Tina Leonard - The Cowboy SEAL's Triplets

He supposed he and Daisy, the daughter of the richest man in Bridesmaids Creek, didn’t have a whole lot of common ground, anyway—which was why she’d never particularly gone for him, except under cover of darkness. John’s father and his grandfather and his father before him had been clowns and barrel men, with the occasional bullfighter gig thrown into the mix. His mother was a cowboy preacher, her three boys sitting in the front pews without fail.

Maybe that was why the Hanging H meant so much to him. It was permanent. Well, it had almost not been permanent, thanks to Daisy and her greedy father, Robert. John raised his phone, snapping a photo of the snow-laden house. It was tall and white in Victorian splendor, its heavy gingerbread detail charming and old-world. Four tall turrets stretched to the sky, and the upstairs mullioned windows sparkled in the sunshine. The wide wraparound porch was painted sky blue, and a white wicker sofa with blue cushions beckoned visitors to sit and enjoy the view. A collection of wrought-iron roosters sat nearby in a welcoming clutch, and the bristly doormat with a big burgundy H announced the Hawthorne name, which Suz and Mackenzie had been before their marriages. Their parents had built this farm up years ago, as well as the business they’d started here—the Haunted H, a popular carnival and play place for families.

Nothing had changed, which was comforting. And Robert Donovan hadn’t managed to take over the Hanging H, though he and Daisy had given it plenty of effort.

Sometimes John felt as if he’d been in lust with the enemy. He was just so drawn to Daisy, it was as if all that bad-girl-calling vibe shook him down to his knees.

There’d been something of a happy ending, as recently as December, when Suz and Cisco had retied the knot. Robert Donovan had had some kind of epiphany, deciding that he didn’t want to be the town bully anymore, and sold the Hanging H back to Suz and Mackenzie for a dollar—though he’d moved heaven and hell to take over the property in the beginning.

Rumor had it that Daisy had turned, deciding she was no longer going to be the Diva of Destruction, and convinced her father—who was already developing a huge soft spot due to his newly acquired desire to be considered a beloved grandfather—that he didn’t want to be the town Grinch anymore.

John snapped one last photo, sighed at the memories of the only place that had ever felt like a true home to him, and put his phone away. Then he headed off without another look back, to return to the only other home he’d ever known.

A small trailer he’d recently heard was somewhere just outside of Santa Fe.

He’d be safe there—safe from his heart begging him to make love to Daisy anytime night fell to cover their sin.

* * *

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, he just left?” Daisy hopped off her stool and ran to the window. Sure enough, there went Squint’s truck, hauling down the drive fast enough to make the truck bed lurch. A little concern jumped inside her, but then she calmed it. No doubt he’d just gone to grab a bite at The Wedding Diner. Or gone to see Madame and Monsieur Matchmaker—though now that they were divorced, perhaps it was fair to say that they were no longer Bridesmaids Creek’s special matchmakers. Daisy gulped. That split could probably be laid square at her and her father’s door, as they’d taken over the establishment where Madame Matchmaker’s Premier Matchmaking Services, and Monsieur Unmatchmaker’s Services, had once been housed. Now her gang had the space, and they’d put in a hopping cigar bar, sort of a pickup meet-and-get-sweet kind of place that doubled as a dating service and hangout.

There was no going back now.

Somehow she’d have to win the townspeople over, make up for a lot of the wrong she’d done. Daisy went back to sit with her gang, looking around at the five men who professed themselves in love with her.

“Listen, fellows. We’ve had a long, good run together.” Daisy took a deep breath. “But things are going to have to change.”

“Change?” Gabriel sat up. “What kind of change?”

There’d have to be lots of change if she was going to convince Bridesmaids Creek that she was a new woman. “Change. As much as possible.”

“I don’t like it.” Red shook his head. “We’ve got a great thing going, the six of us.”

Yes, but they didn’t know that she’d been diving under the sheets with Squint. And the lovemaking was fantastic. Mind-blowing. Once she’d gotten through the smoke and haze of trying to keep Suz and Cisco apart—what had she been thinking?—she’d realized the hunky, tall, saddle-brown-eyed Squint was a really sexy guy. Supersexy, to the point of being mouthwatering. And when he kissed her, she melted. Like a puddle of snow in hot sun. “It can’t be the six of us anymore.”

They looked alarmed. “But we’re so good together,” Carson said.

She shook her head. “Actually, we’re not. We were the misfits and outcasts together. But that’s not what I want to be anymore.”

“Whoa,” Clint said. “It’s Squint, isn’t it? John Lopez Mathison is getting inside your head.”

Daisy jumped. “Of course not!”

“It was Branch Winters,” Dig said darkly. “Every time you go to Montana to his retreat, you change. That was when it started, when you went chasing up there after Cisco. You came home different.”

“Yeah,” Red said. “You came home not mooning after Cisco anymore. And not really wanting to hang out with us, either.”

Daisy got up. They were right, of course. Branch’s place in Montana was a spiritual retreat where warriors of all kinds went to reboot. She’d gone to throw a few wrenches into Cisco’s works—and found a few thrown in hers instead. It was hard to explain Branch. He sort of lived on the metaphysical, and sometimes hippie, edge of life—but he’d helped her see that she was operating out of fear of never belonging in Bridesmaids Creek.

And only she could change that.

“It’s going to be okay, for all of us,” Daisy said softly, going to the door. “But change is in the wind. It has to be.”

She went outside into the cold February chill, knowing this was the right path—if she was ever going to make John Lopez “Squint” Mathison believe that it was him with whom she’d been in love all along.

She didn’t know if there was enough magic in Bridesmaids Creek to convince him, but she had to try.

Chapter Two Contents Cover Introduction “It wasn’t my intention to rope you into a wedding.” “Why didn’t you tell me you were expecting in the first place, Daisy? Why’d you leave?” “I left because it was Crazy Town around here. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.” “It’s always Crazy Town. You can’t expect BC to change, Daisy.” “I didn’t tell you, because you shouldn’t feel compelled to marry me. I don’t need a husband.” “And yet, you’re going to have a husband.” John frowned at her. “Daisy Donovan, you’re going to marry me, next weekend as a matter of fact. Enough lollygagging and floating around. I’ve pursued you for years, and whether you want to admit it or not, you’ve enjoyed being the princess of my passion.” She raised a brow. “I’m not getting married.” Title Page The Cowboy SEAL’s Triplets Tina Leonard www.millsandboon.co.uk About the Author TINA LEONARD is a USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning author of more than fifty projects, including several popular miniseries for the Mills & Boon ® Cherish™ line. Known for bad-boy heroes and smart, adventurous heroines, her books have made the USA TODAY, Waldenbooks, Ingram and Nielsen BookScan bestseller lists. Born on a military base, Tina lived in many states before eventually marrying the boy who did her crayon printing for her in the first grade. You can visit her at www.tinaleonard.com , and follow her on Facebook and Twitter. Dedication For the many wonderful readers who so enthusiastically and kindly supported my work from day one—I thank you from the bottom of my heart. 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 Epilogue Extract Copyright