Tempting His Heart

by Dawn Sullivan

  Tempting His Heart

  Dawn Sullivan

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission from the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events or persons, living or dead are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names or featured names are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement of any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or in part, mechanically or electronically, constitutes a copyright violation. Published in the United States of America in March 2015; Copyright 2015 by Dawn Sullivan. The right of the Authors Name to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by them in accordance with The Copyright, Designs and Patent Act of 1988.

  Published by Dawn Sullivan

  Cover Design: Kari Ayasha-Cover to Cover Designs

  Photographer: Shauna Kruse-Kruse Images & Photography

  Model: Daniel Hosse

  Poetry: Daniel Hosse

  Interior Formatting/Design: Cover Me Silly Designs

  Copyright 2015 © Author Dawn Sullivan

  Language: English

  Contents

  Dedication

  Tempt Me

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Other books by Dawn Sullivan

  Author Bio

  Dedication

  For all of my readers. I really appreciate all of your continued support as I chase my dreams. I hope everyone enjoys this new series as much as I do!

  Tempt Me

  by Daniel Hosse

  Desire pours out from your lips,

  A candle upon thy sill,

  Calling my name you beckon me,

  Yet silence shrouds you still,

  Eyes now pierce my feral flame,

  Cool fog lithe is dancing,

  I see you faint through darkened window,

  In your dreams we are romancing,

  Nearer now I prowl in shadow,

  Your body soothed by sleep,

  I sense your scent upon the sheets,

  Your heart I wish to keep,

  A moan, a gasp, how you turn,

  Across Night's sea you sail,

  Never knowing 'tis me above you,

  The wolf in moonlight pale,

  I lean in close, breathe in your sighs,

  At last you'll finally see,

  The bitter sweet reward you seek,

  The price you pay to tempt me.

  - DNH 03/18/2015

  Chapter 1

  Pulling the car over to the side of the road, Sloane Murphy stepped out and looked around at the vast, seemingly never ending landscape around her. It might seem barren and desolate to some, but it filled Sloane with a sense of deep contentment. Closing her eyes and breathing in deeply, she felt a peace envelop her that she had not felt in so long. The sign in front of her car said Serenity Springs, Texas, population 5,021. After today it would be 5,022.

  Pushing her long, dark brown hair out of her eyes, Sloane watched a tumbleweed blow by in the distance. A slow smile spread across her face as her beautiful, soft brown eyes lit with joy. When her good friend from college, Katy Caldwell, called her to let her know there was a bookstore for sale in Serenity Springs, Sloane instantly jumped on the idea. Books were her escape from the world, the one consistent love in her life. The idea of owning her own bookstore was like a dream come true, as was the idea of moving to a small town. Not only was the bookstore for sale, but so was the building it was in. After contacting the realtor, she’d flown in from Sioux Falls, South Dakota to look at the small business. The minute she walked into the store, she fell in love. Her mind immediately started visualizing what the older, rundown place could be. A deep cleaning, some paint, a place specifically for children, and it would be perfect.

  The store was in the middle of the east side of the town square. There was an insurance company and a bank to the South of the store. To the North was an empty space, with a flower shop on the corner. The building Sloane was looking at consisted of the bookstore on the bottom and three apartments above the store. There was a one bedroom apartment that was occupied by an older woman, Betty Williams. A young woman and her son, Cami and Carson Smith, lived in the other one bedroom apartment. The owner of the bookstore lived in the last apartment, a two bedroom, with his wife.

  Sloane was tired of her dead end job, tired of the fast paced life in Sioux Falls. Katy had been sharing stories of Serenity Springs with Sloane for years. It was the perfect place for her to settle down. After going over the figures and devising a business plan that included online sales and implementing the sale of new books with the used that were currently being sold, Sloane felt confident she could make it work. The rent she would receive from the other apartments would easily pay for the loan she would have to take out to buy the building. Plus, she would live in one of the apartments herself so she would not have the added monthly rent bill in her budget. After talking to Cami Smith, it was agreed she and her son would move into the two bedroom and Sloane would take the smaller, one bedroom apartment. Deciding everything sounded promising, Sloane contacted the realtor with an offer, and one month later, she was a business owner.

  Brimming with excitement, Sloane slid back into her vehicle. The need to get to Serenity Springs was overwhelming. After a quick lunch, she planned on getting her keys from the realtor and moving in as much as she could today. She didn’t have to turn the U-Haul that was hitched to her Enclave in until tomorrow evening, so there was time. Putting the car in gear, she continued on to the town and a new beginning.

  Pulling into Serenity Springs, Sloane headed toward the courthouse which stood tall above the town. The bookstore was on the east side of the square, and she remembered seeing a diner nearby. After parking her car in the alley behind the store, Sloane grabbed her purse and went in search of lunch.

