Kathleen Y'Barbo - Their Unexpected Love

Opposites Attract

Widowed contractor Logan Burkett knows exactly what troublemaking teens need: discipline. A former rabble-rouser, Logan had his life turned around by firm guidance and hard work. But try telling that to Pippa Gallagher. The softhearted event planner runs a skate park ministry for troubled teens and thinks a place to be themselves is the answer. As he and Pippa work together renovating the space, they seem to disagree about everything. But when disaster strikes, Logan finds himself feeling very protective of the beautiful planner and surprised to discover they share one very special thing in common…love.

Second Time Around:

Widowers find that love can bloom again…

“I work with kids that aren’t always considered socially acceptable,” Pippa said.

She glanced at Logan and continued, “I’m wondering whether you thought those kids were up to no good based on how they looked.”

“Partly,” he said. “If I remember right, the rest of what I said was that they reminded me of myself at that age. I wasn’t exactly socially acceptable, either.”

Pippa nodded. “That’s why I’m so passionate about the skating outreach. These kids are outcasts, or at least they look like it, and they need a place to go where they’re off the streets.”

“I don’t think that would have worked for me, so I’m not sure I can agree with your method.”

She opened her mouth to argue and then decided taking a bite of pie was the better course of action. Obviously Logan’s opinions and hers were in direct opposition.

He met her gaze. Oh, but the man was handsome, even if he was completely wrong about the best way to win wayward souls to the Lord.

KATHLEEN Y’BARBO

is a multipublished bestselling author of Christian fiction and nonfiction with over thirty books to her credit. She writes historical novels for Waterbrook Press and is the coauthor of two nonfiction books on divorce and empty-nest syndrome. A tenth-generation Texan, she holds a marketing degree from Texas A&M University and a certificate in paralegal studies. Kathleen is the proud mother of a daughter and three grown sons.

Their Unexpected Love

Kathleen Y’Barbo

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

—Romans 10:14

For skaters and their parents.

And to my skaters,

Andrew and Jacob Y’Barbo.…

And finally, thank you to the real Logan

for allowing me to borrow your name.

Contents

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

Dear Reader,

Extract

Chapter One

Every detail of this afternoon’s fund-raiser for the Vine Beach Senior Center had been handled well beforehand, leaving Pippa Gallagher with plenty of time to scan the crowd. It appeared that everyone who was anyone in this little slice of Texas beach had accepted the invitation to come and bid on originals and prints of the celebrated artist Pearl.

Because the last children’s book Granny had worked on was set on Oahu, Pippa had settled on a party to match. The tropical theme had gone over well, as evidenced by the plethora of citizens dressed in floral attire that made the room look as if it were a neon garden. The addition of palm trees and tropical touches to Granny’s otherwise traditional décor gave the oversize reception room an island feel. With the doors thrown open, the sea air and sounds of the waves crashing nearby added to the ambience.

Waitstaff in Hawaiian garb passed through the crowd, offering fruit drinks and appetizers while Don Ho’s ukulele music played softly through the sound system. Though Pippa had borrowed the ideas from an oil company executive’s retirement party she had planned before she’d left the corporate world, the addition of Granny’s paintings and the mayor in the costume of a Hawaiian chief was all Vine Beach. Mayor Murdoch caught her watching and lifted his spear in greeting.

“How you managed to get that man to wear that outfit is beyond me, Pippa.”

She turned to see her friend Leah Berry-Owen grinning. “The same way I got Pop’s Seafood Shack to provide the sushi.”

Leah chuckled. “Pop would have a fit if he knew any fish was leaving his kitchen in a condition other than fried or grilled.”

“It’s just for the party,” Pippa reminded the restaurant’s owner. “Unless you’re considering putting it on the menu. The guests are certainly enjoying it.”

“It does seem to be disappearing.” Leah’s gaze slid past her to fix on something near the door. “And speaking of disappearing, look who is back in Vine Beach. And at a party, no less.”

“What do you mean?” Pippa turned in the direction that her companion indicated but found her view blocked. “Who’s back?”

“Well, I mean Ryan said he’d been going to Starting Over group for the last couple of months, so technically I knew he was back, but this is the first time I’ve seen him out socially.” Leah paused to address Pippa. “You know about Starting Over, right?”

Pippa nodded. She had indeed heard of the church-sponsored widowers’ group and of Leah’s husband’s history, first as a member and now a mentor.

“His father probably made him go, what with his practically founding the group. Still...” She craned her neck to look at the subject of her musings and then returned her attention to Pippa. “I’m just surprised he’s here, that’s all. I mean, even though it’s been almost two years since...Oh, he’s coming this way.”

“He? Leah, who are you talking about?” Pippa turned around but a broad shoulder kept her from seeing anything. By tipping her head up, she looked directly into the pale green eyes of Logan Burkett. “Oh.”

Swallowing hard, she took in high, tanned cheekbones and thick black lashes ringing eyes the color of beach glass. Caramel-colored hair streaked in places by the sun curled at the edge of the collar of his white button-down shirt. Faded jeans and boots gave the impression of a cowboy who had found a luau while looking for a rodeo.

His eyes darted past her as he smiled. “Leah Berry, right?” Logan extended his hand, and Leah shook it.

“Owen, actually. Or rather Berry-Owen. I married Ryan almost a year ago now.” Leah’s attention flitted to Pippa, her expression exhorting her to say something. Anything.

Seeing Logan Burkett again after all these years shouldn’t have given Pippa a swarm of butterflies in her stomach. What was it about the man that made her feel as if she were still that goofy ninth grader with the awkward hairstyle and the complete inability to fit in?

Maybe it was the fact that Logan had changed very little since she’d last seen him. Oh, he was older, definitely sporting muscles that weren’t there back in high school. But he was still the good-looking guy with the attitude that told the world he knew it and the oh-so-handsome face that backed it up.