The Rancher's Hired Fiancée. Judy Duarte

      He was just about to say goodbye and send Catherine on her way when she eased forward, rose on tiptoe and lifted her lips to kiss him goodbye.

      Of course. Great idea.

      There was an audience present, and they were two people in love. A goodbye kiss was definitely in order.

      Ray stepped in and lowered his mouth to hers, but as their lips met, he found himself wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close, savoring the feel of her in his arms, the scent of her shampoo, the taste of her…

      Oh, wow.

      Dear Reader,

      If you’re like me, you enjoy a marriage—or engagement—of convenience story. And when that story is set in a small Texas town, with cowboys and ranchers and babies… Well, you have all the fixings for a great romance.

      So welcome back to Brighton Valley, where interim mayor and wealthy rancher Ray Mendez has more money and property than he can shake a stick at—even after a lengthy legal battle with his gold-digging ex-wife. Now that the divorce is final, every single woman in town is determined to win his battered heart. But Ray’s not interested.

      When he meets visiting actress and dancer Catherine Loza, he hires her to be his pretend fiancée to keep the women at bay until his interim position as mayor is finished. The scheme works beautifully—until Ray finds it difficult to draw the line at playacting, and Catherine realizes her temporary gig just might be the role of a lifetime.

      So I hope you’ll pack this book in your suitcase—or take it down to the shore or the pool with you—for some good summer reading.

      Wishing you romance,

       Judy

      About the Author

      JUDY DUARTE always knew there was a book inside her, but since English was her least-favorite subject in school, she never considered herself a writer. An avid reader who enjoys a happy ending, Judy couldn’t shake the dream of creating a book of her own.

      Her dream became a reality in March 2002, when Mills & Boon^® released her first book, Cowboy Courage. Since then she has published more than twenty novels.

      Her stories have touched the hearts of readers around the world. And in July 2005 Judy won a prestigious Readers’ Choice Award for The Rich Man’s Son.

      Judy makes her home near the beach in Southern California. When she’s not cooped up in her writing cave, she’s spending time with her somewhat enormous but delightfully close family.

      The Rancher’s Hired Fiancée

      

      Judy Duarte

      

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      To Mark Winch, who reads every book I write.

       I hope you enjoy this one, too, Mark.

       Chapter One

      Catherine Loza napped in a child’s bedroom at the Walker family’s ranch in Texas, dreaming of sold-out nights on Broadway, the heady sound of applause and the pounding of her heart after a well-executed performance.

      She took a bow, then straightened and glanced out into the audience, only to see an empty stall and a bale of straw in an illuminated old barn, where a group of children clapped their hands in delight.

      Their faces were a blur until two of them glided toward the stage, greeting her with red rosebuds, their long stems free of thorns.

      Recognizing Sofia and Stephen, Dan and Eva Walker’s youngest twins, Catherine knelt and received the flowers. Then the darling two-year-olds wrapped their pudgy arms around her and placed soft, moist kisses on her cheeks, on her forehead, on her chin.

      How strange, she thought, but so sweet.

      She’d no more than thanked them and sent them on their way when she heard a light tapping noise in the distance.

      Thoughts and visions tumbled together in her sleepy mind—until another knock sounded, this time on the bedroom door.

      “Yes?” she said, realizing she’d dozed off after reading a storybook to the children. Now, as she scanned the empty room, she saw that they’d both slipped off, leaving her to nap alone.

      Eva opened the door and peered into the darkened bedroom. “I’m sorry to bother you, but we’re having company for dinner tonight, and I thought you might want to know.”

      Catherine glanced out the window, which was shuttered tight, only a faint light creeping through the slats. She tried to guess the time of day but didn’t have a clue—other than it was obviously nearing the dinner hour.

      “A lot of help I am,” Catherine said. “I wasn’t the one who was supposed to fall asleep.”

      Eva chuckled softly. “Sofia and Stephen woke up a few minutes ago. Now they’re in the kitchen, coloring and playing with their sticker books.”

      Catherine never had been one to nap during the day. Apparently the fresh air, sunshine and the rural Texas setting had a calming effect on her.

      “If you’d like to rest a little longer,” Eva said, “it’s not a problem. You’ve been burning the candle at both ends for so long. Your body probably needs the sleep.”

      “Who’s coming for dinner tonight?” Catherine asked.

      “Ray Mendez. He’s a local rancher and a neighbor. In fact, he’ll be here any minute.”

      “Thanks for the heads-up.” As Eva closed the bedroom door, Catherine raked her fingers through her hair, her nails catching on a couple of snags in her long curls. She probably looked a fright, with eyes puffy from sleep, but she wouldn’t stress about it. This was supposed to be a vacation of sorts.

      Ever since her arrival on the ranch, she’d decided to go au natural—no makeup, no fancy hairstyles. She was also kicking back for a change—no schedules, no grueling workouts, no rehearsals. And quite frankly, she was looking forward to having a break from the hectic life she’d once known in Manhattan.

      Catherine rolled to the side of the bed and got to her feet. Then she straightened the pillows, as well as the coverlet, before opening the door and stepping into the hall.

      She’d taken only two steps when the doorbell rang. The rancher had just arrived. Wanting to make herself useful, she detoured to answer the door. What had Eva said his name was? Ray something.

      Catherine had never met any of the Walkers’ neighbors, but she assumed Ray must be one of Hank’s friends. Hank, Dan’s elderly uncle, who’d once owned the ranch and now lived in a guesthouse Dan had built for him, always ate dinner with them in the main dining room.

      Not seeing anyone else in the room, Catherine opened the front door.

      She expected to see a weathered rancher who resembled Dan’s uncle, a sweet but crotchety old cowboy who reminded her of Robert Duvall when he’d played in Lonesome Dove or Open Range. But nothing had prepared her for the tall, dark-haired visitor who stood on the porch.

      The man, whose expression revealed that he was just as surprised to see her as she was to see him, didn’t look anything like the grizzled Texan she’d envisioned just moments before. At first glance, he bore enough resemblance to Antonio Banderas to be his younger brother—all decked out in Western wear, of course.

      A sense of awkwardness rose up inside, and she tried to tamp it down the best she could. She might be dressed like a barefoot street urchin in a pair of gray sweatpants, an old NYU T-shirt and no makeup to speak of, but she was actually an accomplished woman who’d