“What?” He heard the words come out of his mouth, but his attention was focused on one thing and one thing only.

“Nate?” Callie stood by the front desk. She was slightly older, but more beautiful than he remembered her. She was wearing a prim little skirt and a sweater that hid her curves, but he knew they were there. He dreamed about them at night. Every woman he’d slept with since couldn’t measure up. Just like that, he could feel her hips under his hands, tracing her skin while she moved over him. Nate was stopped completely in his tracks. The world seemed to narrow down to that one face. A little bit of panic threatened to take over. Callie was here. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

“You two know each other?” Rye was looking between them.

“Stef introduced us a long time ago,” Callie said softly. She was wearing glasses. She hadn’t worn them before. He wanted to strip them off, along with that shapeless sweater.

“A long time ago.” Nate tried to recover. It would look bad to break down in front of his staff on his first day on the job. His mental breakdown could surely wait a week or two. He nodded briskly and put on a purely professional front. “Hello, Callie. It’s good to see you again. I hope you’re well.”

Her face flushed. He could plainly see that it wasn’t the greeting she expected. Her voice was strained when she replied. “I’m fine, Sheriff. Nice to see you.”

Rye Harper slapped his hands together. “Well, then, I leave you in good hands, Sheriff.” He was at the door in a shot as though he couldn’t wait to get the hell out. “You call me if you need anything, Callie. And be sure to explain about the nudists. There’s a science fair the Farley twins are planning to enter. Some idiot relative bought them a chemistry set. We’ll be lucky if they don’t blow up their barn. Oh, and we’re coming up on Nell and Henry’s annual protest. I think they’re planning on chaining themselves to a tree or something.” The former sheriff looked damn happy he wouldn’t be dealing with those problems. He grinned and was gone in a second.

And Nate was left alone with the only woman he’d ever loved.

He was going to kill Stefan Talbot.

“I didn’t know your last name.” She was quiet, but he heard every word. The station was empty other than the two of them. It was a far cry from the DEA office. And it was so far from the field.

So she was surprised, too. “Sorry. If I had known”

Her eyes grew wide. “What? You would have warned me?”

The truth popped out of his mouth. He’d forgotten how to be polite. “I wouldn’t have taken the job.”

The blood left her face. “Well, all right then.” She took a deep breath.

He spoke quickly, taking a step toward her. “Callie, it’s not like that. I just wouldn’t want to hurt you again.”

She shrugged. “You didn’t hurt me in the first place, Sheriff. We had a fling. That was all.”

Damn, she wasn’t any better at lying now than she was then. The hurt was written all over her face. He wanted to pull her into his arms. He kept his distance. “Callie, it’s been a long time. Can we just try to work together? I need this job. Harper said you can help me fit in around here.”

“You need a job?” Confusion was plain in her voice.

“No more trust fund.” He’d admit that much to her. He hadn’t had any control over that. He hoped she never found out about the rest. “Bad investments. My father’s company is gone. I’m going to work out the former sheriff’s term, and we’ll take it from there. I promise to treat you as professionally as the last sheriff.”

She snorted, and a little smile curved her lips. “That wouldn’t be hard. The last sheriff used to pull my pig tails when we were babies. It’s hard to keep it professional when you grew up together.”

He hated Rye Harper. “Well, I’ll be a good boss. Now what was he talking about?” Maybe if he just acted in a professional manner, she would go along. He had no idea how he was supposed to work with her. The idea of seeing her everyday and having to hear about her husband or boyfriend…he couldn’t do it.

Callie’s hands went to the buttons of her sweater. She fingered them as though she really wanted out of the garment. He remembered that Callie felt more comfortable naked. Nate felt his cock swell. Well, at least it still worked.

“Don’t worry about it. I already talked to Nancy Farley. She’s keeping an eye on the boys. As for the rest of it, well, it’s nudists’ retreat time. Sometimes they scare the tourists.”

What the hell kind of town was this? “Well, if I catch them, they can spend a little time in an orange jumpsuit. It’s illegal to walk around like that. They need to keep to their place.”

Callie stood up a little straighter. Her eyes lit up, and her hands were suddenly on her hips. “I think you’ll find that a little tolerance will go a long way in Bliss, Sheriff Wright.”

