The Accidental Sheriff by Cathy McDavid

remained perfectly motionless, suspended midway between heaven and hell, afraid she’d start kissing him, afraid she wouldn’t and that he’d miss out on what was promising to be one of the best experiences of his life.
    Finally, thank God, she ended his torture—or was that began it?—by sliding closer and melting into him.
    Neil’s arms went around her, settling into place as if they belonged there. What started out as a hesitant exploration quickly built into an explosion of supernova proportions they were both at a loss to contain. She tasted exquisite, felt incredible and wreaked the kind of havoc on his senses that could send him hurtling toward the edge in a matter of minutes.
    He knew he should put a stop to her while enough of his brain function remained for him to think straight.
    In the next instant, she angled her head, slipped her hand inside his jacket and laid her palm over his pounding heart.
    After that, thinking ceased altogether. There was only Carolina. How could he have gone so long without this? Her mouth tantalized his, her scent enveloped him, her heat invaded every inch of him. He must have been crazy. No, he was crazy.
    Leading her on was wrong. Unfair. Unkind. He had to…had to…
    He clasped her by the shoulders to gently ease her from him. She must have misread his intentions for she deepened their kiss, taking him to a place he hadn’t been for years.
    Four years, to be exact.
    Neil had dated and kissed women since coming to Payson. Pecks, mostly. On the cheek or sometimes the lips. But not like this mind-blowing, can’t-get-enough-of-her kiss that pushed his resolve to its very limits.
    She saved him from a total loss of control by pulling back. “Well, so much for my sister’s theory,” she said, and slid back into her seat.
    “What theory?” His heart continued to hammer, and perspiration lined his brow. He wiped the dampness away with the back of his hand and might have unsnapped the buttons of his jacket except for fear he’d be sending her the wrong signal.
    “She had the nerve to suggest I only ask out guys I’m not interested in.” Obviously made of stronger stuff than him, she showed no evidence of waging an emotional war with herself.
    “You were trying to prove them right?”
    “Yes,” she purred.
    “Okay.” The dig gave him a much needed reality check. It also served to remind him just how vulnerable he was where she was concerned. “I guess after all the things I said to you earlier, I deserved that.”
    “You goon.” She laughed and rolled toward him, wrapping a shapely leg around his. “Don’t you get it?” Clutching the front of his jacket, she lifted her face to his for a quick kiss that was nonetheless reeling. “I’m interested in you, Sheriff Lovitt, and have been from the moment we met.”
    All his silent reasoning in the past five minutes hadn’t sobered him as much as what she’d just said.
    The dog, bored with being left to her own devices, appeared at the gate and resumed whining.
    Carolina groaned. “She’s worse than having a mother who flashes the porch light. I really should go and feed her before she dumps over the garbage can. I didn’t know anything so little could get into so much trouble.” She sifted her fingers through the hair at Neil’s temples. “Come inside with me. Never mind,” she said, before he could answer. “I forgot Zoey’s babysitter has to leave.”
    He’d disappointed her again. And once started, he couldn’t stop himself from doing it over and over.
    “It wouldn’t make any difference.”
    She stilled. “Because?”
    “I can’t go inside with you. Can’t go to dinner with you. Can’t be alone with you.”
    “I see.” She visibly stiffened.
    “Before you storm off,” he said, “please listen to me.” He exhaled slowly. “I care about you.”
    “Really?” The tilt of her head implied he had a strange way of showing it.
    “I do. Much more than I should.” Here was the part where he could