She and Sam were now living in his trailer together, and had leased the land from Wildfire Ridge’s Outdoor Adventures. The company was doing much better than even she could have expected, and Sam was building their home on the top of the hill. From here, they would have a view of the entire ridge.
She stepped through the frame of the house, bent to pet Fubar and followed the pounding. She found Sam on a ladder in what would be their kitchen eventually. He was shirtless, wore a pair of faded jeans, a tool belt around his slim hips, and a nail between his teeth. She’d seriously never seen anything sexier in her life. And she’d seen Sam all soaped up and naked in the shower, so this said something.
Among all his many talents, Sam also knew his way around a construction site and had worked in the field for a while after leaving the service.
“Sam,” she said, coming to the bottom of the ladder. “Fubar keeps following you in here.”
Not that she blamed the dog. Who wouldn’t follow Sam? But he didn’t want Fubar in here, worried he’d step on a nail.
“Hey, boy.” Sam came down the ladder. “Guess we’re going to have to go over ‘stay’ again.”
“Aw, you can’t blame him. He wants to be with you. So do I, by the way.”
He quirked a brow. “You’re with me every night.”
“And your point is...?”
“Not sick of me yet?” He winked.
“Never. But it is getting pretty cramped in the trailer especially with Fubar and Shakira. And as much as I love sleeping on top of you, I can’t wait to get a nice big bedroom that’s not part of the kitchen. When will our bedroom be ready again?” She batted her eyelashes.
As it happened, she asked this question once a day, but Sam didn’t seem to mind.
“As soon as your state-of-the-art kitchen is ready. Walls go up next week.” He tugged on her hand, and led her toward the back of the house. “Let me show you something.”
As she walked through their home, her diamond ring caught a sunbeam through the roofless house. Sam had surprised her and bought her a ring with his signing bonus for coming on as general manager. Their engagement had seemed fast to everyone, including their parents, but Jill had never been more certain in her life. She was in this life with Sam, come whatever. Forever.
She stood in the frame of the bedroom, near a large opening facing the lake.
“This is going to be our picture window. Check out the view from here. On a good day, you can see clear into the valley.”
The view was incredible. Acres of trees, the pristine lake and the rugged landscape of the ridge. Last week a family of deer had been spotted in the area. This was the direction Sam had taken on the hike where he’d been injured.
This was where they’d have their wedding day. Right here on Wildfire Ridge.
“It’s beautiful. But also, there’s a mountain lion out there that wants to have us for dinner.”
He chuckled, pulled her into his arms and spoke into her hair. “Boots, you never have to worry about being eaten by a mountain lion. Remember you have your own lion right here.”
She framed his face. “Baby, your kindred animal was a cat.”
“A big cat.” He gave her his boyish grin.
“Cat, big cat or lion I really don’t care. The important thing is that you’re mine.”
“I always will be. Always.”
* * *
Look for the next book in the
Wildfire Ridge miniseries,
coming in January 2020!
And for more great romances by Heatherly Bell,
try the Heroes of Fortune Valley miniseries:
Breaking Emily’s Rules
Airman to the Rescue
This Baby Business
Available now!
And if you’re looking for more military romance,
check out these great books from
Harlequin Special Edition:
Having the Soldier’s Baby
By Tara Taylor Quinn
His Baby Bargain
By Cathy Gillen Thacker
The SEAL’s Secret Daughter
By Christy Jeffries
Keep reading for an excerpt from Her Favorite Maverick by Christine Rimmer.
Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!
Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Special Edition story.
You know that romance is for life. Harlequin Special Edition stories show that every chapter in a relationship has its challenges and delights and that love can be renewed with each turn of the page.
Enjoy six new stories from Harlequin Special Edition every month!
Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Other ways to keep in touch:
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com
Join Harlequin My Rewards and reward the book lover in you!
Earn points for every Harlequin print and ebook you buy, wherever and whenever you shop.
Turn your points into FREE BOOKS of your choice
OR
EXCLUSIVE GIFTS from your favorite authors or series.
Click here to join for FREE
Or visit us online to register at
www.HarlequinMyRewards.com
Harlequin My Rewards is a free program (no fees) without any commitments or obligations.
Her Favorite Maverick
by Christine Rimmer
Chapter One
As Sarah Turner emerged from the tiny back-room office of the former train depot, Vivienne Shuster Dalton glanced up from a worktable covered in fabric swatches, to-do lists, project folders and open sample books.
“There you are,” said Viv.
“Just giving it all one more look.” Sarah tried for a light tone, but going over the books yet another time hadn’t changed a thing. The news was not good.
“Please tell us you’ve found a solution to our problem.”
If only.
Viv’s business partner, Caroline Ruth Clifton, stood across the worktable from her. Caroline turned her big dark eyes on Sarah and asked hopefully, “We can swing it, right?”
The answer was no.
And for Sarah, whether she was trying to claw her way up the food chain at the biggest accounting firm in Chicago or working in her dad’s little office right here in Rust Creek Falls, Montana, her least favorite part of the job remained the same. She hated telling clients that they were in trouble—especially clients she liked and admired.
