A Taste of Paradise

“Oh, Tori. You deserve so much more.

“You don’t need to settle for anything less than it all.” Nate took her hand, raised it to his lips and placed a kiss against her fingers. She felt the jolt all the way up her arm, saw the desire in his eyes. “I’m going to say good night now, before I get into any more trouble,” he whispered. With a squeeze of her hand, he released her, then walked down the stairs.

Tori fought to keep from calling him back and asking him to stay with her, to ease her loneliness. She closed her eyes and relived Nate’s kiss, the gentleness of his touch against her skin. What would it be like if she hadn’t sent the good-looking sheriff home tonight? As much as she tried to deny it, she wanted Nate Hunter. What would it be like to make love with him? She blew out a long breath.

That was a fantasy she couldn’t let come true.

A Taste of Paradise

Patricia Thayer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

PATRICIA THAYER

has been writing for sixteen years and has published nineteen books with Silhouette. Her books have been nominated for the National Readers’ Choice Award, Virginia Romance Writers of America’s Holt Medallion, Orange Rose Contest and a prestigious RITA® Award. In 1997, Nothing Short of a Miracle won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Special Edition.

Thanks to the understanding men in her life—her husband of thirty-two years, Steve, and her three grown sons and two grandsons—Pat has been able to fulfill her dream of writing romance. Another dream is to own a cabin in Colorado, where she can spend her days writing and her evenings with her favorite hero, Steve. She loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 6251, Anaheim, CA 92816-0251, or check her Web site at www.patriciathayer.com for upcoming books.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

Prologue

“A merger for a marriage.” Jed Foster’s voice sounded confident, almost smug. “I have to admit you really came through, J.C.”

Tori’s breath stopped as she removed her hand from the doorknob and forced herself to listen to the conversation between her father and the man she would marry in the morning.

“I told you not to worry,” J.C. assured his future son-in-law. “The wedding is in less than eighteen hours and by the end of the month, your company will be part of Sherco. Tori, being married, finally gets her control of her grandfather’s stock. Between the two of us, we’ll have the majority shares. Now it will be up to you to convince Tori how to vote her shares.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard. I’ve been able to persuade her to see things my way for months.”

Tori felt sick, hearing the satisfaction in her fiancé’s voice. Her grandfather’s will had been ironclad. She had to be either thirty years old, or married before she received her inheritance.

She stepped back from the door, somehow found her way through the hotel lobby and into the ladies’ room. She sank against the sink and tried to slow her breathing.

Her marriage to Jed had been arranged as part of the two companies’ merger. All Jed wanted was to get control of her company shares.

Turning on the faucet, she splashed cold water on her heated face. How humiliating. Her father had actually bought a husband for her. Did he think she couldn’t find a man on her own? Well, why was she surprised? J. C. Sheridan liked being in control of everything, from the boardroom to his only child’s life.

Anger welled up, along with tears. He’d soon learn his reign was about to end.

Victoria Sheridan wasn’t going to let her father or anyone else manipulate her, because she wasn’t going to be around. She grabbed her purse and marched out of the hotel, leaving her wedding rehearsal dinner and future groom behind.

After retrieving her car from the valet, she climbed in and headed out of the parking lot. She didn’t know where she was going, only that she had to get away. She would no longer do the sensible thing—the calm thing. She had let her father convince her that marrying Jed was best for her.

But, hell, did she even love Jed? Did she even know him?

With only her honeymoon suitcase in the backseat, Tori stopped by the bank and withdrew the cash limit on the only credit card she had with her. The corporate credit card. When her cell phone began to ring, she turned it off and drove her car onto the freeway. North? South? Lord, she couldn’t even make a decision. Finally she turned south and began driving away from San Francisco, to parts unknown…and a new life.

Chapter One

Early one spring morning, Sheriff Nate Hunter was driving on patrol, minding his own business, when he spotted her. She was a beauty. His heart skipped a beat, then set off racing. There she was in the middle of the southern Arizona desert with the sun highlighting her curves, her perfect lines. Not to mention that low-slung body and all that polished chrome.

