How To Steal The Lawman's Heart

“We have an art room, so that would be great.”

“Thanks.”

“What kind of artist are you?”

“I paint. I’ve loved drawing and painting all my life. I’ve been fortunate to sell some of my work.”

“Are you famous?” Joni grinned.

Carmen laughed. “Not hardly. At least not yet. I’ve been lucky.” When she first started out, Damon had used his contacts to get her work noticed. But as he repeatedly pointed out, she was the one who did the painting. People only bought what they liked. Fortunately, they liked her work.

“I’m not sure I believe that. If I Google your name, will I find out you’re a celebrity hiding among the little people?”

Carmen shook her head. “I paint using my first and middle names, Carmen Taylor.”

“Okay, then art it is. Of course, if you’d like a change of pace, you can always play basketball.”

Carmen started to protest, then relaxed when Joni laughed. “Just kidding.”

“Good, because I might be the only kid in the world who almost flunked high school gym.”

Her father had used his influence and she’d been allowed to join the swim team for her gym credit. She was so slow she never won any ribbons, but she had graduated, avoiding being the first Shields not to graduate high school since Emancipation.

“In that case, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” Carmen repeated, filled with anticipation.

Tomorrow was going to be a better day.

Chapter Five (#ulink_abd12f80-1533-5525-b695-be7667769143)

“I’m not going.” Alyssa said, folding her arms over her chest. Still dressed in her pajamas, she walked around the peach-and-cream-striped chair that had been Anna’s favorite and sat on the coffee table. She glared at him defiantly, daring him to correct her.

Trent bit his tongue. He’d told Alyssa numerous times to sit on the sofa or chairs, or even the floor, but not the table. But he didn’t have time for yet another lecture that would do little to change her behavior. What ever happened to the sweet little girl who used to get up early just to have breakfast with him?

Deciding patience was in order, Trent inhaled deeply and slowly blew out a breath. “You can’t stay home alone all day.”

“Why not? I’m not a baby.”

He recognized that trick: go on the offense and make him defend his actions. Not today. “I didn’t say you were.”

“I’m fourteen.”

“I know.”

“So why can’t I stay home?”

He rubbed a hand over his freshly shaved chin. “Because I would prefer it if you didn’t. And I don’t understand why you want to stay home. You always have fun at the youth center. All of your friends will be there.”

Alyssa stood and jammed her hands on her hips. “I don’t have any friends, thanks to you.”

She stomped from the room, but he caught her arm as she reached the stairs. “What do you mean, you don’t have friends? Everybody likes you.”

Alyssa’s quiet and serious personality may not have made her the most popular kid, but her loyalty had earned her several true friends. She got along well with most of the other girls even if they weren’t especially close.

Alyssa had inherited her mother’s stunning good looks, as well as her willowy, long-legged build. Where she’d been gangly as a colt at twelve and even thirteen, she’d filled out over the past few months and now looked older than her age. To his dismay and definite discomfort, she was attracting the interest of boys who until recently hadn’t known she was alive.

“Everybody used to like me. But that was before.”

“Before what?”

She narrowed her eyes and shook off his hand. “Before you went and broke up that party at Olivia’s aunt and uncle’s house. You called everybody’s parents and got them in trouble. You even arrested Olivia’s cousin.”

“There was underage drinking. I couldn’t leave those kids there. And I definitely couldn’t let them drive home. I had to call their parents.” Alyssa didn’t know the specifics, but she knew her mother had been killed by a drunken teenager. Surely she understood the danger of underage drinking and driving.

“As for Olivia’s cousin, he was supplying alcohol to minors.” He was twenty-one and, from what Trent could see, had no plan for his life besides partying. He and his buddies had given several teenage girls enough alcohol to lower their inhibitions. God alone knew what could have happened to them if Trent hadn’t received an anonymous call about that party. The kids might have been angry, but there were plenty of grateful parents.

“Well, now they’re all mad at me.”

“Why?”

She gave him her patented you’re-so-stupid look that turned his stomach. “Because you’re my dad. They think I’m the one who told you about the party. Like I’m some sort of narc. They said if anybody is my friend or even talks to me, then they’re out. Nobody will talk to them, either, and they won’t get invited to any of the cool parties.”

Anger surged through Trent and he clenched his jaw to keep from swearing. Olivia’s aunt and uncle were among the wealthy residents who’d recently moved into a new development of oversize homes on a private golf course. Many of the newcomers didn’t believe the laws applied to them or their brats. If Trent could have his way, the entire subdivision would be razed and the owners sent back where they came from.

“How long has this been going on?”

Tears began to roll down Alyssa’s face, and it broke Trent’s heart. Her chin wobbled and her voice shook. “It started last week. Brooke still talked to me, but none of the other kids did. They wouldn’t even sit at the same lunch table with me. But school’s out now and Brooke’s spending the summer in Colorado with her father.”

“It’ll get better. You’ll see. Now go ahead and get dressed.” He tried to pull her into a hug, but she jerked away.

“You’re making me go? Even after what I told you? You don’t care about me or how I feel.” Her words, filled with both accusation and betrayal, were a knife plunged in his heart.

“Of course I care. But you can’t hide. You did nothing wrong. And your friends will come around. Just give them a chance.”

“They had a chance. They’re not my friends anymore. They hate me. And I hate you.” The knife twisted.

Trent stood frozen as Alyssa raced up the stairs. A moment later he heard her bedroom door slam. He leaned against the banister and sucked in a breath. Although he knew Alyssa’s words were spoken out of pain, they still hurt. He’d never imagined a child of his would say she hated him.

The argument echoing in his head, Trent returned to the living room. He opened the floral curtains Anna had chosen so many years ago, letting in the morning sunlight. Unfortunately, the light did nothing to brighten the gloom in his soul.

He dropped onto the sofa and closed his eyes. His sweet girl was being ostracized. Those brats should be glad he and his officers broke up the party, saving them from themselves. They might be too young to understand the danger they’d put themselves in, but they were old enough to know better than to make his daughter a scapegoat.

He heard the clatter of little feet running down the stairs and into the living room.

“I’m ready to go,” Robyn announced, flying into the room. Her brilliant smile warmed his heart and made breathing easier. “How do I look?”

He smothered a grin. His baby loved fashionable clothes. She looked adorable in white denim shorts with pink flowered appliqué on the pockets and a matching T-shirt. Even her gym shoes were pink. Alyssa had combed her hair and added flowered pink barrettes to her ponytails. Pink earrings completed her ensemble. “You look like the cover of a magazine.”