Viv and Caroline were a couple of dynamos. They’d even opened a second location down in Thunder Canyon, Montana. Caroline spent most of her time there.
And here in Rust Creek Falls, all the brides flocked to the old train depot to get Viv to create their perfect wedding.
Unfortunately, both the rustic train depot and Viv’s primary local wedding venue—the brick freight house nearby—needed new roofs. All new. They couldn’t just slap a fresh layer of shingles on. Both buildings required tear-outs and rebuilds. Plus, there were structural issues that would have to be addressed. Viv had collected bids. She knew what the work would cost.
It was a lot.
And the wedding planners had already stretched every penny to the limit.
Gently, Sarah laid it out. “I’m sorry. I’ve been over and over the numbers you gave me. The money just isn’t there. You need a loan or an investor.”
“A loan against what?” Viv was shaking her head. “The buildings and the land belong to Cole’s family.” Her husband, C
ole Dalton, was a local rancher. Cole and his large extended family owned a lot of the land in the Rust Creek Falls Valley. “I can’t take a loan against my in-laws’ property. We’re doing great, but, Sarah, you already know it’s all on a shoestring—and frankly, I struck out on my own so that I could do this my way.” Viv’s big green eyes shone with sheer determination. “An investor is going to want a say in how we run things.”
“Not necessarily. Some investors just want a percentage of—”
The little bell over the front door cut Sarah off midsentence.
“Good morning, ladies,” boomed a deep male voice. The imposing figure in the open doorway swept off his black Stetson to reveal a thick head of silver hair. “Maximilian Crawford, at your service.” The man plunked his big hat to his heart. Tall and powerfully built, with a handsome, lived-in face and a neatly trimmed goatee and mustache, the guy almost didn’t seem real. He reminded Sarah of a character from one of those old-time TV Westerns. “I’m looking for Vivienne Dalton, the wedding planner,” he announced.
“I’m Viv.” Viv started to step out from behind the worktable.
But Maximilian was faster. In five giant strides, he was at her side. He took Viv’s hand and kissed it. “Such a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard great things.” He turned to Caroline, kissed her hand and then took Sarah’s and brushed his mustache across the back of it, too.
Viv, who’d looked slightly stunned when the older man bowed over her hand, recovered quickly and made introductions. “Maximilian, this is Caroline, my partner, and Sarah Turner, with Falls Mountain Accounting.”
“So happy to meet you, all three of you—and please call me Max. My sons and I have bought the Ambling A Ranch east of here. We’re newly arrived from the Dallas area, but we have Crawford relatives here in Rust Creek Falls. We’re putting down roots in your fine community.”
“Welcome to town, Max.” Viv cut to the point. “How can we help you?”
“I have an important job that needs doing. And, Vivienne, I know you are the one to tackle it.”
“Well, if it’s a wedding you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. I take it you’re the groom?”
Max threw back his silver head and let out a booming laugh. “Sorry, Viv. Not me. I’ve had enough of wedded bliss to last me three lifetimes. But my boys are another story. I’ve got six, each one better lookin’ than the one before. Goodhearted, my boys, if a bit skittish on the subject of love and marriage. As we speak, all six are single.” He shook a finger. “You ask me, that goes against the laws of God and man. It’s about time my boys settled down.”
Caroline wore a puzzled frown. “So, then, what you’re saying is that all six of your sons are engaged?”
Max let out a low, rueful chuckle. “No, pretty lady. What I’m saying is that my boys need brides. And, Viv, that’s where you come in. I want you and the lovely Caroline here to find each of my boys the perfect woman to marry—for a price, of course. A very nice price.”
A silence followed. A long one. Sarah, who’d moved back from the worktable to let the wedding planners do their stuff, couldn’t help wondering if maybe Max Crawford was a few bucking broncs short of a rodeo. And judging by their carefully neutral expressions, Viv and Caroline also had their doubts.
However, the train depot roofs weren’t going to replace themselves. Viv needed a large infusion of cash, stat. And if Max was for real, cash was exactly what he offered—too bad he was ordering up services Caroline and Viv didn’t provide.
“But, Max,” Viv said patiently, “we plan weddings. We aren’t matchmakers.”
“And why not? Matchmaking is an honest, time-honored practice. A lucrative one, too—at least it will be for you, with me as your client.”
Viv slowly shook her head. “I’m so sorry. But we just don’t—”
“A million,” Max cut in, bringing a trio of stunned gasps from Viv, Caroline and Sarah, too. Max nodded at Viv. “You heard me right. A million dollars. You find my boys wives and the money is yours.”
“Max.” Viv let out a weak laugh. “That’s just crazy.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve made my fortune thinking outside the box. And that makes me living, breathing proof that anything can be achieved if you’re willing to make your own rules.”
Sarah took another step back from the worktable. She couldn’t have disagreed more. Rules mattered. And as much as she would like for Max to be the solution to Viv’s money troubles, fast-talking men were dangerous. Sarah had learned that sad lesson the hard way.
