SAFE IN HIS ARMS
Shelby Townsend and her orphaned five-year-old nephew have escaped to Hidden Springs, Colorado, leaving plenty of pain behind. New job, new homeâa new start is just what they both need. Until a very delicious complication walks into her life. Sheriff Cullen Brannigan.
Cullen assumes heâll miss the hustle and bustle of his big-city life when heâs forced to take a break from his job with the Denver police force. But heâs surprised how much two complete strangers, who just happen to be living on his ranch, make him want to stick around. Because behind Shelbyâs protective shell is a tempting vulnerability that inspires a promise in himâto keep Shelby and her nephew safe at any cost.
She smiled and his heartbeat shot off.
Damn, he needed to stop reacting to her every time she smiled.
He touched her arm to stop her. âShelby, about this morning. I need to apologize to you. I had no business kissing you.â
She folded her arms across her chest. âI just thought you kissed all random women who come to your door.â
He shook his head, then caught her mouth twitch. âNot random women, only beautiful women with big blue eyes who appear at my back door at five in the morning.â
She cocked her head and desire shot through him again. âCullen, I canât have a relationship right now.â She glanced away. âMy life has to be focused on Ryan.â
He held up a hand. âI feel the same way. Iâm only here for a few months. My job isnât even permanent.â
She laughed. âWell, with all those complications, Iâd say we donât have to worry.â
PATRICIA THAYER was born and raised in Muncie, Indiana, the second in a family of eight children. She attended Ball State University before heading west, where she has called Southern California home for many years. There sheâs been a member of the Orange County Chapter of RWA. Itâs a sisterhood like no other.
When not working on a story, she might be found traveling the United States and Europe, taking in the scenery and doing story research while enjoying time with her husband, Steve. Together, they have three grown sons and four grandsons and one granddaughter, whom Patricia calls her own true-life heroes.
Chapter One
With a gasp, Shelby Townsend sat up in bed, her room dark and foreboding. The tree blowing in the wind outside her window cast ominous shadows on her wall. She ignored her own fears when she heard the childâs cry again.
âRyan.â She jumped up and hurried across the hall into the other bedroom. There she found the five-year-old boy thrashing around on the single bed.
She sat down on the mattress and grabbed his flaying arms. âRyan, itâs okay. Iâm here,â she whispered in what she hoped was a soothing voice. âAunt Shelby is here.â
The childâs cries and fighting stopped as the blond-haired boy opened his eyes. He made an indistinguishable sound as he gripped her hands tightly. âAunt Shellie. The bad man is going to get me. Iâm scared.â
âI know, but I wonât let anyone hurt you.â
The boy sat up and hugged her. âI want Mama,â he cried.
âI know, Ryan. I know.â
Shelbyâs heart tightened painfully, making it hard to breathe. How could she explain to this child that his mother wasnât going to come back? Ever. Ryan wouldnât understand the awful things that happened only two weeks ago. How could he? Even she didnât understand why her big sister had been killed.
âI want...I want to go home.â
This was to be expected since it was the first night in their new home. Ryan didnât handle change well.
She rubbed his back, hoping to calm him. They could never go back to Kentucky. Besides, there wasnât anything left there to return for.
Tears filled her eyes as she remembered the events of the past few weeks. She was running late from picking Ryan up from school. If only sheâd convinced Georgia to come with her instead of meeting them... Things might have turned out differently, and sheâd still have a sister, and her nephew would have his mother.
âIâm sorry, Ryan, but we canât go back there. This is our home now.â At least for the next few months, theyâd be hidden out here in the country, until branding season was over.
Shelby almost laughed at the situation. The small town of Hidden Springs, Colorado, was a funny place for a sous-chef to end up.
The town was chosen not because of her culinary skills, but the best area for them to find a safe place to settle in, and create a new life. For now, the large Circle R Ranch was a good hideout.
Ryan raised his head. âPlease, can I have the tablet?â