Brenda Harlen - A Forever Kind of Family

The bouquet was enormous.

She smiled as she picked up the card, her eyes blurring with tears as she read it.

For my new mummy on her first Mother’s Day. Love, Oliver xoxo

She looked at Ryan. “Crayon?”

“Oliver doesn’t yet have the dexterity to hold a pen.” She shot him a look and he said, “Okay, but he wrote on the back.”

She saw the blue scribble there.

She kissed the little boy on the cheek.

“Thank you for the pretty flowers, Oliver.”

“Shouldn’t I get a thank-you, too?” Ryan asked.

“Thank you,” she said.

His brows lifted. “What about a kiss for me?”

She took a step closer and let her gaze settle on his lips. She’d thought about Oliver’s mum all day, how much she admired her friend’s willingness to go after what she wanted. She wished she could be that fearless and reach for what she wanted.

Ryan was so close, all she had to do was rise up on her toes and brush her lips against his. Then take his hand and lead him to her bedroom.

Could she be fearless enough to do it?

Those Engaging Garretts!The Carolina Cousins

A Forever Kind of Family

Brenda Harlen

www.millsandboon.co.uk

BRENDA HARLENis a former attorney who once had the privilege of appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada. The practice of law taught her a lot about the world and reinforced her determination to become a writer—because in fiction, she could promise a happy ending! Now she is an award-winning, national bestselling author of more than thirty titles for Mills & Boon. You can keep up-to-date with Brenda on Facebook and Twitter or through her website, www.brendaharlen.com.

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One of the best things about setting this book in the fictional town of Charisma, North Carolina, was that it gave me an excuse to visit that beautiful state and some wonderful friends who call it home.

In particular, I would like to dedicate this book to the lovely and immensely talented Virginia Kantra, with much appreciation for carving time out of her busy schedule to have lunch with me … which somehow extended to dinner … and I think there might have been wine …

Contents

Cover

Excerpt The bouquet was enormous. She smiled as she picked up the card, her eyes blurring with tears as she read it. For my new mummy on her first Mother’s Day. Love, Oliver xoxo She looked at Ryan. “Crayon?” “Oliver doesn’t yet have the dexterity to hold a pen.” She shot him a look and he said, “Okay, but he wrote on the back.” She saw the blue scribble there. She kissed the little boy on the cheek. “Thank you for the pretty flowers, Oliver.” “Shouldn’t I get a thank-you, too?” Ryan asked. “Thank you,” she said. His brows lifted. “What about a kiss for me?” She took a step closer and let her gaze settle on his lips. She’d thought about Oliver’s mum all day, how much she admired her friend’s willingness to go after what she wanted. She wished she could be that fearless and reach for what she wanted. Ryan was so close, all she had to do was rise up on her toes and brush her lips against his. Then take his hand and lead him to her bedroom. Could she be fearless enough to do it? Those Engaging Garretts! The Carolina Cousins

Title Page A Forever Kind of Family Brenda Harlen www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author BRENDA HARLEN is a former attorney who once had the privilege of appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada. The practice of law taught her a lot about the world and reinforced her determination to become a writer—because in fiction, she could promise a happy ending! Now she is an award-winning, national bestselling author of more than thirty titles for Mills & Boon. You can keep up-to-date with Brenda on Facebook and Twitter or through her website, www.brendaharlen.com .

Dedication One of the best things about setting this book in the fictional town of Charisma, North Carolina, was that it gave me an excuse to visit that beautiful state and some wonderful friends who call it home. In particular, I would like to dedicate this book to the lovely and immensely talented Virginia Kantra, with much appreciation for carving time out of her busy schedule to have lunch with me … which somehow extended to dinner … and I think there might have been wine …

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

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

The baby was crying.

Harper Ross jolted awake, her heart pounding and her throat aching.

After eighteen days—and eighteen nights—she should have been accustomed to Oliver’s middle-of-the-night outbursts, but she wasn’t. By this time, she’d expected to feel more comfortable with the baby and more confident about her ability to care for him, but she didn’t.

As the assistant producer of an award-winning television show, she wasn’t just competent but confident. When she was in the studio, she was in charge and in control. When she was with her best friend’s orphaned little boy, though, she felt completely helpless.

She didn’t know what to do for him, how to console him—or if anything could. She was completely out of her element with the child. When she’d learned that she was now responsible for sixteen-month-old Oliver—she’d panicked. She didn’t know the first thing about caring for a child. She didn’t know what to feed him, when to put him to bed or even how to change a diaper.

Thankfully, she knew how to research, and the internet was overflowing with information—including step-by-step video demonstrations of diaper changing. But there was still so much she didn’t know, and every free minute she had, she spent reading childcare manuals and psychology textbooks.

She wouldn’t have minded the steep learning curve so much except that her co-guardian—Ryan Garrett—had stepped into his role with no apparent difficulty, his ease with the child highlighting her own ineptitude. And although Ryan usually dealt with Oliver’s middle-of-the-night demands, he didn’t seem to be responding tonight.

She and Ryan had given up their respective apartments and moved into Melissa and Darren Cannon’s house so that Oliver would be able to stay in familiar surroundings, but she knew that nothing could ease the loss of his parents.

She drew in a slow deep breath and pushed her legs over the edge of the mattress, swallowing around the lump in her throat. Her best friend’s baby needed so much more than she could give him, but she was trying. Of course, she might be more successful if she could get more than a few hours of uninterrupted sleep in any given night, but so far that hadn’t happened.

Oliver had apparently started sleeping through the night when he was five months old, but he hadn’t done so even once since the accident. According to Ryan’s mom, who had become their go-to source for all child-related questions, his nighttime waking was neither surprising nor cause for concern. His life and his routines had been disrupted and it was reasonable that he would be upset and confused. Harper’s understanding of that didn’t make her any less cranky.