Badge of Love — Jane McBride Choate

Kathleen O'Rourke's world was shattered when a drunk driver killed her brother several months ago, leaving her without a family. Since then her life has been shadowed by grief and anger. Unable to face her loss, she buries her feelings and instead concentrates on completing her brother's term as sheriff of their small hometown. Her composure is shaken one day, however, when a remorseless drunk motorist is brought to the station.

Kathleen intends to keep Scott Hobart in jail until his trial, and when his older brother, Kyle, shows up to arrange for his release, sparks fly between him and Kathleen. When Kyle later asks her out, Kathleen is sure he is using her to get Scott freed, but he turns out to be gentle and honorable--the kind of man she can picture spending the rest of her life with. As their relationship deepens, Kathleen's painful memories begin to fade--until she discovers that Scott has been set free! How could she have been so mistaken about Kyle? And how can she face her future, having already lost so much?