Arrested Love

HELEN
I’ve never been a ‘grass is greener’ kind of person and appreciate where I’m at because it’s honest. There was a chance for me to go after more, to reach for what I dreamed about in the middle of the night, but I stayed in Dogwood Ridge instead. It felt like I needed to stay and hold everything together—my father’s influence and my sister’s happiness, because they’re the only family I have left.

I make sure to fill my life with little moments of joy while keeping busy and away from any gossip. You won’t find me at the bar because I’d rather spend my time checking out yard sales. As the whispers about the dog fighting ring get louder, I can’t help but listen and wonder why it hasn’t been stopped. Trying to get my dad to use his position as mayor to do something about it doesn’t make a difference.

It seems the only man who cares is Rhodes Wilder, the sheriff of Sweetwater Valley. I meet the man once and then he’s everywhere! When my sense of justice puts me in potential danger, he’s there and looking at me possessively. Is it my fault that finding trouble is too easy sometimes? Rhodes might threaten to arrest me, but I’m hoping he does something else—keep me.

RHODES
Going from the golden boy of Sweetwater Valley to the sheriff hasn’t been without difficulty. Most people thought I would chase glory out in the world, but I’ve always known where I belong. Keeping the town safe has been my only priority for years and hasn’t left a lot of time for anything else.

Crime hasn’t been a major problem, but a dog fighting ring in the next county changes everything. Since I’m not one to let my ego get in the way of serving my town, working with Dogwood Ridge is the only hope I have to find those responsible. As the trail goes cold, my duty to the badge takes a backseat the moment I see Helen Cowell.

She’s a woman who tries to live up to her labels—devoted daughter, loving sister, town’s good girl—but I see how she struggles with those expectations. By the time she’s in my arms permanently, which is where she belongs, she’ll be free of the weight of what others want her to be. I’ll do whatever needs to be done to keep her safe, even from her own curiosity. Arresting her would be too easy; I’m going to bind her to me and make sure she knows the only home I want is one filled with her love.

**18+. If you like alpha heroes and an insta-love story that is sweet but isn’t necessarily simple, then this is for you. No cheating with a guaranteed HEA. It is a standalone and the eight small town romance in the Sweetwater Valley series.**