Jaimi was so focused on Dane's hand on her back that she almost crashed into three different people on her way to the bouncy house. Three of them! And one of them was a huge guy who looked like he could carry an entire cow on his back, and yet she hadn't even noticed him until Dane had used his hand to shift her to the right at the last second.

Not that she hadn't liked his little "save the damsel" action. Maybe she'd subconsciously decided to endanger herself just so he could rescue her…nah, she wasn't that pathetic.

Or maybe she was. Because literally, all she could focus on was that pressure on the small of her back, and the way the back of her arm kept bumping his as they neared the bouncy house.

"Oh, Mom! It's huge. It's a complete maze." Emily wiggled to get free, and Jaimi reluctantly let her go.

Dane released Jaimi to escort Emily to the bouncy house, right to the front of the line. He chatted briefly with the attendant, then crouched down to talk to Emily. His face was level with hers, and he was speaking gently, his eyes twinkling with kindness as he spoke to her.

God, how nice was his manner with Emily? The guy was big, muscly, and strong, and yet he was like a massive, endearing bear hug. Emily nodded at whatever he said, and then the two of them quickly took off her boots and replaced them with what appeared to be warm, knit slippers that went halfway up her calves. His hands were gentle as he helped Emily change, and Emily rested her hands trustingly on his shoulders for balance. It was a sweet, endearing moment. Anyone watching them would have thought they were father and daughter, a moment that Emily had never experienced in her life, and one that Jaimi had never witnessed for her daughter.

It looked so perfect, so sweet, so natural…and was so not the life they really had. She had to remember that.

Emily darted up the ramp into the bouncy house, and Dane stood up. Jaimi's belly tightened as she watched his strong legs flex as he stood. He turned toward her, his gaze settling on her. Suddenly, all his "dadness" was gone, just bam! disappeared, and all that was left was pure unadulterated male.

Heat pulsed down her spine as he walked toward her, a slow, casual walk of athleticism and strength. She swallowed as he reached her. "Emily can stay on as long as she wants," he said with an unapologetic grin. "I completely took advantage of my position to clear the way for her."

"Thanks for looking out for her." He was so close that she had to look up at him. She hadn't realized how tall he was. She wasn't exactly short, but he was so utterly male…not to overuse that word a million times, but yes, she was going to overuse that word a million times because it fit him, and because she was so hyperaware of his maleness in a way she'd never been before, not with anyone.

"My pleasure." He gestured to the side, near a wooden post-and-rail fence. "If we sit here, we can see her most of the time, depending on where she is."

"Um, okay." Her heart started to pound as she walked past him and climbed up on the fence, sitting on the top rail, her feet braced on the middle rail. She almost wanted to hold her breath as Dane climbed up beside her, parking himself close enough that his shoulder brushed against hers.

Her heart leapt, but she didn't pull away, and neither did he. He was going to ask her about the Stocktons, and she didn't know what she was going to say. She didn't know how to handle it. She didn't know—

"Jaimi, it's okay. Relax." Dane leaned close to her, bumping his shoulder against hers. "I'm not your enemy, I swear. I want to find out what's going on so I can help you."

She bit her lip, her heart starting to race. How could she just tell him? Just announce that she had nine brothers she'd never met? Saying it out loud made it real, made it a fact she'd have to deal with, instead of pretending it wasn't real and shrinking back to her condo in Boston. If she told him, she was going to have to acknowledge it and make a decision on how to handle it.

"Hey." He slid his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "It's okay. It really is."

She inhaled sharply, shocked by how amazing it felt to have his arm around her shoulders. God, she wanted to just close her eyes and lean into him, to concentrate on the weight of his arm across her shoulders, on the delicious sensation of his hand wrapped around her upper arm, holding just tightly enough to offer reassurance, and not tightly enough to feel like a threat. She hadn't been held by a man in so long, hadn't been touched in so long, she couldn’t believe how her entire soul was crying out, wanting it, aching for more.

How could his touch feel this good, when she didn't even know him? Except she did know him, at least on some levels. He was strong. He was honorable. He was incredibly kind to her daughter. He loved the Stocktons deeply, a fact that was so evident in his tone when he'd been talking about them. He was funny. And he made her feel like a woman in a way that no one ever had before. With a sigh, she glanced at him. "How do you know it will be okay?"

"Because it always is," he said softly. "Regardless of what's bothering you, you're sitting here on the fence, safe and okay. Your daughter is safe and okay. I'm sitting next to you, and I'm born to protect. So, in this moment, in this exact second, everything is okay."

She raised her brows at him, surprised by his logic. "That's kind of simplistic."

"But true, right?"

She sighed, looking away from him to check on Emily. She had climbed to the top of a ramp, and as Jaimi watched, her daughter dove headfirst down the slide, bouncing and laughing as she tumbled with the other kids. "Yes, I guess it is."

They were quiet for a moment, and she became increasingly aware of the way their upper arms were pressed against each other. Her heart was racing, and she could feel her belly trembling. God, all this because he was a man? Or because he was a sheriff? Or the fact he was the Stocktons' good friend?

"Hey." He leaned closer, and she could feel the warmth of his breath against her ear.

She closed her eyes, concentrating on the sensation of his breath. God, it felt so intimate, and so good. "What?"