His tolerance was long gone. He hadn’t been here fifteen minutes, but he could already tell the former sheriff had been very lax. “If I find someone breaking the law, I’m going to arrest them.”

Callie’s arms were crossed, and her lips pursed. “That should make for a very interesting change then, Sheriff. Now, if you like, I’ll show you around.” She waved her hand. “That’s around. There’s your office. Your uniforms are hanging on the back door. Your deputy’s name is Logan Green. He’s on his lunch break. I’m going to lunch, too. I’ll be back at two.”

She was leaving? He just got here.

“Try to not arrest the whole town while I’m gone.”

She walked out, and he was alone again.

* * *

Callie tried not to cry, but as she shuffled down the street, the world swam in front of her. Why hadn’t Stef warned her? Seeing Nathan Wright after all these years had just about floored her. When he’d walked in, her first impulse was to throw herself into his arms and plant a big kiss on those sensual lips of his. Then she caught sight of the coldness in his blue eyes. He hadn’t smiled once. What the hell had happened to the man she’d met?

If he’d known she was there, he wouldn’t have come. Knowing that made her feel smaller than she ever had. Her heart constricted. She wouldn’t go back. She would just call in and quit over the phone. She felt someone fall into step beside her. As though she’d conjured him, Stefan Talbot glided alongside, measuring his step to match hers. He’d probably been waiting outside the station house watching for her. Callie turned away and tried walking faster.

“Callie,” Stefan’s smooth voice practically begged her.

“Go away, Stef.” She knew he played deep games from time to time. She just never expected he would play them with her. Betrayal burned through her. It hurt, maybe even worse than Nate. She had no illusions that Nate loved her.

“I can’t. You should just stop and talk to me, or I’ll follow you around until you do.” There was no threat, just a simple promise. Stefan was used to getting his way. When he didn’t, he tended to do whatever it took to force things to fall into place. Stefan liked a well-ordered house. “Let’s go to Stella’s. I’ll buy you lunch and explain why I didn’t tell you Nate and Zane were coming to town.”

She stopped in the middle of the street. “Zane’s here, too?”

“I suspect, though I haven’t seen him. I doubt Nate would have left him behind.”

“I don’t want lunch. I want to go home for awhile. If you follow me, you better tell me what you know, Stef.” She gave Stefan her sternest look. Her best friend was a good foot taller than she was and every inch the elegant man. He had a face that made every woman who saw him sigh. Callie knew he was gorgeous, but all she could see was the brother she should have had. Stefan Talbot was one year and two months older than she was. He had watched out for her almost all of her life. She wanted to know why he had stopped now.

“I thought you would quit.” He had a habit of knowing what she was thinking.

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you were in love with Nate and Zane. Because you never got over those two.”

And he knew her better than anyone in the world. Tears welled up again. When would she get that hard outer shell so many people got? When would she be able to contain her feelings? She turned and started back down the street toward the little cabin she’d lived in all of her life.

Stef was right beside her. His hand found her back. “I think he needs you. I don’t know about Zane, Callie. I don’t know him the way I know Nate. I know Nate has been through a lot. His job went poorly. Zane was injured, and Nate blames himself.”

“Is Zane all right?” The thought of big, gorgeous Zane being hurt made her ache. Did he have some woman holding his hand? She hoped so. She hoped he was being taken care of. She wished she was the woman but wouldn’t have him be alone for anything in the world.

“I think he’s back on his feet.” Stefan was silent for a moment. “I think Nate needs this place.”

Callie began to slow. Stef had reasons for not telling her. She might not agree with them, but he hadn’t meant to hurt her. He slipped his hand into hers and pulled it to his chest.

“Please don’t be mad at me. I can’t stand it when you’re mad at me. You and Rye and Max are my whole world.”

Poor little rich boy. She couldn’t help but smile. Stef had given up a lot to keep his handpicked family together. “You’re a jerk.”

“I know.” His smile was slightly sad. “So you’ll stay?”

“For a while.” It was all she could promise.

* * *

 The door to the small cabin came open, and Zane slammed down the book he had been reading. Was it really that late? He looked out the window, and sure enough, it was getting dark. Damn, he’d gotten lost.  It was the story of his life lately.