Chapter One

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Cord Nichols rushed for the elevator, throwing his arm and shoulder between the closing
doors to stop them. He was late for an appointment with a client because of road
construction. And he hated being late. Everywhere he went in Cimarron City, the streets
were either in bad shape or being repaired. As a candidate for mayor, that was one of the
main issues in the campaign.

Cord hurried down the hall to his office and greeted Sally, his secretary, with the cup of
coffee he always brought her every morning. "Is Mr. Winston in my office?"

"No, he just called, though. He's running late. He should be here shortly."

Cord grinned. "Good. It'll give me a chance to catch my breath. I had to help Mindy take
her project to school, then I hit the traffic mess on Third Avenue."

As he headed for his office, Sally said, "Thanks for the coffee. Nothing beats a mocha
latte, double shot of caffeine."

Cord smiled as he opened the door and entered his spacious office. He put his briefcase
on the floor by his chair and started to sit when his gaze fell onto a small photo lying on
his blotter.

As he eased into the seat, frowning, he picked up the picture of him and Mindy yesterday
at the park. A big, black X was slashed across him and his daughter.

Cord's hand started shaking, and the photo dropped onto his desk. All he saw was the
black X. His stomach knotted, and his throat tightened.

Lately he'd been receiving calls on his private line at the officehang up calls. But
yesterday they had started happening at home, too. Was it because he was the last two
candidate left running for mayor of Cimarron City, against the current mayor? He'd heard
of rumors of dirty politics in this town, but this took it a step further. Threats against him
and even his daughter?

He reached for the phone. When the dropped calls began, then his garbage had been
strewn all over his front yard last week, he'd known what had to be done. He needed
protection for his nine-year-old daughter. It was one thing for someone to come after him,
but to include Mindy was unacceptable.

There was only one bodyguard he would trust to protect his daughter until the police
discovered who was behind the harassmenthis former high school sweetheart, Roxie
Michaels. He thought back to when he last saw herher green eyes blazing with fury.
When she turned away from him, her long blond hair in a ponytail slapped across his face
right before she stormed away.

Would she even pick up the phone when he called?

He punched in the number he got from a mutual friend and hoped she would accept the
job. But as the phone rang and rang, his doubts grew. He couldn't blame her after what he
did to her ten years ago. But he needed her. They needed her.

He prayed Roxie could somehow put the past behind them long enough to keep them
safe.

Chapter Two
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Roxie entered Nichols Construction Company, where the receptionist directed her to
Cord's secretary. "I'm Roxie Michaels. Mr. Nichols is expecting me."

"Yes," the older woman rose, crossed to the double doors and turned the knob. "He told
me to send you in when you arrived. He'll be back in a minute. May I get you something
to drink?"

"No, thank you. I'm fine."

Roxie stepped into a spacious office and waited until the secretary closed the door before
she scanned the room, noticing the photo on the desk of a young girl with blond hair.
Lifting up the picture, she studied the child she would be protecting. Cord's daughter with
Becca. Roxie's grip on the silver frame tightened.

Mindy's smile gave her crystal blue eyes a twinkle. She saw a lot of Becca in Cord's
daughter, but not anything of him. She wasn't sure if that was good or bad. She and Becca
had never been friends in high school. In fact, the second she and Cord had fought and
broken up, Becca had swooped in to pick up the pieces of Cord's heart.

The sound of the door opening sent a wave of panic through her. Why had she come?
Yes, Kyra Hunt, her employer at Guardians, Inc., had offered her the job but had given
her a way out if she felt she couldn't do what was needed. Slowly Roxie turned toward
the man she'd once thought she would marry. Now she wasn't so sure she should have
agreed to be his daughter's bodyguard, but when a child was in danger she had a hard
time saying no.

"I'm so glad you came, Roxie."

He was the same and yet not. His black hair was cut much shorter, and he'd grown a
couple of inches taller since he was nineteen. He had laugh lines at the corners of his dark
brown eyes, but at the moment all she saw in them was worry.

"I'm still not sure this is a good idea," she finally said. "At Guardians, Inc. we have other
female bodyguards available. Why me?"

"Because I know you. I trust you'll do the best job possible."

Roxie's stomach churned with emotions she'd thought were long buried. But she was a
professional. She could do this, especially if she kept her distance from Cord. "Kyra told
me about what has been happening, the calls, the harassment and the photo yesterday. Are
you being protected, too?"

"No. I'm running for mayor, and I'd prefer that this didn't get out to the public."

"Why not?"

"I want the public to think I'm capable of handling any problems that are thrown at me."

"There's one thing I will make clear, and it's a deal breaker. When I ask you to do
something concerning Mindy's protection, I don't want you to argue with me."

"Fine." Cord grabbed a folder off his desk and started for the double doors. "Follow me
home and I'll introduce you to Mindy. My aunt Clare lives with us and takes care of the
house and my daughter."

"I remember her." And she'd liked Clare Beatty, so there should be no problem there.

She rode the elevator with Cord to the parking garage below the office building and
trailed him in her SUV to a nice residential area in Cimarron City. She tried to recall all
the reasons she shouldn't take this assignment. The heartbreak she felt when he married
Becca flooded her all over again. When she reached his house, she'd tell him she'd
handpick one of the other female bodyguards for him. She wasn't the right person for the
job.

When she turned onto Sooner Street right behind him, flashing red lights greeted her.
Three patrol cars were parked in front of Cord's home.

Chapter Three
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Cord slammed on his brakes, and jumped out of his car. He raced toward his house,
hearing footsteps behind him. Glancing over his shoulder, he glimpsed Roxie closing the
distance between them. He came to a skidding stop on his porch when an officer emerged
from the entrance, a solemn look on his face.

"I'm Cord Nichols. I live here. What happened?" His heartbeat thundered in his ears as he
spoke.

"Everything is fine. We've been trying to call you," the police officer said.

Cord searched his pockets for his cell phone. As Roxie joined him, he shot her a look.

"Did you leave it on your desk? That's where I saw it last."

Her expression, full of concern, eased his tension. "I guess I did." He lowered his voice
and said to her, "If this harassment were meant to rattle me, they've succeeded." Then he
asked,"Why are you here?"

The officer stepped aside and let Cord into his house. "Your daughter was playing in your
office when someone threw a smoke bomb through the window. Your aunt called us. But
we've checked the house and the yard. Whoever did it is gone, but your aunt and daughter
are pretty shaken."

"Where are they?" Cord asked as Roxie stepped away to make a call on her cell phone.

"In the kitchen. Your aunt is fixing Mindy some hot chocolate. We're clearing out of here.
The only damage was to the window. It'll need to be replaced."

That could be fixed easily, but Mindy and Aunt Clare's peace of mind was another thing.
"Thank you, officer."

As the police left, Mindy raced over and threw her arms around Cord. "I was so scared,
Daddy."