A 1966 classic, hardtop-convertible red Corvette.

Nate slowed his breathing as well as his patrol car, made a quick U-turn, and pulled up behind the Vette. He climbed out and walked along the desert highway toward the vehicle. Outside of being dusty, she looked in mint condition. Who would leave a car like this in the middle of nowhere? California plates. He copied down the numbers and soon discovered the problem. A trail of oily substance dotted along the shoulder of the road and ended under the back of the car. He groaned as he thought about the expensive repair bill.

Nate approached the passenger side, crouched down and looked in. In the driver’s seat he found a woman. Her head was tilted back, her eyes were closed and her long wheat-colored hair was draped against the white leather bucket seat.

Her slender body barely took up any room at all. His attention moved to her chest. The pink knit T-shirt fit snugly over her breasts, moving up and down with her relaxed breathing. She was asleep.

Nate rapped his knuckles against the window, but she didn’t stir. He leaned closer. She was young, maybe in her midtwenties, and attractive, with a pert nose and flawless skin. His body began to react like the hot desert heat and he glanced away to compose himself.

He tapped on the window again and this time, she awoke with a start. When she opened those big, golden brown, more-striking-than-any-he’d-ever-seen eyes, Nate felt as if he’d been gut-punched.

Tori Sheridan jumped and her eyes widened at the sight of the large figure standing outside her car. Panic surged through her. “Go away,” she cried, looking away from the broad-shouldered silhouette outlined by the sun.

“Ma’am, you can’t park here,” he called out. “It’s dangerous. Do you need help?”

Tori had been on the road for three days and in that time she’d had plenty of men who were more than willing to help her. If she’d been smart, she would have sold her Corvette and bought a sensible sedan. But she loved her car.

“If you don’t leave me alone, I’m calling the police.”

“Then you’ll get me,” he said. “I’m Sheriff Nathan Hunter.”

Tori looked again and recognized the tan-colored uniform; then the badge caught the sunlight. She reached over to roll down the window. “Oh, Sheriff, I’m sorry. A woman can’t be too careful.”

“Well, sleeping along the side of the highway isn’t exactly safe, not to mention being against the law. Would you please step out of the car, ma’am? And bring your license, registration and proof of insurance.”

Tori’s nervousness didn’t diminish with the officer’s attitude. Surely her father hadn’t alerted the authorities. No, J.C. couldn’t have known where she’d gone. Besides, she hadn’t done anything wrong. Deciding not to irritate the sheriff any more, Tori quickly opened the glove compartment and took out the required papers. She grabbed her purse, opened the door and climbed out just as a car sped by. The blaring sound of the horn pierced the silence, and Tori felt the officer’s strong grip as he jerked her away from the asphalt.

“You okay?” he asked her as he helped her to the other side of the car.

She nodded, and glanced up the road. “Shouldn’t you go after that car?”

“Why? He wasn’t speeding. You’re the one parked on the side of the highway.”

The desert sun beat down on her. It was going to be another scorcher. “Are you going to give me a ticket?”

He glared at her. “Do you deserve one?”

“No. I hadn’t planned to spend the night here, Sheriff.” She handed him the papers, then dug through her purse, found her wallet and tried to hand it to him.

“Take your license out, please,” he asked. Never taking off his sunglasses, he examined her insurance card and registration, then did the same with her license. “You’re a long way from home, Miss Sheridan.”

“I guess I am.” Why did she feel she’d done something wrong?

“What brings you to Arizona? Vacation or business?”

How about running away from home? “Would you believe I just got in my car and started driving?”

The sheriff glanced at her Corvette, then turned back to her. His mouth twitched as if fighting a grin. “Oh, I believe it. If I had a car like this…” He paused, then sobered. “You’ll need a tow truck.”

“I figured that.” She sighed. “I thought it was over-heating, but the car suddenly had no power when I stepped on the gas. I had to pull off the road. I was hoping that once it cooled down I could drive it again.”

“I think it’s more than just an overheated engine,” he said and motioned for her to follow him to the back of the car.

