Second Chance at Desire: Rescuing Talia

Excerpt

Sitting at the long table in the back room of the sheriff’s station, Marshall finished his report and rose, taking his empty coffee cup to the sink and washing it out.

Setting it in the dish drainer to dry, he texted Carter.

How’s she doing?

At diner. She’s eating pancakes and pickles.

Marshall shivered at the thought of it and picked up the file he’d finished, carrying it out to the front where Mark Stevens worked. Don’t let her get sick.

As he placed the file on the dispatcher’s desk, a position Talia had filled until recently, he heard the ding of another text coming through.

Do YOU want to come over here and stop her?

Chuckling at the thought of trying to prevent his pregnant wife from eating something she craved, and knowing what an appetite she’d had once the morning sickness had ended, Marshall texted back.

Not a chance in hell.

Thought so.

Mark Stevens looked up from where he’d been entering information into the computer and picked up a file from his desk with a smile. “How’s Talia?”

Marshall looked up as Ace came through the front door. “She’s anxious to have the baby. She’s uncomfortable as hell but trying not to show it.”

Ace frowned. “She was due yesterday, wasn’t she?”

“Yes. If she doesn’t have the baby by next Wednesday, they’re going to induce her.”

Ace smiled. “Everyone’s waiting to fill in.”

Mark grinned, filed the folder, and returned to his desk. “We’re all aware that the little one has his own timetable and there’s no way you can predict that. We’re on standby.”

Marshall smiled, once again knowing he’d made the right decision in moving to Desire, a small town where everyone knew and helped each other in ways he’d never seen before. “Appreciate it.”

Mark picked up the folder Marshall had just placed there and opened it with a sigh. “Hopefully you and your brothers can do the same for me one day.”

Marshall blinked. It was the first time he’d heard Mark say anything about the desire to start a family. “Don’t be in a rush. Somehow, the right one just seems to come along, and when she does, you’ll know it. Hell, we knew Talia was right for us almost right away.”

Ace raised a brow. “And yet you three did your best to avoid her.”

“You know damn well we didn’t want to hurt her.” Amused, Marshall leaned against the counter. “I understand you avoided Hope for quite a while before you finally accepted your feelings for her.”

“I stayed away from her for the same reason. I didn’t want to hurt her. She was too young and sweet to put up with someone like me. I didn’t believe she knew what she was getting into. Turns out, she did. Never thought I’d tolerate a brat. Turns out a brat suits me just fine.” [DG1] Raising a brow, Ace smiled and sent a meaningful look at Marshall before turning his attention to Mark. “Just don’t let the right one get away.”

With his hands on his hips, Marshall faced Ace squarely. “You know why we kept Talia at a distance.”

“I know.” Ace inclined his head. “You blamed yourself for Emily’s suicide and were afraid the same thing would happen with Talia.”

Marshall blew out a breath, his stomach clenching at the memory. “I couldn’t go through that again.”

“Talia’s not that type, but you had to find that out for yourself.”

Marshall couldn’t help but smile. “We did. Just couldn’t resist her any longer.”

Ace removed his hat and leaned against the counter. “Yeah. I understand the feeling. By the way, I’m already taking applications for new deputies. The town’s growing, and everyone’s having families. After we finish building the new school, we’ve got acres and acres of land beyond that where the Jacksons and the Madisons are gonna build houses.”

He turned to Mark. “That’s Boone and Chase Jackson, and Sloane, Cole, and Brett Madison.”

Mark raised a hand. “Got it. Little by little, I’m learning everyone.” He grinned and opened a drawer, pointing to a folded piece of paper inside. “Talia made me a chart.”

Marshall smiled, his thoughts on his wife. “It won’t take long to learn who belongs to whom.”

Ace straightened. “How’s Talia doing?”

Ready to go back on patrol again, Marshall grimaced. “She’s at the diner eating pancakes and pickles.”

“Jesus!” Shaking his head, Ace slapped his hat on his head. “I thought it was bad when she had lemonade milkshakes. Just thinking about it curled my stomach.”

Chuckling, Marshall donned his own hat. “You have no idea what my brothers and I have watched her eat. She’s going for spicy chicken wings for lunch.”

Ace pushed the door open. “It’s a hell of a lot better than pancakes with pickles.”