Single Dad Sheriff (Harlequin American Romance) (17 page)

“We can honeymoon wherever you want,” he said. “I'm going to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

She believed him. Because Chance Drayton kept his promises.

As Thomas “Tommy” Phillips crossed the stage to accept his diploma, he glanced out at the crowd screaming his name. Eight years ago, when it had been pretty much just him and his mom, he'd never imagined that one day he would have a family this big.

He had only asked Sheriff Chance Drayton to find his dad. The man had kept his promise and then some. Chance had given him—and his mom—so much more.

His blood brother cheered from the other side of the stage since Matt had already accepted his diploma. Like that third grade teacher had recommended, Thomas had skipped fourth grade and then sixth and had caught up with his “big” brother. Not only were they graduating together but they were heading off to the same college in the fall. Thomas for pre-med, Matt for pre-law.

Robyn whistled from the audience. She was thrilled that he was following in her footsteps and was already planning on sharing her practice with him. And Matt was following in his stepdad's footsteps. Like Trenton Sanders, he planned to first get his law degree and then enter politics. The mayor now, Trenton had a seat behind the podium since he'd given the keynote address before
turning over the mike for Thomas to give his speech as valedictorian.

Thomas had talked about the importance of family—about their unwavering love and support. He'd also promised that if you believed in your dreams, you could make them come true, like he had. His family had cheered the loudest then, his little sister waving her arms wildly from her perch on his dad's shoulders. But Jennifer wasn't just his sister; she was also his cousin since his dad had married his mom's cousin Belinda.

His family wasn't just big but convoluted as hell. Thomas didn't care. He loved it—and all of them. But nobody as much as his mom. She was raising his younger brothers with the same love and devotion she'd given him. He'd be sharing that practice with Robyn and his mom, since she'd been the RN on staff for the past seven years.

After shaking the principal's hand, he lifted the diploma in his fist, holding it up for all the clicking cameras. He crossed his eyes over his nose and sucked in his cheeks for his signature fish face, which had Matt laughing as hard as he had when they'd first met. Then, photo op over, he found his mom in the crowd, on her feet despite being so pregnant she could barely fit through the narrow aisle between the chairs the school had set up in the park.

He rushed through the crowd and threw his arms around her—as far as they could reach. And over her head, he met Chance's proud gaze. And he mouthed, “Thank you…”