by Leanne Banks
Nick had never had any interest in showing anyone his heart. The prospect terrified him. He remembered what happened to his father after his mother had died. His father had become a shell of himself, unable to express affection. He looked at Melba for a long moment. Was this the only way he could keep Cecelia? His appetite vanished and he didn’t feel like finishing his hot chocolate.
“Thanks for the drink, Melba,” he said and took the cup upstairs to be polite.
Brooding over Melba’s advice, he felt as if a guillotine was hanging over him. He didn’t sleep at all that night, but when dawn broke through the darkness, he knew what he had to do. Nick headed to Kalispell and bought a ring. On his way back to Rust Creek Falls, he called Jordyn Leigh Cates and asked her to make sure Cecelia came to the bar that night. Jordyn was both suspicious and reluctant. She made Nick promise that he wouldn’t hurt Cecelia. What Jordyn didn’t understand was that Nick was the one who could end up hurt.
That night when Cecelia walked through the door, Nick felt as if his heart was pounding so hard it was going to jump out of his chest. Catching Cecelia’s gaze, he walked toward her.
“There you are, Nick,” a woman said, stepping in front of him. “I need some work done in my kitchen. Do you think you could come over this weekend? I’ll fix dinner for you.”
Nick saw Cecelia eyeing the door and his gut clenched. He shook his head. He couldn’t let Cecelia get away. “Excuse me, ma’am, but I have something important to do,” he said and stepped around her.
“Well, my kitchen’s important,” the woman complained from behind him, but his focus was totally on Cecelia.
He caught up with Cecelia and grabbed her hand. “Just a minute,” he said to her when she looked as if she was going to pull away. “Just give me one minute.”
Reluctance and distrust oozed from her, but she gave a stiff nod. “One,” she said with a warning tone in her voice.
His mouth went dry, but he was determined. “I may be making a fool of myself right now, but at least I’m doing it for the right reason. Cecelia, I’m in love with you. I’m sorry for the way I’ve acted. I’m done renting myself out—from now on, I want to provide my services to only one special lady. You.
“I’ve been so stupid. The woman I want, trust, love more than anything has been right in front of me all the time. But you know about my family. How we lost Mom. I was always afraid to put myself out there. I learned at an early age about losing. Life’s not certain.” He took a deep breath. “But you’re already inside me. I’m stuck. If I don’t have you, I’m losing the most important thing in my life. You know me. You know the real me. And I know and love the real you.”
Nick got down on one knee and above the roar in his brain, he heard a collective gasp from the bar’s patrons. “I want to dance with you at our wedding. I want to dance with you in our kitchen every night. You’re the woman I want to make memories with for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?”
Stunned, Cecelia could only stare at him in disbelief. “Oh, Nick. Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything,” he said. “How long are you gonna make me sweat?”
Cecelia laughed and cried at the same time and pulled him to his feet. “Not even a minute. Yes,” she said.
“Do you still want to leave Rust Creek Falls?” he asked, searching her face.
Cecelia shook her head. “There is only one place I want to be, and that is in your arms. Forever.”
Euphoric, Nick scooped Cecelia into his arms and carried her out of the bar with the whole bar applauding. Stepping into the much quieter night outside, he took her mouth in a kiss. “I never want to be apart from you. You’re not just my friend. You’re the one for me. You make everything about my life better.”
Cecelia’s eyes filled with tears. “I love you, too, Nick. I didn’t realize it until just recently, but I think I’ve loved you for years.”
“We can start making plans right away,” he said. “In my bed,” he added and strode up the stairs to the rooming house.
“You think Melba will mind me sleeping in your room?” she asked.
“For one thing, you won’t be doing much sleeping,” he promised. “Unless I’m wrong, Melba is going to be cheering. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s planning our wedding right now,” he said and carried Cecelia the rest of the way to his room.
Nick had sworn off marriage and commitment, but now he thanked his lucky stars he’d had sense enough to realize that Cecelia was the best thing in his life. He’d always thought of marriage as the ultimate sacrifice. Now he knew the truth. Being without the woman he loved would have been a much worse sacrifice.
“I can’t believe you’re really mine,” she said, touching his face.
“I’ll show you every day,” he promised. “In every way.”