Relieved she was safe, he hugged her, never wanting to let her go. "I'm sorry, honey. The
police will get to the bottom of this." Lord, please help me to protect my daughter.

When Mindy peered up at him, he noticed her eyes were red, probably from the smoke.
Anger flooded him. What if that had been a real bomb? "You okay?" He brushed her hair
away from her face.

"Now I am." Mindy looked around him. "Who's she?"

Suddenly he realized he hadn't thought about how he would explain Roxie's presence
without making Mindy even more afraid.

Before he said anything, Roxie smiled at his daughter. "I'm an old friend of your dad's.
We grew up together. I'm visiting Cimarron City . I'm Roxie."
"You knew Dad when he was my age?"

"Yes. I'll have to tell you some stories about him when we have time."

"Oh, good. Do you know Aunt Clare?"

Roxie nodded.

"She's making hot chocolate. Want some?"

"Sounds good."

Mindy clasped Roxie's hand and tugged her toward the kitchen. "Dad doesn't like
chocolate."

"He used to. I'll have to tell you about that." Roxie winked at him.

He was in trouble. He hurried after them before Roxie told his daughter more than he
wanted her to know.

Chapter Four
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"Dad ate all the chocolate eggs and bunnies from the Easter basket!" Mindy covered her
mouth, but her giggles filled the kitchen.

"Then he promptly got sick all over me and his other friends." Roxie finished her drink.
Recalling the fun times she and Cord had as kids stirred more memories than she wanted
to deal with.

Cord shifted on his chair next to his daughter, a red flush on his cheeks. "And to this day
the taste of chocolate makes me sick."

Mindy yawned. "Tell me more, Roxie."

"Not tonight. It's time for bed," Aunt Clare said. "Say good night. You can hear more
tomorrow."

Mindy hugged Cord, then said good night to Roxie. "I hope to see you again."

"You will. I'm staying in town for a while."

When the child and Cord's aunt left, Roxie sighed. "Mindy doesn't know anything about
what's been happening, does she?"
"I didn't want to frighten her." Cord rose and took their mugs to the sink. "I didn't know
what to say."

"After what happened with the smoke bomb, you don't have an option now."

"I know. All I wanted to do was protect Mindy." He took a seat closer to Roxie. "Thank
you for not sharing any more of my antics."

"Nothing I say would tarnish you in your daughter's eyes. You two have a close
relationship."

"She's the most important person in my life. It was tough as a single father at first, but she
was a good baby."

Roxie clasped her hands together tightly. She'd dreamed of marrying Cord and having his
children. Instead Becca did. She'd thought she'd gotten over it, but now she wasn't so sure
. "I was sorry to hear about Becca dying in childbirth. That would be tough on any father,
even an experienced one." Though she meant the words, hurt still festered in when she
thought of Becca and Cord having to marry because she was pregnant with his child.

"Thankfully, Aunt Clare showed up and said she would stay for a while to help. She's still
here nine years later, and I don't know what I would do without her. I can't have anything
happen to either one of my girls."

"I'll keep an eye on both of them, but they need to know what's going on, starting with the
fact that we aren't going to stay here."

"What? I can't leave, and I won't let them go without me."

"Kyra found a safe house for us to use. It's in gated community. It has a high fence
around it and a top-notch alarm system. That'll put some obstacles in place for the person
to have to go through to get to you and your family."

Cord sighed. "I'll tell them tomorrow morning."

The longer they stayed in this house, the more danger they were in. "No, we need to leave
right now."

Chapter Five
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Cord carried his sleeping daughter into the safe house that Roxie had insisted they go to
right away. Of course, he didn't want a repeat of tonight's event, but he was beginning to
wonder if Mindy or Aunt Clare were really in any danger. Out of all the rooms in his
home, the perpetrator had picked his office to toss the smoke bomb into. Not a room his
daughter was usually in. This was a person angry, most likely because he was running for
mayor and didn't like his conservative views. The election was only eight days away, and
his chances of winning were growing the closer they got to next Tuesday. Maybe his
opponent had a diehard fan. Although he didn't like Samuel Warren's politics, he couldn't
see the current mayor behind these attacks.

Roxie went down the upstairs hallway, checking each bedroom, while he and Aunt Clare
waited at one end. "Mindy will sleep in here." Roxie said. "I'll be across the hall from her.
Clare, you take the room next to me while you stay in the one next to your daughter,
Cord."

After Roxie pulled back the covers, Cord laid Mindy on the bed, tucked her in and kissed
her forehead. She stirred but didn't open her eyes. He headed toward the hallway. She'd
been tired when he'd explained about the move, and not five minutes in the car, she'd
fallen asleep.

"Mindy's got the right idea. Sleep. This has been a long day and I'm exhausted." Aunt
Clare took her suitcase and went to her room.

"I'm going to get the rest of the luggage from the car." He descended the staircase with
Roxie right behind him. "You don't have to come."

"After what happened tonight, we should have a discussion about your safety, not just
Mindy's and Clare's."

In the kitchen he opened the door to the garage and allowed Roxie to go first. "I'm not
asking you to protect me, too. The security at the elementary school is tight. So when my
daughter is at school, I want you to be with Aunt Clare."

"What about you? Although Mindy was in your office, I don't think she's the target. You
are."

He swung around his Jeep and came face to face with the woman he hadn't been able to
forget for the past ten years. If only he hadn't been at a party, drinking his sorrows away
after his and Roxie's breakup, maybe he wouldn't have gotten involved with Becca. That
foolish night led to their marriage because Becca was having his child. He'd never
touched alcohol since. The consequences had been too great: losing Roxie, and Becca
dying giving birth to Mindy. At least something good came out of his foolish behavior
his daughter.

He wanted to take Roxie in his arms, wish away the last ten years and get a second
chance with her. But her expressionall professionaldeluded him of that idea. "What
do you want me to do?"
"Since you're running for mayor, I want you to request a police detail at all times. The
perpetrator is escalating. If he's trying to stop you from running, then he'll intensify his
efforts between now and the election next week."

"I'll call the police tomorrow morning. You're right. Normally I would have been in that
office if I hadn't waited at work for you."

A hint of a smile tugged at her lips. Her green eyes brightened.

"You cut your hair," he blurted, and instantly wanted to snatch it back.

"You're just noticing," she said with a chuckle. "Your powers of observation definitly
need some work."

"What I meant is, I like your hair this way. That's not to say I didn't like it when" He
snapped his mouth closed before he dug the hole deeper, turned to lift the suitcases out of
the trunk. and headed into the house.

She grinned. "I know what you meant."

He paused, started to face her when a scream suddenly pierced the quiet.

Chapter Six
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The sound of the girl's scream still echoing in her mind, Roxie raced after Cord toward
his daughter's bedroom. "Cord, let me go first." She withdrew her Glock.

