heads.

Of course, there were tears and long descriptions of the kindness that the Winchesters showed their inferiors. Dev had to wonder how his mother did it, year after year, never questioning her place in their world, never quibbling over her meager pay or her long work hours.

Dev wondered how much longer he’d be able to pretend that this was all right with him. Last year, he’d refused to open the gift he’d been given—a brand-new PlayStation, he’d discovered when he’d opened it later that night. He didn’t have the money to buy the games, but then, Frederick Winchester wouldn’t have considered that.

He’d taken the gift out to the garage the day after Christmas and smashed it to pieces with a hammer. And when his mother had asked where it was, he’d told her that he’d donated it to the toy drive at school.

Dev hated having to bow and scrape to the Winchesters just because they were rich. But this job was important to his mother, and for her, Dev would do anything. It was the only thing that stood between them and poverty. Someday, he’d have an important job that paid well and they’d be able to walk away from Winchesters and their money.

“Psst.”

Dev looked up from his plate and noticed a small opening in the door to the butler’s pantry. The door opened a bit farther and he recognized Elodie’s face.

“What?” Dev asked.

“You want to see something?” she asked.

He glanced around, but no one was paying any attention to him sitting alone in the corner of the room. “What?”

The door opened a little farther. “Come, I’ll show you,” she said.

Dev set his plate down on a nearby table, then quietly slipped from the room. When he got inside the dark butler’s pantry, her hand gripped his, and he followed after her as they ran through the kitchen to the servants’ stairway. He’d been in the house a number of times over the years with his mother, but he’d never ventured upstairs.

“Are you sure we should be up here?” he asked.

“Of course, silly. This is my house. I can go anywhere I want.”

They seemed to climb stairs forever, the last flight narrow and twisting. Finally, Elodie threw open a door and turned on the lights.

“Where are we?” he asked.

“A secret room,” she said. “In the attic.”

“What’s up here?”

“Come and see,” she said, drawing him inside.

The wide room was dominated by a huge table, but it was impossible to distinguish what was on top, as the contents were covered with a sheet. And then, suddenly, Elodie ripped off the sheet and flipped a switch. The table lit up and toy trains began to circle a series of winding tracks.

Dev stepped closer, fascinated by the sight. There had to be at least ten trains, all winding their way through a number of trestles and tunnels and passing through towns with tiny houses all lit up from the inside. Miniature cars sat at the crossings, waiting for the gates to rise when the trains passed.

“Holy shit,” Dev muttered.

“Yeah. Holy shit,” Elodie repeated.

He glanced over at her and laughed. “Is this yours?”

She shook her head. “No, it belonged to my grandfather. When he was alive, he used to let us play with it every Christmas, but now my father keeps the door locked.”

“How did you get in?”

“I know where the key is,” she said. “I sneak up here all the time. I just have to remember exactly where the trains were when I started and I put them back before I leave.”

“Why won’t your father let you play with it?”

“He hates these trains. He and my grandfather never really got along. I miss him.”

“Where is he?”

“He died when I was seven,” she said. “He was living in California with my aunt Charlotte.”

“I’m sorry,” Dev said, surprised to see tears in her eyes. He reached out and took her hand, giving it a squeeze.

“Me, too,” she said. “I’m sure my grandfather would want me to play with the trains, though. It always made him laugh.”

Elodie showed him the controls and watched as he operated the trains by himself. She walked around the table, pointing out all her favorite train cars and buildings. He set the controls down and followed her, listening to her voice, caught up in the magic of the moment.

And then, it was over. She glanced at her watch and cried out. “It’s time for the gifts,” she said, hurrying to the door. “Come on, we have to get back.”

“Don’t you have to fix the trains?”

“I’ll sneak up later,” she said, flinging the sheet over the table.

They rushed down the three flights, then hurried through the kitchen to the butler’s pantry. Elodie peeked through the door. “You go first. If they ask where you were, just tell them that I helped you find the bathroom.”

Dev turned to face her, then, taking a chance, he leaned toward her and kissed her cheek. He’d never kissed a girl before and was surprised at how easy—and enjoyable—it was. “Thanks,” he said. “I had fun.”

Elodie smiled. “Me, too.”

As he stepped back into the dining room, Dev realized that he’d never think of the Winchesters’ Christmas party the same way again. He’d always remember this night and the moment he kissed Elodie Winchester on the cheek.

When it came time for the gifts, she was the one who handed him his elaborately wrapped present.

“I picked it out especially for you,” she whispered.

Dev smiled.

He watched her for the rest of the night as she mingled among the guests. If he could have kissed her again, he would have. But he knew the dangers of crossing that invisible line. As much as he might enjoy Elodie’s company, this was just one night.

It all would begin and end right here.

1

DEV CASSIDY PULLED the police cruiser up to the curb in front of Zelda’s Café and turned off the ignition. The sun had come up over an hour ago and the sleepy town of Winchester was just beginning to move.

When the mill had been operating, the town’s days had begun much earlier, the blare of the first-shift whistle splitting the morning silence at precisely 6:00 a.m. But everything had changed since the Winchester family’s flagship business had failed. A secure future had disappeared for so many of the town’s residents. Stores had closed, people had moved out, more businesses had closed, and within three years Winchester was nothing but a shell filled with empty buildings and broken lives.

Most everyone blamed Frederick Winchester, but Dev knew it had been a confluence of events. The Winchester textile mill had been one of the last independently owned family mills in the state. Competing with the newer, more state-of-the-art corporate mills had been an impossible task. The national financial collapse of 2008 hadn’t helped.

Still, the whole thing had left behind a bitter taste for the residents of Winchester. A few weeks after closing the mill, the family had packed up and moved out of town. Then the truth had come out. The Winchesters were bankrupt, the mill mortgaged to the hilt, and there was nothing left to do but close and liquidate. Pensions had disappeared and hopes and dreams of a bright future had been dashed.

It might not have been so bad if it hadn’t been for the way Frederick had handled the situation. With no interest in trying to salvage the business, he’d held a fire sale. Within a week, they’d buried their father and left with the last pennies of the family fortune. All that remained was the mansion that sat on the hill overlooking what was left of Winchester.

As Dev got out of the car, he glanced up at the freshly painted sign above the café’s door. Zelda’s Café had opened last month, spurred on by the town council’s attempt to rejuvenate the downtown. The owner, Joan Fitzgerald, had been a manager at the mill and was now baking her prize-winning cinnamon rolls and serving up fancy coffee drinks with exotic Italian names.

The bell above the door jingled as he stepped inside the cool interior. Air-conditioning was always a pleasant relief from the hot, humid weather that was typical for early July in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Dev took a spot at the counter and grabbed a menu, checking out the specials before settling on his usual.

