"If I ever commit a crime, promise you'll be the one to arrest me, Deputy. Cuffs and all."

He moaned so deeply against her ear she was afraid someone might've heard. "I promise."

"I hope you know you're really rocking that uniform." She speared her fingers into the back of his hair and pulled his mouth to hers.

After a long, deep, sensual kiss that blew Lorenda's mind, he pulled away. "I'm on duty. I don't want to let the folks of Red River down my first day on the job. Not after they had an emergency city council meeting yesterday and all but forced the uniform into my hands." He threaded his fingers with hers and pulled her from behind the tree and toward the crowd.

Her mom and dad walked over with the boys.

"There you are, sweetheart." Lorenda's dad gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"It was spectacular!" Her mom beamed.

Jaycee and Trevor surrounded Mitchell, staring at his badge and gun.

Lorenda's heart stuttered.

Mitchell must've read her thoughts. "I have a concealed carry permit. That's the only reason the sheriff's department allowed me to carry one right away, and it will stay locked up in a safe when I'm not wearing it." He turned his attention to the kids. "You hear me, boys?"

They nodded, still staring at the badge.

"I want to be a deputy like you and Grandpa," Trevor said.

"Me too," said Jaycee. "Except I want to be the sheriff."

"We can talk about that when you're adults. Until then, I have something for both of you." Mitchell pulled two sets of dog tags from his pocket and draped one around each of the kids' necks. "One tag on each chain is mine, and the other is your dad's."

The kids' eyes rounded in awe as they studied them.

Lorenda's throat closed.

The boys ran off to show their friends.

The look of pure love and probably a lot of lust must've shown on her face because her parents started to fidget. Lorenda didn't stop staring at her sexy, strong husband, and her parents finally wandered away quietly.

"Thank you."

"Of course." He smoothed the back of one finger down her cheek. "I don't ever want them to forget their dad."

She swallowed. "And thank you for inspiring me."

His brows drew together.

"I registered for spring semester. It'll be a long drive back and forth to the university, but I think I can work my classes out so I only have to go in three days a week. They offer some online classes too."

He brushed his lips across hers. "A little driving doesn't seem like a lot since we've got forever." His lips covered hers, and she melted into his kiss, his body, his arms. "When you get home from classes every day," he whispered against her mouth, "I'll be waiting for you with open arms."

She smiled up at him and felt it to her soul. "I'm counting on it."

Acknowledgments.

I owe a huge shout-out to Stan and Karen Sluder. Thanks for the guinea pig story. As always, I have to thank my BFF, Kim R., for all the years of friendship and laughter. Life wouldn't have been nearly as much fun if I hadn't met you. Thank you to my editors, Maria Gomez of Montlake Romance and Melody Guy. The entire Montlake team rocks. Hard. Thank you to my agent, Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. A huge thank you to my critique partner, Shelly Chalmers, who makes my books so, so, so much better. Thank you to the town of Red River for being my muse and my favorite weekend getaway. And thank you to Fritz Davis for being a real-life character.

About the Author.

Photo 2014 Frank Frost Photography.

Shelly Alexander is the author of It's In His Smile, It's In His Heart, and It's In His Touch, earlier titles in the Red River Valley series. A 2014 RWA Golden Heart finalist, she grew up traveling the world, earned a bachelor's degree in marketing, and worked in the business world for twenty-five years. With four older brothers, she watched every Star Trek episode ever made, joined the softball team instead of ballet class, and played with G.I. Joes while the Barbie Corvette stayed tucked in her closet. When she had three sons of her own, she decided to escape her male-dominated world by reading romance novels and has been hooked ever since. Now, she spends her days writing steamy contemporary romances and tending to a miniature schnauzer named Omer, a tiny toy poodle named Mozart, and a pet boa named Zeus.

Also by Shelly Alexander.

It's In His Heart.

It's In His Touch.

It's In His Smile.