He glanced over his shoulder as he slowed at the door. The color drained from his face
when he saw her gun, but he moved out of the way.

Roxie put her hand on the knob and turned it. As she eased the door open, it was
wrenched from her grasp. Mindy flew into her embrace, clutching Roxie. Her small body
trembled.

"What's wrong?" Roxie wound her arms around the child. Something inside her melted.

"I didn't know where I was," the girl mumbled against her, then leaned back, looking
around. "I got up to go to the bathroom and ended up in a closet." Her eyes red from
crying, she spied her dad and threw her arms around him.

Roxie missed holding Mindy. If things had been different ten years ago, this could have
been her child. She shook the thought from her mind, realizing it did no good to live in
the past. She wasn't that eighteen-year-old teenager anymore. "Mindy, did anything wake
you up?" Roxie asked.
The child shook her head.

"You okay, honey?" Cord smoothed her long hair away from her face.

She nodded. "I forgot we were staying somewhere else. Is this about what happened
tonight at home?"

"Go to the bathroom, then we'll talk." Cord led her to the doorway. While Mindy
disappeared inside, he looked at Roxie. "I should have explained more to her, but she was
so tired she wasn't listening earlier."

"I can sleep in her room on the floor."

"I can't have you do that. I will."

"You're paying me to be her bodyguard, Cord. Let me do my job. I've done this before."
She met his look with all the determination she could muster.

"Is this a deal breaker?"

"No, because you know I'm right. I'll let you explain things to her while I do a walk-
through of the house. I want to make sure everything is locked up tight and the alarm is
set."

As she started to skirt him, his hand grasped her arm. "When I saw you with your gun, it
hit home that you really do put your life on the line for others. What happened to the
woman who wanted to be a doctor?"

"The truth is that my father wanted me to be a doctor. I didn't. I decided to prove to him
he couldn't control my life anymore. When I graduated, I left Cimarron City and didn't
intend to come back."

"Did this have anything to do with the night we argued and broke up?"

"Partly. My father was never going to accept you. He'd made that plain to us. When you
married Becca, I couldn't stay here, and when I refused to go to Vanderbilt and follow in
his footsteps to become a doctor, he told me to leave. That I had to make my own way. As
head of the hospital, he's a man who likes to get his way. I call him every Christmas, but
that's all." If it hadn't been for her boss, a strong Christian woman, she might never have
even picked up the phone six years ago at Christmas. She wanted to forgive her dad, but
he made it so hard. He didn't understand her being a bodyguard. She thought he never
would.

"So you have no plans to see him?"

"This isn't a social visit, Cord. It's work."

The bathroom door opened, and Roxie used the distraction to walk away from Cord
before she said something about still struggling with forgiving him for marrying Becca.
That had cut her to the core, much more than her nonexistent relationship with her father.

In the living room, she peered out the window at the well-lit yard. The pain in her heart
shouted how much this had been a mistake. Lord, why have You brought Cord back into
my life?

Tomorrow she would call Kyra and have someone replace her.

Chapter Seven
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Cord sat on the side of his daughter's bed, trying to explain the situation. "Someone is
mad at me, sweetheart, and is playing pranks on me."

"Who?" Mindy looked at him with her wide, blue eyes.

"I don't know. I think it's someone who doesn't want me to be mayor."

"But Aunt Clare said you would make a good mayor."

At least his aunt had been able to sleep through the past half hour. When she went to bed,
she always took out her hearing aid. "I believe I can do a good job. There's only a week
until the election. Once that's over, we should be able to go back home. In the meantime,
we'll stay here."

"Am I still going to school?"

"Yes, Roxie will drive you and pick you up. You're only to go with her or me. Okay?"

"Is someone mad at me, too, Daddy?"

Cord noticed Roxie standing in the doorway. . "How could anyone be mad at you, honey?
You're a great kid. You don't need to worry about that, but I'll feel better if Roxie is with
you."

"Is she the police?"

He hugged Mindy against his side. "No, but she guards people and is very good at her
job. You have to do everything she says, but you should be able to go to your dance class
and riding lesson later this week." As much as possible, he wanted to keep her life the
same.
Mindy looked over at Roxie. "Dad told me earlier that you're going to stay in my
bedroom."

Roxie bridged the distance between them. "Yes, I don't want you waking up scared again.
And to tell you the truth, the bed in the other room is too soft. I like a hard mattress so the
floor is perfect for me."

"Like camping out. Dad and I have gone camping before. It's fun. Maybe you can go with
us some time."

"Maybe." Roxie slid a glance at Cord, then back to his daughter, but he didn't miss the
doubt in Roxie's eyes. "Are you ready to go to sleep? I sure am. It was a long ride from
Dallas today."

Mindy yawned. "Yes." She kissed him on the cheek. "Night, Dad. Don't worry about me.
Roxie is here."

"I won't. I know Roxie will take special care of you." Cord tweaked Mindy's pert nose
then rose to leave.

At the doorway, he peered back at his daughter and Roxie. She leaned down to listen to
something Mindy said, nodded then both of them knelt by the bed. His heart swelled at
the sight of them praying.

He heart Mindy say, "And one more thing, God. Catch the mean guy. I didn't think the
prank was funny. Amen."

Roxie helped Mindy back under the covers while he closed the door. A knot lodged in his
throat at the sight of them praying together. He might have made a mess of his life ten
years ago, but if anything happened to either one, he would never forgive himself.

Lord, I turn this over to You. Help me to protect my daughter and to make amends to
Roxie for the past.

As he finally went to bed, the big question running through his mind wasn't about the
person after him but about Roxie. Would she ever give him a second chance to rectify the
past?

Chapter Eight
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The next morning, as Roxie dressed in her original bedroom at the safe house, she tried to
decide how best to tell Cord that continuing to guard Mindy wasn't a good idea. Too
many emotions were getting in the way. While Mindy got ready for school, Roxie would
find a way to tell Cord what? How could she walk away after praying with the child
last night? Talking to her until she went to sleep?

No, she would stay until after the election, then reassess the situation. She wouldn't be
thrown together with him much during the day when he was at work. Only at nights and
then she would just have to make sure that Clare and Mindy were around a lot.

The scent of bacon frying drew Roxie to the kitchen, prepared to see Clare fixing
breakfast. But Cord pulled a plate from the microwave with sizzling bacon on it. Roxie's
stomach rumbled its hunger.

"Where's your aunt?"

"I decided to let her sleep in."

"What time does Mindy have to be at school?"

"Not for another hour, so you all will have time to enjoy my attempt at making
breakfast."

Roxie moved closer, watching him crack some eggs and scramble them in a bowl. "Do
you cook a lot?"

"Sometimes I do. Last year Aunt Clare was sick with the flu, and I managed to run the
household without everything falling apart. Why? You want to volunteer?"

