A Vow to Love by Sherryl Woods Page B

risk a lousy marriage. Everyone knew cops were bad bets. Lousy schedules, low pay, constant fear. And occasionally they wound up dead. All of it guaranteed misery for the women who loved them. He wouldn't do to some women what his father had done to his mother. He wouldn't leave her to struggle through an uncertain future alone, maybe even to raise his kids alone.

    Getting time off had been amazingly easy. Apparently Sam wasn't nearly as indispensable as he liked to think he was. In fact, his boss had said something to the effect that it was about time he'd decided to take a break, that tired cops made mistakes.
    So there was to be no salvation from that direction, he thought ruefully. He had his three days off.
    That Friday by the time he arrived on Cape Cod, he was already dreading the endless hours with nothing to do. Endless hours closed up in a house with three little munchkins, albeit adorable ones. He shuddered at the thought of it. He figured he'd last through lunch on Saturday before he lost it and tore back to the city, disappointing Beth and infuriating Dana.
    When he pulled into the driveway of the cozy beachfront cottage where Kevin and Lacey Halloran lived year-round now, he drew in a deep breath and willed himself to get into the spirit of the occasion.
    Before he could solidify his resolve, the front door flew open and Beth raced out. Obviously she considered herself to be hostess to any arrival. The expression of delight that spread across her face when she saw him more than made up for his reluctance to come. All at once he felt as if some great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, even though there was something a little scary about being loved so unconditionally.
    "Uncle Sam, you're here! You're really here. Mom said you were coming, but I was so afraid something would happen."
    Chubby arms circled his waist. He glanced over her blond head and met Dana's eyes. She grinned unrepentantly, her I-told-you-so look.
    He picked the ten-year-old up, groaned dramatically and set her down again. "It's true," he complained. "You are definitely grown up. What happened to the little kid I could toss in the air without breaking my back?"
    "You saw me at Easter, Uncle Sam. It's only June. I haven't grown that much since then," Beth protested.
    "Must be the light, then. You look like a young lady."
    She giggled and clutched his hand. "Did you bring a present?" She glanced at her mother and hurriedly amended the question. "You didn't have to."
    "Oh, in that case, maybe I'll take it back."
    Worried blue eyes met his. "No, please. What is it?"
    He grinned at her. "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you, would it?"
    "I guess not. Wait till you see who's here. Even Great-Grandpa flew in. He said it was a very special occasion and he had to be here," she said, obviously brimming over with self-importance.
    Sam's gaze shot to Dana. "Brandon's here?"
    She nodded. "And Elizabeth."
    He couldn't quite identify the feeling that stole over him. "I suppose that means Penny will be here, too?" he asked, hoping he sounded more nonchalant than he felt.
    Dana chuckled. "Did you imagine we could leave out any member of the family within a hundred-mile radius?"
    "Does she know I'm coming?"
    "I didn't discuss the guest list with her, if that's what you're asking."
    Sam's stomach knotted. It was definitely going to be a long weekend, though he supposed it was far better that she was here rather than back in Boston where he'd be worrying about her running into Tank. Here he'd only have to worry about keeping his own hands off of her. It ought to be an interesting test of his willpower. He glanced at Dana and saw that she was regarding him with evident curiosity.
    "Something up between you and Penny? I didn't realize you knew each other that well."
    "Not as well as Granddad Brandon would like," he retorted, leaving his own misguided desires out of it. "It promises to be a very long weekend."
    His sister's lips twitched. A twinkle sparked