Meg Maxwell - Mummy and the Maverick

And Daddy Makes Five

Rust Creek Ramblings

In a town as small as Rust Creek Falls, it would be hard not to notice the new millionaire on Main Street, even if he wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous. But bachelor Autry Jones does not disappoint—he’s every bit as handsome as his settled-down brothers Walker and Hudson. However, this business-minded CEO not only shies away from commitment, he’s also heading for Paris in a month. So why is he keeping company with Marissa Fuller, a young widow with three daughters?

Marissa and Autry have made a “no-strings/just friends” agreement, but Abby, Kiera and Kaylee clearly have other ideas. Can a dedicated tycoon find happiness with a mom and her kids? We here at the Gazette are hopeful. Some contracts were made to be broken!

“What about you, Marissa? What would make you happy?”

“When my crew is happy, I’m happy.” She smiled. “I guess it’s hard to separate one from the other. It’s been a long time since it’s been just me, you know?

“What would make me happy?” She paused and looked at him, and she was pretty sure her answer was written all over her face.

He sucked in a breath and leaned close and kissed her. She kissed him back, grateful for their secluded corner.

“Just for tonight,” she said.

“Just for tonight.”

She kissed him again, her hands on his face, everything she felt going into the fierce kiss. “No strings attached,” she whispered.

“That’s always been the case,” he said.

No strings. She’d shake on that again, but not on being friends. She couldn’t be casual friends with Autry, not after this, and certainly not after they made love.

“Maybe we should take this conversation upstairs,” he said.

“I think we’re done talking,” she whispered and kissed him again.

* * *

Montana Mavericks:The Great Family Roundup— Real cowboys and real love in Rust Creek Falls!

Mummy and the Maverick

Meg Maxwell

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MEG MAXWELL lives on the coast of Maine with her teenage son, their beagle and their black-and-white cat. When she’s not writing, Meg is either reading, at the movies or thinking up new story ideas on her favorite little beach (even in winter) just minutes from her house. Interesting fact: Meg Maxwell is a pseudonym for author Melissa Senate, whose women’s fiction titles have been published in over twenty-five countries.

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In memory of my beloved grandparents.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text And Daddy Makes Five Rust Creek Ramblings In a town as small as Rust Creek Falls, it would be hard not to notice the new millionaire on Main Street, even if he wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous. But bachelor Autry Jones does not disappoint—he’s every bit as handsome as his settled-down brothers Walker and Hudson. However, this business-minded CEO not only shies away from commitment, he’s also heading for Paris in a month. So why is he keeping company with Marissa Fuller, a young widow with three daughters? Marissa and Autry have made a “no-strings/just friends” agreement, but Abby, Kiera and Kaylee clearly have other ideas. Can a dedicated tycoon find happiness with a mom and her kids? We here at the Gazette are hopeful. Some contracts were made to be broken!

Introduction “What about you, Marissa? What would make you happy?” “When my crew is happy, I’m happy.” She smiled. “I guess it’s hard to separate one from the other. It’s been a long time since it’s been just me, you know? “What would make me happy?” She paused and looked at him, and she was pretty sure her answer was written all over her face. He sucked in a breath and leaned close and kissed her. She kissed him back, grateful for their secluded corner. “Just for tonight,” she said. “Just for tonight.” She kissed him again, her hands on his face, everything she felt going into the fierce kiss. “No strings attached,” she whispered. “That’s always been the case,” he said. No strings. She’d shake on that again, but not on being friends. She couldn’t be casual friends with Autry, not after this, and certainly not after they made love. “Maybe we should take this conversation upstairs,” he said. “I think we’re done talking,” she whispered and kissed him again. * * * Montana Mavericks: The Great Family Roundup— Real cowboys and real love in Rust Creek Falls!

Title Page Mummy and the Maverick Meg Maxwell www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author MEG MAXWELL lives on the coast of Maine with her teenage son, their beagle and their black-and-white cat. When she’s not writing, Meg is either reading, at the movies or thinking up new story ideas on her favorite little beach (even in winter) just minutes from her house. Interesting fact: Meg Maxwell is a pseudonym for author Melissa Senate, whose women’s fiction titles have been published in over twenty-five countries.

Dedication In memory of my beloved grandparents.

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Autry Jones stood on the sidewalk in front of Just Us Kids Day Care Center, trying to process that his family’s corporation, the venerable Jones Holdings, Inc. was in the day care business. And that he was about to walk inside the building.

Autry and children didn’t mix. Joneses and children weren’t supposed to mix, but somehow, two of his four brothers had not only settled down with wives in this small Montana town, but were heavily invested in a day care franchise.

Autry took off his aviator-style sunglasses and tucked them in his pocket. He sucked in a breath and pulled open the front door.

There were babies everywhere.

Well, little humans, Autry amended, as he stepped inside and glanced around the main room. And only a handful of them, now that he actually counted. A big-cheeked baby was in a woman’s arms. A toddler wearing a shirt decorated with a cartoon monkey was building a tower of cardboard blocks. A little girl with bright red pigtails sat at a pint-size table, drawing a picture of a house and the sun with a smiley face in the center.

The middle-aged woman holding the baby smiled at him and walked over. He read her name tag: Miss Marley.

“Hi, Miss Marley,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Autry Jones. My—”

The woman grinned and shifted the baby in her arms. “No introductions necessary, Autry. You’re Walker and Hudson’s brother. I’d know a Jones brother anywhere. They mentioned you were flying in today. But you just missed them. They left for Ace in the Hole. Everyone in town is getting together there for a viewing party.”