* * * * *
Don’t miss the next installment of the new
Special Edition continuity
MONTANA MAVERICKS:
20 YEARS IN THE SADDLE!
Jonah Dalton swore he’d never return to Rust Creek Falls, but when he’s asked to help design the new lodge outside town, he can’t say no. The beautiful artist working on the hotel’s mural realizes that he’s the cowboy for her...but can she win over his once-burned, twice-shy heart?
Look for THE LAST-CHANCE MAVERICK
by USA TODAY bestselling author
Christyne Butler
On sale October 2014,
wherever Harlequin books are sold.
Enjoy this sneak peek from New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer’s TEXAS BORN, the latest in THE LONG, TALL TEXANS miniseries.
Forced from her home by her cruel stepmother, Michelle Godfrey is out of luck…until Gabriel Brandon comes to her rescue. The tall, brooding cowboy is devilishly handsome, but he’s her guardian—and nothing more. As Michelle grows into the woman she’s always wanted to be, can the shy beauty show Gabriel that she’s the only one he needs?
***
Just for an instant, Gabriel worried about putting Michelle in the line of fire, considering his line of work. He had enemies. Dangerous enemies who wouldn’t hesitate to threaten anyone close to him. Of course, there was his sister, Sara, but she’d lived in Wyoming for the past few years, away from him, on a ranch they co-owned. Now he was putting her in jeopardy along with Michelle.
But what could he do? The child had nobody. Now that her idiot stepmother, Roberta, was dead, Michelle was truly on her own. It was dangerous for a young woman to live alone, even in a small community. And there was also the question of Roberta’s boyfriend, Bert.
Gabriel knew things about the man that he wasn’t eager to share with Michelle. Bert was part of a criminal organization, and he knew Michelle’s habits. He also had a yen for her, if what Michelle had blurted out to Gabriel once was true—and he had no indication that she would lie about it. Bert might decide to come try his luck with her now that her stepmother was out of the picture. That couldn’t be allowed.
Gabriel was surprised by his own affection for Michelle. It wasn’t paternal. She was, of course, far too young for anything heavy. She was a beauty, kind and generous and sweet. She was the sort of woman he usually ran from. No, strike that, she was no woman. She was still unfledged, a dove without flight feathers. He had to keep his interest hidden. At least, until she was grown up enough that it wouldn’t hurt his conscience to pursue her. Afterward…well, who knew the future?
***
Don
’t miss TEXAS BORN
by New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer,
the latest installment in
THE LONG, TALL TEXANS miniseries.
Available October 2014 wherever
Harlequin® Special Edition books and ebooks are sold.
Copyright © 2014 by Diana Palmer
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.
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ISBN-13: 9781460338728
Maverick for Hire
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Leanne Banks for her contribution to the Montana Mavericks: 20 Years in the Saddle! continuity.
Copyright © 2014 by Harlequin Books S.A.
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.
www.Harlequin.com
Family in Training?
Only an emergency could bring on-call pediatrician Kaitlyn Foster to Adam Preston’s house. But the man who opens the door—with a crying infant on his shoulder—is a world away from the globe-trotting bachelor whose kisses still burn in her memory. And he’s in desperate need of her baby expertise!
Adam can’t believe the Mommy Club volunteer is the gorgeous blonde who’s been haunting his fantasies for almost a year. The baby doc couldn’t have come at a better time. The environmental scientist is used to traveling to remote corners of the world, not acting as stand-in father to his two-month-old niece. But Kaitlyn’s already working her magic on both of them. Is Adam finally ready to put down roots with the woman who’s carved a permanent place in his heart?
“Have you ever thought about a night with me, with no responsibilities, no agenda and no time restrictions?”
The idea of a night with Adam stopped Kaitlyn cold. She couldn’t even think straight. That was why she didn’t know what to say.
“Why didn’t you just call this morning? You could have given me this information over the phone or in an email.”
Standing this close, she could still feel everything male about him—his scent, his strength, his determination. She said weakly, “I wanted to check on Erica.”
He narrowed his eyes and came so close, she could feel his breath on her cheek. “Tell the truth.”
She only hesitated a moment. “I like you.”
