“Tell you what,” he said, before his selfish nature completely took over. It was obvious she was unsettled with things moving so quickly and not having Michael and Seth to reassure her that they weren’t going to lose their minds if she was intimate with Dillon. “Why don’t you and I spend the afternoon on the couch. We’ll watch a movie or two, or just lay here and talk. I’ll call my brothers and tell them I’ll cook dinner here tonight for all of us. It’ll give the four of us time to spend together, and hopefully that’ll put you at ease. Michael’s probably convinced I skipped town with you anyway.” Lily grinned and put her hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. “I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.” He leaned in to give her a quick kiss. “You get comfy then. I’ll go let them know.” He left her on the couch but watched as she snuggled deeper into the cushions. She looked so damn cute that he couldn’t wait to get back and wrap himself around her. It was pretty pathetic when he opted for an afternoon of cuddling on the couch over taking a woman to bed, but he was so eager to have her in his arms that it didn’t matter how it had to happen.

He called Seth first since he already knew where Lily was, although Dillon was pretty sure Michael knew by now. Seth sounded a little surprised when Dillon gave him the run-down—maybe he was the one who thought Dillon would skip town with Lily. He suppressed a smile and rang off after telling Seth to show up at six. That gave him a few hours alone with Lily before he had to be gracious and share.

Next he dialed Michael’s cell since the odds of catching him in his office were slim.

“Hey man, what’s going on?” Michael said as soon as he came onto the line.

“I’m with Lily.”

There was a slight pause. “Yeah. I know. Everything okay?”

“Yeah, fine. We didn’t go riding after all. Going to spend the afternoon here. Catch a movie or two. I thought it would be a good idea for you and Seth to come here for dinner tonight. I already called Seth and he’ll be here.”

“How is her arm? Have you been taking care of it?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.” He hoped to hell he hadn’t lied. He wasn’t going to admit that the last thing on his mind had been her injury, which probably made him a complete asshole, but it was the truth.

“She’s uneasy about how you guys are reacting to her being with me and I’m sure it’s the same when she’s with one of you. I thought if we could all be together in the same room, it would ease some of her insecurities.”

There was another long period of silence that had Dillon fidgeting.

“So does this mean you’re on board with this?”

There was a note of caution in Michael’s voice that Dillon wasn’t sure how to take.

“I wouldn’t be inviting you over for dinner if I wasn’t.” Michael sighed. “Look, Dillon, you have to admit you didn’t sound like you were open to this the last time we spoke.”

“I’m not the one who stormed out,” Dillon pointed out. “And excuse me all to hell for not being able to make a life-altering decision in a split second.”

Michael made a disgruntled sound. “Okay, you got me there. This is just important, and I don’t want us to fuck it up because we can’t get our shit together.”

“You may not realize it, but this is damn important to me too, Michael,” Dillon said in a low voice.

“This is the biggest decision we’ll ever make. I’ve made mine. I think you and Seth have made yours. Now the hard part starts.”

“Yeah, I hear you. I’ll be over at six provided I don’t have any call-outs. Tell Lily…tell her I’ll see her then.”

“Will do,” Dillon said as he ended the call.

He slowly lowered the phone to the kitchen table and stood there a long moment coming to terms with what he’d just committed to.

Any sane person would be heavy into the what-the-fucks right now, but he was at complete and utter peace with the decision. He didn’t think for a minute it would all be a bed of roses and they’d live happily ever after in the clouds. But what he did know was that the Colters believed in family above all else. And now Lily was a part of that family. He and his brothers would go to the wall for her each and every day of their lives.

Seth left his parents’ house early to drive into town to see Lacey. He parked in front of the sheriff’s department, and before he made it out of his truck, Lacey stood in the doorway, a hand cocked on her hip as she stared him down.

“Want to tell me why you’re only just now making it in to see me?” she asked. “Word is you hit town yesterday.”

Seth grinned and held out his arms for a hug. “Still as bossy as ever, I see.” She hugged him fiercely and then all but pulled him into her office. After shoving him into a chair, she circled around her desk and took her seat.

“I won’t beat around the bush. I’m sure your dad has talked to you already. I’d like you to take over the rest of my term. I’m going to retire as soon as I find a replacement.”

“Okay.”