"No, I think you're doing fine. Better than what I could do, which is a bowl of cold cereal
and a glass of orange juice."

"I couldn't believe there was food here. Your boss thinks of everything."

"She doesn't want us going to the store if we don't have to. The less we leave the house,
the better."

As Cord stirred his eggs in the frying pan, he slanted her a look. "Should Mindy go to
school?"

"Have you informed the principal and teacher about what's happening?"

"Not yet, but I thought I would go with you all today then head to the office."

The warmth in his expression accelerated her heartbeat. She took a step back, thinking
more space between them would help. It didn't. Focus on the job. "Have you called the
police about a guard?"
"Yes, and my friend said he would be here at eight. It's Officer Brentwood. I have his cell
number."

"Why not call him and have him meet you at the office? I'll drop you there after we take
Mindy to school and you talk with the principal and teacher." Why had she offered to be
in the same car with him? Would she ever learn? Obviously not where Cord was
concerned. No wonder she'd left town ten years ago. She would have had a hard time
avoiding him in Cimarron City, if she had stayed after high school.

"Are you sure? You don't have to feel you need to babysit me, too."

No, I'm not sure. "It makes sense. I'll be taking Mindy. Since Officer Brentwood will have
his own car, he can bring you home tonight."

Cord covered the few feet between them. "I appreciate all you're doing. I know this can't
be easy. But I need to have someone I trust with Mindy." His eyes locked on hers and
bore into her heart. "I trust you."

Roxie's legs seemed to turn to liquid. She clutched the back of a chair nearby.

"I always have." His voice softened.

"Then why didn't you trust me when my father gave me an ultimatum?"

Chapter Nine
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Standing in the kitchen, inches from Roxie, Cord swallowed hard. "I was nineteen and
stupid. I knew what your father thought of me. You'd lost your mother that year, how
could I come between you and your dad?"

Roxie peeked around him. "Cord, the eggs are burning."

He rushed to the stove, snatching the pan off the burner then dumping the scorched
remains in the sink. "You're a distraction. Always have been."

"We could always get something from a fast food restaurant on the way to school."

"No, I can do this, but at this rate we may have to get more food."

"I'll leave you alone while I check on Mindy's progress getting dressed. Should I wake up
Clare too?"
"I'm awake," Aunt Clare sniffed. She quickly shooed him away from the stove. "Go get
dressed. You have people to charm today. I don't want anyone thinking they can stop you
from being our mayor."

Cord kissed his aunt on the cheek. "You're a jewel."

He followed Roxie from the kitchen, thinking about what could have been if he hadn't
made that one mistake. He remembered how good Roxie had been with Mindy last night.
His daughter never knew her mother. Aunt Clare was great with Mindy, but his daughter
needed a mother figure in her life. He paused in the doorway to his daughter's room for a
moment, watching Roxie put Mindy's hair in a ponytail. A stab of regret cut through his
heart.

Mrs. Taylor, the elementary school principal, shook Cord's hand. "Thank you for letting
me know what's going on. We'll be vigilant in watching out for Mindy. All the doors are
locked except this main entrance. Everyone must sign in and out and have a badge on. I'll
inform her teacher that Miss Michaels will be escorting Mindy to and from the class
every day until you tell us otherwise."

"I appreciate your cooperation", Cord said. "If anything suspicious happens, please let me
know. The police are working on finding the person responsible for the harassment."

Cord and Mrs. Tyler stepped out of her office, and she introduced herself to Roxie. The
principal walked with them to Mindy's classroom. The whole way, Roxie kept scanning
the hallways and rooms they passed as though she expected the culprit to be in one of
them. He couldn't imagine living with such tension all the time. What little he'd done
while driving to the school was more than he'd ever done. But at least he didn't think
anyone had followed them. Roxie's career was definitely not for him.

After they dropped Mindy off, Roxie drove him in his car to his office building. Aunt
Clare had declared she would stay back at the safe house and no amount of coaxing on
his or Roxie's part had changed her mind.

"Clare wanted me to take her grocery shopping when I get back. Otherwise we'll be at the
house if you need me." Roxie parked in his space in the building garage. "I see a patrol
car is here."

"Probably Officer Brentwood. See you later." Cord opened the passenger door.

Roxie did likewise and climbed out. Over the top of his car, she said, "I'm escorting you
up to your office."

"You can just walk me to the elevator You don't have to come up."
She did anyway. On the ride to the fourth floor, she checked everyone who came on and
off the elevator. Then she exited first and looked around before motioning him to follow.
The police officer rose when they entered his outer office.

"I'm Roxie Michaels with Guardians, Inc." After shaking hands and assessing the young
man, she gave him her card with her cell number on it.

Cord walked the few feet to the door. "Does he pass muster?"

"We'll see." She gave him a smile and disappeared into the hallway.

Cord headed for his office with his guardian right behind him.

"Sir, I want to check the room out. Then I can stay in here or out in the reception area.
The choice is yours."

"Out there is fine."

While the young man inspected the room, Cord went through his mail. When his private
line rang, he snatched it up. "Cord here."

"Come down to the parking garage with Officer Brentwood," Roxie said in a tight voice,
full of tension. "Now."

Chapter Ten
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After finding the photo under Cord's Jeep's windshield wipers in the parking garage,
Roxie paced around the car, inspecting it for anything suspicious. Anger welled up inside
her. Someone was toying with Cord, playing cat and mouse.

She got down on her hands and knees and used her compact mirror to check out beneath
the car. She was tempted to slide under the vehicle when she heard the elevator open.
Cord and the police officer emerged and strode toward her.

Standing, she dusted off her jeans and waited. Cord's grim expression screamed the same
anger she felt. The culprit was more determined than originally thought, but then she
knew never to underestimate an assailant's intent. Anything was possible.

Cord stopped in front of her. "Let me see the photo."

"I haven't touched it. I want Officer Brentwood to treat it as a piece of evidence. It's
possible there are fingerprints on the picture. Plus there's a security camera that might
have caught our guy on tape." While the young man carefully removed the photo from
under the windshield wiper and held the corner of it with gloves on, Roxie continued. "I
don't think anything was done to the car, but to be on the safe side, a mechanic should
check it over."

"I'll call road assistance to take the vehicle to the garage I use."

"We can use my SUV in the meantime. That is, if Officer Brentwood will take me to the
safe house."

"But if it has been compromised, should we stay there?"

"I'd rather be there in a well monitored house than your house or someplace not as secure.
Besides, I need you to look at the photo. I don't know that he got very close to the safe
house. It's obvious the picture was taken from a distance."

When the police guard approached with the picture, Cord studied it. "It looks like it was
taken from outside the community gates."

"Right. We need to see if someone tried to get in and was denied. Go through their
security tapes for the time we've been there."