  Sloane found the diner she was looking for in a building down a side street, just a block from the square. A flashing red sign above the door read ‘Mac’s Diner’. Inside the large picture window, she could see a counter with bright red padded stools that were occupied by several people. Old records decorated the wall behind the counter, and she could just catch a glimpse of a wall to the left of the counter that looked like it was covered with old license plates.

  Sloane was starving. She wanted a big, juicy bacon cheeseburger. While she was at it, she was going to add in some fries and a piece of apple pie. Hot apple pie, with vanilla ice cream on top. Her stomach growled in anticipation.

  As Sloane entered the diner, she heard a voice call out, “Hello there, sweetie. Find a place to sit and I’ll be right with you.” Giving the woman a small smile, Sloane walked to the back of the diner and slid into a booth beside a juke box. As she waited, she glanced around at the other customers. There was an older couple sitting beside each other in a booth i
n the far corner, sharing what looked like a sandwich and fries. How sweet was that? Sloane wanted to find a love like that. Unfortunately, life didn’t always turn out the way you wanted it to. Sloane had not found her fairytale ending.

  Next to them was a young mother trying to keep her children entertained while waiting on their lunch. She felt a sharp pain in her chest at the sight of the little baby, who could not be more than a couple of months old, sitting in her car seat on the table.

  Fighting sudden tears, Sloane averted her gaze from the infant. Glancing over to the booth opposite hers, Sloane saw a little girl sitting alone. She was snuggled up against the wall reading a book. The girl looked to be about eight or nine years old. Her long blonde hair was up in a crooked ponytail on the side of her head, fastened with a bright pink ribbon. She was wearing a light pink tee shirt with jeans and bright pink cowboy boots.

  As Sloane watched her, the little girl raised her eyes and focused on Sloane. Smiling gently, Sloane called out, “Hello.”

  The girl shyly looked down at her book and then back up at Sloane. “Hi,” she finally whispered.

  “What are you reading?” Sloane asked. She already knew. She had read the book herself and had also seen the first two movies that were out. Sloane loved to read and she encouraged all children to do the same. She had been kicking around a few book ideas herself lately. Maybe it was time she sat down and actually put them to paper. She would be busy with the bookstore for now, but maybe in the future she would find time.

  “The Lightning Thief,” the girl said ducking her head shyly, again.

  “I love that book,” Sloane told her. “I love the whole series. Annabeth is my favorite!”

  The little girl smiled, a full smile, which showed off dimples on both cheeks. Sloane grinned. She would recognize those dimples anywhere. She’d seen them in pictures shared by Katy several times. The waitress bustled over saying, “Sorry that took so long, miss. Heck of a day today. Cami’s son is sick, so she couldn’t make it in. Not only that, but the dish washer called in sick this morning, so we are running a bit behind.”

  Small town living, Sloane thought, where everyone knew everyone else’s business. Laughing to herself she wondered how long it would take the town to start gossiping about her. Who was she kidding? It had probably already started. There would be questions about the single woman, new to town, buying the used bookstore.

  “No worries,” Sloane told the waitress, who’s tag on her shirt read Dottie. “I would like a diet coke, bacon cheeseburger, and a side of fries, please. And throw in a malt for my new friend,” Sloane said nodding over to where the little girl sat watching them.

  Eyebrows raised, Dottie smiled at the child. “Would you like what you normally have, Cassie? Chocolate?”

  “Yes, please,” Cassie said, showing off her dimples again. The waitress chuckled as she turned back to Sloane. “She is such a sweet child. Her daddy is the sheriff here in town. Creed Caldwell is his name and this here is Miss Cassie Caldwell. School got out a bit early today, so Cassie is hanging out here until her daddy gets off work. She doesn’t like sitting in that stuffy ole police station.”

  Sloane grinned, “I don’t blame her. It is way more fun to sit here and get lost in a book.” So this really was Katy’s niece, she thought. Sloane had heard many stories of Katy’s family, but she’d never actually met them. The child was just as beautiful as her pictures had portrayed her to be.

  As the waitress left with the order, Sloane motioned for Cassie to come sit with her. She could pass the time with little Cassie Caldwell until after lunch. Once Sloane had eaten, she would go get the keys from her realtor. Then she could start the daunting task of cleaning her apartment and unloading the U-Haul that was sitting behind her new bookstore. A shiver of excitement raced through her. She had really done it. She’d moved hundreds of miles from home after taking out a nice-sized loan to buy the building and the bookstore.

  Pushing away reality for the moment, Sloane focused on Cassie and her nonstop chatter. She was turning out to be a very bright little girl, and a great distraction.