Tori watched the well-built sheriff remove his sunglasses and she finally got a good look at his face. He wasn’t classically handsome, but he had rugged good looks and piercing, silver-gray eyes. His dark hair was cut short under his wide-brimmed hat. When he looked at her, that intense gaze locked with hers, mesmerizing her.

Finally, he was the one who turned away. “This seems to be your problem.” He pointed to the ground behind the car. “See the trail of oil?”

“Please don’t tell me it’s the transmission.” She didn’t have much money left.

“I’m not a mechanic, but I know a few things about cars.” He paused. “It looks like your rear end.”

She didn’t want to sound ignorant, but she was when it came to cars. Her father’s mechanic had always handled the maintenance. But now Tori’s money situation gave her no choice but to ask, “Is that bad?”

“It can be complicated,” the sheriff volunteered. “You need to have a mechanic look at it. This car is too special to take any chances with. You’re a long way from home. Is there anyone you want me to call?”

“No!” The last thing she wanted was to go crawling back to her father. She was twenty-nine and it was time to handle things on her own. “There isn’t anyone.”

“How about we have your car towed into town then?”

It appeared that Tori didn’t have any other options. She didn’t have the money for car repairs, or much of anything else. There was less than a hundred dollars in her purse. And if she didn’t want J.C. to know where she’d gone, that was all there was going to be for a while. He was looking for her, she had no doubt. No one ran out on J. C. Sheridan without paying the consequences.

There had been dozens of cell phone messages from her father since that night she’d left town. He’d called so often she’d finally tossed her phone out the window after crossing the Arizona state line. Now, she was finally on her own.

Tori looked up at the sheriff. “I have AAA, but I could use some advice on where to take my car.” She would have to use the corporate credit card for the repairs. Something she’d managed to avoid since leaving San Francisco.

“Ernie’s Auto Repairs is good and he’s reasonable.”

“Where is Ernie located?”

“Haven,” he told her. “It’s a small town just about ten miles off this highway.” Then he smiled, showing off straight white teeth. Something stirred in Tori’s stomach.

“Don’t worry, the people there are honest. Of course, you will draw some attention.” The playful glint in the sheriff’s silver eyes made her feel as if he were talking about her. “You have what every red-blooded man wants. A classic ’66 Corvette.”

“Hey, Sam, how about a couple of iced teas?” Nate called as he walked Tori Sheridan through the doors of the Good Time Café. He escorted her to the counter because that’s where he usually sat most mornings for breakfast. She eased down onto a stool and he slipped onto the one next to her, unable to ignore her soft floral scent.

It was between the breakfast and lunch crowds, and the place was deserted. But his friend, Sam Price, looked a little frazzled as he hustled out of the kitchen.

“I’ll be there in a second.”

A stocky man, dressed in a uniform of white pants and a T-shirt with an apron tied low around his waist came into view. He set two glasses of tea in front of his only customers. “Oh, man, what a morning.”

“I take it you haven’t found a waitress,” Nate said, knowing Sam had been handling all the customers since Nancy Turner had left town to move in with her sister.

Sam shook his head, then turned to Tori and smiled. “Good morning, ma’am.”

“Sam, this is Victoria Sheridan. She had car trouble on the highway. Ernie’s having a look.”

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sheridan.” He held out his hand.

She shook it. “Please, call me Tori.”

Sam’s smile widened. “Well, if you aren’t a breath of fresh air on this hot day.”

Tori blushed and took a quick sip. “I don’t know about that, but this iced tea sure is doing a nice job of cooling me off.”

Nate wished he could say the same thing, but in more ways than one Tori Sheridan had been stirring up the heat since he’d stopped beside her car.

Three hours had passed since Ernie had arrived to tow her sports car. Nate had sent the pretty blonde off with the mechanic and gone back on patrol. Somehow a couple of hours later, Nate found himself stopping by the garage to check on her. When he found her sitting in the filthy repair office going through an old Sports Illustrated magazine, he just couldn’t leave her there. He suggested they go for a cool drink.

“I thought Tori would be more comfortable here,” he told Sam.

