The Sheriff's Christmas Twins. Karen Kirst

      

      Holiday Baby Blessings

      Convinced that Allison Ashworth deserves better, Sheriff Shane Timmons has always tried to remain aloof around his childhood companion. But with Allison in Gatlinburg for the holidays, insisting on caring for two motherless babies, Shane feels obliged to help her. How can he keep his distance when she and the children are quickly becoming the family he never dared to wish for?

      As a girl, Allison was drawn to the wary yet handsome Shane, who never seemed to look her way. But in spending time with him and two sweet babies, she might yet find a chink in the confirmed bachelor’s armor. Every shared moment gives Allison hope that this Christmas, her dreams of motherhood—and a life with Shane—may finally be coming true.

      He touched her shoulder, and she whirled on him.

      “I have to be honest, Shane. I hate that you see me as a burdensome child. Every time you sigh and huff and roll your eyes, I’m tempted to throttle you.”

      He stared at her. “I’m sorry.”

      He was sorry that he wasn’t a different man, one who knew how to trust and love and have normal relationships. He was sorry he hadn’t done a better job of hiding his unease around Allison.

      She began to dig in her reticule, her frustration evident. He pulled the key from his pocket and held it up.

      “Looking for this?”

      When she went to snatch it from him, he held it out of reach. “For the record, I don’t see you as a burdensome child.”

      “Oh?” Her chin jerked up, her hair gleaming in the night. “How do you see me, Shane?”

      He strove for a rare moment of honesty between them. The fact she couldn’t see his face helped. “As an intelligent, caring, gorgeous woman who makes me wish I was a better man.”

      KAREN KIRST was born and raised in East Tennessee near the Great Smoky Mountains. A lifelong lover of books, it wasn’t until after college that she had the grand idea to write one herself. Now she divides her time between being a wife, homeschooling mom and romance writer. Her favorite pastimes are reading, visiting tearooms and watching romantic comedies.

      The Sheriff’s Christmas Twins

      Karen Kirst

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      MILLS & BOON

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      For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

      —Romans 8:38–39

      To Teresa Bensch, sweet cousin and friend.

      And to editor extraordinaire Emily Rodmell.

      Your guidance makes all the difference.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       About the Author

       Title Page

       Bible Verse

       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

       Chapter Fifteen

       Chapter Sixteen

       Chapter Seventeen

       Chapter Eighteen

       Chapter Nineteen

       Chapter Twenty

       Chapter Twenty-One

       Chapter Twenty-Two

       Chapter Twenty-Three

       Chapter Twenty-Four

       Chapter Twenty-Five

       Chapter Twenty-Six

       Epilogue

       Dear Reader

       Extract