Christine Rimmer - Million-Dollar Maverick

“I shouldn’t have been kissing you,” he muttered darkly, as a warning.

“I’m not a good bet. There’s something … broken in me, you know? I haven’t been such a good man in the years since I moved back home. I’ve been a Crawford through and through, you might say—too proud and too sure I knew every damn thing. You are a quality woman. You deserve a better man than me.”

She only looked at him, eyes wide, bright with the sheen of unshed tears. He wanted to grab her and start kissing her all over again.

And that couldn’t happen. He made himself clearer. “The last eight years, since I’ve been back in town, I’ve gone out with several women. But it never ends well.”

Callie kept her gaze level. He couldn’t tell what she might be thinking. “I understand,” she said.

He leaned a little closer. “Do you really?”

“I do, Nate. Although I happen to think you’re a much better man than you’re giving yourself credit for.”

“You’re just softhearted.”

She gave a tiny shrug. “Maybe I am.”

Dear Reader Contents Cover Introduction Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication Prologue 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 ,

Welcome back to Rust Creek Falls, Montana—and the twenty-year anniversary of Mills & Boon’s fabulous Montana Mavericks series. Last year, the Fourth of July Flood of the Century almost washed Rust Creek Falls away.

But the small, close-knit community pulled together and survived. Now Rust Creek Falls is coming back better than ever. There’s a lot of rebuilding going on and several interesting newcomers to town—including a few memorable characters from the past two decades of Montana Mavericks stories.

Yep. Things have changed a lot since last year. Especially for Nathan Crawford. You may remember Nate. A community leader, he made some bad choices and did a few good people wrong. You could say he was the villain of last year’s series.

Not this year. Nate’s come into some serious money and he’s out to make up for the bad things he’s done. It’s a tough job to right all those old wrongs. But his heroine, intrepid, bighearted nurse Callie Kennedy, is just the woman to help him with that.

I hope you enjoy this Montana Mavericks story—and all those to come.

Yours always,

Christine Rimmer

Million-Dollar Maverick

Christine Rimmer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CHRISTINE RIMMERcame to her profession the long way around. Before settling down to write about the magic of romance, she’d been everything from an actress to a salesclerk to a waitress. Now that she’s finally found work that suits her perfectly, she insists she never had a problem keeping a job—she was merely gaining “life experience” for her future as a novelist. Christine is grateful not only for the joy she finds in writing, but for what waits when the day’s work is through: a man she loves who loves her right back, and the privilege of watching their children grow and change day to day. She lives with her family in Oregon. Visit Christine at www.christinerimmer.com.

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For my mom.

I love you, Mom,

and I’m so grateful

for every moment we had together.

Contents

Cover

Introduction “I shouldn’t have been kissing you,” he muttered darkly, as a warning. “I’m not a good bet. There’s something … broken in me, you know? I haven’t been such a good man in the years since I moved back home. I’ve been a Crawford through and through, you might say—too proud and too sure I knew every damn thing. You are a quality woman. You deserve a better man than me.” She only looked at him, eyes wide, bright with the sheen of unshed tears. He wanted to grab her and start kissing her all over again. And that couldn’t happen. He made himself clearer. “The last eight years, since I’ve been back in town, I’ve gone out with several women. But it never ends well.” Callie kept her gaze level. He couldn’t tell what she might be thinking. “I understand,” she said. He leaned a little closer. “Do you really?” “I do, Nate. Although I happen to think you’re a much better man than you’re giving yourself credit for.” “You’re just softhearted.” She gave a tiny shrug. “Maybe I am.”

Dear Reader Dear Reader Contents Cover Introduction Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication Prologue 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 , Welcome back to Rust Creek Falls, Montana—and the twenty-year anniversary of Mills & Boon’s fabulous Montana Mavericks series. Last year, the Fourth of July Flood of the Century almost washed Rust Creek Falls away. But the small, close-knit community pulled together and survived. Now Rust Creek Falls is coming back better than ever. There’s a lot of rebuilding going on and several interesting newcomers to town—including a few memorable characters from the past two decades of Montana Mavericks stories. Yep. Things have changed a lot since last year. Especially for Nathan Crawford. You may remember Nate. A community leader, he made some bad choices and did a few good people wrong. You could say he was the villain of last year’s series. Not this year. Nate’s come into some serious money and he’s out to make up for the bad things he’s done. It’s a tough job to right all those old wrongs. But his heroine, intrepid, bighearted nurse Callie Kennedy, is just the woman to help him with that. I hope you enjoy this Montana Mavericks story—and all those to come. Yours always, Christine Rimmer

Title Page Million-Dollar Maverick Christine Rimmer www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author CHRISTINE RIMMER came to her profession the long way around. Before settling down to write about the magic of romance, she’d been everything from an actress to a salesclerk to a waitress. Now that she’s finally found work that suits her perfectly, she insists she never had a problem keeping a job—she was merely gaining “life experience” for her future as a novelist. Christine is grateful not only for the joy she finds in writing, but for what waits when the day’s work is through: a man she loves who loves her right back, and the privilege of watching their children grow and change day to day. She lives with her family in Oregon. Visit Christine at www.christinerimmer.com .

Dedication For my mom. I love you, Mom, and I’m so grateful for every moment we had together.

Prologue

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

Prologue

January 15

On the ten-year anniversary of the day he lost everything, Nate Crawford got out of bed at 3:15 a.m. He grabbed a quick shower and filled a big thermos with fresh-brewed coffee.