Harlequin Romance September 2013 Bundle: Bound by a BabyIn the Line of DutyPatchwork Family in the OutbackStranded with the Tycoon

by Kate Hardy

  “Yeah, something like that. And thanks for the lift.”

  Harrison tipped his hat and walked backward, waiting until she’d gone inside before he turned away. Poppy leaned on the doorjamb and watched him get into the car and drive slowly off, trying hard not to think about how nice he was.

  Considering she’d wanted to make a voodoo doll of him and stab it after his comments earlier in the afternoon, she’d actually enjoyed his company. Or maybe it was just that his children were really sweet.

  She shut and locked the door.

  Who was she kidding? The guy was handsome and charming, or at least he had been this evening, and she was terrified of how quickly she’d gone from hating the entire male population to thinking how sexy the rancher dad was.

  And she couldn’t help but wonder why the children had never mentioned their mom and why he’d never spoken about the wife that was surely waiting at home for them.

  Poppy walked down the hall and opened the fridge, reaching in for the milk and pouring some into a pot to heat. There was no microwave, so it was old-fashioned hot chocolate.

  A scratching made her stop. Another noise made a shiver lick her spine.

  Poppy reached for another pot and crept slowly toward the back door. She was sure she’d locked it, but... She jumped. Another scratching sound.

  She slowly pulled the blind back and looked outside, flicking the light on with her other hand. If someone was out there, who was she going to call for help?

  Meow.

  It was a cat. Poppy put the pot down and unlocked the door, standing back and peering out into the pool of light in the backyard.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked, knowing it was stupid to ask the cat a question but not caring.

  She left the door open and walked back for the milk, taking a saucer and tipping some in. Poppy placed the dish inside the back door and waited. It didn’t take long for the black cat to sniff the air and decide it was worth coming in, placing one white paw on the timber floor, looking around and then walking to the saucer.

  Poppy shut the door and relocked it. The cat was skinny, and she wasn’t going to turn him out if he had nowhere to go.

  “Want to sleep on my bed?”

  The cat looked up at her as he lapped the milk and she went back to stirring her own, adding some chocolate to melt in the pot with it.

  “I think we’ll get on just fine, you and I,” she said. “Unless you go shack up with someone better looking or younger than me down the road. Then I’ll know my life’s actually over. Okay?”

  The cat stayed silent.

  Black cats were supposed to be bad luck. Heaven help her if there was any more of that coming her way. Because she’d had enough bad luck lately to last her a lifetime and then some.

  “Come on, kitty,” she said, pouring her hot chocolate into a large mug. “Let’s go to bed.”

  * * *

  Harrison pulled onto the dirt road that led to Black Station and glanced in the rearview mirror. Katie and Alex were both asleep in the back, oblivious to everything going on around them, and he didn’t mind one bit. All he wanted was for them to be happy, because if they were happy, he was happy.

  And they had had a pretty nice evening.

  He pushed all thoughts of their new teacher from his mind, but struggled to keep her out of it. She’d been kind, sweet, polite—not to mention the fact that she was the prettiest woman he’d seen in years—but there was still something about her niggling away at him. Something that meant he didn’t believe she’d be able to stay. Or maybe it was just that he didn’t believe anyone could stick it out here unless they’d been born and bred in a rural town.

  His wife sure hadn’t. And part of him believed that if a mother couldn’t even stay to care for her own children, then Poppy Carter wouldn’t stay for other people’s children. Maybe he’d expected someone older, someone less attractive. Not a woman in her late twenties with long, straight hair falling down her back and bright blue eyes that seemed to smile every time she looked at his children. Not a beautiful, modern woman who looked as if she should be lunching with friends or shopping in her spare time.

  But then, maybe he was being unfair. Just because she liked to look pretty and wear nice clothes didn’t mean she wouldn’t be able to make a life here for herself. For all he knew she could have her own personal demons that had sent her scurrying away from her former life.

  Harrison pulled up outside the house and went to open the door before going back to the truck to carry his children one at a time into their bedrooms. They might be five and seven years old now, but they were still his babies. He’d raised them himself and he was determined to fight to keep their school open. Because he wouldn’t ever let them feel as if they’d been abandoned, and that meant boarding school wasn’t an option he was willing to consider, not until they were ready for high school.

  Their mom had walked out on them, and he didn’t ever want them to think he’d do the same. They were his children, his flesh and blood, and he would do anything in his power to protect them. No matter what.

  But if he could fix up the teacher’s house and make life a little easier for her here in Bellaroo Creek, then he would do it. Because instead of pushing her away, he was going to do everything within his power to convince her to stay.

  He’d like to think that his reasons were based purely on keeping his children happy. He had a feeling that part of him, some deep, dark part that was hidden away under lock and key, liked the look of Poppy. A lot. Even if he wouldn’t ever be ready to admit it.

  Old Mrs. Jones had been right. Poppy arriving in their town was like a beaming ray of sunshine descending upon the place, and they were long overdue for someone like her to be their lucky charm. It wasn’t just his children at stake here, it was the future of their entire town.

