Judy Christenberry - The Last Crawford Bachelor

Michael’s father looked puzzled at the request.

“She’s getting introduced to Dani Langston and I don’t want her to get the wrong idea.” Michael rubbed the back of his neck. “I have nothing to do with the woman.”

His father raised a shrewd eyebrow. “You sure about that, son? You know, of the six of you, you’re the only bachelor Crawford. Your mother has no one else to concentrate on.”

Michael’s oldest brother must have overheard. “Is little brother complaining about marriage again?” Joe clapped Michael on the back. “Go ahead and fight it, but you’ll find a woman.”

“That one looks pretty good,” said another brother, pointing at Dani.

“No! She won’t do!” Michael turned to face his brothers, and their knowing smiles alarmed him even more. “But…I’m not ready for marriage. You know that, Joe.”

“I know that, little brother,” Joe said smugly. “But it’s Mom you need to convince.”

Dear Reader,

April showers are bringing flowers—and a soul-stirring bouquet of dream-come-true stories from Silhouette Romance!

Red Rose needs men! And it’s up to Ellie Donahue to put the town-ladies’ plans into action—even if it means enticing her secret love to return to his former home. Inspired by classic legends, Myrna Mackenzie’s new miniseries, THE BRIDES OF RED ROSE, begins with Ellie’s tale, in The Pied Piper’s Bride (SR #1714).

Bestselling author Judy Christenberry brings you another Wild West story in her FROM THE CIRCLE K miniseries. In The Last Crawford Bachelor (SR #1715), lawyer Michael Crawford—the family’s last single son—meets his match…and is then forced to live with her on the Circle K!

And this lively bunch of spring stories wouldn’t be complete without Teresa Carpenter’s Daddy’s Little Memento (SR #1716). School nurse Samantha Dell reunites her infant nephew with his handsome father, only to learn that if she wants to retain custody then she’s got to say, “I do”! And then there’s Colleen Faulkner’s Barefoot and Pregnant? (SR #1717), in which career-woman Elise Montgomery has everything a girl could want—except the man of her dreams. Will she find a husband where she least expects him?

All the best,

Mavis C. Allen

Associate Senior Editor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Books by Judy Christenberry

Silhouette Romance

The Nine-Month Bride #1324

*Marry Me, Kate #1344

*Baby in Her Arms #1350

*A Ring for Cinderella #1356

†Never Let You Go #1453

†The Borrowed Groom #1457

†Cherish the Boss #1463

**Snowbound Sweetheart #1476

Newborn Daddy #1511

When the Lights Went Out… #1547

**Least Likely To Wed #1570

Daddy on the Doorstep #1654

**Beauty & the Beastly Rancher #1678

**The Last Crawford Bachelor #1715

Silhouette Books

The Coltons

The Doctor Delivers

A Colton Family Christmas

“The Diplomat’s Daughter”

Lone Star Country Club

The Last Bachelor

Hush

JUDY CHRISTENBERRY

has been writing romances for fifteen years because she loves happy endings as much as her readers do. She’s a bestselling author for Harlequin American Romance, but she has a long love of traditional romances and is delighted to tell a story that brings those elements to the reader. A former high school French teacher, Judy devotes her time to writing. She hopes readers have as much fun reading her stories as she does writing them. She spends her spare time reading, watching her favorite sports teams and keeping track of her two adult daughters.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

“Logan, are you sure I won’t be in the way?”

Michael Crawford looked at his older brother. Though now twenty-eight and as tall as Logan, he knew Logan still saw him as his kid brother.

“Don’t be silly, Mike. How could you get in the way on a ranch the size of the Circle K? Besides, you know that manager’s house is empty. I’ll help you clean it up, then you can come and go as you please.”

Michael looked at the small white frame house one more time. “I appreciate it. This way, I won’t miss the family so much since I’ll be in the middle of yours.”

“True. The kids have already decided you’re quite a special uncle,” Logan said with a chuckle.

They had just started back toward the main ranch house, where Logan and Abby, his wife, lived, when a car came down the long driveway.

“Guess you’ve got company,” Michael said.

Logan shrugged his big shoulders. “We’re not expecting anyone.”

The car stopped near them and a beautiful young woman got out. “Excuse me. I’m looking for Mrs. Beulah Kennedy. Is she here?”

Michael knew that Kennedy was Abby’s maiden name, but he looked at Logan to answer. After all, he was just a guest.

Logan stared at the slender blond woman. “Who’s asking?” he said politely.

“Daniele Langston. I’m a—a family connection.”

Logan extended his hand. “I’m Logan Crawford. My wife, Abby, is part of the Kennedy clan. Maybe you’d better come talk to her.”

“Would that be all right?” the woman asked.

“Yes, of course. Come with us.”

Michael followed his brother and the blonde, wondering what she wanted. Abby and her sisters had inherited the ranch and a lot of money when their elderly great-aunt Beulah Kennedy had died. He figured this Langston woman intended to stake a claim to the inheritance. No doubt she was some scam artist.

He hid the smile he felt coming on. His sister-in-law always accused him of being too cynical because he was an attorney. She could be right. But he reserved the right to wait and see.

They entered the big kitchen, where Abby was setting the table. “I was about to send one of the kids to—” She stopped when she glanced up and saw the stranger. “Oh. Hello. I’m Abby Crawford.”

Logan put his arm around his wife. “This is Daniele Langston. She says she’s a family connection to Beulah.”

Abby flipped back her long braid and looked at the young woman. “You are?”

“Yes. I…I wanted to meet Beulah, if that’s possible.”

Abby skittered a look at Logan before facing the newcomer again. “I’m sorry, but Beulah is dead. She passed away over seven years ago.”

Michael watched Ms. Langston carefully, sure she already knew that information. He was amazed to see surprise and sadness in her eyes. Boy, he thought, she was a good actress.

“I see. I’m sorry I bothered you.” She turned toward the door.