Mary Sullivan - Rodeo Sheriff

HE’S CALLING IN BACKUP

As the law in Rodeo, Montana, Sheriff Cole Payette can handle just about anything. Taking in his orphaned niece and nephew, though, puts him out of his depth. Grief-stricken himself, Cole turns to bar owner Honey Armstrong. Cole’s longtime crush on Honey has always made him tongue-tied, but now she’s the only one he can ask for help.

Honey is shocked by Cole’s request. He rarely says two words to her and now he needs her to help care for the children? She’s willing to pitch in, but bonding with the kids starts to feel a lot like being a family. And that’s not something Honey has ever let herself dream about—no matter how tempting Cole is...

Author MARY SULLIVAN has been collecting awards, accolades and great reviews since her first book, No Ordinary Cowboy, was published by Harlequin in 2009. She has written fifteen Harlequin Superromances and four Harlequin Western Romances. She has been told her writing touches the heart.

She loves hearing from readers! To keep up-to-date about upcoming releases, don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter at marysullivanbooks.com.

Also By Mary Sullivan Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader 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 Extract

Rodeo Father

Rodeo Rancher

Rodeo Baby

No Ordinary Sheriff

In from the Cold

Home to Laura

Because of Audrey

Always Emily

No Ordinary Home

Safe in Noah’s Arms

Cody’s Come Home

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Rodeo Sheriff

Mary Sullivan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08095-8

RODEO SHERIFF

© 2018 Mary Sullivan

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

“Don’t use guilt on me, Cole. I don’t appreciate it. I’ll spend as much spare time as I can with Madeline, but you have to find someone who can care for the children full-time. Okay?”

Cole nodded, but she wasn’t at all certain she’d gotten through to him.

“I mean it, Cole. I expect you to put in your best effort to find someone else.”

“I will,” he promised, and she believed him.

A tiny head peered around Cole’s legs: Madeline, her blue eyes a miniature version of her uncle’s, but large in her tiny face. Every bit as haunted as his, they softened Honey’s defenses, and that would not do.

She couldn’t offer everything Cole needed, but she would give as much as she could.

Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader 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 Extract ,

Since writing the first book in my Rodeo, Montana series I have wanted to write Cole Payette and Honey Armstrong’s story!

I liked both of these characters immensely and included them in the other books in the series. Cole is a capable, intelligent, well-respected sheriff, but he falls apart whenever Honey is around. Usually articulate, Cole is extremely shy with her and can’t string two words together when she is near. Honey owns the town’s bar and is outgoing and generous.

When Cole becomes guardian of two sad children, and is grief-stricken himself at the loss of his sister, the first person he goes to is Honey. With the help of the children, Cole learns to step outside his fears and embrace life before it slips through his fingers. Watching Honey fall in love with the already-smitten Cole was a lot of fun. Together, the duo provides the children with a new and loving home.

I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Mary Sullivan

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text HE’S CALLING IN BACKUP As the law in Rodeo, Montana, Sheriff Cole Payette can handle just about anything. Taking in his orphaned niece and nephew, though, puts him out of his depth. Grief-stricken himself, Cole turns to bar owner Honey Armstrong. Cole’s longtime crush on Honey has always made him tongue-tied, but now she’s the only one he can ask for help. Honey is shocked by Cole’s request. He rarely says two words to her and now he needs her to help care for the children? She’s willing to pitch in, but bonding with the kids starts to feel a lot like being a family. And that’s not something Honey has ever let herself dream about—no matter how tempting Cole is...

About the Author Author MARY SULLIVAN has been collecting awards, accolades and great reviews since her first book, No Ordinary Cowboy, was published by Harlequin in 2009. She has written fifteen Harlequin Superromances and four Harlequin Western Romances. She has been told her writing touches the heart. She loves hearing from readers! To keep up-to-date about upcoming releases, don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter at marysullivanbooks.com .

Booklist Also By Mary Sullivan Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader 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 Extract Rodeo Father Rodeo Rancher Rodeo Baby No Ordinary Sheriff In from the Cold Home to Laura Because of Audrey Always Emily No Ordinary Home Safe in Noah’s Arms Cody’s Come Home Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Title Page Rodeo Sheriff Mary Sullivan www.millsandboon.co.uk

Copyright ISBN: 978-1-474-08095-8 RODEO SHERIFF © 2018 Mary Sullivan Published in Great Britain 2018 by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.