Sara Orwig - The Ransomes - Matt, Nick and Katherine

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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.

Cover

Title Page The Ransomes: Matt, Nick and Katherine Pregnant with the First Heir Revenge of the Second Son Scandals from the Third Bride Sara Orwig www.millsandboon.co.uk

Pregnant with the First Heir

About the Author SARA ORWIG lives in Oklahoma. She has a patient husband who will take her on research trips anywhere, from big cities to old forts. She is an avid collector of Western history books. With a master’s degree in English, Sara has written historical romance, mainstream fiction and contemporary romance. Books are beloved treasures that take Sara to magical worlds, and she loves both reading and writing them.

Dedication With many thanks to Melissa Jeglinski and to Jessica Alvarez.

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Epilogue

Revenge of the Second Son

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Epilogue

Scandals from the Third Bride

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Epilogue

Copyright

SARA ORWIGlives in Oklahoma. She has a patient husband who will take her on research trips anywhere, from big cities to old forts. She is an avid collector of Western history books. With a master’s degree in English, Sara has written historical romance, mainstream fiction and contemporary romance. Books are beloved treasures that take Sara to magical worlds, and she loves both reading and writing them.

With many thanks to Melissa Jeglinski and to Jessica Alvarez.

She was born to please a man.

The auburn-haired waitress behind the wooden counter had lush, come-hither looks. Her pouty lips promised sexual gratification. The sensual way of moving her ripe body made a man think of hot sex. Judging by her flat stomach, it was difficult to believe that she was three months pregnant. Her cutoffs revealed long, shapely legs that added to her appeal. At ten o’clock on a July Saturday night, male customers in the smoke-filled Texas honky-tonk constantly watched her move around the room. Matthew Ransome was certain that Olivia Brennan was so accustomed to men staring at her that she wouldn’t wonder about his glances.

In the red T-shirt and cutoffs that was her uniform at Two-Steppin’ Ribs, she waited on a customer in a nearby booth. Three musicians played country-western music while boot-scooting couples circled the dance floor. Even though he occasionally chatted with passing friends, Matt’s attention remained focused on Olivia.

In the time since he had arrived and ordered his rib dinner, slowly eating and sipping one cold beer, Matt had watched half a dozen men hit on her. Some touched her, taking her hand or her wrist, patting her rear. She twisted free, or shaking her head, sidestepped groping hands, and he guessed she was being asked either to go out after work or—judging from the rough crowd—to have sex. He was surprised by her solemnity. She rarely gave more than the most perfunctory smile, not at all what he had imagined about her.

Matt watched locals he knew—Pug Mosley, the manager of the honky-tonk, openly flirted with her and several times during the evening let his hand brush her bottom. Once she spun around, telling him something. He grinned, shrugged and said something in return before he walked away in his usual swagger.

Fighting the urge to step in when Pug talked to Olivia, Matt intended to keep his approach to her low-key.

From what he had learned about her from the Fort Worth private detective he had hired a week ago, she wasn’t dating anyone and there hadn’t been a man in her life since Matt’s brother Jeff. Matt found that difficult to believe except he had great faith in his P.I. With her body and mane of unruly auburn hair, she looked sexy and wild, like a woman with many partners.

Jeff could get mixed up with some shady people and seldom had there been a woman in his life that he had brought home. Including Olivia, who was carrying Jeff’s child.

Nearing midnight, another local drifted to Olivia, just as obviously flirting with her as other men had. And received the same reception that was so cold Matt could discern her response without hearing a word of her conversation. Since she had been unreceptive to every man in the place, Matt reassessed his opinion of her as easy. He had never seen a female his younger brother couldn’t charm, but Matt was beginning to wonder if Jeff was one of few men with whom she had ever had a relationship. Matt’s opinion of her climbed a notch.

A small voice inside Matt insisted that he walk away now and never look back. Logically, he knew he should forget Olivia Brennan, but he couldn’t any more than he could stop breathing.

Finally, after midnight, she was alone, standing behind the counter with no one around her. Silently warning himself he was seeking a hell of a lot of trouble, he slid out of the booth and circled the dance floor, crossing the room beneath revolving ceiling fans.

When he stopped in front of her, she looked up at him, turning the full force of big green eyes on him. Even in the dim light of the honky-tonk, he was mesmerized, and for a moment, she seemed as ensnared as he.

Attraction, as hot and tangible as a lightning flash, burst between them. The bar and people around them vanished from Matt’s consciousness while he focused totally on her. Desire aroused him, a startling need to explore every inch of her ripe body and her sensual mouth. Once again, he knew why his brother had been attracted to her and why every man in the place seemed aware of her. She exuded a blatant sexuality that was all the more powerful up close.

While seconds passed, she stood as still as he did. Then, inhaling deeply, she turned her head, and the eye contact was broken.

As she started to walk away, Matt regained his wits.

“Wait—” he said. When she paused, he held out his hand. “I’m Jeff’s brother Matt.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry about your brother,” she stated coolly without taking Matt’s hand. Once again, she moved on.

“Wait a minute. I want to talk to you,” Matt said, catching up with her. “When do you get off work?” As silence stretched between them, even in the dim light, he saw the flash of fury in the depths of her eyes.

“Look, Jeff and I parted ways a while back,” she said. “I don’t know why you found me, but there was no longer anything between Jeff and me. You and I have nothing to talk about.” Her words poured out swiftly in a throaty voice that was as sexy as everything else about her.