He broke into a grin. Then he kissed her—really, really hard. After he broke away, stared into her eyes for a moment, he kissed her again, this time with such coaxing passion, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
* * *
The Mommy Club:
It’s about caring, family…and love
Dear Reader,
When I was a new mom, I remember the awe I felt when my son was placed in my arms for the first time. But I also remember the overwhelming sense of responsibility and the powerful realization that I would be taking care of this little being twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week! Fortunately my husband was an involved dad. We shared the joys and the sleep-deprived nights of those first few months and that made our journey into parenthood
a bonding experience.
My hero, Adam, suddenly has the care of his niece thrust upon him. Unprepared, he calls in The Mommy Club. To his surprise, pediatrician Kaitlyn Foster shows up at his door. Their one encounter left them both vulnerable to the sizzle that now zips between them as they together care for Adam’s infant niece. Irrevocable bonds form until neither Adam nor Kaitlyn can deny them. They truly are A Match Made by Baby. I hope you enjoy this couple’s romantic journey as they discover happily-ever-after is within their reach.
All my best,
Karen Rose Smith
A MATCH MADE BY BABY
Karen Rose Smith
Books by Karen Rose Smith
Harlequin Special Edition
¤His Country Cinderella #2137
**Once Upon a Groom #2146
**The CEO’s Unexpected Proposal #2201
**Riley’s Baby Boy #2205
¶Wanted: A Real Family #2277
¤¤Marrying Dr. Maverick #2287
¶A Match Made by Baby #2355
Silhouette Special Edition
Abigail and Mistletoe #930
The Sheriff’s Proposal #1074
His Little Girl’s Laughter #1426
Expecting the CEO’s Baby #1535
Their Baby Bond #1588
Take a Chance on Me #1599
Which Child Is Mine? #1655
ΔCabin Fever #1682
ΩCustody for Two #1753
ΩThe Baby Trail #1767
ΩExpecting His Brother’s Baby #1779
+The Super Mom #1797
§Falling for the Texas Tycoon #1807
±The Daddy Dilemma #1884
^Her Mr. Right? #1897
±The Daddy Plan #1908
±The Daddy Verdict #1925
*Lullaby for Two #1961
*The Midwife’s Glass Slipper #1972
ΦThe Texas Bodyguard’s Proposal #1987
*Baby by Surprise #1997
*The Texas Billionaire’s Baby #2032
*The Texan’s Happily-Ever-After #2044
ΨFrom Doctor…to Daddy #2065
*Twins Under His Tree #2087
**His Daughter…Their Child #2098
Silhouette Books
The Fortunes of Texas
Marry in Haste…
Montana Mavericks
Born in Whitehorn
It Happened One Wedding Night
Logan’s Legacy
A Precious Gift
The Fortunes of Texas: Reunion
The Good Doctor
Signature Select
Secret Admirer
“Dream Marriage”
ΩBaby Bonds
ΔMontana Mavericks: Gold Rush Grooms
+Talk of the Neighborhood
§Logan’s Legacy Revisited
^The Wilder Family
±Dads in Progress
*The Baby Experts
ΦThe Foleys and the McCords
ΨMontana Mavericks: Thunder Canyon Cowboys
**Reu
nion Brides
¤Montana Mavericks: The Texans are Coming!
¶The Mommy Club
¤¤Montana Mavericks: Rust Creek Cowboys
Other titles by Karen Rose Smith available in ebook format.
KAREN ROSE SMITH
USA TODAY bestselling author Karen Rose Smith’s plots are all about emotion. She began writing in her early teens, when she listened to music and created stories to accompany the songs. An only child, she spent a lot of time in her imagination and with books—Nancy Drew, Zane Grey, the Black Stallion and Anne of Green Gables. She dreamed of brothers and sisters and a big family such as the ones her mother and father came from. This is the root of her plotlines, which include small communities and family relationships as part of everyday living. Residing in Pennsylvania with her husband and three cats, she welcomes interaction with readers on Facebook, on Twitter, @karenrosesmith, and through her website, www.karenrosesmith.com, where they can sign up for her newsletter.
To Suzanne—a terrific single mom and my BFF.
I’m grateful to have you in my life.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Epilogue
