Christyne Butler - Welcome Home, Bobby Winslow

“Destiny is a small town with real people living normal lives.

“They worry about keeping their jobs, paying their bills and finding a way to put their kids through college. But you know all that, Bobby, because you once lived in this town. Back when you made a promise not to set foot in it again until you could return a big success with all the money in the world.”

An icy wave coursed through him, despite the warmth of the sun hitting his back. Yes, he’d said all that—and more—the day she’d chosen a shot at the glamorous life of high-fashion modeling over being his teenage bride.

“What can I say?” His reply came out clipped, sharp as a shard of glass. “Mission accomplished.”

Dear Reader,

In this age of technology that allows people to connect across the miles and across the years, there probably isn’t much mystery left to that old question, “I wonder whatever happened to …?” When it comes to first loves, the answer is usually a click away, but for some avoidance is the only answer.

When Leeann and Bobby’s future plans took their teenage love in a direction neither of them planned, the last thing they expected was to one day end up right back where it all began. But sometimes love, and life, surprises a person in a way they never imagined.

So is an unexpected reunion an opportunity to set the record straight, right old wrongs, offer explanations with the insight only available after time has passed? Or is it another chance to find that part of yourself that’s been missing all along?

Leeann and Bobby are about to find out.

Happy reading!

Christyne Butler

CHRISTYNE BUTLERfell in love with romance novels while serving in the United States Navy and started writing her own stories six years ago. She considers selling to Mills & Boon ®a dream come true and enjoys writing contemporary romances full of life, love, a hint of laughter and perhaps a dash of danger, too. And there has to be a happily-ever-after or she’s just not satisfied. She lives with her family in central Massachusetts and loves to hear from her readers at chris@christynebutler.com. Or visit her website at www.christynebutler.com.

Welcome Home,

Bobby Winslow

Christyne Butler

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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For Tammy Gerard Hastings

Thirty-one years of friendship that’s seen everything from first loves to new beginnings.

Here’s to always believing it’s never too late to live happily ever after.

And

Extra special thanks to Charles for being such an amazing editor.

Bobby Winslow was back in town.

According to the front page of the local paper there had yet to be an official sighting of the man who’d been voted “Best Hands (When it comes to working on cars)” in high school. But that didn’t matter. The reporter was certain the town’s bad boy, who’d spent the past six years rising to the number one spot in America’s Cup Pro Racing stock car circuit, was on his way home.

Deputy Leeann Harris gave an indelicate snort and tossed the newspaper into the backseat of her cruiser.

She had to.

Otherwise she’d be tempted to take her eyes off the curvy mountain road to look again at the photos beneath the bold headline, including one taken just a few days ago when Bobby had been wheeled out of an injury rehabilitation center; it was the first time he’d been seen in five months. He’d struggled to his feet and spoken briefly, thanking those who took care of him after his accident and stating he was looking forward to continuing his recovery at home.

Home.

Everyone around town assumed that meant Destiny, Wyoming.

Never mind that Bobby had left at the age of eighteen with a vow to never step foot back inside the county limits. A vow made during a fervent outburst filled with the hurt and anger of a broken teenage heart.

A vow directed straight at her.

Of course, she’d made her own vow that spring day fourteen years ago.

This time it took the physical shaking of her head to force Leeann’s mind back to the road ahead, both figuratively and literally.

She refused to get mired down in the past. Not today.

Using a technique she’d learned long ago to center herself in the here and now, Leeann mentally cataloged her surroundings starting with the beautiful late September day outside her windshield.

The sky was a dazzling shade of blue, sharp and piercing, perfect for squinting eyes and almost impossible to look away from. Birch, ash and maple trees stood tall and majestic on either side of the road. Their green leaves were giving way to the blazing yellows, oranges and fiery reds of autumn, while the smattering of pines and blue spruces stubbornly refused to let go of their glorious emerald needles.

The winding road wore a fresh coat of blacktop, like it’d pulled on a warm woolen jacket in preparation for another Wyoming winter of snow and ice. But when she rolled down the window and pulled in a deep breath, the air still held the lingering warmth of summer.

“What a beautiful day to be unemployed,” she said to herself. Technically she wasn’t out of work until her shift ended in—she glanced at her watch—two more hours. After that, her three years with the Destiny, Wyoming, sheriff department would come to an end.

Budget cuts. Last hired, first fired. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Deputy Ben Dwyer had started a full month after her, but with a wife and two kids, Ben needed to keep his job. When word leaked out about the need to cut the department’s staff by one, Leeann had gone straight into her boss’s office.

It was time.

Moving on was something she’d been thinking about for a while now. After witnessing her two best friends finding true love with the men of their dreams and settling down in the past year, she was willing to admit, at least to herself, she was feeling a bit restless. Not for love, home or marriage like Maggie and Racy had found, but she did want something.

Something more.

Like those many “forks in the road” her Aunt Ursula often spoke about, Leeann was ready to take the path less traveled with no idea where she was headed or what lay ahead.

The story of her life.

Pulling off the road to her favorite waiting spot that gave her a clear view down the mountain road, she slowed to a stop.

She hoped the remaining hours of her shift would be quiet, but the high school had let out almost a half hour ago. This stretch of windy road was a teenager paradise for cruising, especially on a beautiful day like today, just like it’d been years ago when she’d rode shotgun, a smile on her face and a white-knuckle grip on the seat while—

A loud whoosh filled her ears. An oversize vehicle raced by so fast the draft caused the chassis beneath her to rock back and forth.

What the—

Was that a Winnebago?