Kristi Gold - Expecting The Rancher's Baby?

Everything’s bigger in Texas, even surprises!

Rodeo superstar Houston Calloway lives to chase championships. But an injury sends him straight to Jill Amherst, aka world’s toughest athletic trainer, then home to the sprawling family estate—with Jill in tow. Of course his brother offered her a job at the ranch. She’s highly qualified, but now Houston can’t get the green-eyed beauty out of his mind.

Rolling in the hay with Houston is a lot more fun than butting heads on the rodeo circuit. But unexpected consequences have Jill wondering what’s next with this bull-riding risk taker. Can he find a new dream to chase—a family of his own?

Expecting the Rancher’s Baby? is part of the Texas Extreme series.

He looked up from the last bite to find Jill staring at him.

“That hit the spot,” he said.

“I can tell, and you weren’t kidding when you said you would eat those pancakes fast.” She was obviously amused.

“Good food and good company. Nothing better after a long night.”

A long, frustrating night, in this case. He hated the damn cast on his wrist and the fact he could be out of commission for weeks, if not months. He really hated that he didn’t know Jill well enough to kiss her good morning. Or good night. Or all day.

Where the hell had that thought come from?

“I bet I know exactly what you’re thinking, Houston Calloway.”

Only if she could read minds, and he sure hoped she couldn’t. “Huh?”

“You’re lamenting the fact you’re injured.”

He wasn’t too injured to stop fantasizing about her.

* * *

Expecting the Rancher’s Baby?is part of the Texas Extreme series: Six rich and sexy cowboy brothers live—and love—to the extreme!

Expecting the Rancher’s Baby?

Kristi Gold

www.millsandboon.co.uk

KRISTI GOLDhas a fondness for beaches, baseball and bridal reality shows. She firmly believes that love has remarkable healing powers, and she feels very fortunate to be able to weave stories of love and commitment. As a bestselling author, a National Readers’ Choice Award winner and a three-time Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, Kristi has learned that although accolades are wonderful, the most cherished rewards come from networking with readers. She can be reached through her website at www.kristigold.com, or through Facebook.

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To my daughter, Kendall—I am so proud of the woman you’ve become. And to my dear friend and fellow author Kathy D. for all the brainstorming on this particular book. Couldn’t have done it without you...again.

Many thanks to my daughter, Kendall, MLA, ATC, LAT, for all the endless technical questions during the making of this book. Any errors in interpretation are definitely my own.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Everything’s bigger in Texas, even surprises! Rodeo superstar Houston Calloway lives to chase championships. But an injury sends him straight to Jill Amherst, aka world’s toughest athletic trainer, then home to the sprawling family estate—with Jill in tow. Of course his brother offered her a job at the ranch. She’s highly qualified, but now Houston can’t get the green-eyed beauty out of his mind. Rolling in the hay with Houston is a lot more fun than butting heads on the rodeo circuit. But unexpected consequences have Jill wondering what’s next with this bull-riding risk taker. Can he find a new dream to chase—a family of his own? Expecting the Rancher’s Baby? is part of the Texas Extreme series.

Introduction He looked up from the last bite to find Jill staring at him. “That hit the spot,” he said. “I can tell, and you weren’t kidding when you said you would eat those pancakes fast.” She was obviously amused. “Good food and good company. Nothing better after a long night.” A long, frustrating night, in this case. He hated the damn cast on his wrist and the fact he could be out of commission for weeks, if not months. He really hated that he didn’t know Jill well enough to kiss her good morning. Or good night. Or all day. Where the hell had that thought come from? “I bet I know exactly what you’re thinking, Houston Calloway.” Only if she could read minds, and he sure hoped she couldn’t. “Huh?” “You’re lamenting the fact you’re injured.” He wasn’t too injured to stop fantasizing about her. * * * Expecting the Rancher’s Baby? is part of the Texas Extreme series: Six rich and sexy cowboy brothers live—and love—to the extreme!

Title Page Expecting the Rancher’s Baby? Kristi Gold www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author KRISTI GOLD has a fondness for beaches, baseball and bridal reality shows. She firmly believes that love has remarkable healing powers, and she feels very fortunate to be able to weave stories of love and commitment. As a bestselling author, a National Readers’ Choice Award winner and a three-time Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, Kristi has learned that although accolades are wonderful, the most cherished rewards come from networking with readers. She can be reached through her website at www.kristigold.com , or through Facebook.

Dedication To my daughter, Kendall—I am so proud of the woman you’ve become. And to my dear friend and fellow author Kathy D. for all the brainstorming on this particular book. Couldn’t have done it without you...again. Many thanks to my daughter, Kendall, MLA, ATC, LAT, for all the endless technical questions during the making of this book. Any errors in interpretation are definitely my own.

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Extract

Copyright

One

He wore his cowboy charisma like a practiced charmer, but the storm in his dark eyes told Jillian Amherst this rugged risk taker wasn’t completely immune to pain.

When Houston Calloway strode across the first-aid tent, his black hat tipped low on his brow, the licensed athletic trainer in Jill noticed the gash in his well-worn jeans above his right knee, and that his right hand was wrapped around his left wrist below the cuff of the red shirt. Had she not been a professional, she would have only noticed his confident gait, the shading of whiskers surrounding his mouth and his above-average height. But she was a professional and always had been.

Besides, as a member of an elite rodeo medical program, Jill had treated the likes of him before. In fact, she’d treated him before. Several times. The ever-popular rodeo superstar had enough bull-riding championship trophies to fill a football stadium and several concussions on his injury résumé. He also had a penchant for being an uncooperative patient, something she’d discovered the hard way over the past two years.

Jill rolled her chair back from the counter, swiveled completely around to face him and suppressed a frown. “What is it this time, Mr. Calloway?”

He worked his way onto the exam table across from her without an invitation. “Got my left hand caught in the rope when I was trying to get my right hand free, and I took a horn to my leg. But I made it to the buzzer.”