Marin Thomas - Lone Star Father

SUDDENLY A SINGLE DAD

Reid Hardell never imagined he’d become a single dad or that he’d ever return to his family’s ranch in Stampede, Texas. But for his newfound daughter’s sake, Reid is coming home, hoping his estranged brothers can help him master fatherhood. Life in Stampede has an unexpected perk—reconnecting with gorgeous Scarlett Johnson. Until Reid discovers she’s the new social worker on his custody case.

In working with Reid and his daughter, Scarlett finds a connection she thought was impossible. She wants more than anything to be part of their family, but a relationship could jeopardize their case and her job. How can she turn away from having everything she’s ever wanted—even if it’s the right thing to do?

MARIN THOMAS grew up in the Midwest, then attended college at the U of A in Tucson, Arizona, where she earned a BA in radio-TV and played basketball for the Lady Wildcats. Following graduation, she married her college sweetheart in the historic Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada. Recent empty-nesters, Marin and her husband now live in Texas, where cattle is king, cowboys are plentiful and pickups rule the road. Visit her on the web at marinthomas.com.

Also By Marin Thomas Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Dedication 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 Epilogue Extract About the Publisher

The Cowboys of Stampede, Texas

The Cowboy’s Accidental Baby

Twins for the Texas Rancher

Cowboys of the Rio Grande

A Cowboy’s Redemption

The Surgeon’s Christmas Baby

A Cowboy’s Claim

The Cash Brothers

The Cowboy Next Door

Twins Under the Christmas Tree

Her Secret Cowboy

The Cowboy’s Destiny

True Blue Cowboy

A Cowboy of Her Own

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Lone Star Father

Marin Thomas

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08475-8

LONE STAR FATHER

© 2018 Brenda Smith-Beagley

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

“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” Reid said.

“What?”

“Coming back to Stampede.”

Scarlett’s heart sank. The last thing she’d meant to do was discourage Reid from staying in town, especially when he hadn’t been home in over a decade. “You can’t leave.” She winced at the eager note in her voice. “Being with family will play in your favor when the social worker decides whether or not you should be given permanent custody of Jessie.”

“Got any other reasons why I shouldn’t leave?”

She shook her head. “That’s it, why?”

His mouth curved into a smile. “I thought maybe you’d want to judge for yourself if my kissing has improved.”

“Well, there is that, too.” Scarlett smiled.

His blue eyes darkened. “I really like you, Scarlett.”

Reid’s declaration wasn’t all that swoon-worthy but for a woman who dealt with the ugly side of life on a daily basis, it was a beacon of sunshine filled with hope and possibilities.

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

I’m so excited to share Reid Hardell’s story with you! If you’ve read the previous two books in my Cowboys of Stampede, Texas series (The Cowboy’s Accidental Baby and Twins for the Texas Rancher) then you know that Reid is the black sheep of the Hardell family and he made a conscious choice years ago to keep his distance.

I’ve always been fascinated by family secrets—we all have them. In Lone Star Father Reid Hardell is heading home to Paradise Ranch because he’s looking for help raising a daughter he never knew existed until recently. He knows the homecoming won’t be the stuff of fairy tales, but the last thing he expects to find waiting for him at the ranch is another family secret and a woman who quickly becomes more than just his daughter’s social worker.

It’s Scarlett Johnson’s intention to help Reid and Jessie bond, but her heart keeps getting in the way of her job. As Reid and Scarlett consider what’s best for everyone concerned, they discover the only real way forward is together—as a family.

I invite you to check out all of my books at marinthomas.com where you can also sign up for my newsletter and find links to connect with me on social media.

Happy reading,

Marin

For Cristina and Tom—dedicated social workers who spend their days and sometimes nights helping at-risk children and teenagers.

And for Marin—a clinical psychologist who spends countless hours helping veterans and individuals suffering from PTSD and trauma-related disorders.

The world would be better off with more people like you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text SUDDENLY A SINGLE DAD Reid Hardell never imagined he’d become a single dad or that he’d ever return to his family’s ranch in Stampede, Texas. But for his newfound daughter’s sake, Reid is coming home, hoping his estranged brothers can help him master fatherhood. Life in Stampede has an unexpected perk—reconnecting with gorgeous Scarlett Johnson. Until Reid discovers she’s the new social worker on his custody case. In working with Reid and his daughter, Scarlett finds a connection she thought was impossible. She wants more than anything to be part of their family, but a relationship could jeopardize their case and her job. How can she turn away from having everything she’s ever wanted—even if it’s the right thing to do?

About the Author MARIN THOMAS grew up in the Midwest, then attended college at the U of A in Tucson, Arizona, where she earned a BA in radio-TV and played basketball for the Lady Wildcats. Following graduation, she married her college sweetheart in the historic Little Chapel of the West in Las Vegas, Nevada. Recent empty-nesters, Marin and her husband now live in Texas, where cattle is king, cowboys are plentiful and pickups rule the road. Visit her on the web at marinthomas.com .