Joanie approached with a mug and the coffeepot. “Gonna be a hot one today. You sure I can’t get you a sweet tea instead of coffee?”

“Hit me with the caffeine,” he said, nodding to the mug. “And I’ll have my usual.”

“Grannie’s Granola with yogurt and berries,” she said. “Raspberries today. I picked them fresh yesterday.”

He watched her prepare the dish, layering her homemade granola with fresh vanilla yogurt in a parfait glass. She topped it with a handful of berries and set it in front of him.

The place was still quiet, so Joanie pulled up a stool and sat across from him, sipping at a glass of orange juice. “That break-in down at Feller’s filling station? You might want to talk to Jimmy Joe Babcock about that. His brother was in here yesterday and mentioned a brand-new set of tires he received from Jimmy Joe for his birthday.”

Zelda’s was the central processing station for most of the town’s gossip, now that the mill was closed. If there was anything of interest going on in Winchester, Joanie heard about it and passed it along to Dev. Like a few other local businesspeople in town, she understood that if Winchester was going to flourish again, Dev needed to rid it of the petty crime that chipped away at its foundation.

“Yeah, I had my eye on him. That boy needs a job. Sixteen and already in big trouble. Can’t you find a spot for him here at the restaurant?”

Joanie shook her head. “I’m already overstaffed with dishwashers and bussers, thanks to you. Now, if he could wash windows, I might have work for him.”

Dev looked over at the café’s huge plate-glass windows that faced the street. “I could probably help you out with that,” he said.

He chatted with a few of the customers as he finished his breakfast, then grabbed another coffee to go before he waved goodbye to Joanie. “I’ll send someone by to get at those windows,” he called as he walked out the door.

Dev stood outside the café and took in the street, his gaze drifting from one end to the other. Most of the buildings were empty, windows revealing one failure after another. But here and there, small entrepreneurs had found a way to make something new. Winchester had always depended upon the mill for its livelihood, and now the town needed something different. But what?

Dev fixed his gaze on a white sedan he didn’t recognize at the far end of the block. He watched as it slowly drove by. Rental plates. He looked up at the driver and his breath caught in his throat. Their eyes locked for a moment and his pulse leaped. Elodie Winchester?

She was there in front of him and then just as quickly disappearing down the road. He glanced down at the car’s license plate and quickly memorized the number. When he got to the cruiser, he grabbed the radio and called in to dispatch. “Sally, this is Dev. I need you to run a plate for me. It’s a rental car, probably out of Asheville.” Dev recited the numbers and then sat back and waited for Sally’s results, sipping his coffee as his mind spun with the possibilities.

It didn’t make sense. The Winchester family had cleared out six years ago. And after the mess they’d left, most folks didn’t expect to see a real Winchester ever again—and didn’t want to.

Hell, maybe he was just imagining the whole thing. Would he even recognize Elodie? They’d spent a single summer together. He’d been seventeen, she’d been sixteen, and they’d been madly in love.

Her family never would have approved, so they’d sneaked around, meeting on the sly, stealing kisses whenever they could and pledging their love to each other in silly teenage sentiments. Of course, they’d been found out, but neither one of them could have predicted the devastating repercussions.

Without warning, Elodie’s bags had been packed and she was sent away. She no longer attended the private girls’ school an hour away in Asheville. She wouldn’t be home every evening for dinner and wouldn’t be able to sneak out and meet him once the sun set. There would be no long lazy summers at the lake or cozy winters sitting by a campfire. It was over.

There’d been a lot of women since Elodie. He’d forgotten most of them, but Elodie Winchester had stuck with him. Maybe it was because they’d never had any kind of closure. She’d never called, never written. When she’d come home for Christmas holidays, she’d been invisible.

Dev hadn’t tried to contact her. Frederick Winchester had made it clear that if Dev tried to contact Elodie, Mary Cassidy would find herself without a job, without a home to live in, and without any prospects for finding work in Winchester in the future. So he’d let her go. At least, on the surface.

“Dispatch to RC zero-one.” A blast of static followed and Dev reached for the radio.

“This is Dev. What do you have for me, Sally?”

“You were right. That rental came out of Acme Rentals in Asheville.”

“Who rented the car?”

“Elodie Winchester,” Sally said. “She’s got it for a week.”

Dev let out a tightly held breath, sinking back into his seat. “Thanks, Sally. Keep this to yourself, all right?”

“Sure, boss. What do you think she’s doing in town again?”

“I don’t know.”

“Will there be trouble?”

“People haven’t forgotten what the Winchesters did to this place. But Elodie had no part in that. She shouldn’t be blamed.”

“She’s a Winchester,” Sally said. “That puts a big target on her back.”

“Yes, it does,” he murmured. “I’ll pay her a visit later, make sure everything’s okay. Call me if you hear anything else. Meantime, I’m going to head over to the high school. I need to have a conversation with Jimmy Joe Babcock.”

“Ten-four, boss.”

He started the cruiser and steered it toward the high school, his mind still mulling over the reality of seeing Elodie again.

He’d always wondered what kind of woman she’d become. As a teenager, she’d been sweet and silly, far too naive and willing to love unconditionally. She’d softened his rough edges, made him believe that he could be something, do something with his life. She’d always seen the best in people and refused to believe the worst, even when the truth slapped her in the face.

Dev had been the opposite. By the time he was seventeen, he’d amassed a rather sizable chip on his shoulder. He’d witnessed firsthand how the town and the Winchesters could wear a person down. He had just one plan, and that was to get as far away as fast as he could. And he’d done just that, leaving the day after his high school graduation.

He’d worked odd jobs and put himself through school, getting a criminal justice degree in five years. He’d been all set to enter the police academy in Atlanta when his mother called. The Winchesters were bankrupt, she was about to lose her job and her home, and she had no idea what to do.

Dev had returned to Winchester within the month and had been lucky enough to sign on with the local police department as a rookie patrolman. As the town economy worsened over the next five years, many of his fellow officers moved on to better jobs. And two years ago, he’d been the senior officer in the department and accepted the job of police chief—at a greatly reduced salary from the last police chief.

But Dev liked his job. He knew what he was doing was important. If the town had any chance of bouncing back, it would happen only if he could keep crime at bay. A single meth lab, a car theft ring, even a clever burglar, could bring it all crashing down. Once the town had a reputation for trouble, no one would want to live there or visit and the town would never recover.