Viv wasn’t going for it, either. “Are you asking us to set up six arranged marriages? No. Definitely not. Caroline and I could never do that.”
“Arranged?” Max huffed out a breath. “No way. My boys would never go for that. They’ll choose their own brides. All I’m asking is that you find the perfect woman for each of them.”
“Right,” Viv scoffed. “Easy peasy.”
“Love isn’t something you can force.” Caroline added her quiet voice to Viv’s mocking one. “It really does have to develop naturally and—”
“Caroline, darlin’.” Max patted her shoulder. “I couldn’t agree with you more. We’re on the same page. You won’t be arranging anything. You won’t need to. I’ve heard all about Rust Creek Falls. Love is everywhere you turn around here and the percentage of pretty women is satisfyingly high. You set my boys up and they are bound to fall.”
Sarah took another step back. How could they believe a word the guy said? He talked too fast and he’d openly admitted that he made his own rules.
As if he’d sensed her retreat, the big man shifted his glance to Sarah. “So how ’bout you, darlin’?”
Sarah straightened her shoulders and hitched up her chin. “What about me?”
“Are you looking for the right guy to marry?”
She was looking for anything but. “Excuse me? You want to marry me off to one of your sons?”
“Sweet, sweet Sarah, just say yes.” Max actually winked at her. “You won’t regret it.”
“Sorry, but I’m not on the, um, market.”
“Got a sweetheart already, then?”
“No. I’m simply not interested.”
Max heaved a big sigh. “That’s a crying shame, and I mean that sincerely. You’re a beautiful woman with a sharp brain, I can tell. You’d be just perfect for—”
“Dad. What are you up to now?” At the sound of another commanding male voice, Sarah whirled toward the open door.
“Patience, Logan,” Max replied. “Just give your old man a few minutes more.”
“They plan weddings here, Dad. You don’t have a fiancée, so you don’t need a wedding. Xander and I are getting tired of waiting in the truck.”
Sarah tried not to stare. But really, who could blame her? The cowboy in the doorway was hot—tall and lean, with thick brown hair and a mouth that would have just about any girl thinking of long, scorching kisses.
At the moment, though, that gorgeous mouth was scowling at Max. “What’s going on here?”
As he spoke, another fine-looking cowboy entered behind him. The second guy said, “Whatever you think you’re pulling, Dad—don’t.”
Max only laughed. “Come on over here, boys. Let me introduce you to Viv, Caroline and Sarah.” His big white teeth gleamed as his smile stretched wide again. “What did I tell you, ladies? Meet my oldest son, Logan, and third-born, Xander.”
The first cowboy, Logan, flicked a glance in Sarah’s direction—and froze. Now he was staring right at her. “Hello, Sarah,” he said low. Intimately. As though they were the only two people in the room.
And then he was on the move again, coming straight for her. He stopped a foot away, right up in her space. The breath fled her lungs. The guy was even hotter up close. It should be illegal to have eyes so blue.
With a little shiv
er of unwelcome delight, she took his offered hand. His big, warm fingers engulfed hers. More shivers skittered up her arm.
Absurd. Sarah Turner had no time for the shivers. Not anymore. No way was she letting a pair of bedroom eyes lead her astray again.
But Logan wasn’t making it easy for her. He stared at her like she was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen.
Why? She so didn’t get it. She was not at her best and hadn’t been for way too long now. A year and a half ago, she’d been hot...ish.
Now, though? She wore her hair in a ponytail to keep it out of the way and didn’t bother with makeup beyond a swipe of mascara and maybe some lip gloss. On a good day, she made it all the way to dinnertime without getting spit-up on her shirt.
Max just kept talking. “Boys, Viv and Caroline here not only plan weddings, they also serve as the Rust Creek Falls dating service.” Such a liar, that Max. He wouldn’t know the truth if it bit him on the butt. “And Sarah is not only gorgeous—she’s got a mind for figures, works as an accountant right in town. Falls Mountain Accounting, I believe. Have I got that right, Sarah?”
Logan still held her hand. She really ought to pull away. But she didn’t. “I’m a CPA, yes,” she said as she continued to stare into Logan’s blue eyes.
“I think I need an accountant,” said the killer-handsome cowboy in that deep, smooth voice of his, never once letting go of her gaze—or her hand. “And a dating service works for me. Sign me up. I’ll take you, Sarah. To dinner. Tonight.”
“Uh, yeah. Right.” She laughed, playing it off, as her traitorous heart flipped cartwheels inside her chest.
Ridiculous. Impossible. She had no time for dates. If she had any extra time, she would spend it sleeping. And never again would she believe the lies of a handsome, smooth-talking man.
Max was still talking. “Sarah, Logan here is a self-made man. He grew up on our ranch in Texas, but he couldn’t wait to get out on his own. Earned his fortune in Seattle, in real estate.”
Logan chuckled. “Shut up, Dad.”
Max didn’t miss a beat. “Son, why don’t you and Sarah go on into town? Take her to the donut shop. You can firm up your dinner plans over bear claws and coffee.”
More than One Night Page 19