She blinked and then reared back in her chair, suspicion darkening her eyes. “Okay? That’s it? You’re not going to argue and list ten reasons why you’re not the right person for the job?” He fought back a smile. “Nope.”

“Well, hell. I was prepared to have to spend an hour arguing you down, and you come in and take the wind out of my sails.”

This time he laughed. “Dramatic as ever, Lacey.”

She leaned forward, her expression serious. “What changed your mind? Adam told me you were reluctant to even consider it.”

“I want to come home,” he said simply. “Law enforcement is what I do. I could never imagine you not being the sheriff, but if you’re going to retire, I want the job.”

“Is your arm healed up? Is everything okay in Denver?” He smiled at the anxious note in her voice. “Everything is fine. Quit worrying. I met someone.

Someone I want to have a life with here.”

Lacey’s eyes sharpened. “Anyone I know?”

Seth shook his head. “No, and you aren’t going to run a background check on her, either. She’s says she’s not in any trouble, and I believe her. But there is definitely a lot of hurt in her past, and I don’t want to push her too hard. I have to tread a very delicate line with her—we all do.” Lacey didn’t look happy with his decree. “So who is she?”

“Her name is Lily,” Seth said quietly. “And you should also know, because you’ll hear sooner or later, and I know I can count on your support, that Michael and Dillon are also involved with Lily.” Lacey sat back again, her eyes round with shock. “Oh shit. Is this a joke?” He shook his head.

“Well I’ll be damned,” she murmured. “I never would have imagined. It’s certainly worked well enough for your mother and your dads, so I guess you know it’s possible. But still… Damn.”

“Lacey, I’m sorry about Dan. Dad told me. How is he doing?” Her expression crumbled for a moment before she smiled brightly. “He’s doing good. We’ve been driving back and forth to Denver so he can get treatment. I’d like to move there, though, because it’s wearing on him. Plus we have that place on the mountain and it’s become more than we can keep up. All the kids are gone, so it just makes sense to move ourselves.”

“If there’s ever anything I can do, you know all you have to do is ask.” She reached across the desk to put her hand on his. “I know, Seth. And thank you.” Then she leaned back, all business again. “I’ve already spoken to the city council about the possibility of you taking over the job.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Well I had to prepare,” she said defensively. “No one wants to bring in an outsider. My deputies are young and too inexperienced to take over as sheriff, and Jimmy is too old. He just wants to get in another few years so he can take his retirement. If you want the job, it’s yours. The vote will just be a formality, but you already have them in your pocket.”

“How soon?” Seth asked quietly.

“As soon as you can fill out an application so it’s official. There’s paperwork to do and the council will hold a meeting where they vote. I figure we can have it done in a few days, and you can take over in two weeks’ time. That’ll give me enough time to hand in my resignation and get my ducks in a row.”

“I’ll be sad to see you go, Lacey.”

She smiled. “I’ll be back to visit. I’ll always consider this my town.” Seth paused for a moment and then glanced back at her. “Do you think my…relationship…with Lily is going to cause problems with me in this job?”

Lacey leaned back and studied him for a moment. “I’ll be honest, Seth. I just don’t know. Most folks around here are familiar with your upbringing and your mom’s relationship with your fathers. There was a lot of talk when it became obvious all those years ago, but it quickly died down and people here tend to mind their own business. Your mom is dearly loved and your fathers are very well respected in the community.

“You’ll have a few folks who raise their eyebrows but most will take it in stride, but you just never know. My thought is, you keep quiet for now, finish my term and by the time you come up for re-election, let the chips fall where they may. If you do the job, I think that’s all that’s going to matter, and as I said, the people here really don’t want some hotshot from the outside to come in and take over the town. You’ll have two years to prove your mettle. Then you’re just going to have to let the voters decide.” Seth nodded. “I guess you’re right. I’m not going to keep Lily as some dirty little secret, and I know my brothers will feel the same. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just have to find something else to do, even if it’s helping the dads out with their guide business.”

“Just do the job, Seth. Really that’s all you can do. And I have every confidence that you’ll win the support of the community in short order. You’ll have a few busybodies who’ll consider it their personal duty to stick their noses where they don’t belong, but fuck ’em. You don’t get to be sheriff here without alienating a few along the way. Nature of the job.”