“Fun.”
“Yeah. Not really.”
Luke pulled his attention away as a car sped past. He caught the brake lights in his rearview mirror, then checked radar. Seven miles over. Close, but since Will was there, he’d give the guy a pass.
“Gonna go after him?”
“Not this time.”
“I’m sure he’s sweating bullets and checking his mirror.”
“Good. Let’s just hope he slows down.”
“He will. For a mile or two, until he’s sure you’re not throwing lights and showing up on his bumper or that you don’t have a partner who’s going to pick him up the next mile over the rise.”
Luke let out a laugh. “Yeah. That’s always fun.”
“Especially if you’re the one who gets to write the ticket. I never get tired of that deer-in-the-headlights look. Just when they thought they were out of the woods . . .”
“You’re a little sadistic, Griffin.”
Will shrugged. “Gotta have some fun in this job, ya know.”
“How are Jane and the kids?”
A genuine smile lit up Will’s face. “Good. Really good. We see each other almost every day—my stupid work schedule permitting. I’m coaching Ryan’s baseball team, and Jane’s busy with Tabby’s dance classes. And we’re house-breaking the new puppy, which isn’t as much fun.”
Luke laughed. “No, it never is. But I’m sure he’ll get through it. And so will you.”
“Yeah. And the kids like taking him for walks, so he’s getting plenty of exercise. They really love him.”
Luke liked seeing Will happy. “So, you’ve basically become a father to her kids.”
“I love those kids. And their mom.”
“Any marriage plans?”
“We’re still taking it slow, and I don’t want to push her, since Jane needs to believe I’m always going to be there for her.”
“Because of that asshole ex of hers who ran out on her and the kids.”
“Yeah. But we’re talking about it. Actually, we talk about it a lot. I want to marry her and become a father to her kids. A legal father.”
“Is that even possible, given the fact no one can locate her ex?”
“It’s possible. We’re talking to an attorney who can get us a court date to have his parental rights permanently removed due to abandonment. But again, no rush on that. I don’t want to push Jane into anything she’s not ready for. It’ll all happen at some point. The most important thing is for her and me to get hitched so I can move in with her and the kids. We don’t feel it’s setting a good example for the kids for us to live together until we’re married, so we’re waiting. Which is hard.”
“I imagine it is.” He liked seeing Will happy and settled. Maybe it hadn’t worked out for Luke, but Jane was awesome, and he could definitely tell she was the right woman for his best friend. “I’m glad things are going well for you.”
“Me, too. How about you and Emma Burnett?”
Luke cocked a brow. “What about me and Emma?”
“Heard she was out at the ranch last weekend.”
“What the hell. Is my personal business published on Facebook or something?”
“Uh, not that I’m aware of. But maybe. I haven’t checked Hope’s town Facebook page yet.”
“Funny. How did you know Emma was at the ranch?”
“Jane told me.”
“Oh.”
Will shot him a wry grin. “Touchy, aren’t we?”
“Maybe a little. Everyone just seems to assume Emma and I are dating.”
“And you’re not.”
“No.”
“But you’d like to be.”
He paused. “Maybe. We’re taking things slow. Or maybe I’m taking things slow. I don’t know what the hell she’s doing.”
“Yeah, I understand that whole slow thing. But you know, a woman who’s worth it is worth going slow for.”
That was working for Will, but Luke wasn’t searching for the same happily-ever-after his best friend had found. He’d been down that road once before and had been whacked over the head with the reality stick. “I’m not looking for a relationship, you know.”
Will laughed. “Yeah, neither was I. Look at me now.”
After Will took off, Luke leaned back in his seat and watched the differing speed numbers tick off on his radar while trying not to think about Emma.
For someone who only had the intention of taking her on that one date, he’d sure been seeing—and thinking about her—a lot lately. He’d even gone to her parents’ house for dinner. What the hell was that about?
It had to be the whole physical-chemistry thing, and the fact he hadn’t been with another woman in a while. Maybe if he just went out with someone else, Emma would fade into the background.
Though he thought about her silky hair and that sexy smile and her body, and the way her lips curved when she smiled. And that laugh of hers that hit him like a vibration straight to his balls. Not to mention what it felt like to kiss her. And make love to her.
Yeah, no way Emma was going to fade into the background. She was on his mind all the time and it didn’t look like she was going anywhere.
He thought about the other women he knew, and he knew a lot of them.
There wasn’t a single one he thought about calling. Except Emma.
Not good.
His radar beeped and he caught sight of a truck blasting down the highway. A quick glance at his radar showed the truck doing a good fifteen miles over the speed limit. He hit the lights and sirens and pulled out, hitting the gas hard.
Oblivious to Luke coming up behind him, the truck kept speeding, barreling through what were fortunately green lights.
Someone was in a damn hurry.
He pulled up behind the truck, which looked vaguely familiar, and finally the driver grabbed a clue, slowed down, and pulled over. That’s when recognition set in and Luke’s lips curved into a smile. He got out, grabbing his ticket clipboard, and sauntered over to the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Emma rolled down her window, though she didn’t look sheepish or embarrassed. She looked damned annoyed.
“Luke.”
“Emma.
Seventy-five in a sixty.”
“I know. I have a heifer with birth complications, and I need to get there in a hurry.”
He leaned against the windowsill. “If I had a dollar for every time I heard that one.”
That at least got her to tilt her lips up a little. “I’m seriously sorry. I know I shouldn’t have been speeding, but if I don’t get there in a hurry, she’s going to die.”
He nodded, picking up on her distress. “Whose farm?”
“The Millers over on Route 45.”
He knew the Millers, had gone to school with their son, Jeremy. They lived just outside city limits.
Since he was getting off duty shortly anyway, he asked, “Do you know where it is?”
She waved a piece of paper at him. “I have directions.”
“It’s kind of complicated. I’ll show you. Follow me.”
“Great. Thanks.”
He headed back to his cruiser and led her the few miles out of town, right past the water tower and down the dirt road that led to the Miller’s farm. They pulled up in front of Fred and Abigail Miller’s place. Abigail was there waiting for them, worry etched across her face.
“Thanks for coming, Dr. Emma. Hi, Luke.”
“Mrs. Miller.”
“Abigail, please. I’m just so glad you’re here.”
She started moving away, so he followed behind Abigail and Emma, who were talking and walking at a brisk pace to the barn.
When they got there, one of the heifers was in obvious pain—indicated by the sounds she made. Fred was there with her. Emma put on her gloves and knelt down beside the cow.
“Looks like a uterine prolapse,” Emma said. “When did she calf?”