Matters of the Heart Read Online Free

them
irritable.”
    Teething, he
hadn’t even thought about it. Lucy was going to be perfect for him…for his
daughter.
    “When could
you start?” asked Brad. “I mean that is if you’re interested. As we’ll be
living under the same roof you’re more than welcome to ask around about me. See
if I’m a good guy who’s respectable.”
    Geez, in the same house, using the same
bathroom. Sure I have it under control. I’ve got burned before. I’m not stupid.
    “I’m sure you
wouldn’t have been elected sheriff if you weren’t. And yes, I’d like the job
but I’d need to go and pack up some things, so would it be okay if I started
tomorrow afternoon?”
    “Great.”
    “Do you need
any references?”
    “I think I
know an honest and decent worker when I see one.”
    “Okay, then
I’ll see you and Presley tomorrow.”
    They both
stood at the same time.
“I’ll make sure I’m home in the afternoon if you want to come straight there.”
    He jotted
down his address on a notepad, tore off the sheet and handed it to her.
    She took it,
slipped it into her pocket and held out her hand to him.
    “Thanks for
giving me the job. I’m sure the three of us are going to be fine working
together.”
    He followed
her to the door, leaned up against the jamb and watched as she walked down the
hallway to the exit. He remained there until she was out of sight.
    Brad glanced
back into his office. He was sure that was a grin his daughter had on her face.
    No it
couldn’t be.
    “Okay, I know
what you’re thinking, but Daddy has it all under control, really he does.”
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Lucy glanced
at the sheet of paper sitting on the passenger seat of her car. Number 357. Brad
had neat handwriting. She glanced across the street at the mailbox and the numbers
matched what he’d written.
    The snow was
melting on the driveway and she noticed a large SUV belonging to the sheriff’s
office sitting in front of the garage.
      She took a deep breath before turning off the
ignition. She’d jumped at the job because she needed work, but on the drive
back to
Helena
she hadn’t been able to get her new boss out of her mind. Did that mean she’d
forgotten all about Bryce? Brad, like Bryce, was also tall, dark, and just as,
actually if not more, handsome. He seemed nice, too. But this was a working
relationship and that was all. Any thoughts of the two of them getting together
were strictly off limits. She was here to look after that cute little baby of
his, period.
    She grabbed
her purse and got out of the car. He must have been peeking out the window
because the next thing she knew he was heading out of the front door.
    “Can I help
you with any of your bags or belongings?” he asked her.
    “Sure, that
would be great.”
    She popped
open the trunk and handed him a box and suitcase.
    Lucy followed
behind with a bag slung over her shoulder and two more suitcases. One of her
nurse friends had taken over the lease on Lucy’s apartment and had promised to
keep the rest of Lucy’s stuff safe in the extra bedroom there. She’d brought
along the essentials, and if she needed more she could always head back and
collect it.
    She stepped
across the threshold of the house and welcomed its warmth. Although she’d had
the car heater cranked all the way up, the journey to Pine Ridge had been on
the cool side.
    “Why don’t I
show you your room and you can put all your stuff in there straight away,” said
Brad. “I finally got Presley to sleep. She’ll be in the room next door to yours
so let’s tip-toe.”
    She followed
Brad up the stairs and noticed some photos hanging on the wall. A few of them
were of Brad and a lady who looked a lot like him.   Judging by the age of the woman Lucy guessed
it was his mother. At the top of the stars he signaled for her to follow him
along the hallway. Her new room was the one at the very end and obviously faced
the front yard. He went inside and she followed him.
    “Hope this