  Chapter 2

  Creed Caldwell tipped the brim of his Stetson to a couple of ladies as he walked past, not paying attention to their backward glances. He was in a hurry and did not have time to socialize, not that he cared to socialize even when he was not in a hurry. Creed would leave that crap to his brothers, Ryder and Caiden, who seemed to enjoy being the center of attention. Creed was the oldest, with four younger brothers and a sister. Creed’s parents had adopted all six of them from an orphanage in Nevada. None of them were blood related, but they were as close as siblings could be. Or they had been, until Justice had gone missing, causing Linc to take off to follow the rodeo circuit.

  Of all of the siblings, Katy was the most like Creed. Katy was the youngest of the siblings, but was just as strong willed as her brothers. Creed was the town sheriff and Katy was one of his deputies. They cared about their family and careers, in that order. Katy was damn good at her job. There was no doubt in his mind that she could act as the town sheriff if he ever needed her to step in.

  Right now, all Creed cared about was getting to Cassie. He had lost track of time and just realized that it was already 6 p.m. Cassie had gotten out of school early and he’d told her that he would be off by 3 p.m. at the latest; then they would go riding. Unfortunately, a couple of teenagers went missing, which put a stop to his plans. They were found an hour ago two counties over, on the run from parents who had told them they could no longer see each other. The pair had decided to run off to Las Vegas and get married. Creed sighed in frustration. What was up with kids these days? Creed was finally able to leave the rest of the paperwork with Katy so he could run to the diner to get Cassie. He prayed she wasn’t too upset with him.

  Opening the door, Creed heard Cassie’s infectious laughter as it floated across the length of the diner. Her laughter was one of the sweetest sounds he’d ever heard, like music to his ears. Glancing around, he found his daughter sitting in a back booth with a woman he didn’t recognize. Eyes narrowing, he took in her appearance. She had long brown hair that hung past her shoulders in loose curls. Her bright, sparkling brown eyes were full of warmth as she smiled at something Cassie was saying. And her lips…soft, full, sexy lips. Creed’s mind wandered as he thought of places he would like those lips. Every inch of his body suddenly wanted to feel those lips.

  Creed may not have had the pleasure of seeing the beautiful vision sitting with his daughter before, but he knew he wanted to see her again. Normally he didn’t waste his time on women, except for the occasional one night stand, but there was something about this woman. Hell, he hadn’t even met her yet and he could not get enough of her.

  Wake up, Caldwell, he growled to himself. Remember what happened last time you let someone in. Creed had thought he was in love with Cassie’s mother, Sandra. That was until she became pregnant with Cassie and tried to abort her behind Creed’s back. That was when Creed finally saw Sandra for who she really was. He had received a call from a friend who had an appointment at the clinic where Sandra went to have the procedure done, and arrived just in time to talk her out of it. Two weeks after Cassie was born, Sandra packed her bags and left. She did not want a daughter, did not want a family. Sandra told Creed he was fun for a roll in the hay, but there was too much life to live to be tied down to one man and a child. Creed received a call six months later that Sandra was killed in a plane crash on the way to Vale, Colorado to go skiing with her current sugar daddy.

  Hearing Cassie’s laughter again brought Creed out of his painful memories. Smiling, Creed thought, Cassie was what had happened as a result of letting someone in last time. He would not change that for the world.

  Moving forward, Creed swiftly closed the distance between himself and Cassie. She looked up and smiled as he appeared beside her. “Hi Daddy,” she said. “Sloane and I were just talking about books. She loves to read like me. She has already read the series I’m r
eading now and she loves Harry Potter too!”

  When Sloane looked up at him, her eyes widened and he caught the hint of attraction that was quickly masked. As Creed watched, she picked up a napkin and started shredding it with her long, graceful fingers. Interesting, he thought. She looked nervous. “You ate dinner already, Cass?” he asked as he looked down at the leftover chicken fingers and fries sitting in the red basket on the table in front of her.

  She looked down guiltily, “I’m sorry. I was hungry and…”

  “You have nothing to be sorry about, sweetheart. I’m sorry it took me so long to get here,” he told her gruffly as he slid into the booth beside her. “It looks like we still have enough time to go riding, though.”

  As Cassie’s eyes lit up with delight, Creed decided maybe it was time he used up some of the vacation days he was accruing. Spring Break was coming up the following week, and he wanted to spend that whole week with his daughter. Gently running a hand through Cassie’s hair, he turned and looked at Sloane. Reaching out with his free hand, he said, “Creed Caldwell, ma’am. Thank you for spending time with my daughter while I was at work.”

  As Creed’s hand clasped hers, he felt like someone punched him in the gut. What the hell was that? He watched as she swallowed hard and quickly jerked her hand back. Obviously, she had felt something too.