Tori had been surprised when the sheriff had showed up at the repair shop, even more so when he’d suggested a cool drink. She’d started to protest, but he’d easily convinced her they were only going a few blocks to the Good Time Café.

Tori glanced around the diner-style restaurant. It was all fifties decor, done in red and white, complete with booths and a long Formica-and-chrome counter with stools. Off in the corner was a jukebox and a small dance area. One of the first things Tori had noticed coming into the small town earlier was there wasn’t a single fast-food outlet in Haven. She liked that.

“You have a nice place here, Sam.”

“Thank you.” He cocked an eyebrow. “You wouldn’t want a job as a waitress, would you?”

Tori laughed. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m just passing through town.”

“Where you headed?”

She didn’t know. “Nowhere in particular. I’m just driving.”

“She’s got some nice wheels, too,” Nate said. “A ’66 Corvette. Red.”

“No way.” Sam laughed. “I had a Vette years ago, but mine was a black Stingray.”

“And you let it go?” Nate asked, amazed.

“Let’s just say it’s one of the things my ex-wife decided she couldn’t live without.” Sam shook his head. “A woman has no business coming between a man and his car. Stay single, son, and you don’t have to worry about those kinds of problems.”

Tori absently rubbed her ring finger, now minus the large diamond Jed had given her. She didn’t want to be accused of theft, so she’d taken the time to overnight the engagement ring back to him, along with a short note telling Jed to go to hell. She wanted nothing from either man, Jed or J.C.

Just then the door to the café opened and Ernie came in, dressed in his grease-stained overalls. “Ms. Sheridan,” he called.

Tori got up and met the thirtysomething mechanic halfway across the café, holding her breath, hoping that whatever was wrong with her car, it could be fixed cheaply.

“My suspicions were right,” he began. “It’s the rear end.”

Ernie had warned her earlier if that was the problem it wouldn’t be easily solved or inexpensive. “It’s going to be expensive,” she sighed.

He nodded. “That and it’s hard to find parts. Plus, it takes a lot of hours to put it back together.”

Great. What did she do now? Go crawling back to J. C. Sheridan? No way, even if she had to sell the car.

“Can you quote me a price?” she asked.

Ernie pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket with the estimate and handed it to her. A week ago, she wouldn’t have thought twice about the staggering amount, but now… And she already owed Ernie for the time it had taken him to tear apart her car.

“Thank you, Ernie. I’ll come back with you now and pay you for your time.” She went to the counter and took money out of her purse for her tea. Nate stopped her.

“It’s on me,” he said. “Let me know if I can do anything.”

Can you come up with a miracle? she asked silently, and smiled. “Thank you, Sheriff, you’ve done a lot already.” She raised her chin and followed Ernie out the door, wondering what she could get for a broken-down Corvette.

Nate wasn’t sure if he’d ever see Tori Sheridan again, but found he was glad when he got a call from Ernie asking him to stop by.

When Nate got out of the patrol car the mechanic met him in front of the garage. “What’s the problem?” he asked.

“Problem is right,” Ernie said. “Her credit card was declined, but they also asked that it be confiscated. What do I do?”

So, Tori Sheridan might look like money, but according to her credit rating, she didn’t have any. “Did you call the credit card company?”

“Yeah, first thing.”

Nate hated to ask the next question. “Are there criminal charges against her?”

“No. They just said that Victoria Sheridan isn’t authorized to charge on the account any longer.”

Nate couldn’t help but wonder who Tori had ticked off, her husband, her boyfriend, her boss? “Then, do what you’re told. Take the card.”

Ernie looked pained at the suggestion. “But what about the car that I took apart? And what if Tori is stranded? Man, she’s such a nice lady.”

As hard as he tried, Nate hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Tori Sheridan. But he didn’t need any more on his plate right now. He had to stay focused on his job, not on the pretty stranger who’d come to town needing help. He didn’t listen to his own common sense; instead he walked into Ernie’s office to talk with Tori.

“I’ve got bad news,” Nate began. “Your credit card was declined.”

Her honey-brown eyes widened as she jumped up from the chair. “That can’t be. There’s a twenty-five-thousand-dollar credit line on that card.”

