A Family, At Last. Susan Crosby

on>

      

      USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Crosby brings you a story of complex family ties and a couple brought together by one adorable little girl in the newest installment of her Red Valley Rancher miniseries!

      When Karyn Lambert appears on Vaughn Ryder’s doorstep, claiming to be his little girl’s aunt, he can hardly turn her away. Instead, the guarded rancher invites her to stay, and soon they’re engaged in a battle of the sexes, each trying to prove how good they are with little Cassidy…as well as fighting the raging attraction that blooms the instant Karyn steps over the threshold!

      For years Vaughn has been focused only on being the perfect father. Now the bubbly personal shopper has taken hold of his heart, and he wonders if they might be able to create the perfect family for Cassidy—and each other. Not just out of blood connections—but out of true love….

      He crouched, bringing himself eye to eye with her. “I thought you were going to bed.”

      “I wanted to finish this first.”

      He turned the pad around. “Is that how you see me?”

      “Do you find fault with it?” Oh, he was so close. Close enough to steal a kiss before he could back away, if she dared.

      “You make me look younger than I feel.”

      “A little bit of gray at the temples doesn’t age you.” She brushed at the gray with her fingers, then let them drift over his ears and down his jaw.

      He drew a quick breath. “We can’t do this,” he said roughly, capturing her hand, holding it.

      “Do what?”

      “Any of this. It’s too complicated. We barely know each other.”

      He was right, of course. What had gotten into her? It would be crazy—

      “When we have the test results and know what we’re dealing with, then we can make conscious, thought-out decisions,” he added.

      “You talk too much, cowboy lawyer.”

      He laughed softly and stood. It was obvious he wanted her. She hadn’t overestimated him, not in the sketch and not in her mind.

      She didn’t want him to reject her, nor did she want to confuse their situation, so she got up from the chair and left, not looking back once, knowing he watched her, excited by the idea.

      And hopefully leaving him wanting more.

      Dear Reader,

      A Family, At Last is the second book in my Red Valley Ranchers series, and features another Ryder brother, Vaughn, who is about as opposite of my heroine as anyone can be. Does that stop them from falling in love, or do their differences enhance the relationship?

      Since this is a romance novel, the answer is clear, but how they get there, how they learn to embrace each other’s differences, is the fun part. Plus, at the heart of the story is six-year-old Cassidy, who was doing fine with just her father but who blooms when Karyn Lambert comes into her life.

      I love these kinds of transformations, whether adult or child. I hope you do, too.

      Susan

      A Family,

      At Last

      Susan Crosby

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      SUSAN CROSBY believes in the value of setting goals, but also in the magic of making wishes, which often do come true—as long as she works hard enough. Along life’s journey she’s done a lot of the usual things—married, had children, attended college a little later than the average co-ed and earned a BA in English. Then she dove off the deep end into a full-time writing career, a wish come true.

      Susan enjoys writing about people who take a chance on love, sometimes against all odds. She loves warm, strong heroes and good-hearted, self-reliant heroines, and she will always believe in happily-ever-after.

      More can be learned about her at www.susancrosby.com.

      MILLS & BOON

       Before you start reading, why not sign up?

      Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

       SIGN ME UP!

      Or simply visit

      signup.millsandboon.co.uk

      Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

      With gratitude to Mary & Jim Rickert and Mark Estes

      of Prather Ranch, who believe in running a humane

      operation, because it’s good for the animals, the land

      and the people, and who were so generous with their

      time and expertise.

      And to my Lunch Bunch—

      Lori, Nancy, Sheryl and Virginia. We’ve shared it all!

      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

       Chapter Fourteen

       Chapter Fifteen

       Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter One

      Karyn Lambert took yet another look at her rearview mirror. No doubt about it. She was being followed. Maneuvering her Beetle through heavy 6:00 p.m. traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard, she changed lanes—and so did the black SUV that had been tailing