His attention focused on a small group of smokers, huddled near the edge of the school parking lot. Dev threw the car into gear and slowly pulled up in front of them. “You boys really want to spend the rest of your life buying cigarettes? You get hooked now, it’s much harder to kick it later. It’s an expensive habit.” Dev turned and grinned at Jimmy Joe. “And where are you getting money for smokes, Babcock? After spending all that cash on those tires for your brother, I’d think you’d be broke right about now.”

Dev got out of the car and stepped in front of Babcock. “The rest of you can check your homework. I need to have a word with Jimmy Joe.” The boys exchanged glances and the group slowly broke up.

When they were alone and the others were out of earshot, Dev leaned back against the cruiser and crossed his arms over his chest. “I know you stole those tires from Feller’s. The only thing I don’t know is what you plan to do about it.”

Jimmy Joe stared down at the ground. “What can I do? I can’t give them back. My brother already put them on his car.”

“I’m sure if you offered to pay for them, we could work something out.”

“I don’t have any money,” Jimmy Joe said.

“Not now. But if you find yourself a job, you’ll have some cash.”

“There are no jobs,” he said. “My dad’s been looking for two years.”

“You really want to fix this?” Dev asked.

Jimmy Joe nodded.

“After school, you walk over to the hardware store. I’m going to leave a list of supplies for you to pick up. You can pay for them on my account. Then I want you to bring everything over to Zelda’s. I’ll meet you there.”

“What are we going to do?”

“We’re going to turn you into an upstanding citizen of Winchester,” Dev said. “And until you pay Marv back for those tires, I don’t want to see you spending money on cigarettes.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now, get to class. No more trouble.”

Dev watched the kid walk away.

One by one, he’d deal with the problems in Winchester. It was all he could do. Lately it seemed he was scrambling just to keep ahead of the game instead of doing anything proactive. But if Jimmy Joe showed up at Zelda’s, he could count his day a success.

Dev got back into the cruiser. Now he needed to address another problem. But this problem promised to be more personal than professional.

* * *

ELODIE WINCHESTER SLOWLY climbed the porch steps of her childhood home. Somewhere in the distance, a blue jay’s call echoed in the quiet morning breeze. She reached out and ran her hand along the painted rail, now weathered with age and peeling with neglect.

Made of the local red brick, the house was a sprawling homage to the Queen Anne style. A wide veranda circled the entire first floor, interspersed with simple wooden columns that held up a shingled roof. It had been built by her great-grandfather at the turn of the century, completed just ten years after he opened his textile mill.

But the house had been empty for six years and she could see the work that would be required to bring it back to its former glory.

Elodie had never really looked at the house from a maintenance viewpoint. To her, it had always been more like a fairy castle, with its high-peaked roofs and rooftop widow’s walk. Now it was her house, the only compensation she’d received after her father had raided her trust fund in a futile attempt to save his failing investments.

All of her siblings had suffered the same fate, but most of them had already been drawing on their trusts for years. She’d had the most to lose, so she’d gotten the only thing left that hadn’t—or couldn’t—be sold.

The house had been on the market for years, but its deteriorating condition and the floundering town had driven away all the qualified buyers. No one in Winchester could afford to buy it, much less live in it. And no one from out of town wanted to live here.

She pulled the keys out of her pocket and opened the front door, letting it swing wide before she stepped across the threshold. To her surprise, the house didn’t smell musty. Although the air was hot and stuffy, the scent of lemon oil and floor wax lingered in the air.

As Elodie strolled through the nearly empty rooms, she ran her finger over chair rails and mantels, finding barely a trace of dust. The sound of running water startled her and she followed it to the back of the house where the kitchen was located. A slender figure, dressed in a familiar gray uniform, stood over the sink.

“Mary?” Elodie said. “Mary Cassidy?”

The woman turned, a bucket clutched in her hand. “Miss Elodie. I heard you were back in town. The minute I did, I came right over. The place is a bit dusty, but I’ll have it sparkling again in no time.”

“Mary, I don’t understand. Have you been cleaning here all along?”

She nodded. “I just couldn’t let it all go to ruin,” Mary said. “I come once a week and do what I can. I have to say, it’s much easier without all the furniture.”

“Who is paying you?”

“Oh, no one. I don’t need to be paid. I just want the house to look presentable. For you and the rest of the family.”

Elodie stared at the woman in disbelief. The family had left six years ago and they’d closed the house a few months later. “I—I don’t know how to thank you,” she murmured.

“Are you planning to stay here?” Mary asked. “If you are, I’ll go up and get your room ready. Most of the furniture is still there. We’ll need to get the electricity turned on, but the plumbing works just fine. And with this weather, you won’t need heat.”

“Mary, it’s not necessary for you to— I mean, I can’t pay you a lot. I don’t have much left.”

“Oh, don’t you worry about that, Miss Elodie. I’m sure we’ll sort it all out later. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m just going to get to work on your bedroom.”

“Thank you, Mary.”

Elodie watched as the woman hurried off. An image of Dev flashed in her mind, and she sucked in a sharp breath. Twice now, she’d been reminded of him. Earlier this morning, when she’d seen a man who resembled him, and now, coming face-to-face with Devin’s mother.

Her thoughts returned to the policeman. Maybe she’d just been hoping that he’d still be in Winchester. Elodie knew the odds were against it. He’d always wanted to leave. And why would Dev stay? There was nothing for him here, especially now that the jobs had dried up. And she hadn’t really seen the guy’s face. He’d worn sunglasses and a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes.

But there had been something familiar about the man’s mouth, she mused. It reminded her of that crooked smile of Dev’s that she remembered so well.

Drawing a deep breath, she started out of the kitchen, then stopped short.

There he was. Dressed in navy blue, a badge hanging from a chain around his neck. But the cap and the sunglasses were gone. Elodie swallowed hard. “Hello.” It was all she could manage.

“The front door was open,” he said. “I thought it was you this morning.”

“I thought I recognized you, too.”

He grinned in that same sweet boyish way she remembered. “You haven’t changed a bit,” Dev murmured. “Still...beautiful.”

“Devin Cassidy.” Her heart slammed in her chest and her knees trembled. This was crazy. They’d been high school sweethearts, but that had been years ago. Why was she having such a powerful reaction to seeing him again? Other than the fact he was now an absolutely gorgeous specimen of manhood. “You look...older. I mean, you look like a—a grown-up.”

“Elodie,” he replied with a chuckle. “Still the most honest person I’ve ever met.”

“You’re a—a policeman?”

“Chief of police, actually,” he said. “What are you doing back in town?”

Elodie wasn’t sure she wanted to get into the complicated details of her trip. But if she didn’t continue the conversation, he might leave, and she was certain she didn’t want that. In truth, she wanted a nice, long time to just stare at him, to admire the adult he’d become, to take in every little detail of his face until she’d erased the boy in her memories and replaced him with this incredibly sexy man.

