Free The Deputy's New Family by Jenna Mindel Page A

jumping in and weighed the consequences of each decision.
    Her dad would never walk her down the aisle or hold her first child. Wonderful moments she’d miss all because what should have been a routine traffic stop ended with her father dead.
    She glanced at Nick again. Falling for a guy like him could be the biggest regret of her life. If she let it happen. She wouldn’t deny the desire to help him with his son. If she could legitimately get Corey ready enough for a fighting chance in third grade, then she could step away.
    “Hi, Beth.” Thomas’s mom climbed the bleachers to sit in front of them.
    “Sandy.” She forced a smile that usually came with ease.
    “And this must be Corey’s dad. Hi, I’m Sandy Clark.” She extended her hand along with a good dose of interest. “My boy’s been talking nonstop about his new friend, Corey.”
    “Nick Grey.” He accepted her handshake.
    “Welcome to the area. We’re going out for pizza after the game and would love it if you joined us. Thomas would be thrilled.”
    Surprise registered on Nick’s face before he nodded agreement. “Thanks. Corey would like that.”
    “Great. We’ll see you at Jemola’s Pizza and Wings. Beth knows where it’s at.” Sandy gave them both a big smile and left.
    Nick turned toward her. “Please say there’s a Mr. Clark.”
    Beth laughed at the panicked look in his eyes. “Yes. Well, no, not anymore. They split up last year and share custody of Thomas.”
    “You’ve got to go with us,” Nick pleaded.
    Beth tipped her head and teased, “Don’t tell me a tough guy like you is afraid?”
    He nodded fast. “Did you see the glint in that woman’s eyes?”
    Beth laughed again.
    Oh, she’d seen it, all right, and her hackles had risen because of it. They shouldn’t have, though. Sandy Clark was a nice woman and solid mom. “You could do worse.”
    Nick gave her a long look. “I could do better.”
    Her heart pounded harder. She opened her mouth to remind Nick about how wrong for each other they were, but nothing came out. Diane’s advice to stay in teacher mode rang through Beth’s brain. Why had she said that, anyway?
    He gave her a boyishly crooked grin that made her stomach flip. “Hey, all I’m looking for is friendship. No worries, okay? Come with us.”
    “Okay.” Beth wanted to believe she’d agreed to go because of her weakness for pizza, but she knew better. Her weakness was all about Nick.
    * * *
    Once seated inside the pizza shop around a red-and-white-checkered table, Beth perused the menu.
    “Pizza or wings?” Nick peered over her shoulder. “Which do you prefer?”
    She fought the urge to lean back and into him. “Both.”
    “Then we’ll get both.” Nick’s voice was low and soft.
    Beth was an idiot to confuse an order of pizza and wings with an endearment, but somehow Nick had made it sound that way. She quickly focused on Corey. “What do you like on your pizza?”
    Corey looked thoughtful and then confused. “Huh?”
    Beth smiled. “What kind of pizza do you like?”
    The boy shrugged. “Pepperoni, right, Dad?”
    “That’s right.” Nick looked pleased with his son’s cheerfulness. “Good call coming here.”
    Thanks to Sandy. Beth bit back jealousy. “Yeah, it was.”
    “Hey, Beth, Mr. Grey.” Her school’s counselor stopped by their table.
    “Hi, Diane.”
    “Try their specialty pizza today. It’s barbecue chicken and awesome.”
    “Thanks.” Why did Beth feel as if she’d been caught doing something wrong?
    “I like pepperoni,” Corey said.
    “You do? Well, that’s good, too.” Diane smiled and then turned her attention toward Nick. “Looks like you guys are settling in.”
    “We are.”
    Corey’s attention was caught by the arrival of Thomas and his mom.
    “Thanks for getting a table. This place fills up pretty fast after games.” Sandy slipped into a seat right next to Nick. “Hi, Diane, do you want to join us?”
    Diane tapped on the tabletop. “Oh, no, my