  Poppy Carter was going to keep Bellaroo Creek alive, or she was going to be the final straw that closed the area for good. He just had to believe that she was going to be their falling star—the once-in-a-lifetime teacher that they had only ever dreamed of.

  Harrison shook his head and flicked the television on, falling onto the sofa. Maybe he’d been reading too many fairy tales to Katie. Because he was actually starting to believe that maybe Poppy was that person, after all.

  * * *

  Poppy’s stomach had a permanent flutter in it. She’d barely been able to eat any breakfast, she was so nervous, and now she was sitting in her chair, thrumming her fingers across the timber surface of her desk.

  She sat and stared at the wall they’d decorated the night before, smiling as she thought of big, gruff Harrison using her fairy glitter so they could finish up and head home. She’d met lots of great dads in her time as a teacher, but even she hadn’t expected him to volunteer with glitter.

  The slam of a car door made her snap to attention. It was happening. Her first day as sole teacher of Bellaroo Creek School had officially begun.

  Poppy stood and crossed the room, pinning the door back to welcome the first of her pupils. A smiling mom was headed her way, three children running ahead of her, straight toward Poppy.

  “Slow down!”

  She grinned as their mom yelled at them. They skidded to a halt in front of her just before they reached the door.

  “Hi, kids. I’m Ms. Carter, your new teacher.”

  The three boys looked up at her, not saying a word, but she could tell straight away from their cheeky expressions that they were going to be a handful.

  “Hi.”

  Poppy held out her hand. “You must be pleased school’s starting,” she said, touching the mother’s shoulder before stepping back. “I know how exhausting three boys can be.”

  “I just hope they don’t send you running for the hills. Twenty kids each day would drive me crazy.”

  Poppy shoo
k her head. “I do this because I love it, so don’t worry about a few rowdy children scaring me away.” She looked across the yard and saw a familiar truck pulling in close to the curb. “Besides, I’m told the lovely Mrs. Leigh volunteers one day a week as teacher aide.” Poppy waved a hand. “Here are the Black children, nice and early.”

  The other woman followed her gaze. “You’ve met the Black family already?”

  Poppy couldn’t look away if she tried. She could see Harrison turn in the driver’s seat, talking to his children, before he pushed open his door and went around to help them out.

  “I haven’t met Mrs. Black yet, but the children seem lovely.” She couldn’t drag her gaze from Harrison as he strode toward them, schoolbags slung over his shoulder, eyes locked on hers. Katie skipped along ahead of him, little Alex at his side.

  “Honey, there is no Mrs. Black,” the other woman teased. “Harrison is dad of the year in Bellaroo. His wife left him with the kids when Alex was a baby, so he’s kind of a legend around here. We call him Mr. Sexy and Single.”

  Poppy gulped. He was single?

  She looked away and concentrated her energies on the mom she was talking to. “I never caught your name?”

  “Pat. And my boys are Scott, John and Sam.” She smiled and took a few steps backward. “It was great meeting you. I’ll see you this afternoon at pickup.”

  Poppy waved goodbye and turned to face the next parent...who just happened to be Harrison. Katie gave her a wave and ran straight through the door, but Alex stayed close to his dad.

  “Morning,” Poppy said brightly. “How are you, Alex?”

  He looked a little shy, but managed a smile.

  “He had only one term in school last year, so it’s all a bit daunting.”

  Poppy knelt down, pleased to be closer to his son than the man towering over them. “Sweetheart,” she said, tucking her fingers gently under his chin to tilt it up. “I’ll look after you all day, so you don’t need to worry. You can even come and sit with me if you’re scared, okay?”

  He nodded.

  “Why don’t you run in and play with the other kids?” Poppy asked him.

  Alex threw his arms around his dad’s leg before doing as she’d suggested.

  “Thanks,” Harrison said, his voice gruff.

  “No problem. It’s what I do.”

  They stood awkwardly, and she couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that he’d raised both his children on his own. It wasn’t often she heard of a dad being in that position. No wonder he’d been in no rush to get home last night—it wasn’t as if he’d had a wife waiting for him.

  Another vehicle pulled up and a few kids climbed out.

  “I’d better get in there,” Poppy said, nodding toward the classroom.

  Harrison touched a few fingers to the rim of his hat.

  “And thanks again for last night. I really appreciated your help,” she added.

  He walked a couple of steps away before turning around and looking straight into her eyes. “I’ll fix up that plumbing for you after school when I come to collect the kids.”

  Poppy swallowed. Hard. Maybe it was because she knew he was available, that he wasn’t some other woman’s husband.

  Because if he were, she’d never let herself think about him the way she was right now...not ever. She knew how it felt to be the other woman, so even thinking about married men inappropriately was forbidden as far as she was concerned.

  But now... Harrison was as handsome as any man she’d ever laid eyes upon, and the way his jeans clung to his butt when he walked away, the cowboy hat on his head, his checked shirtsleeves rolled up to show off tanned arms...it was making her think all kinds of sin.

  “You must be Ms. Carter!”

  Poppy blinked and tried to forget all about the man walking toward his truck. She was a teacher, and she had more parents to meet.

  She’d be seeing Harrison again after school, and he’d be in her home. In her bathroom.