“I’m here to tie up some loose ends. The house has been for sale for years and we’ve had no biters, so I’m considering donating it to the town or maybe to the county.”

“Why would you do that?”

“I can’t afford the taxes any longer. And there’s maintenance that needs to be done that can’t be put off. It’s become an anchor around my neck.”

“Instead of abandoning it, you could always stick around and make something of it.”

She laughed softly. “Like what?”

“I don’t know. It just seems to me that a Winchester should be living in this house.”

“Well, there will be one living here for the next week or two,” she said.

“You’re staying here?”

“It’s cheaper than a motel. I can rough it. Your mother is upstairs putting my bedroom back together.” Elodie met his gaze. “Has she been coming here all along?”

Dev shrugged. “I suppose someone should have asked you, but she wasn’t doing any harm. Your family was her life. She started working for your parents when she was a teenager. I think this is the closest thing she’s ever had to a real home and she couldn’t stand to see it neglected.”

“I can’t pay her,” Elodie said.

“That’s the last thing that matters to her,” he replied.

A long silence grew between them. “I—I’d offer you a cool drink, but I haven’t had a chance to shop.” She laughed. “And right now, I have no electricity for the refrigerator.”

His portable radio squawked. He grabbed it and clicked it on. “This is Dev,” he said.

“We’ve got a report of a 10-68 out on Highway 16, just west of Mike Murphy’s place.”

“I’m five minutes away,” Dev said. “I’ve got it. Out.” He smiled at Elodie. “I have to go. Duty calls.”

“I hope it’s not something dangerous,” she said.

“Nope. A 10-68 is livestock in roadway. I suspect one of Mike Murphy’s pigs got loose. He raises particularly brilliant pigs. They always seem to figure out a way to open the gate and run onto the road rather than crawl through the big broken gaps in his fencing and into the field beyond.”

Elodie laughed. “Glad to hear it’s nothing dangerous. I won’t have to worry.” A blush warmed her cheeks. Had that been too forward? After all, they were barely more than strangers now. And yet, it didn’t feel that way. He felt like an old friend, like someone she’d known very well and hadn’t seen for a few years.

“All right,” he said. “I have to get back to work. I’ll stop by later.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said. “Don’t worry about me.” Oh, now she was assuming he was concerned about her? “Not that I think you’re worried,” Elodie added. “You have more important things to deal with. So don’t—”

He reached out and pressed his finger to her lips. The contact was startling and undeniably intimate. “You’re currently residing in the village of Winchester, where I am the chief of police,” he said. “It’s my responsibility to worry about your well-being.”

Elodie forced a smile. “All right,” she said.

Dev nodded, then strode through the house to the front door. She heard it close behind him, and she sank back against the wall.

It had been twelve years since she’d last seen him and nothing had changed between them. He still had the ability to set her heart racing and turn her brain to mush. It had taken every ounce of her willpower to stop herself from touching him and running her fingers over his handsome face.

She’d met a lot of boys, and then men, since leaving Winchester. She’d had some serious relationships that had ended up imploding in a spectacular fashion. And in the midst of all that pain and turmoil, Elodie had always wondered if she’d left her one true love behind at age sixteen.

The notion was ridiculous, but it had stuck with her over the years. Maybe she’d been fated to love Devin Cassidy, and she’d never be truly happy unless she was with him. Elodie sighed. Or maybe she was searching for something—a sense of belonging, a place for her to finally feel safe and secure again. She was home, but it wasn’t the home she remembered. It was silly to get too attached to Dev simply because he was familiar.

She closed her eyes and let a delicious image of the dark-haired, blue-eyed man drift through her mind. How was it possible that he was still here, still single and— Elodie stopped herself. Was he still single? She hadn’t bothered to check for a wedding band. Surely she would have noticed that.

Elodie opened her eyes and pushed away from the wall. “Mary?” She ran through the house and took the stairs to her bedroom two at a time.

If she wanted to know more about Winchester’s sexy police chief, she’d simply ask his mother.

2

“I UNDERSTAND THAT there’s a procedure to turn the power back on,” Dev said, “but I’m asking you to do me this favor. Come on, Jack, I’ll pay the overtime or the upcharge or whatever’s necessary to get your guys out there this afternoon. With all the bad feelings around town about the Winchesters, it’s not safe for Elodie Winchester to stay in that house with the power off. Now, if you want that responsibility on your head, you’ve got it. Anything happens to her, I’ll let everyone know that we talked.”

Dev pushed the grocery cart up to the checkout register and began to unload the groceries as he listened to Jack’s excuses on the other end of the line. He smiled at the young girl behind the register. Erv and Maggie Ronkowski’s daughter. Honor student. Caroline. Played flute in the high school band.

He suddenly remembered that he was supposed to meet Jimmy Joe in front of Zelda’s after school. Dev glanced at his watch. School let out ten minutes ago. Jimmy Joe was probably at the hardware store picking up supplies. If he hurried, he’d make it on time.

“Jack, just get it done. I’ll owe you one.” He switched off his phone and shoved it in his pocket. “Hey there, Caroline,” he said. “How’s it going?”

“Good,” she said. “Would you like paper or plastic?”

“Paper is fine,” he said.

He waited as she called over the manager to check out the wine he’d purchased. The store manager, Eddie Grant, strolled over and began to bag the groceries. “Did you hear that one of the Winchesters is back in town?”

“I did,” Dev said. “Elodie. The youngest daughter.”

“Jeb Baylor was in here talkin’ that he and a bunch of the boys were going to pay her a visit later. They’re all upset about the pension thing and they want some answers.”

“Did they define ‘later’?”

“Yeah, after work. You might want to stop by and calm them down.”

“I’ll do that,” Dev said. He held out his credit card and signed the slip before scooping up the pair of grocery bags. “Thanks, Eddie. You’re a good guy.”

“I remember Elodie,” he said. “She used to come in here and buy candy when she was a kid. She was always really sweet.”

“She still is,” Dev said.

When he got to the cruiser, Dev threw the groceries in the back, then grabbed his radio. “Car zero-one to dispatch.”

“Dispatch,” Sally said. “What can I do for you, Chief?”

“Get Kyle on the radio and have him drive over to the Winchester mansion. There’s talk of some trouble. Have him sit on the place until I get there.”

“Ten-four,” Sally said.

He listened as she made the call, then pulled the cruiser out into traffic. By the time he reached Zelda’s, Jimmy Joe was waiting for him, his purchases scattered on the sidewalk in front of him.

