Yuletide Baby Bargain. Allison Leigh

      

      Christmas Miracle...or Christmas Mayhem?

      When Lincoln Swift finds a two-month-old infant on his doorstep, it’s panic time! Still, he takes the child in, believing she’s his MIA brother’s unless a DNA test proves otherwise. Then he turns to social worker and old friend Maddie Templeton for help. But his relationship with Maddie is complicated by past beefs and a present attraction that grows ever fiercer as they bond over the baby.

      Linc knows this instant family could be taken away from him in a heartbeat. Will he propose a more permanent arrangement to Maddie just for the baby’s sake? Or will she drive a hard bargain of her own, holding out for the truest Christmas gift a man could give?

      “I should have given you something to sleep in,” Linc said.

      “No need.” It was much too easy to imagine slipping one of Linc’s T-shirts over her head. Of course, it had been a fantasy that had fueled her teenage self for a long time. “It’s one night. I’m fine like this.”

      “Have you slept at all?”

      She nodded and stood. The spacious nursery felt much too close. “I think I’ll fix Layla a small bottle. Maybe she’ll sleep afterward. You want to hold her?”

      He immediately shoved his hands into his front pockets.

      She averted her eyes from the fine line of dark hair running downward from the flat indent of his navel and headed toward the doorway. “I’ll take that as a no.”

      “She’s happy with you.”

      He flipped on lights as they made their way to the kitchen. Before Maddie could mix up more formula, Linc did.

      She sat on one of the bar stools at the island and watched.

      And wondered some more.

      About him and Jax.

      About the nursery.

      About how the bare skin stretching over his shoulders would feel beneath her fingertips...

      * * *

      Return to the Double C: Under the big blue Wyoming sky, this family discovers true love

      Yuletide Baby Bargain

      Allison Leigh

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      A frequent name on bestseller lists, ALLISON LEIGH’s high point as a writer is hearing from readers that they laughed, cried or lost sleep while reading her books. She credits her family with great patience for the time she’s parked at her computer, and for blessing her with the kind of love she wants her readers to share with the characters living in the pages of her books. Contact her at www.allisonleigh.com.

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      For beautiful little Monroe Lea,

       who has been born into a wonderful family.

       Welcome to the world!

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       Title Page

       About the Author

       Dedication

       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

       Extract

       Copyright

       Chapter One

       “Are you a social worker or not?”

      Maddie Templeton’s jaw tightened at the impatient words being spat at her through the phone line. She wished she could pretend she didn’t recognize the owner of the voice.

      This was the last thing she needed. She’d already spent the entire day dealing with tying up troublesome details at work before a forced two-week vacation. Then she’d rushed