The police officer shook his head. "Ma'am, leave it to Detective Brown. The chief of
police assigned him the case. I'll also have them check for fingerprints on the wipers."

Roxie noticed Cord step away and make a call. "Good. Make sure the detective keeps us
apprised of the case's progress, especially if they find a picture of the guy who left the
photo of the safe house."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Will you take me to the house? Later, I'll need to pick up Cord's daughter at school, and
I don't want to leave Clare, his aunt, by herself, especially in light of this new
development."

"I'll need to make arrangements. I'd like to stay with the vehicle until the crime scene
techs get here."

"Fine. I'll call Clare and let her know I'll be home in an hour or so."

While Cord finished his conversation, probably to his road assistance company, she
called Clare at the safe house. It rang once. Twice. She finally hung up after the seventh
ring. Why wasn't Clare answering?

Chapter Eleven
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Cord finished his conversation with the garage and road assistance and glanced at Roxie,
her lips pressed together as she slipped her cell phone into her pocket. What was wrong?

He closed the distance between them. "What happened?"

"I called Clare to let her know I'll be there later and there was no answer."

His stress shot up, but he tried to keep a handle on it. "Maybe she turned off her hearing
aid."

"I hope, but we need to go there now."

"Officer Brentwood, my aunt isn't answering the phone at the safe house. We can't stay."

The young police officer nodded and headed for his patrol car, calling the change of plans
into the station. A minute later, he drove Cord and Roxie out of the parking garage. "CSU
was ten minutes out. I have the photo."

While sitting in back with Cord, Roxie observed the traffic and vehicles around them.
She remained calm, whereas Cord grappled for control. How did she do this job after
job? His admiration grew, and he realized he'd made the right decision bringing her in to
help.

Cord leaned closer and whispered, "Do you think we're being followed?"

"Can't rule it out. I don't know how the safe house was found. I didn't see anyone
following us last night. If someone did follow, he's good at it." Her forehead crinkled
with worry lines, her green eyes darkening.

"A professional?"

"Maybe." She clasped his hand between them on the seat. "If so, that makes me wonder if
it's more than the mayoral race. You have a big construction company. It could be tied to
something there."

"But what?"

"Don't know. We need to consider every possibility."

The feel of her hand against his revved his heartbeat into overdrive. The simple
connection soothed his stress more than anything. He wasn't facing this alone. And he
couldn't think of a better, more capable person beside him. "Thank you for being here. I
had planned to work at the office all day before I start the last push of my campaign, but
since the perpetrator knows where I am, I'm going to work at the safe house. Unless you
want to move again."
"Like I said earlier, it's more secure than most places. But we need to find out how he
knows about the safe house."

"You're right about it might be something other than the mayoral race. If we knew why
someone is after me, maybe we'd know who."

When Officer Brentwood punched in the numbers Roxie gave him for the gate at the safe
house, Cord stiffened. They were almost to the safe house. What if

Roxie squeezed his hand. "Lord, please let Clare be alive and well."

After the police officer parked in front of the house, Cord jumped from the car and
rounded the back to make his way to the entrance. Both Officer Brentwood and Roxie
were a few feet ahead of him. She pulled out the key while the cop withdrew his gun
from his holster.

Officer Brentwood crept inside while Roxie, weapon in hand, stayed outside with him,
constantly scanning the yard. A minute later, the policeman returned with Aunt Clare
beside him. She looked okay except her hands were shaking and her face was pale.

"I'm sorry we scared you." Cord stepped forward. "But you didn't answer the phone."

"I was just telling this nice young man I must have been outside when you called. The
mail carrier left a letter in the mailbox." She withdrew an envelope from her pocket. "But
this didn't come by the U.S. Postal Service. Who could it be from?"

Chapter Twelve
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After donning gloves, Officer Brentwood took the envelope Clare had retrieved from the
mailbox and held it up to the light. "I don't think anything is in it."

"Did you see the mail carrier? Was it a man or woman?" Roxie examined the letter before
the police officer put it into an evidence bag.

"A man. I think I surprised him. Since I couldn't go for my daily walk, I was circling the
perimeter of the yard. When I came around the side of the house, he hopped into his mail
vehicle and sped away." Clare tapped her chin. "He had blond hair, pulled back in a
ponytail, big dark sunglasses and was about six feet. I think. Maybe shorter than that.
Dressed in jeans and plaid shirt."

"I'm calling Detective Brown and have him come out here. He can talk with the guard at
the gate. See what the video camera caught on film. We might get a picture of this guy."
Officer Brentwood walked into the dining room on the right to call the station.
After closing the front door and locking it, Roxie followed Cord and Clare into the living
room.

Cord paced from one end to the other as Clare started for the hallway, "I'm fixing some
tea to calm me down. Does anyone else want some?"

"I'm fine," Roxie said while Cord shook his head.

When they were alone, she planted herself in his path. "You aren't all right."

"There may not be anything in the envelope, but the stalker wanted us to know he'd found
a way past the guard at the gate."

"I think that was the intent of the letter, but he was spotted by Clare which gives us more
than we had before. I doubt he's the regular mail carrier, so where's that person?"

Cord blew out a long breath. "I hope Detective Brown can get to the bottom of this. I'm
not sure how much campaigning I should do with all that's happening. I'll wait to talk to
the detective today, but I might have to adjust my schedule." Tension poured off of him in
waves.

Roxie wished she could soothe the stress from Cord. She reached out and grasped his
upper arm, capturing his full attention. "This guy is getting reckless. He's going to slip up
one time too many and then we'll catch him."

With one hand, Cord cupped her face. "I wish we hadn't reconnected under these
circumstances. There's so much I want to say to you that has nothing to do with this mess.
I haven't forgotten you all these years."

Roxie wanted to put her arms around him and tell him she hadn't forgotten him either, but
she was afraid of the implications. Had Cord been the reason she'd never really dated
seriously all these years?

Cord leaned toward her, their mouths inches apart. "I'm not sure what I would have done
if you hadn't accepted this job."

That sobered her, reminding her she was important to him only because she was
protecting him and his daughter. She stepped away from him.

Officer Brentwood cleared his throat behind Cord. "Sorry to interrupt, but I have some
news about what Detective Brown discovered from the video feed in the garage at your
workplace."

Chapter Thirteen
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In the living room of the safe house, Cord turned toward Officer Brentwood. "I hope
Detective Brown found something useful."

"The video camera in the parking garage was damaged and nothing was recorded. The
building super didn't know anything about that. In fact, he was sure it had been working
last week."

Cord's gut clenched. Another dead end.

"But Detective Brown noticed a traffic camera that would have captured the guy driving
into the garage. There were only two cars in that time span. He's checking them out and
then will come here. He'll be bringing a sketch artist, so we're to hang tight. I'll be outside
patrolling the grounds, per his orders."