Dev jumped out of the car and jogged across the street. “Nice work,” he said.

“What is all this stuff?”

“Grab the bucket and take it inside to Joanie,” Dev said. “Have her fill it with warm water.”

While he waited for Jimmy Joe, he gave Kyle a call. The officer reported that all was quiet at the Winchester mansion. When Jimmy reappeared, Dev sat him down on a bench. “You’ve got a choice here, James. You owe Feller for those tires and whatever else you took home that night. Now, if you aren’t interested in restitution, I can run you in right now and you’ll have the very first entry on your juvenile record at age sixteen. But if you want to take a different path, I can help you. What’s it going to be?”

The boy thought about the question for a long time, much longer than necessary as far as Dev was concerned. “I—I guess I want to do the right thing.”

“Jobs are hard to come by in this town, so you are now our newest entrepreneur.”

“Yeah?”

“You have a window-washing business.” As he described the steps to washing the huge plate-glass windows of the café, Dev pulled out the scrub brush and then the squeegee, demonstrating how to get the glass to shine in the sunlight.

Dev stood back and watched as Jimmy Joe took care of the other side. The boy quickly corrected his mistakes, and after another squeegee the glass was streak free.

“Done,” Jimmy Joe said.

“Not yet. Now you go inside and you tell Joanie to come out here and look at her window. If she likes the job, ask if she’d pay you for the job.”

“How much?”

“What do you think it’s worth?”

Dev could see the wheels turning in the kid’s head. He stared down the street. “I could wash all these windows. Even the buildings that are closed. It would make them look much better. Ten dollars.”

“Why don’t you do the first job for five and if she asks you back, you’ll charge her ten a week.”

“Every week? That’s forty dollars a month.”

“The car dealership has a lot more windows. You could charge them twenty.”

Dev left Jimmy Joe in front of Zelda’s, adding up his potential profits as he gathered up his new equipment. If Dev was right about the kid, his investment in equipment would pay off in the end. “One at a time,” he murmured to himself as he headed over to the Winchester place.

As he drove onto Wisteria Street, Dev noticed the cluster of cars parked in front of the mansion. Cursing beneath his breath, he hit the lights and the siren and raced up the street, coming to a stop in front of the mansion.

A crowd of men was gathered outside the front gate. Thankfully, someone in the group understood the meaning of “trespassing.” They were shouting at the house, and he saw Elodie and his mother standing on the porch, watching the scene unfold nervously.

He found Kyle in the midst of the small gathering, arguing with a slightly inebriated Jeb Baylor. Dev stepped though the group and nodded at his junior officer. “I told you to call me if there was trouble.”

“I thought I could handle it. They’ve had a few beers and are just letting off a little steam.”

“All right,” Dev said. “Everyone just settle down. Who here is carrying a gun?” Two of the men raised their hands.

“We have permits,” one of the men said.

“That’s fine. Kyle, take the two of them over to the car and check those permits for me. As for the rest of you, I know you’re upset and these wounds run real deep. But Elodie Winchester can’t help you.”

“She and her family walked away with all the cash. They owe us something.”

“You got something. You settled your pension case in court three years ago. It’s over.”

“It’s not over,” Jeb said. “We want answers.”

“Well, Jeb, why don’t you write down your questions and I’ll see if Miss Elodie would be interested in answering them in a more civilized setting. Take the boys here and sit down. Put everything on paper and I’ll talk to her. She says she’s going to be here for at least a week.”

That seemed to pacify the crowd and they gradually dispersed. Kyle walked over, an apologetic look on his face. “Sorry, boss.”

“Two of those guys had guns and they were all drinking. It could have gone bad real quick. Your first duty was to call for backup.”

“It won’t happen again,” he said.

“No, it won’t. Now I’m going to ask you to take my mother home. Stop by the grocery store if she needs to pick up something for dinner.”

Dev grabbed his own grocery bags from the back of the cruiser, then strode up the front walk.

“Thank goodness you’re here,” his mother said. “Those men were very angry.”

“Mom, Kyle is going to take you home.”

“But I have more work to do,” she said.

“No,” Elodie said. “You’ve been wonderful, but Dev is right. It’s time to go home.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Mary said.

Elodie glanced over at Dev, and he gave her a shrug. “Come at ten,” she said. “No earlier.”

“Good,” Mary said. “That will give me a chance to shop for supplies.”

She ran inside to collect her things, then hurried down the walk to Kyle’s squad car. Dev turned to Elodie and held up the shopping bags. “I picked up a few groceries for you. I wasn’t sure whether you wanted to be seen around town.”

“I guess everyone knows I’m here. What was that all about? What did those men want?”

“Why don’t we go around to the back? There’s a nice breeze from that direction.”

He followed her along the veranda, and when they reached the rear of the house, Dev set the bags down and pulled out a bottle of white wine. It was still cold. He grabbed the package of plastic cups and handed them to her.

“You bought me wine?”

“I figured you might need a few necessities. I also got you coffee, some bread and eggs. Ham. You drink wine, right?”

“I drink wine all the time,” she said. She tore open the package of cups and handed him two. “And it is nearly four, so I think we’re safe. My mother always said a proper lady never has alcohol before four p.m. Except at weddings and funerals.”

“I’m the last guy who wants to break the rules,” Dev said.

They sat down on the porch steps, staring out onto what was left of the gardens. Everything was overgrown and had long ago gone to seed. A few rosebushes still bloomed, but most of the rest was brown and dry from the heat. Dev glanced over at Elodie and caught her staring at him. He smiled. God, she was beautiful, and not in that overblown, beauty-queen style that so many women favored.

She had the elegance of another time, a past when women weren’t judged based on their surgically enhanced breasts and carefully applied cosmetics. She had a simple, natural beauty that came from a lucky combination of genes and attitude. Elodie had never been conscious of how sexy she really was, and that’s exactly why he’d fallen in love with her all those years ago.

“Are you going to tell me what that was all about?” she asked.

“You need to be careful around town. There are still a lot of hard feelings, especially over what your family did with the millworkers’ pension money.”

“I can understand that. It was a terrible thing my father did, to steal their security. He should have realized long before that time that he was in trouble. And if I could give that money back to them, I would. There’s just nothing left.”

“They don’t know that. They assume that your family took it all and got out of town.”

“That’s not true,” Elodie said. “We had what was left in the trust funds that our grandfather gave us, but that couldn’t be touched in the lawsuit. I gave most of my trust money to my mother. She was devastated by all of this.”

“How is she?”

