The Cowboy's Pride and Joy. Maureen Child

      

       Cassie was back.

      Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and as Jake adjusted to the shock of finding her on his front steps, he finally noticed what she was holding.

      A baby.

      Wrapped toe to neck in some kind of zip-up covering, all Jake could see of the child were big blue eyes—just like his own.

      A jolt of emotions shot through him so hard he gripped the doorknob tight to keep from falling over in shock.

      “What the hell?”

      “Jake,” Cassie said, “meet your son. Luke.”

      “My son?” Silently, Jake congratulated himself on the control keeping his voice from raging with the fury erupting inside him.

      He couldn’t believe this. For a year and a half, this woman had haunted him, waking and sleeping. Hell, he’d hardly known her and shouldn’t have given her another thought once she was gone. But he had.

      He’d even fantasized a couple times about seeing her here again.

      He just had never imagined her carrying his child along with her.

      His child. He had a son.

      * * *

      The Cowboy’s Pride and Joy is part of the No.1 bestselling miniseries from Mills & Boon^® Desire^™—Billionaires & Babies: Powerful men … wrapped around their babies’ little fingers.

      The Cowboy’s Pride and Joy

      Maureen Child

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MAUREEN CHILD writes for the Mills & Boon^® Desire^™ line and can’t imagine a better job. Being able to indulge your love for romance, as well as being able to spin stories just the way you want them told, is—in a word—perfect.

      A seven-time finalist for the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA^® Award, Maureen is the author of more than one hundred romance novels. Her books regularly appear on the bestseller lists and have won several awards, including a Prism, a National Readers’ Choice Award, a Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence and a Golden Quill.

      One of her books, The Soul Collector, was made into a CBS TV movie starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis. If you look closely, in the last five minutes of the movie, you’ll spot Maureen, who was an extra in the last scene.

      Maureen believes that laughter goes hand in hand with love, so her stories are always filled with humor. The many letters she receives assure her that her readers love to laugh as much as she does.

      Maureen Child is a native Californian, but has recently moved to the mountains of Utah. She loves a new adventure, though the thought of having to deal with snow for the first time is a little intimidating.

      MILLS & BOON

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      This book is dedicated to my grand-dog, Bristow.

       Funny, sweet, loyal, Bristow loves with his whole heart and we’re so glad to have him in our family.

      Contents

       Cover

       Introduction

       Title Page

       About the Author

       Dedication

One

Two

       Three

       Four

       Five

       Six

       Seven

       Eight

       Nine

       Ten

       Epilogue

       Extract

       Copyright

       One

      “When Boston comes to Montana, it’s never a good thing.” Jake Hunter frowned into the distance.

      “You always were too hard on your mother.”

      Jake turned his head to look at the older man standing beside him. At seventy-five years old, Ben Hawkins didn’t stand as straight and tall as he once had. But he still had a full head of snow-white hair, piercing blue eyes, and a face weathered and tanned from years of working in the sun.

      “And you were always too soft on her.”

      Ben shrugged that away with a half smile. “She’s my daughter.”

      “There is that.” Jake nodded. “Anyway, if it all goes as promised, this will be the last time Boston comes calling for anything but a family visit.”

      “I’ve got to ask. Are you sure about this?” Ben pulled the collar of his coat up higher around his neck against the cold autumn wind. “I mean, what you’re planning can’t be changed. You’re signing away your rights to the business your family built.”

      “Oh,” Jake assured him, “I’m sure. This has been a long time coming, Pop.” Jake shook his head. “Hunter Media has