Her Valentine Sheriff

Her Valentine Sheriff
Deb Kastner

CUPID TO THE RESCUERugged and tough deputy sheriff Eli Bishop isn’t scared of anything. Except dogs. When he’s assigned a K-9 partner, he thinks things can’t get any worse. Then he learns who’ll be training him. Local vet Mary Travis is sweet as sugar…but she’s also Eli’s ex-fiancé’s sister. Revealing his humiliating phobia to her is not an option. Neither is developing feelings for Mary—who’s built her career around the dogs Eli fears. When a terrible storm hits their town, Mary and Eli must find the courage to work together and save lives—and fall in love.SERENDIPITY SWEETHEARTS: Three small-town matchmakers finding Texas-sized love

Cupid To The Rescue

Rugged and tough deputy sheriff Eli Bishop isn’t scared of anything. Except dogs. When he’s assigned a K-9 partner, he thinks things can’t get any worse. Then he learns who’ll be training him. Local vet Mary Travis is sweet as sugar…but she’s also Eli’s ex-fiancée’s sister. Revealing his humiliating phobia to her is not an option. Neither is developing feelings for Mary—who’s built her career around the dogs Eli fears. When a terrible storm hits their town, Mary and Eli must find the courage to work together and save lives—and fall in love.

Serendipity Sweethearts: Three small-town matchmakers finding Texas-size love

Eli swallowed hard as Mary called for the K-9 to come forward.

“Bullet, volg.”

Bullet obeyed, coming to heel next to Mary’s left side. She scratched him under the chin. “Who’s my good boy?”

That was apparently code for at ease, for the dog bounded forward, barking playfully. After a moment, he approached Eli. Eli stood perfectly still, waiting for the dog to—

What? Chomp his leg off? Go for his throat? He had to get over his nerves.

Like yesterday.

“Can I touch him?” Eli asked tentatively.

“Absolutely. He’s yours, you know.”

Eli reached forward, then paused. “Wait. What do you mean, he’s mine?” Mental alarms pealed in his ears. “He belongs to the police department, right?”

“The department paid for him, yes.”

“Good, then.” For a moment he’d had the unnerving picture of having to take the dog home with him. “So now what?”

“Now we train.”

“Train? I thought the dog already was trained.”

“Oh, Bullet’s trained,” Mary replied, her chuckle softened by the kindness in her gaze. “I was talking about you.”

DEB KASTNER

lives and writes in colorful Colorado with the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains for inspiration. She loves writing for Love Inspired Books, where she can write about her two favorite things—faith and love. Her characters range from upbeat and humorous to (her favorite) dark and broody heroes. Her plots fall anywhere in between, from a playful romp to the deeply emotional. Deb’s books have been twice nominated for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Book of the Year for Love Inspired. Deb and her husband share their home with their two youngest daughters. Deb is thrilled about the newest member of the family—her first granddaughter, Isabella. What fun to be a granny! Deb loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her by email at debwrtr@aol.com, or on her MySpace or Facebook pages.

Her Valentine Sheriff

Deb Kastner

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil,

to give you a future and a hope.

—Jeremiah 29:11

To those who are lost, that God may find you, and that you may find Him. And to those whose path

is shadowed, that He might give you light.

Contents

Chapter One (#u519d613e-b47e-5068-bd59-e480c23d01b8)

Chapter Two (#ud869aa3b-878a-58d8-8c9c-8ce2ced82bb8)

Chapter Three (#u13d8cf1a-2c40-595a-ad15-25124ae2c662)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)

Questions for Discussion (#litres_trial_promo)

Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One

Serendipity, Texas, had gone to the dogs.

Literally.

Eli Bishop couldn’t help but find some dark twist of humor in that irony—for him, anyway.

Despite the uneasiness skittering up his spine, he stood ramrod-straight with his shoulders set and his chin up, the last man of five comprising the straight line of the small-town police force. Anxiety clouded his chest as Captain Ian James elaborated on his new plan for a Serendipity police dog.

“Due to the recent influx of over-the-border drug trafficking, we’ve decided to incorporate a K-9 unit into the Serendipity Police Department,” the captain announced, his hands clasped behind him and a stern set to his dark blond brow. He paced back and forth in front of the small squad of cops assembled before him, making eye contact with each one down the line.