“After the divorce, she went to live with her sister in San Diego. She has a job that she loves and a few grandchildren. It’s as if her life here in Winchester never existed. She never talks about it—or my father. I think he’s still in love with her, but the betrayal was just too much for her to forgive.” She leaned back against the porch post and sighed softly. “I’m glad I wasn’t here at the end.”

“Why is that?” Dev asked.

“My memories of this house weren’t spoiled. I think about this place all the time. I loved my life here, until they sent me away.”

“What happened to you?” Dev asked.

“Swiss boarding school,” she said. “It was just one of those extravagant expenses that brought the family business down. And all to keep me away from you.” She laughed softly. “And here I am anyway.”

“Because of the house,” he said.

“I wanted to see it once more,” she said. “I never expected to find you here. I thought you’d get out of this town as soon as you could.”

“I did, but I came home. Even then, I didn’t plan to stay for long, but things just happened. And now I’ve got a job that I love and people who need me.”

“But no wife,” she said.

“Ah, I see you’ve been talking to my mother.” A blush colored her cheeks and she covered her face. “Don’t worry. I don’t mind. It means I have the right to ask about you. You’re not married?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Why is that?”

“I guess I’ve just been looking for someone...special,” she said. “I almost got married, but then I realized I wasn’t really doing it for the right reasons.”

“What happened?”

“I was twenty and had met a man who swept me off my feet. And, in the beginning, it felt like what we had when we spent that whole summer together. It was exciting and passionate and I thought I was in love. But I was just trying to re-create a happier time.”

“I guess we never had a chance to find out whether we’d last,” he said.

“We were so young and so crazy,” Elodie said. “I lived on those memories for years.”

“Me, too.” He paused. “You never wrote or called.”

She reached for the wine bottle and added more to her cup. “You didn’t, either.”

“Your father told me that if I tried to contact you, he’d fire my mother and evict us from our house.”

“He told me the same thing. I guess I figured you’d find someone else. You were too charming and handsome to be single for long.”

“You give me too much credit,” he teased. “Nowadays, I can barely find a date.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“No one wants to date the police chief. It’s like dating a minister. You can never really enjoy yourself.”

“I’m having a good time now,” she said.

“Sure, now. But if you get too drunk, I’ll throw you in jail,” he said.

They spent the next two hours sipping wine and reminiscing about the past, though Dev limited himself to one glass because he was still on duty.

The party came to an end when the lineman from the power company appeared to turn on the electricity.

Dev figured it was a good time to say goodbye, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to spend the rest of the night with her, indulging in more wine and sharing supper, but he knew better than to get greedy. He’d see her again and maybe they’d try to recapture what they once had. But he knew better than to look beyond a week or two with Elodie Winchester. She was here only until she’d “tied up loose ends,” as she’d called them, with the house and then she’d be gone again.

Sadly, Elodie was probably the last Winchester who’d set foot in Winchester. And in a week or two, she’d go back to the life she’d built for herself. There was nothing for her here except this house, and she’d already said she was willing to give it away.

And yet, what could it hurt to enjoy the short time they had together? It might ruffle some feathers, but once she was gone, he could smooth those down. Right now, he was grateful for small miracles—especially the one that had brought her back into his life.

* * *

ELODIE WOKE TO the sound of thunder. She rubbed her eyes, surprised that she’d managed to sleep at all. The empty house was filled with odd noises, rattles and thumps and snaps that were no longer familiar. And her mind had been racing all day long, from the moment she’d set eyes on Dev Cassidy.

With a groan, she sat up in bed and scrubbed her face with her hands. A breeze buffeted the lace curtains on the window, and she flopped back and enjoyed the cool wind teasing her damp skin. She’d forgotten how hot the summers were in the South, how still the air became before a thunderstorm. She’d also forgotten how sweet the smell of flowers drifting on the air could be—honeysuckle and jasmine and wisteria. And most of all, she’d forgotten how easily Dev Cassidy could occupy her mind.

By most standards, they’d had an almost chaste relationship as teenagers. Though they’d danced around the edge of what might be considered sex, they’d never given in to those urges. Elodie had been terrified of pregnancy and Dev had been terrified of her father. But now, as a fully experienced woman, Elodie couldn’t help but wonder what surprises and pleasures a night in bed with Dev might yield.

Even fully dressed, it was clear that he had a beautiful body. And he’d always been kind and generous, and even as a seventeen-year-old, his kissing skills had been exemplary. He’d known how to use his tongue and his lips to great effect. She wondered if he’d become even more of an expert over the years.

Thunder rumbled again, and few seconds later a flash of lightning illuminated the room. Elodie swung her legs off the bed and pulled a light cotton dress from her bag. Tugging the fabric over her head, she walked to the window overlooking the street.

The wind rustled the towering maples that lined the curb. Her gaze came to rest on a car parked in front of the house. Elodie frowned. It was a police cruiser. Was Dev having her watched? Was he afraid those men might come back in the middle of the night? If he was, why hadn’t he warned her?

Elodie hurried downstairs and threw open the front door. The first spattering of rain began to hit the porch floor. She stepped out into the storm, running across the lawn. When she reached the car, she stood in front of the police car.

“What are you doing out here?” she shouted above the wind and the storm.

Dev slowly got out of the car, his hand braced along the top of the door. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“I couldn’t, either,” she shouted.

It was all he needed. He stepped toward her and before she knew it, she was in his arms, his hands smoothing over the rain-soaked fabric of her dress. His lips covered hers in a desperate, deeply powerful kiss.

Nothing about this reminded her of the past. This passion between them was fresh and raw and filled with undeniable need. His fingers tangled in her hair and he molded her mouth to his, still searching for something even more intimate.

The fabric of her dress clung to her skin, a feeble barrier to his touch. She might as well have been naked.

Elodie fought the urge to reach for the hem of her dress and pull it over her head. They were on a public street, with houses all around. Someone might be up at this hour, watching the storm.

“Come with me,” she murmured, her fingers skimming over his face. She laced her fingers through his and pulled him toward the house.

Once they reached the protection of the veranda, where it was dark and none of the neighbors would see them, he grabbed her waist again, pulling her into another kiss. Dev smoothed his hand up her torso until he found her breast and he cupped it, his thumb teasing at her taut nipple.

He was impossible to resist. She couldn’t form a single rational thought, even if her life depended upon it. Every reaction to his touch and kiss, to his taste and smell, was purely instinct.

Elodie reached for the hem of his shirt, but it was tucked in his trousers and his belt was hidden by his leather utility belt. “Take this off,” she murmured, frantically searching for the buckle.

She stood back and watched as he carefully unclipped his gun and set it on a nearby table. A moment later, his utility belt dropped to the ground, followed by his badge and, finally, his shirt.

