Judy Duarte: From Fortune To Family Man

What To Expect...When You Weren’t Expecting

Kieran Fortune, vice president of Robinson Tech, knows his strengths. He’s good with technology; he’s good at making money and at making love. But he doesn’t know one thing about parenting. And he’s just become a father. To a toddler.

When the ever-so-sexy millionaire agreed to sign on as legal guardian to his best friend’s daughter, he considered it a mere formality. But now Zach is gone and Kieran is...Dad. In a fit of desperation, he reaches out to Zach’s ex-girlfriend. Dana Trevino is a serious-minded graduate student who is great with little Rosie. She is also Kieran’s polar opposite and the very last woman he should be interested in. It isn’t fair. It isn’t right. It’s also just about inevitable...

Meet the Fortunes

Fortune of the Month: Kieran Fortune

Age: 31

Vital statistics: Oh. My. Hunk. Smart, sexy and rich.

Claim to Fame: Vice president of Robinson Tech, voted Most Likely to Break Hearts.

Romantic prospects: Excellent. Or at least they were until little Rosie came into his life. A three-year-old is not exactly an aphrodisiac.

“I’ll admit it—I’m not the nurturing type. I should have said no when Zach asked me to be Rosabelle’s guardian if anything should happen to him. But what were the odds?

Now I’ve got this crazy-cute toddler and no idea what to do with her. I’m lucky that Zach’s old girlfriend, Dana, has offered to help. I wish I had half Dana’s maternal instincts. To be honest, I wish I had Dana in my arms—no, in my bed. But even I have more scruples than that. Zach’s barely cold in the ground, and Dana deserves more than I am able to give her. My fantasies of playing house with her need to remain exactly that...”

* * *

The Fortunes of Texas:The Secret Fortunes— A new generation of heroes and heartbreakers!

From Fortune to Family Man

Judy Duarte

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Since 2002, USA TODAY bestselling author JUDY DUARTE has written over forty books for Mills & Boon Cherish, earned two RITA® Award nominations, won two Maggie Awards and received a National Readers’ Choice Award. When she’s not cooped up in her writing cave, she enjoys traveling with her husband and spending quality time with her grandchildren. You can learn more about Judy and her books at her website, www.judyduarte.com, or at Facebook.com/judyduartenovelist.

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To Michelle Major, Stella Bagwell,

Karen Rose Smith, Marie Ferrarella,

Nancy Robards Thompson and Allison Leigh.

I can’t think of a better team of authors to work with on a continuity series.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text What To Expect...When You Weren’t Expecting Kieran Fortune, vice president of Robinson Tech, knows his strengths. He’s good with technology; he’s good at making money and at making love. But he doesn’t know one thing about parenting. And he’s just become a father. To a toddler. When the ever-so-sexy millionaire agreed to sign on as legal guardian to his best friend’s daughter, he considered it a mere formality. But now Zach is gone and Kieran is...Dad. In a fit of desperation, he reaches out to Zach’s ex-girlfriend. Dana Trevino is a serious-minded graduate student who is great with little Rosie. She is also Kieran’s polar opposite and the very last woman he should be interested in. It isn’t fair. It isn’t right. It’s also just about inevitable...

Introduction Meet the Fortunes Fortune of the Month: Kieran Fortune Age: 31 Vital statistics: Oh. My. Hunk. Smart, sexy and rich. Claim to Fame: Vice president of Robinson Tech, voted Most Likely to Break Hearts. Romantic prospects: Excellent. Or at least they were until little Rosie came into his life. A three-year-old is not exactly an aphrodisiac. “I’ll admit it—I’m not the nurturing type. I should have said no when Zach asked me to be Rosabelle’s guardian if anything should happen to him. But what were the odds? Now I’ve got this crazy-cute toddler and no idea what to do with her. I’m lucky that Zach’s old girlfriend, Dana, has offered to help. I wish I had half Dana’s maternal instincts. To be honest, I wish I had Dana in my arms—no, in my bed. But even I have more scruples than that. Zach’s barely cold in the ground, and Dana deserves more than I am able to give her. My fantasies of playing house with her need to remain exactly that...” * * * The Fortunes of Texas: The Secret Fortunes— A new generation of heroes and heartbreakers!

Title Page From Fortune to Family Man Judy Duarte www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author Since 2002, USA TODAY bestselling author JUDY DUARTE has written over forty books for Mills & Boon Cherish, earned two RITA® Award nominations, won two Maggie Awards and received a National Readers’ Choice Award. When she’s not cooped up in her writing cave, she enjoys traveling with her husband and spending quality time with her grandchildren. You can learn more about Judy and her books at her website, www.judyduarte.com , or at Facebook.com/judyduartenovelist .

Dedication To Michelle Major, Stella Bagwell, Karen Rose Smith, Marie Ferrarella, Nancy Robards Thompson and Allison Leigh. I can’t think of a better team of authors to work with on a continuity series.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

As Kieran Fortune Robinson stood with the other mourners at the Oakdale Cemetery, the Texas sky was a stunning shade of blue, the sun was bright and a cluster of birds sang from their perch in the nearby magnolia tree. But the spring day was dismal, the mood somber.

Three weeks ago, Zach Lawson had been thrown from a horse and suffered a skull fracture. As soon as Kieran had gotten word of the tragic accident, he’d rushed to the hospital to visit his best friend and to offer his support to Zach’s parents.

“Only family is allowed to visit patients in the ICU,” a nurse had said.

Zach’s father had slipped an arm around Kieran and clutched him with a firm grip. “This is my second son.”

In a way, that claim had been true. Sam and Sandra Lawson had treated Kieran as a family member ever since Zach had brought him home to visit during their first winter break at college. A born and bred city boy, Kieran had actually enjoyed the time he’d spent at the Leaning L, even though his busy schedule hadn’t allowed for as many visits as he might have liked.

Oddly enough, he and Zach hadn’t had much in common, other than a quick wit, a love of sports and a competitive spirit. They’d met on the football field their first semester at Texas A&M and had become fast friends. Other than that, they were as different as a cowboy and a techie could be.

Zach had been an only child, while Kieran had seven brothers and sisters, although that number seemed to be constantly growing, thanks to his dad’s years of philandering and the illegitimate half siblings who’d increased their ranks.