The Sheriff's Christmas Twins. Karen Kirst

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      “I’d give anything to be able to talk to him again.” Where his hands rested atop his thighs, his gloves stretched tight across his knuckles. “I don’t remember thanking him.”

      Stunned by the raw admission, Allison reached over and squeezed his forearm. “My father was a wise man. He saw more than you realize.”

      Shane’s gaze returned to the lane. When he didn’t acknowledge her gesture in any way, she removed her hand.

      He nodded to the cluster of buildings comprising Main Street. “Almost there.”

      Lamps shone in several of the windows. The white clapboard church was situated at one end of town. A golden glow lit up the night around it, allowing her a glimpse of the grand steeple soaring into the sky. Shane guided their wagon to the edge of the congested churchyard.

      Their arrival didn’t go unnoticed. A cluster of young men strolling past called out as Shane was helping her to the ground.

      “Hey, Sheriff. Evening, paint lady.”

      Allison stumbled. Shane’s hands curved around her waist, preventing her from plowing into him. Bracing herself against his sturdy shoulders, she gaped at the retreating group.

      “Did I hear that right?”

      “Um, it appears you’ve earned yourself a nickname.”

      She lifted her face to gaze up at him. He bit his lip to stop a smile.

      “Paint lady?”

      His heat radiated outward from where he still held her. It would be so easy to slide her hands up and around his neck...

      “Could be worse.”

      Awareness settled across his features as his gaze roamed her face, and his fingers flexed on her waist. Yearning, intense and demanding, curled through her. Please don’t let me go, she silently implored. Don’t pull away.

      “Here you two are. Glad to see you made it.”

      Claude Jenkins’s intrusion brought a grimace to Shane’s face. Immediately, he put her away from him and turned to acknowledge the man and his wife. Behind the couple, a handsome man with wheat-colored hair, trim mustache and goatee and a penetrating blue gaze waited to speak to them.

      Claude winked at her before leading his wife away. The stranger approached and clamped a hand on Shane’s shoulder in a friendly manner, all the while studying her in the most unsettling way.

      “Didn’t expect to see you tonight. Is your lovely guest the reason you decided to join us ordinary revelers?”

      Wearing a tolerant expression, Shane inclined his head her direction. “Josh O’Malley, meet Allison Ashworth.”

      “One of the esteemed O’Malleys,” she quipped as he enveloped her hand in a firm shake. “Shane has spoken highly of your family.”

      “Unfortunately, he’s given us scant information about you. I’m here to rectify that.” Pulling her hand through the crook of his elbow, he winked down at her. “How about I introduce you to the rest of the clan and then you can tell us about yourself?”

      “Don’t trust him, Allison,” Shane drawled. “He’s really after dirt that he can hold over me in the future.”

      Josh’s burst of laughter drew curious looks from passersby. “He knows me too well.”

      She was enjoying this exchange too much to refuse. “I’d be happy to trade stories with you. As you might imagine, Shane hasn’t been forthcoming about his life here. I’m particularly interested in his professional accomplishments.”

      “It’s a deal.” Josh’s eyes gleamed.

      He drew her closer to the church building. Shane trailed behind them, and she sensed the weight of his attention on her. Was he worried about what she might reveal? Or did he trust her judgment?

      They paused at one of several long tables to procure mugs of fragrant apple cider. Cradling the large mug, she relished the warmth seeping through her gloves. Cognizant of the curiosity she aroused in the others, Allison wondered if it was due to her being an out-of-towner or her connection to their secretive sheriff.

      Josh led her to a stand of gnarled trees that resembled pitiful broomsticks. Numerous adults chatted while kids dashed after one another, shrieking and giggling. At one edge of the gathering, a beautiful brunette waved them over, a smile stretching from ear to ear.

      “Allison, allow me to introduce you to the love of my life.” Releasing Allison, Josh went and tugged the woman tight against his side. “My wife, Kate O’Malley.”

      “It’s nice to meet you, Allison.” Her smile was sincere. “There are quite a lot of us.” She wiggled her fingers at the group of men and women, adolescents and young children. “It can be a bit overwhelming at first.”

      “As long as you don’t expect me to remember everyone’s names.”

      Laughing, the couple drew her deeper into the fray. Shane remained on the group’s edge, engaging in conversation with a striking-looking man with raven hair and an angry scar around his eye. She learned there were three brothers—Josh, Nathan and Caleb—and their cousins, five sisters who greeted her with curiosity. The most recently married, Jessica was the only one as yet without kids.

      “You’re the baker, right?” Allison addressed the redhead. “Shane was bragging about your talent.”

      “Folks do seem to enjoy my baking.”

      Her husband, Grant Parker, brushed a lock of her deep-red hair behind her shoulder. “She’s being modest. Jessica’s desserts are highly sought after around these parts.”

      “My sister Jane is just as skilled.” Jessica indicated her identical twin sister, who was standing a couple of yards away with a tall, distinguished fellow. “She’s busy with her kids and doesn’t have time to bake as much as she used to.”

      Allison had met only one other set of twins before, brothers in their midsixties who looked like mirror images of each other, much like Jessica and Jane. She tried to keep her fascination hidden.

      “I confess to a weakness for sweets,” she said. “I will no doubt prove to be a loyal customer during my stay.”

      The scarred man, who she’d learned was the youngest O’Malley brother, tugged a reluctant Shane to the middle of the group where she stood with Jessica and Grant.

      “Interrogation time,” Caleb announced with a smirk. His brown-black eyes settled on her, and she felt sure she wouldn’t want him for an enemy. “Miss Ashworth, will you kindly tell us the nature of your relationship with Shane Timmons?”

      Josh tapped her shoulder. “The truth, please, Miss Ashworth, not the pat answer Shane’s prepped you to give.”

      Since Shane was standing beside her, she heard his slow exhale, sensed the flight-response of his body.

      “I met Shane when I was twelve, and he was fourteen. He lived with me, my brother and father for many years.”

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