Her palms skimmed over hard muscle and smooth skin. His shoulders, once slight, were now broad, his torso a perfect vee.

Dev dragged her into his arms again, cupping her face in his hands as he kissed her.

“Tell me what you want,” he murmured. “I’ll give you anything you ask for.”

She wanted him deep inside her, moving slowly, their bodies melding into one. But she had surrendered so quickly. It hadn’t even been twenty-four hours. Though she’d always been able to trust him with her heart, for Elodie, this was something more.

In the fantasies she’d imagined of them making love, it had always been perfection between them, the ultimate joining of desire and romance, of need and satisfaction. It all clicked as if they’d been made for each other all along.

But what if the fantasy was nothing like reality?

Dev reached for the hem of her dress and bunched it in his fists, pulling it higher and higher until it was twisted around her waist. He gently pushed her back against the door, and she moaned as his fingertips skimmed the soft skin of her inner thigh.

Wild sensations raced through her body and she trembled as she anticipated what would come next. When he slipped his fingers between her legs, delving into the soft heat he found there, Elodie moaned.

Every nerve in her body trembled with pleasure, and she was grateful for his arm around her waist. Her legs felt weak and her knees wobbly. The only safe place for them both was her bed, but she wasn’t sure they’d be able to make it all the way upstairs without being overwhelmed by their need.

A moment later, she didn’t care. As he slowly began to stroke her, she could no longer think. Her attention was solely focused on his touch, on the sensations his fingers created as he brought her closer and closer to the edge.

His touch took her higher and higher, until her whole body trembled in anticipation.

When her release finally came, it stole her breath away, her body twisting and shuddering beneath his hand. She gasped with each spasm, caught up in the pleasure and barely aware of her surroundings. The intensity was almost more than she could bear, and she finally pressed her hand against his chest. “Stop,” she pleaded. “I’m going to fall over.”

“I have you,” he said. “I won’t let go.”

She sank against him, and he scooped her up into his arms and opened the door, carrying her toward the stairs. But then his radio split the silence. “Winchester zero-one, this is county dispatch. Winchester zero-one, this is dispatch, come in.”

Dev cursed beneath his breath. “Can you stand, Elodie?”

Elodie nodded and he placed her back on her feet. She watched as he retrieved his radio from where he’d left his utility belt. “This is Winchester zero-one. Go ahead, dispatch.”

“We have a 10-50 on River Road one half mile north of the Quentin Gap Bridge. Paramedics en route. Please provide backup for Yancey County six-nine.”

“I’m on my way, dispatch. Winchester zero-one, over.”

Dev picked up his shirt and tugged it over his head. “I have to go,” he said.

“What is it?”

“A traffic accident. About seven miles out of town.”

“Is it serious?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll find out when I get there. Will you be all right?”

Elodie nodded. “I—I’m fine. Will you come back?”

“If I can, I will.” He fastened his utility belt around his waist, then clipped his gun holster to it. In just a few long strides, he crossed the entry hall and pulled her into his arms. His lips came down on hers and he left her with a soul-shattering kiss.

“How the hell am I supposed to concentrate on work now?”

“Try?” she said.

He chuckled softly, then stole one last kiss before heading out the door. Elodie slowly lowered herself to sit on the bottom stair, plucking at her damp dress until it hung loosely around her legs.

Never in her wildest dreams had she thought the day would turn out this way. But now that it had, Elodie had to wonder whether there was anything that would entice her to leave Winchester again.

* * *

THE SUN WAS already well over the eastern horizon when Dev and the boys from the county sheriff’s office finished up the investigation of the accident. They’d found open containers in each car and had determined that both drivers had been at the same party and had challenged each other to a road race.

Unfortunately, both of the boys had ended up racing to the trauma center in Asheville in a Flight-for-Life helicopter. Though they’d both been conscious when found, Dev knew that didn’t always mean a good outcome.

His handheld squawked, and he glanced at his watch then waited for Sally’s voice. “Winchester zero-one, this is dispatch.”

“Mornin’, Sally,” he said.

“Mornin’, boss. I just had a call from Elodie Winchester. She said someone just threw a brick through her front window. Do you want to take this or should I send Kyle?”

Dev cursed beneath his breath. “I’ve got it.” Though he’d spent most of the early-morning hours focused on the accident investigation, there had been moments when his thoughts had shifted back to what had happened in the mansion on Wisteria Street.

The attraction between them was undeniable, but the fact that they’d chosen to act on it so quickly was what had rattled him. It had been over ten years since they’d last seen each other, and yet it seemed as if barely a week had passed. All the old feelings were still there, the crazy, urgent need and the sense that they were hurtling toward something neither one of them could handle.

And yet, they were adults now and fully responsible for their actions. He’d given her every chance to refuse his advances and she’d just invited him to take more. Nothing had changed. Yet, everything had changed. He was responsible for her safety; he’d gone to the house to protect her, not seduce her on the porch of her house.

Dev pulled the cruiser out onto the highway and flipped on the lights and sirens. He had suspected that the anger toward Elodie wouldn’t subside. He should have put another cruiser in front of her house. People in town had suffered deep wounds because of the Winchester family and they finally had someone—a flesh-and-blood person—to blame.

But it wasn’t just blame. They wanted retribution, to make sure the Winchesters experienced pain as they’d experienced pain, and Dev wasn’t about to let that happen. He was as angry as any of them at old man Winchester and his sons, who had all mismanaged the mill. But Elodie hadn’t even been living in the town when the worst of it had gone down. Their teenage infatuation had ensured that.

Dev turned off the siren as he rolled into town. There was no traffic to contend with on his way to Elodie’s street; the townsfolk were just starting to rise for the day ahead. He skidded to a stop beneath a cool canopy of trees and jumped out of the cruiser, then hurried up the brick walk.

He found Elodie sitting in a wicker rocker on the porch, sipping at a mug of coffee. Next to her, Jeb Baylor was sprawled in the opposite chair, his chin buried in his chest, a loud snore breaking the silence with every breath he took. She smiled as Dev approached.

He took the steps two at a time and crossed to her as she stood. Gathering her into his arms, he gave her a fierce hug. “What the hell is going on here?”

“It’s nothing. He was drunk and upset.”

“Jeb threw the brick?”

Elodie nodded. “Yes. He was shouting and I invited him up to the porch for coffee so we could talk about his concerns. But when I got back with the coffee, he was asleep. I was afraid to wake him.”

Dev pressed his lips against her forehead, the sweet scent of her hair teasing at his nose. “You’re safe. That’s all I care about.”

“What are we going to do with him? I don’t want you to put him in jail. He was drunk and I don’t blame him for being angry.”