"Can you call me on my cell every half an hour?" Roxie asked, putting more distance
between Cord and her.

When he had said to her he didn't know what he would have done if she hadn't accepted
the job, she'd shut down. She must think that was the only reason he was glad to have her
here. When this was over with, he'd explain. It was much more than that. But maybe it
was for the best that he hadn't followed through on his impulse to kiss her. It would only
confuse things. But all he could think about earlier was taking her in his arms and erasing
the past ten years between them.

The next thing Cord realized was Officer Brentwood had left while he was deep in
thought. Another reason he shouldn't focus on what could be until this was cleared up. He
might not be a trained bodyguard, but he would do what he needed to protect Mindy,
Clareand Roxie. He might not know how to shoot a gun, but he knew how to fight. In
his youth, he'd been able to hold his own against just about anyone.

"Cord?Are you all right? You were a million miles away."

"As soon as we find this creep, I'll be fine. After Detective Brown comes, I want to go
pick up Mindy. I've decided to pull her from school until this man is caught. I don't want
to take any chances with my daughter. If you need more help, I'll pay for it."

Something flickered in and out of her expression so fast he wasn't sure what it was.
Regret? Sadness?

"I want you to know, Roxie, that I may have married Becca, but it wasn't because I loved
her. I know how your dad felt about me because I didn't have a father, at least no one
named on my birth certificate. I'd vowed never do that to a child. I can still recall your
father's words to me right before we fought the last time. 'Cord Nichols, you have nothing
to offer my daughter.'"
Roxie blinked several times. "My father was wrong to feel that way, and I'm sure he
regrets that comment today. If not, he should. You're a highly respected member of this
community, one who very likely will be the next mayor."

"I'm not angry with him anymore. He was only protecting his daughter. I know how that
feels. Call him, Roxie. Mend the fences with him."

Her eyes widened, then she rushed from the living room.

In his heart, he realized they would never have a second chance if she didn't forgive her
father, and from the description of their relationship she'd told him, he didn't think she
had. He would always be there between them, tainting any relationship they could have.

Chapter Fourteen
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Roxie sat on the bed in the room she shared with Mindy, staring at the floor. She knew
Cord was right. If she didn't try to mend her relationship with her father, she would never
be totally free of the past. If she could forgive Cord, then she should try with her dad.

She retrieved her cell phone, but when she went to call him, her hand trembled, and
memories deluged her. She'd never been able to live up to her father's expectations.

She paced the room, trying to plan what she would say. Suddenly she realized she
couldn't do this over the phone. If she was going to try to repair their relationship beyond
the yearly phone call at Christmas, then it had to be in person.

Serenity fell over her as though the decision she'd come to was what God wanted. She
wanted to end her self-imposed exile, and she realized her father would never make the
first move. He was too proud.

The chime of the doorbell reverberated through the house. She hurried to the foyer,
hoping that it was Detective Brown with good news.

Cord peered through the peephole before opening the door and letting the detective
inside. As the balding man entered, Cord threw a look over his shoulder at Roxie. His
expression reflected concern and touched her heart.

"Let's go in the living room," Cord said.

She sat on the couch with Cord next to her. "Did you get anything from the traffic cam?"
she asked the detective. "Were you able to track down the two cars?"
"A woman with her four year old was in one car while an older gentleman denied going
downtown. His car is usually parked at the side of his house since he hasn't been able to
drive for several months due to an illness."

"Was it there when you arrived?" Cord asked, his body tense.

"Yes, but the photo plainly indicated it emerged from the parking garage. The license tag
numbers match. I showed Mr. Roberts the still picture I had. He has no idea what
happened."

"Who had access to the car keys?" The police were close. She could feel itor was that
wishful thinking?

"His caregiver, a young woman named Nora, and his nephew, Judd Roberts. According to
Mr. Roberts, Nora has been with him all morning."

"Then what about the nephew?" Cord balled his hands into fists. "He's got to be the
driver."

"He may be, but he wasn't there, and Mr. Roberts didn't know where he was. He was
staying at his uncle's house but has been gone for the past few days. I ran Judd Roberts'
name through the system. I discovered he was recently released from prison. He served
ten years for armed robbery and assault. I contacted his parole officer, and he's supposed
to check in with him tomorrow."

Cord's forehead scrunched. "I know that name somehow."

"So do I." Roxie wracked her brain trying to recall where. "How old is Judd Roberts?"

Detective Brown consulted his notes. "Thirty."

Cord snapped his fingers. "I know who he is."

Chapter Fifteen
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Cord shot to his feet and turned toward Roxie. "He was a year older than me in school.
Becca and Judd were friends for a time, but then he got into some trouble. Robbed a store
and beat the cashier when he wouldn't open the cash register."

"Did you anger him back then?" Detective Brown tapped his cell phone. "Is this the man
you knew?"

"I hardly knew the guy. He dropped out of school and never graduated." Cord looked at
the photo on the phone. "That's him."
"Where's your aunt? I'd like her to see this."

Roxie rose. "I'll go get her. She was in the kitchen earlier."

"Did you find anything else at the parking garage?" Cord raked his hand through his hair.

"No, and there weren't any fingerprints on the photo left on your windshield."

"I still don't understand how he found this house so quickly." Cord tried to remain calm,
but for the first time in days he felt they were close to discovering who was behind the
threats. If it was Judd, then why was he coming after him? "Will you be bringing Judd in
for questioning?"

"As soon as we find him. I've put a BOLO out on him, but we don't know what vehicle
he's driving."

Cord started to ask another question when the detective's cell phone chimed. The bald
headed man answered it.

"He's all right?" Detective Brown asked the person he was talking to. "Okay. Thanks for
telling me."

"Something about my case?"

"Yes, the mail carrier for this route was attacked and the vehicle stolen. Before the man
passed out, he told his assailant the code for the gated community."

"Did he see who beat him up?"

"He wore a black ski mask."

"Is the mail carrier going to be all right?"

"Yes, he's at the hospital. I'll go by there when I leave here."

"What happened?" Roxie asked in the entrance into the living room.

Cord's gaze swiveled to his aunt right behind Roxie. He told them about the mail carrier.

Aunt Clare clutched Roxie's arm to steady herself. "That man is dangerous. I wasn't more
than forty feet away from him, but he wasn't wearing a ski mask. Do you think he'll come
after me? I can identify him."

"If he wanted to do something to you, I think he would have ." Detective Brown covered
the distance to Aunt Clare and showed her the photo. "Is this the guy?"
Her eyes grew round. "I think that's him."

"Good. We have a name to the person harassing you. We'll find out why when we catch
Judd Roberts." Detective Brown headed for the front door.

Cord's cell phone rang. He answered it, glad it was the garage about his SUV.

"Mr. Nichols, we found something with your car."

