Barbara White Daille - The Cowboy's Triple Surprise

A BIG SURPRISE—TIMES THREE!

The last time rodeo cowboy Tyler Buckham was in Cowboy Creek, he spent a steamy night with local beauty Shay O’Neill. Back in town for a quick visit, he’s hoping they’ll have another go-around before he heads for his next rodeo. But seeing Shay pregnant—with triplets!—leaves Tyler feeling as if his best horse has kicked him in the gut.

Shay swore she wouldn’t fall for an unreliable cowboy, and Tyler’s playboy past makes him even less likely to settle down. The whole town conspires to push them together, and Tyler insists he wants to do his duty by Shay and the triplets, but Shay knows she can’t count on promises from a cowboy. Besides, Tyler never once mentioned the word love...

“Why are you here?” Shay fought to keep her voice steady.

“Maybe I had the urge for dessert.” Tyler grinned.

“Then you’ll find more of a selection at SugarPie’s.”

“Could be. But maybe what I want’s right here.”

Once, she would have fallen for that line and hoped he wanted her. She was so over that now. So over him.

She slid open the freezer case and reached for an empty ice cream tub. It gave her an excuse to avoid his blue-eyed stare.

But Tyler stepped up beside her. “I’ll get that.”

“Thanks, but I’m pregnant, not incapacitated.”

“I didn’t think you were.” He closed the freezer door. “Let’s just say I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine.”

He looked away, as if he’d only now realized what he had said. He cleared his throat and looked back at her. “I’ll take care of this, then you can take care of a few things for me.”

Unfortunately, his attempt to make his point clearer only filled her mind with more images and memories of their night together.

Suddenly, Shay didn’t feel quite so over Tyler Buckham.

Dear Reader Dear Reader 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 Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Epilogue Extract Copyright ,

If you’ve visited Cowboy Creek before, welcome back! And if this is your first time dropping in, have fun meeting Grandpa Jed and the rest of the gang at the Hitching Post Hotel.

As a writer, I love throwing my characters into the absolute worst situations for them. Take our heroine, Shay O’Neill, for example. She has sworn never to fall for a cowboy, and yet a smooth-talking wrangler steals her heart. For once in her life, she lets that heart rule her head. Then the playboy leaves town without a backward glance long before she discovers she’s pregnant.

Rodeo rider Tyler Buckham is in for a few surprises of his own. As he has more reasons than most men for not wanting to settle down, he avoids permanent entanglements and always takes the proper precautions. But upon his return to Cowboy Creek, he learns the hard way that even the best-laid plans can fall to pieces...

I hope you enjoy Tyler’s and Shay’s attempts to put aside their differences to do what’s best for their not one, not two, but three newborn babies.

You can find out more about the folks from the Hitching Post Hotel, as well as all my books, at: barbarawhitedaille.com. You can also reach me at my mailing address: PO Box 504, Gilbert, AZ 85299. I would love to hear from you!

All my best to you.

Until we meet again,

Barbara White Daille

THE COWBOY’S TRIPLE SURPRISE

Barbara White Daille

www.millsandboon.co.uk

BARBARA WHITE DAILLE and her husband still inhabit their own special corner of the wild, wild Southwest, where the summers are long and hot and the lizards and scorpions roam.

Barbara loves looking back at the short stories and two books she wrote in grade school and realizing that—except for the scorpions—she’s doing exactly what she planned. She has now hit double digits with published novels and still has a file drawer full of stories to be written.

As always, Barbara hopes you will enjoy reading her books! She would love to have you drop by for a visit at her website, barbarawhitedaille.com.

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To Marlene and Vinnie

for the years of friendship,

fun, love and laughter...

and to Rich for all the same and more.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A BIG SURPRISE—TIMES THREE! The last time rodeo cowboy Tyler Buckham was in Cowboy Creek, he spent a steamy night with local beauty Shay O’Neill. Back in town for a quick visit, he’s hoping they’ll have another go-around before he heads for his next rodeo. But seeing Shay pregnant—with triplets!—leaves Tyler feeling as if his best horse has kicked him in the gut. Shay swore she wouldn’t fall for an unreliable cowboy, and Tyler’s playboy past makes him even less likely to settle down. The whole town conspires to push them together, and Tyler insists he wants to do his duty by Shay and the triplets, but Shay knows she can’t count on promises from a cowboy. Besides, Tyler never once mentioned the word love...

Introduction “Why are you here?” Shay fought to keep her voice steady. “Maybe I had the urge for dessert.” Tyler grinned. “Then you’ll find more of a selection at SugarPie’s.” “Could be. But maybe what I want’s right here.” Once, she would have fallen for that line and hoped he wanted her. She was so over that now. So over him. She slid open the freezer case and reached for an empty ice cream tub. It gave her an excuse to avoid his blue-eyed stare. But Tyler stepped up beside her. “I’ll get that.” “Thanks, but I’m pregnant, not incapacitated.” “I didn’t think you were.” He closed the freezer door. “Let’s just say I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine.” He looked away, as if he’d only now realized what he had said. He cleared his throat and looked back at her. “I’ll take care of this, then you can take care of a few things for me.” Unfortunately, his attempt to make his point clearer only filled her mind with more images and memories of their night together. Suddenly, Shay didn’t feel quite so over Tyler Buckham.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader 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 Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Epilogue Extract Copyright , If you’ve visited Cowboy Creek before, welcome back! And if this is your first time dropping in, have fun meeting Grandpa Jed and the rest of the gang at the Hitching Post Hotel. As a writer, I love throwing my characters into the absolute worst situations for them. Take our heroine, Shay O’Neill, for example. She has sworn never to fall for a cowboy, and yet a smooth-talking wrangler steals her heart. For once in her life, she lets that heart rule her head. Then the playboy leaves town without a backward glance long before she discovers she’s pregnant. Rodeo rider Tyler Buckham is in for a few surprises of his own. As he has more reasons than most men for not wanting to settle down, he avoids permanent entanglements and always takes the proper precautions. But upon his return to Cowboy Creek, he learns the hard way that even the best-laid plans can fall to pieces... I hope you enjoy Tyler’s and Shay’s attempts to put aside their differences to do what’s best for their not one, not two, but three newborn babies. You can find out more about the folks from the Hitching Post Hotel, as well as all my books, at: barbarawhitedaille.com . You can also reach me at my mailing address: PO Box 504, Gilbert, AZ 85299. I would love to hear from you! All my best to you. Until we meet again, Barbara White Daille