I thought you outgrew Destiny, Colorado.”
Paige straightened slowly, testing her steadiness. What business was it of his now? At one time they’d been friends—more than friends. That was a long time ago.
“I could say the same thing about you. A hotshot FBI agent returns home and becomes a small town sheriff.”
Paige gave him a bold once-over. Reed Larkin was definitely more filled out at thirty than he’d been at seventeen. She examined his developed chest and broad shoulders. One thing hadn’t changed, he still had deep set bedroom eyes, a strong jaw and black wavy hair. He looked pretty good in uniform, too. But then he’d always looked good to her.
His voice broke into her thoughts. “I had my reasons for returning.”
Years ago, Reed swore he’d never come back to Destiny. Never listen to another bad word about his family. Now Paige remembered why he’d returned.
“I heard about your mother’s stroke. I’m sorry. How is she doing?” Sally Larkin had once worked at the Keenan Inn. That had been how Reed and Paige’s friendship began.
“She has her good days, and her bad ones.”
“Is she allowed visitors?”
He nodded. “Your mother goes out all the time.”
“Is it all right if I visit her?”
“She’d like to see you.” He studied her. “So are you going to be hanging around a while?”
“At least until Leah’s wedding.”
He nodded. “Holt’s a nice guy. They seem happy.”
Too bad Reed didn’t seem happy to see her. That bothered her. Over the years, she’d missed their closeness. The way they had always been able to share things. That ended when she’d made a decision…to push him out of her life.
If she decided to come back to Destiny, she would see Reed…all the time. That shouldn’t bother her, but it did.
Right now, she needed her entire focus on one thing. Her baby. Everything else she would deal with later, including Reed Larkin. So she had to ignore the feelings he stirred in her, blaming it on her already jumbled emotions.
“I should get going,” she said. “I’m meeting with Morgan.”
Reed raised an eyebrow. “You mean, the honorable mayor?”
“And your boss.”
“Oh, I’m shaking in my boots.”
His attitude was back and suddenly she was remembering too much…the skinny little boy she befriended when some third-grade kids were picking on him on the playground. But later she hadn’t been able to protect him against the sadness over his father’s desertion.
“I really should go,” she told him, not wanting to return to the bad memories. She turned to leave.
“Paige…”
She stopped at the top of the steps. “What?”
“Have you told your family about…” His gaze went to her flat stomach. “Your condition?”
Paige tensed. How did he know? “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she denied.
“You murmured the words, my baby,” he told her.
She started to deny it, but he would learn the truth soon enough. Everyone would. “I don’t want to talk about this now.”
He studied her for a few heartbeats. “There was a time we shared…a lot.”
She didn’t want to discuss her private business with a man who hadn’t been a part of her life for years. “No, I haven’t discussed it with anyone…yet.”
“What about the father?”
Now, she was angry. “And I’m not having this conversation with you, Reed.” She waved her hand. “Would you please forget that you even saw me today?”
She swung around to make her grand exit when another wave of dizziness overtook her, causing her to sway.
Reed rushed to her. “Whoa, I’ve got you.” His strong arms went around her back and he guided her down on the top step. “I’m going to take you to the clinic.”
She was very aware of the brush of his arm in the narrow space. It seemed to add to her instability. “No, I’m fine.”
He cursed. “Like hell you are.” He got up and went to the sink and pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket. He wet it under the faucet, then returned to her. He placed it against the back of her neck.
For the past two years and four months, Paige had worked tirelessly for the Denver D.A.’s office where she’d tried numerous criminal cases. But returning home to Destiny had her more nervous than prosecuting a high-profile drug dealer. And Reed Larkin was one of the main reasons. The other was telling her family about her pregnancy.
“I bet you didn’t have much breakfast, either.”
“My stomach is just a little queasy to eat much, but I was going to have lunch with Morgan,” she fibbed, holding the cool cloth against her skin. It felt good.
“I’ll call her,” Reed suggested.
“No! I’m fine, and I can make it across town square to City Hall. So you can stop playing hero.”
He stiffened. “Someone has to rescue you from yourself.” He stood and headed for the door.
Just like ten years ago, Reed Larkin was walking away from her once again. The pain of his leaving this time, surprisingly affected her a lot. She felt just as alone. But just as before, she had to let him go…
Reed berated himself all the way back to the office. He should have just helped Paige out and not asked any questions, and he wouldn’t have learned she was pregnant with another man’s child.
Most guys had that special girl in high school, the one that was out of their league. Paige Keenan had been that girl to him. Pretty, smart and nice to everyone, but she’d dated the popular boys in school, and he was far from popular. Yet, she had been his friend.
The poor kid from the wrong side of town was off-limits. The boy whose father was the impractical dreamer, always looking for the pot of gold. Michael Larkin used to work the mine, had even partnered in one of his own, “Mick’s Dream.” Then one day the man walked out on his wife, Sally, a son, Reed, and daughter, Jodi, and never returned.
And no one had seen or heard from Mick in over seventeen years.
Sally Larkin had to take two jobs just to support her children. Later, Reed helped with part-time jobs, but his mother insisted he stay in high school. After graduation, he’d been offered a scholarship back east. His biggest supporter for going on to higher education had been Paige. He resisted a lot, but it hadn’t been until she admitted that she’d outgrown their relationship
