Meg Maxwell - A Cowboy In The Kitchen

“See you later at my place,” he said before disappearing through the door. He was back in a heartbeat. “For the cooking lesson,” he added.

Annabel felt her cheeks warm but couldn’t help the chuckle. Yet as she thought about being alone with West Montgomery in his house, in his kitchen, standing shoulder to shoulder at the counter, the chuckle was replaced by honest-to-goodness fear.

How did you stop yourself from falling for someone you’d never gotten over to begin with?

***

Hurley’s Homestyle Kitchen:There’s nothing more delicious than falling in love …

A Cowboy in the Kitchen

Meg Maxwell

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MEG MAXWELLlives on the coast of Maine with her teen-aged son, their beagle and black-and-white cat. When she’s not writing, Meg is either reading, at the movies or thinking up new story ideas on her favorite little beach (even in winter) just minutes from her house. Interesting fact: Meg Maxwell is a pseudonym for author Melissa Senate, whose women’s fiction titles have been published in over twenty-five countries.

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When I was twenty-one years old, I read my first category romance novel: a funny, heartwarming book by Janet Evanovich with—for reasons I forget—a hero running around in a feathered chicken costume. That book hooked me on the genre, though my favorite heroes became cowboys and cops more than six-foot-tall chickens. Since then, I’ve read thousands more category romances and dedicate my own to all those authors who inspired me and continue to do so, old and new favorites alike.

Contents

Cover

Introduction West looked at Annabel for a long moment, then seemed to realize he had an audience, and cleared his throat. “See you later at my place,” he said before disappearing through the door. He was back in a heartbeat. “For the cooking lesson,” he added. Annabel felt her cheeks warm but couldn’t help the chuckle. Yet as she thought about being alone with West Montgomery in his house, in his kitchen, standing shoulder to shoulder at the counter, the chuckle was replaced by honest-to-goodness fear. How did you stop yourself from falling for someone you’d never gotten over to begin with? *** Hurley’s Homestyle Kitchen: There’s nothing more delicious than falling in love …

Title Page A Cowboy in the Kitchen Meg Maxwell www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author MEG MAXWELL lives on the coast of Maine with her teen-aged son, their beagle and black-and-white cat. When she’s not writing, Meg is either reading, at the movies or thinking up new story ideas on her favorite little beach (even in winter) just minutes from her house. Interesting fact: Meg Maxwell is a pseudonym for author Melissa Senate, whose women’s fiction titles have been published in over twenty-five countries.

Dedication When I was twenty-one years old, I read my first category romance novel: a funny, heartwarming book by Janet Evanovich with—for reasons I forget—a hero running around in a feathered chicken costume. That book hooked me on the genre, though my favorite heroes became cowboys and cops more than six-foot-tall chickens. Since then, I’ve read thousands more category romances and dedicate my own to all those authors who inspired me and continue to do so, old and new favorites alike.

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One Contents Cover Introduction West looked at Annabel for a long moment, then seemed to realize he had an audience, and cleared his throat. “See you later at my place,” he said before disappearing through the door. He was back in a heartbeat. “For the cooking lesson,” he added. Annabel felt her cheeks warm but couldn’t help the chuckle. Yet as she thought about being alone with West Montgomery in his house, in his kitchen, standing shoulder to shoulder at the counter, the chuckle was replaced by honest-to-goodness fear. How did you stop yourself from falling for someone you’d never gotten over to begin with? *** Hurley’s Homestyle Kitchen: There’s nothing more delicious than falling in love … Title Page A Cowboy in the Kitchen Meg Maxwell www.millsandboon.co.uk About the Author MEG MAXWELL lives on the coast of Maine with her teen-aged son, their beagle and black-and-white cat. When she’s not writing, Meg is either reading, at the movies or thinking up new story ideas on her favorite little beach (even in winter) just minutes from her house. Interesting fact: Meg Maxwell is a pseudonym for author Melissa Senate, whose women’s fiction titles have been published in over twenty-five countries. Dedication When I was twenty-one years old, I read my first category romance novel: a funny, heartwarming book by Janet Evanovich with—for reasons I forget—a hero running around in a feathered chicken costume. That book hooked me on the genre, though my favorite heroes became cowboys and cops more than six-foot-tall chickens. Since then, I’ve read thousands more category romances and dedicate my own to all those authors who inspired me and continue to do so, old and new favorites alike. 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 Epilogue Extract Copyright

Barbecued catfish po’boy with Hurley’s Homestyle Kitchen’s famed spicy slaw would be tonight’s special, Annabel Hurley decided—until all thought poofed from her head with a glance out the window. She ducked behind the industrial-sized silver mixing bowl, a glob of biscuit batter falling from the wooden spoon in her hand to her sneaker. She sighed at how ridiculous she was. Hiding behind a bowl because West Montgomery was coming up the path to the house? Heck yeah, she was. Annabel had been back in Blue Gulch less than twenty-four hours and already the one person she wanted to avoid was rapping on the door.

He had something in his hand, she noticed as she bolted up, another dollop of batter flying to the floor. Was that a checkbook? Maybe he wanted to wave his money around to secure a Saturday night reservation for Hurley’s best table, the one that faced the Sweet Briar Mountain Range in the distance. Last night, Annabel’s first at taking over as cook in the small restaurant’s kitchen, Jillian Quisper, homecoming queen back in high school, had gotten engaged to PJ Renner right at that round table for two. Jillian had screamed for joy so loud that everyone in the kitchen had run out to make sure she wasn’t choking on her plain green salad. It was no surprise that one of the wealthiest men in Blue Gulch would choose to propose in a small Western-style restaurant like Hurley’s; most everyone in town had had their first date at Hurley’s as teenagers. Parents knew Gram Hurley would keep an eye on kids. Plus, there was no better place to get country-fried steak, ribs or a pulled pork sandwich in the entire county. Hurley’s Homestyle Kitchen meant something to just about everyone in town, homecoming queens included. Telling folks her intended had proposed on one knee at Hurley’s over baby back ribs would get any gal “aws” from everyone, especially at the mountain-view table under the elegant little chandelier.