Nate couldn’t comprehend having that kind of money at hand. “Maybe I should rephrase that and say that you just aren’t authorized to use the card any longer.”

“What?” Her voice was hoarse. “No, he wouldn’t do that to me.”

His protective instincts kicked in. “You sure there isn’t anyone you can contact? Could be a phone call would straighten this out.” What man in his right mind could strand this woman without any money?

“I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction,” she said angrily, then looked at Nate. “Oh, no! I don’t have any money. Not even enough to pay Ernie.”

“Then Ernie will have to hold on to your car until you can come up with the payment.”

Tori looked embarrassed. “That’s going to take a while, but I promise I’ll get him the money.”

“I believe you. Besides, that car of yours is worth a lot more than the price of the repairs. I’m sure Ernie wouldn’t mind holding it in the shop for a week or so. Would you, Ernie?”

“Oh, no, Tori,” the mechanic said. “It’s a beautiful car. I just hope I get the chance to fix it.”

Tori nodded. “I’ll have to let you know on that.”

This was where Nate usually got himself into trouble. He’d done his duty as sheriff and helped her off the highway. He didn’t owe Victoria Sheridan any more than that.

“Do you have any idea what you’re going to do?”

“Not a clue,” she answered dejectedly. “You wouldn’t have an empty jail cell?”

“Do you have enough for bus fare home?”

Tori’s pretty eyes suddenly lost their sparkle. “That’s the last place I want to go.”

That was when an idea came to him. He excused himself and headed down the street, back to the café to have a talk with Sam.

He walked into the empty restaurant and found his friend clearing a table. “Hey, Sam, you still need a waitress?”

“You know I do,” the older man said and carried a stack of dirty plates into the kitchen. When he returned he poured two glasses of iced tea and handed one to Nate. “Why? You need to moonlight to save up more money to buy the ranch?”

Nate didn’t need to be reminded of how he’d been scraping together every dime he had to be able to bid on his old homestead.

“I don’t think I’d do well on tips,” he joked. “I’ve given too many people around here tickets. No, I have someone else in mind. What do you think about hiring Tori?”

Sam cocked an eyebrow.

“It seems her credit card got declined. She’s stranded here.”

Sam shook his head. “They see you coming, don’t they? The soft touch.”

So he’d helped a few people and gotten a reputation. “Hey, I just figured since you needed a waitress and Tori needs a job, that it would be good for the both of you. But if you’re not interested…”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t interested. How do I know she’s reliable?”

“You don’t,” Nate answered. “You’ll have to take a chance. But what other choice do you have? There hasn’t been anyone else willing to work here.” Nate wasn’t sure that Tori wanted the job, either. “So, how ’bout it?”

Before Sam could answer, the woman in question walked through the door. She saw them at the counter and with her shoulders squared, she came toward them. “Sam, do you have a pay phone I can use?”

“In back, next to the rest rooms.”

Nate waited until she walked off. “Well, do you want a waitress or not?”

Sam breathed a long sigh. “I guess I could give her a try.”

Nate wasn’t finished, and he wondered if his next favor would push their friendship too far. “What do you say about letting Tori stay in the room upstairs?”

Sam didn’t say a word for a long time, then grinned. “Man, she’s really gotten to you. Sure, why not? If anything, I’d like to have her hang around just to see what develops between the two of you.”

Nate got up. “Nothing. I’d do the same for anyone.”

“I know. That’s your problem, Nate. You give to everyone. When are you going to learn to take?”

Nate froze. He’d learned all right. And he’d been paying for his selfishness ever since. “I will when I get the ranch back.”

Tori stood in front of the black pay phone for a long time. She didn’t want to call her father, but what choice did she have now? If she had thought this through before leaving town she wouldn’t be in this mess. She didn’t have her ATM card with her, and besides she was already sharing a joint account with Jed. The one credit card that had been in her small evening bag was the corporate one. Her other bank cards were at home and there was no way to get to them. And if she called the credit card company it would take too long to issue her a new one. So she had no choice but to call J.C. She had picked up the phone and begun to dial when she heard her name called out.