Chapter Sixteen
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"What's wrong with my car?" Cord's knuckles whitened as his hand tightened about his
cell phone.

Roxie, along with the detective and Clare, focused on Cord and the message he was
hearing. From his body language Roxie knew it wasn't good news.

"Thanks. I'll tell the police. I'm sure they're going to want to retrieve it." Cord
disconnected his phone and looked at Roxie. "There was a tracker on my car. That must
be the way Judd knew about this place. The mechanic found it when he was going over
the car." Cord looked at Detective Brown. "He didn't touch it but left it for the police."

"Good. I'll go there first, then interview the mail carrier." The detective left.

Aunt Clare frowned, the tired lines on her face deepening. "Oh, my. Does anyone know
what's going on?"

"Not why but who. Hopefully we'll know soon." Cord rubbed his nape.

"What about your big rally tomorrow night? Are you going if this Judd Roberts isn't
found?" Aunt Clare asked.

Roxie glanced at him. "Why didn't I know anything about this? I'd tell you not to go, but
knowing you, I doubt it would make a difference."

"I have to. It's been planned for months. The last big push before the election next week.
I'll be fine as long as Mindy and Aunt Clare are safe. And I want to go pick my daughter
up from school early. She'll stay home until Judd is caught."

"I can go pick her up." Roxie grabbed her purse on the table.

"I'm coming with you," he said. "Something is bothering me about all this. I'll feel better
when I have Mindy with us." He put his arm around Aunt Clare. "I'm leaving you here
with Officer Brentwood. I'm going to ask him to stay inside until we get back. Okay?"
His aunt nodded. "I'll feel better with Mindy back here, too."

Five minutes later, Cord left with Roxie driving her SUV. A nagging sensation kept
bothering him as she backed out of the garage and drove through the opened gate.

"What are you thinking?" she asked as she passed the main entrance.

"Why would Judd Roberts come after me? I only knew of him through Becca. I don't see
him trying to stop me from running for mayor. Something else is going on."

"Did Becca date Judd?"

"We never talked about him."

"I remember her telling a group of girls at school right before Judd dropped out that she
liked his bad boy ways." At a stoplight Roxie slid a glance toward him. "He did work at
the gym I went to. I saw him several times working with Becca there. But the month or so
before we broke up, I stopped going to the gym."

"That's when everything pretty much fell apart, when your dad demanded you break up
with me."

Roxie crossed the intersection. "You wanted me to run away with you. I couldn't do that
to Dad. Mom had only been dead a year."

Cord pulled out his cell phone and found a photo of Mindy. Becca and he had dark hair
and eyes, and yet Mindy had blond hair and blue eyes. Supposedly his daughter had come
a month early and he'd never questioned it.

"I think I know why Judd is coming after me. I might not be Mindy's father." But no
matter who was, he was Mindy's father, not Judd.

Roxie shot him a surprised glance, then looked at the rearview mirror. "Hang on. There's
a delivery van following us."

Chapter Seventeen
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Roxie increased her speed as much as she could without causing a wreck and at the last
minute swerved onto a side street. The white vehicle zoomed past the intersection.
Although she wasn't sure if she'd lost the van for good, her grip on the steering wheel
loosened a bit because her fingers ached.
She tried to remember this area of town, but it had been years since she'd been in
Cimarron City. "Keep an eye behind us. Let me know if the white van appears. I'm going
to do a zigzag pattern. Call Detective Brown and let him know what's going on."

"Maybe the van wasn't"

As she passed an alley, Roxie caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of the vehicle
barreling toward them. She stomped on the accelerator to avoid being hit and took
another sharp turn into the warehouse district. The van followed her every move.

While she pushed her SUV as fast as she could, Roxie listened to Cord's side of the
conversation with the detective.

"In the warehouse district off 5th Avenue." Pausing, Cord shifted around to look at the
pursuing van. "No license plate in front. He's about fifteen yards behind us."

Cord listened to what Detective Brown said, then answered, "I only see one man. Can't
see him well. Yes, we'll try."

When he clicked off, he said to Roxie, "Make it to Elm and 10th Street. He has a couple
of patrol officers setting up a trap. Two blocks down 5th Avenue is Memorial. Take that."

Nearing the intersection, she slowed as much as she could to still make the turn. The
sound of the tires screeching as she took it filled the air. Looming before her was a big
truck backing out of a delivery bay.

She slammed on the brakes, skidding and fishtailing toward the vehicle blocking the
street while the van managed to gain some distance between them as though he didn't
care about the obstacle."Hold on."

She steered into the spin, turning the SUV around, now facing the van that was finally
slowing. Tensing, she watched the white vehicle slide toward the front end of her car.
Smashing into the hood. Jolting her but not setting off the airbags.

She glanced at Cord. "You okay?"

He nodded.

Withdrawing her gun, she opened her door. "Stay in here. No heroics. Call the police."

As she exited, using her SUV as a shield, she crouched behind the door, trying to
determine where to position herself, and pointed her Glock at the driver. "Step out of the
vehicle."
She saw movement in the van and the man sitting behind the steering wheel disappeared
from view. She crept around the rear, preparing for him to come out the back doors. And
with his recklessness possibly shooting.

"Duck, Cord."

Nothing.

The driver of the truck drove it toward the warehouse and out of the way.

Still no sign of the man in the van.

Her nerves tautened. She licked her dry lips and sent a prayer up to the Lord.

The blare of sirens echoed through the silence.

Thank you, Lord.

Roxie tensed, lifting her gun and aiming it toward the rear while still keeping an eye on
the whole vehicle in case the man exited another way.

Suddenly the van's back doors crashed open.

Chapter Eighteen
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The noise of the sirens in the distance grew closer. A door banged open. Each sound
vying with the pounding of Cord's heartbeat. Not knowing where Judd or Roxie was
heightened his fear.

Cord peeked over the dashboard. The rear of the van was closer to him, and he didn't see
the driver in the front, only the one open back door. Had Judd made a run for it? Where
was Roxie?

He spied her at the rear of the SUV, making her way slowly toward the back of the van
and the open door.

His head throbbed. He moved to the driver's side, in case Roxie needed to get into the car
suddenly, and grasped the handle, figuring out how he could help without a weapon.

He'd never felt so helpless. Trapped. Unable to do anything.

He poked his head up again and glimpsed the white vehicle's passenger door inching
open. With Roxie toward the rear on the other side, her SUV obstructed a clear view for
her.
"Front right," he shouted, hoping she heard him.

The barrel of a gun poked out of the gap. Aimed toward the glass. Cord dropped down as
a bullet pierced the windshield and penetrated the headrest on the driver's side. Where he
had been only seconds before.

The sound of another gunshot, coming from the rear of the SUV, reverberated through the
air. Roxie must have returned fire, putting her in danger.

Then nothing.