"If you won't tell me what you're hiding, at least tell me what potential repercussions are making you so damned scared?"

She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. He was so close that her nose brushed his, but he didn't pull back.

Neither did she.

"I'm afraid of my world falling apart," she admitted quietly. "I'm afraid that everything I know will change, and I won't know who I am or what I'm supposed to do. I’m afraid of making a mistake that will destroy Emily's life, but I don't know which choice is the right one. I don't know what to do." She searched his face. "I'm afraid that the choice will be made for me, and I don't want that. I need to make the choice, but I’m scared as hell of making the wrong one, and terrified that even the right one might wreck my life, and—"

She stopped when he put his hand on her cheek. God, his touch was so soft. "What?" she whispered. "I should shut up?"

"Never." He brushed his thumb over her skin. "How can I help?"

She swallowed. "Don't ask me to tell you what's going on. I need time."

He paused for a moment, and a muscle ticked in his cheek. "I consider the Stocktons my brothers. I would protect them with my life." He searched her face, his gaze intense. "Do I need to protect them from you?"

Tears suddenly burned in her eyes. "They're so lucky they have you to protect them," she whispered. "It's so beautiful. A family like that. You're all so lucky—"

He put his thumb over her lips, silencing her. "Do I need to protect them from you?" he asked again, searching her face. "I need the truth."

She swallowed. Did he need to protect the Stocktons from her? God, it was so complicated. Maybe they did need to be protected from being saddled with a sister and a niece. Maybe she would ruin their lives if she admitted who she was. "I don't know," she finally said.

Dane sighed. "Are you planning to physically harm any of them?"

"No, God, no—"

"Are you planning to try to get your hands on any of their money?"

She laughed. "Honestly, Emily would, but I'm not. I can't promise anything on her behalf, but I don't want any money, or favors, or anything from them."

He cocked his head. "You know that statement makes it almost impossible for me not to ask what the hell is left that you would want them for, then."

She nodded. "I can imagine. I'm intriguing that way."

He chuckled "It's that cop thing. Makes me naturally inquisitive."

She eyed him. "It’s not a cop thing. It's you."

He laughed softly, tugging lightly on a curl that had escaped from her hat. "Yes, this is true." His smile faded, and suddenly the tension between them curled tighter. "Here's the thing, Jaimi Hamilton. I've been looking for a woman for a long time, and I think you might be her."

Her heart suddenly started hammering. "You don't even know me—"

He put his thumb over her lips again, silencing her. "I'm not finished yet, sweetheart," he said, his eyes twinkling. "I'm attempting emotional intimacy, but I'm a guy, so I'm pretty sucky at it. If you interrupt me, it may never happen again."

Oh, God. Emotional intimacy. "I suck at it, too," she whispered. "I don't even know how to date."

"I do. I've dated a shit ton. I got that covered for both of us." He leaned closer, so close she felt the warmth of his breath on her lips. "Here's my conflict. I'm interested as hell in you, and I'm feeling conflicted because I don't know if you're a danger to my boys. I can't make a move on you until I know for sure you're no danger to them. So, do I kiss you, or arrest you? What do you think?"

"Kiss me?" she echoed, her belly jumping. "You want to kiss me?"

"Yeah." He slid his hand behind her neck. "I also want to protect you, to make you and that cute kid of yours feel safe, and I want to help you with whatever's bugging you. That's what I want."

Her throat tightened. "You are way too nice of a man to be sniffing around me. I'm incapable of a relationship."

"Are you?" He leaned closer, and lightly pressed a kiss against the corner of her mouth.

Oh, God. She thought she might melt right then. "Yes," she whispered. "I'm paranoid about bringing a man into my life who might upset our little family. I chase them off every time anyone gets close. I was thinking of buying pepper spray to make sure men stay away from me."

He pressed a light kiss to the other corner of her mouth. "I have pepper spray. I can keep you supplied. I'm helpful like that."

Oh, God. "Don't want me, Dane. I can't handle it. And I'm going back to Boston after Christmas."

"It's okay if you can't handle it, or can't figure it out. I'll do the hard parts. I'm great at holding shit together." He cupped her chin. "Just look me in the eye and tell me that you aren't here to cause trouble for the Stocktons."

She met his gaze. God, he was intense. And handsome. And completely serious. "I'm definitely not here with the goal of causing trouble for them." Which was the truth, the absolute truth.

He grinned, his face lighting up, making him look so much younger than he had a moment ago, almost like a mischievous teenager. "I believe you. You're extremely earnest."

She gave a nervous laugh. "I'm a school teacher. We're all highly moral. It's required."

"Kind of like cops. We're all good guys."

She laughed again. "All of you?"

"Yeah." His smile faded. "Since I believe you, that means I'm not going to have to arrest you. So, you know what that means?"

She swallowed. "What?"

"It means that I have to go with option two. You remember what that is?"

Oh, God. "That you need to kiss me?"

He grinned. "That I need to kiss you." He bent his head toward her, leaning closer, his hand tightening around the back of her neck, drawing her closer to him. "You okay with that?"

She swallowed. "I told you I don't know how to date. I'm going back to Boston in a few days. I'm a man-hating single mom and—"

He kissed her.