“He’ll have to pay for the property damage,” Dev said.

Elodie nodded.

Dev pulled his radio off his belt. “Winchester dispatch, this is zero-one.”

“What’s up, boss?”

“Call Jenny Baylor and have her come by the Winchester mansion to get her husband.”

“Got it.”

Dev turned back to Elodie, gently taking the mug from her hand. He took a long sip of the barely warm brew and sighed. “Do you think I could have a cup of that? Only one that’s very hot?”

“Sure,” Elodie said. She started toward the door, then paused, looking over her shoulder at him. “I don’t know how you like your coffee. You didn’t drink coffee when you were younger.”

“Black,” Dev said.

“Of course. Black,” she murmured.

Dev walked to the opposite end of the porch, then removed his utility belt and hung it over the rail. The porch swing beckoned, and he sat down and sighed softly. Exhaustion overwhelmed him, and he tipped his head back and closed his eyes. But sleep wasn’t waiting for him.

Images of Elodie swirled in his head, her body clothed, her body naked, her hair drawn away from her face, then tumbling around her shoulders. She’d been home less than twenty-four hours and he was already obsessed.

Dev cursed softly and opened his eyes. He’d always maintained such a tight control on his romantic life. Small-town gossip mills were always looking for new fodder, and he didn’t want his authority being undermined by ridiculous speculation over his sex life. And they’d have a field day if he started seeing Elodie Winchester.

Elodie reappeared a few moments later, carrying a tray with two cups of steaming coffee and a pair of scones. “It’s all I could manage,” she said. “I don’t have much in the way of groceries, save for what you gave me yesterday, and we pretty much polished that off last night. I picked up the scones yesterday. You do like scones?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had one,” he said. “I’m pretty much a doughnut kind of guy.”

She giggled as she handed him a mug. “You look like you only eat healthy. Or is it healthily?”

“I try. But it’s not much of a priority. I eat when I have a chance and usually it’s whatever is convenient.”

“You need a wife,” she said.

He growled softly, shaking his head. “I’m not so sure. That hasn’t really been a priority, either.”

She sat down beside him and took a sip of her coffee. “What is a priority for you?”

“Keeping this town from falling apart,” he said.

“It’s a noble goal,” she murmured.

They sat silently after that, the swing creaking beneath them as they drank their coffee.

He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her, to find out if the attraction they’d acted upon last night was still as powerful in the morning light. But starting any kind of relationship would be complicated at best and dangerous at worst. Perhaps it was sensible to slow down and consider the consequences of a full-on affair with Elodie. Such as what she had to go back to.

“What about you?” he asked. “You haven’t told me much about your life in New York.”

“I managed an art gallery. I was involved with a sculptor. Very talented, but very...difficult.”

“Involved?”

“We lived together for the past three years. But five days ago I walked into our loft and found him in bed with someone other than me, so I packed my bags and came home. At least to the closest thing I still have to a home.”

“Do you still love him?”

Elodie smiled. “I’m not sure I ever did,” she murmured. “I’m actually happy it’s over. He was very high maintenance. Selfish.”

“I’m glad you decided to come home,” he said.

She sighed. “I don’t know what to do here. This house is just...overwhelming. There’s so much to fix and I can’t afford the maintenance. No one wants to buy it. I’m not sure the town will even take it if I try to give it to them.”

“How would that work?”

“I’d deed it to the town or the county. I’ve been trying to arrange that, but neither party seems interested.” She took another sip of her coffee. “I suppose I could always just set it on fire and collect the insurance.”

Dev cleared his throat. “You do realize that you just admitted your intention to commit a felony to a law enforcement officer.”

Elodie raised one brow and gave him a playful smile. “Are you going to arrest me? Put me in handcuffs and throw me into jail?”

“Not unless you go through with your plan,” he said.

“The truth is, I don’t want anything to happen to this house. I love this place. I’m just not sure I can keep it.”

“There has to be something, some way for you to save it. We just have to find it.”

“We?”

“I’ll help you,” he offered. Dev didn’t want to seem too enthusiastic. Keeping her in town might be good for him, but if others like Jeb made more trouble, it would only hurt the town he loved.

She nodded, then turned her attention to her coffee again. “I don’t want to take advantage of you,” she said. “I’ve only been here a day and you’ve been so generous. I have to start taking care of these things on my own.”

“I’m sure you’re very capable,” he said. “But if you need help, you can always call me.”

“Well, one last favor. Can you recommend someone to fix that window?” she asked.

“Come on, let’s take a look. I may have just the person.”

The screech of tires on the street caught their attention, and Dev watched as Jenna Baylor strode up the front walk, her damp hair pulled into a haphazard ponytail and her feet bare. Dev took a step toward her, but she held up her hand to ward him off.

Dev wasn’t quite sure what she planned to do, but he could see the anger in her eyes. Would she attack Elodie or him? But in the end, she turned to her husband, crossing the veranda to stand in front of him.

She kicked Jeb’s calf, and he jerked awake, rubbing his eyes against the early morning light. “What?” he mumbled.

“Get up and get your sorry ass off this porch,” she said.

“What? What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to take you home. You threw a brick through a window. And now I’m going to have to work overtime to pay for your stupid behavior.” She kicked him again. “Stand up and get in that car. You need to spend more time looking for a job and less time drinkin’ away the day.”

Jeb stumbled off the porch, rubbing his shin as he limped down the front walk. Jenna stopped in front of Dev. “I’m sorry about this. Of course, I’ll pay for the damage.”

Elodie stepped out from behind Dev. “No,” she said. “It’s all right. There’s insurance on the house. I’ll just say one of the neighborhood kids did it. With a baseball.”

Jenna took a deep breath, then nodded. “Thank you, Miss Winchester. I appreciate your generosity. And I’ll make sure he doesn’t turn up here again. You have my word on that.”

“You can call me Elodie. And if he does show up again, I’ll call you directly.”

Dev waited until the Baylors had driven off before he faced Elodie. “That was nice of you,” he said.

“If I’m going to live here, I better try to repair some of the damage my father did before he left.”

“Are you going to live here?” Dev asked.

Elodie shrugged. “I don’t know. Not if people keep throwing bricks through my windows.”

Dev slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her into a hug. But his radio interrupted his plans to steal a kiss.

“Work calls,” she said.

“I guess I better check in. But I’ll see you later. I should give you my number. Where’s your phone?” She handed him her cell and he entered his number into her phone book. “Call me if you have any more problems.”

She took back her phone and gave him a wave as he walked out to the street. Dev paused at the cruiser and took a long look at her. Summer in Winchester had never appeared more beautiful, he mused.

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