  So no more thinking about him until then.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  POPPY SAT WITH Katie and Alex, watching out for their dad to arrive. He was only a few minutes late. The other children had all gone right on time, and now she was enjoying the sun and the company.

  “Here he comes!” Alex called out, and ran to the edge of the pavement, waving to his dad.

  Harrison jumped out and scooped his son straight up and into his arms. “I’m so sorry, Poppy,” he said, running a hand through his hair as if he’d just realized he didn’t have his hat on. “I had a run-in with a pretty pissed-off bull, and—”

  “Daddy!” Katie had her hands on her hips. “You said a bad word,” she hissed, “and she’s our teacher, so you need to call her Ms. Carter.”

  He nodded as if she was absolutely right, but when his eyes met Poppy’s they were filled with laughter. She had to bite down on her lip to stop from laughing herself.

  “Anyway, long story short, he was determined to make his way to the ladies, which wasn’t going to happen,” Harrison told her.

  Poppy did burst out laughing then—she couldn’t help it. She was talking to a real-life cowboy when she’d never even been close to a real ranch before. “Do you have any idea how hilarious that sounds?”

  He gave her a puzzled look. “Funny now, but not so amusing when you’re staring a three-thousand-pound, adrenaline-filled beast in the eye.”

  She started to walk alongside Katie as they all headed for the truck. “Harrison, the closest I’ve come to dealing with wildlife is an ant infestation in my old classroom,” she told him. “So believe me when I tell you how hilarious you sound to my sheltered city ways. Hilarious, but exciting, for a change.”

  She could have sworn a dark look passed across his face, but it was gone so quickly she couldn’t be certain. Had she said something wrong?

  “Although in saying that, I did kind of adopt a cat last night, so maybe I’m getting used to the whole country way of life already.”

  Harrison opened the front passenger door to his truck, but pointed for Katie to get in the back. “What do you mean, you adopted a cat? It’s not like we have shelters for unwanted pets around here.”

  Poppy rolled her eyes, wishing she wasn’t standing quite so close to him. He was at least a head taller than her, and she couldn’t stop staring back into his dark brown eyes. They were dark but soft, like melted chocolate.

  She snapped herself out of her daydream. Could she really forgive the entire male population so soon after declaring them all to be worthless idiots to whom she’d never again give the time of day? The answer to that question was no.

  “I heard a noise last night and a black cat was just sitting there, like it was his house and he wanted to come in.”

  “But not wild?” Harrison asked. He gestured for her to get in the vehicle. “I’ll drive you down the road—you know, so I can fix the bathroom.”

  Heat hit Poppy’s cheeks and she hoped the blush wasn’t noticeable. What was it about this guy getting her all in a fluster, especially at the mention of coming into her home? And the thought of sitting beside him in such a close space, despite the fact that his children were in the back.

  “I don’t think a wild cat would have slept the night on my bed,” she told him, glancing down at his hand as he took command of the gear stick. His skin was a deep brown from what she imagined was hours out in the sun each day, and his forearm looked muscular. She tried to switch her focus to the road ahead. “Actually, I take that back. He slept on my pillow.”

  The children were chatting away in the rear, but she was listening only to their father. The man she couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away from no matter how hard she tried.

  “You’re a real sucker, you know that?” Harrison’s eyes crinkled in the corners, gentle wrinkles f
orming as he laughed at her. “Definitely not a country girl yet.”

  “I’d like to think I’m kindhearted,” she replied.

  He shrugged. “Same thing, if you ask me. But it’s weird that a cat just appeared out of nowhere. He must belong to someone.”

  “I told him he was welcome to stay, but I left a window open so he could come and go.”

  “And you’re not pretending he’s yours?” Harrison asked, one hand on the wheel, the other slung out the window.

  “Exactly.”

  “You named him yet?”

  “Lucky,” she said. “Because I don’t believe that black cats are bad luck, and he was lucky to find me and my large pitcher of milk.”

  “He’s yours,” Harrison said with a laugh. “Once you name them you’re committed. Happens every time.”

  Poppy laughed with him, because he was right, and because it felt nice not to feel sad for once. She’d spent the past month wondering what the hell she was going to do with her life, how she was going to rebuild everything she’d lost, and that hadn’t left much time for just laughing and being happy.

  But Bellaroo Creek was her fresh start. It was her place to start over. So if she felt like laughing, then she wasn’t going to hold back.

  * * *

  Harrison was lying on his back, squished half inside a cupboard, with his wrench jammed on the fitting he was trying to tighten. He tried to ignore the swear words sitting on the tip of his tongue, shifting his body instead to get a better look at the leak.

  “Harrison?”

  Crap. He’d been in such a dream world that he hadn’t expected anyone to walk in on him, and now he’d smacked his head on the underside of the cupboard.

  “Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?”

  Harrison grunted and shuffled out of the small space. He touched his head. “No blood, so I’ll live.”

  He stared up at Poppy, who was wringing her hands together as if she wasn’t quite sure what to say.

  “I, um, was wondering if you’d like to stay for dinner? I mean, you’ve been working in here for a while and I think the kids are getting hungry....”