He eased up and glimpsed the gap in the open passenger door was empty. Then he twisted
around toward the back of the SUV but couldn't see Roxie on either side.

What's going on? Where's Roxie? Where's Judd?

Roxie crept low along the side of the SUV, hoping to make it unseen to the rear of the
van. If she could get to the open back door, she might be able to put an end to this
showdown.

But first she had to make sure Cord was all right. When Judd put a bullet through the
windshield, something died inside her.

Is Cord alive? Hurt? Please, God, keep him safe. Mindy needs her dad.

As she edged forward, she raised up to check on the passenger door that Judd had opened
to shoot at her. She caught sight of Cord looking directly at her. Relief washed through
her. She quickly motioned for him to get down as a patrol car raced toward the wreck
from the west. More sirens blared close by, indicating additional police officers were
coming.

The van began moving forward.

She wasn't going to let Judd get away to come after Cord and Mindy later.

She rose, braced her feet apart and shot at the nearest rear tire.

The van picked up speed.

She hurried toward it to take out the other back tire.

Chapter Nineteen
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Cord sent up a silent prayer when he saw Roxie alive and well. Then the sound of the
van's engine followed by a gunshot filled the air. When the second blast echoed through
the SUV, he moved to the passenger side and eased the door open, then rose. Judd was
trying to get away and Roxie wanted to stop him.

Two more police vehicles came into the alley from the opposite end of the street. The
officers parked their vehicles to box in the van while another squad car joined the first
one to completely seal off Judd's escape.

The van, with two back tires flat, came to a stop feet from the police at one end.

"Come out with your hands up. More police are arriving," one of the cops said into a
bullhorn.

Roxie moved back toward Cord, holding her gun at her side. He took her other hand. "I
hope this comes to an end today."

She slid a glance at him. "So do I."

Five long minutes passed. Cord prayed the man didn't do something foolish.

"I'm coming out." Judd waved his hands in the air and stepped down from the back of the
van.

An officer rushed forward, grabbing Judd by the arms, pulling them behind him and
locking handcuffs on him.

Finally, Cord drew in a decent breath then released it slowly. "We have to pick up
Mindy." Cord checked his watch. "School let out five minutes ago." He smiled. " Time
speeds by when someone is trying to kill you. I'll call the school so she won't worry."

Roxie leaned over and kissed Mindy good night that evening at Cord's home. "I'll see you
tomorrow."

"Promise?" The young girl looked eagerly at Roxie.

"Of course. I can't leave town without going to your dad's big rally."

Mindy beamed from ear to ear.

Roxie left the room while Cord tucked his daughter into the bed. In the hallway, Roxie
tried to tamp her emotions down. After wrapping things up with the police, who assured
them that Judd would remain in jail since he broke his parole by having a gun in the van,
her job was over.
Cord left his daughter's bedroom, took Roxie's hand and tugged her toward the den where
he sat and pulled her down next to himnot saying a word.

She relaxed, for the first time since this all began. "Dad called me this evening."

Cord's eyebrows hiked up. "He did?"

"He saw the news about what happened today. He wants me to come over and see him."

"Tonight?"

"Yes, I need to talk to him, and I can't pass up his invitation."

"You're going to forgive him, aren't you?"

She nodded. "It's time. It does no good to keep my anger bottled up inside of me. How
about you with Judd and Becca?"

"I'm not doing a DNA test because I don't care if Mindy is my biological daughter or not.
She is my daughter. I hope Judd gets help with his anger. Becca's cousin told him my
wife was pregnant weeks before we got together. That sent him on a rampage . He was
determined to take Mindy away from me the only way he knew howwith violence. All
I can do is pray for the man and hope he finds the Lord."

"And Becca?"

"She gave me the most precious gift of my lifemy daughter. How can I be upset about
that?"

Roxie cradled his face in her palms, looking into his dark eyes for a few seconds before
rising. "I'm staying at Dad's or a hotel tonight. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Promise?"

She nodded and headed for the front door.

Chapter Twenty
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Roxie stood at the top of the staircase staring down into the foyer as her dad opened the
front door. This evening she would see Cord for the first time since the case was wrapped
up yesterday with the capture of Judd Roberts. She'd spent the day talking with her father
and trying to come to terms with all her reemerging feelings concerning Cord.
Her dad shook Cord's hand. "I'm glad you came to my house. Roxie and I have talked and
are trying to rebuild our relationship, but I realized for that to work, I needed to apologize
for what happened ten years ago. Nothing I said has come true."

To hear her father say those words to Cord made her realize their talk earlier today had
made a difference. He wasn't perfect but then neither was she. He didn't want her to be a
bodyguard. He wanted her to get a safe job, although it didn't have to be anything in the
medical field.

"Thank you, Dr. Michaels. These past few days have beentrying, but at least my
daughter, aunt and I are safe now. That is mostly due to Roxie." Cord's gaze lifted until
their eyes connected across the expanse. A smile lit his face.

The expression on her dad's face wasn't disappointment but satisfaction. "You look
wonderful, Roxie."

"I second that, Dr. Michaels."

She had on a simple black dress, but with both men staring at her, she felt beautiful and
cherished. As she made her way down the staircase, her heart filled with love and peace.
She'd finally come home, and it felt so right in that moment. As she crossed the foyer,
Cord raised his hand and she fit hers within his grasp.

"Sir, you're welcome to come to the political rally tonight with us."

Her father shook his head. "Although I'm seriously considering voting for you on
Tuesday, this is your night."

Roxie kissed her dad on the cheek. "Don't wait up for me."

He chuckled.

When Roxie stepped out on the porch, she waved to Mindy and Clare, who'd remained in
the car. The grin on the child's face warmed Roxie.

Instead of going down the stairs to the sidewalk, Cord came to a stop at the top of them
and shifted toward her. "How long are you going to stay in town? I know your job is
finished, but I hope you'll be here for a while."

"Why?" she asked, pressing her lips together to keep from saying everything that flooded
her mind since she figured out she still loved Cord.

"Because I want you to." He took her face within his hands and inched closer. "Because
I've never stopped loving you and want you in my life."
She wanted to melt against him, but she remained where she was. "Even though I was
angry with you, I never really stopped loving you. I've come to realize that lately. I know
you and I are different than when we were teenagers, but I want to see where this could
go. I want us to be a family."

"Does that mean you're going to stay? Because I don't think I can leave Cimarron City if
I'm elected mayor."

Laughter bubbled up inside her. "For the time being, I'm taking a very long vacation, and
I'm sure Kyra will be fine with that since I haven't taken one in several years. I need time
to sort out the rest of my life, but I know I want to be in yoursand Mindy's."

"She'll be thrilled you're staying. She bugged me all day, asking about how much longer
until we picked you up for the rally."

He wound his arms around her and brought her close against him. "I love you, Roxie
Michaels," he whispered right before he kissed her.