Jenna Mindel - An Unexpected Family

Finding redemption in Maple Springs

After her failed marriage, Rose Dean refuses to rely on any man. But when Cam Zelinsky steps in and helps save her diner, Rose starts taking a second glance. Cam could use a little redemption after some bad choices tarnished his reputation, but he never imagined having a family. Now Rose and her son are making him see that maybe he’s been chasing the wrong dream.

JENNA MINDEL lives in northwest Michigan with her husband and their three dogs. A 2006 Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, Jenna has answered her heart’s call to write inspirational romances set near the Great Lakes.

Also By Jenna Mindel

Love Inspired

Maple Springs

Falling for the Mom-to-Be

A Soldier’s Valentine

A Temporary Courtship

An Unexpected Family

Big Sky Centennial

His Montana Homecoming

Mending Fences

Season of Dreams

Courting Hope

Season of Redemption

The Deputy’s New Family

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

An Unexpected Family

Jenna Mindel

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08426-0

AN UNEXPECTED FAMILY

© 2018 Jenna Mindel

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

“Irresistible?” Cam took a step closer.

Rose pushed at his chest, but laughed. “Impossible. You’re impossible.”

He grabbed her hand and held it, stroking her wrist with his thumb. He could feel the frantic flutter of her pulse and threaded his fingers through hers. It was all he could do to keep from pulling her closer to him.

Could they get involved? That thought scared him as much as it tempted him. Pursuing Rose meant settling down for the long haul. An image of the boxes stacked in the corner of her apartment came to mind, making him think about her and Greg moving into his house someday, making it a home.

Did he want that?

Searching her eyes, part of him wanted it very much. “I care about your son, Rose. He’s a good kid and I’d never steer him wrong. I hope you know that.”

She gave his hand a friendly squeeze. Her eyes had never left his, as if weighing his words. His motives. Him.

Finally, she smiled and pulled her hand away. “I believe you.”

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

Dear Reader,

Thank you so much for reading the fourth book in my Maple Springs series. I hope you enjoyed the rocky road Cam and Rose took to reach their happily-ever-after. I knew Cam was a troubled soul when he’d lost his biggest sponsor in A Soldier’s Valentine , but I didn’t realize just how deep his shame and distress were until I starting digging into the whys that made up his character.

Uncovering Cam’s issues with reading came with lots of questions and lots of online research and I only scratched the surface. Dyslexia is a fascinating challenge, one that several well-known folks, including famous authors, have had to overcome. I applaud their grit and determination to master their gifts.

One program that I found amazing in their approach is the Davis Dyslexia Association International at www.dyslexia.com.

All of us have limitations. Some are big and some are small, but all can be covered by trusting in God’s grace. Even when life doesn’t go the way we think it should, God really can work all things together for good to those who love Him.

I love to hear from readers. Please visit my website at www.jennamindel.comor follow me at www.facebook.com/authorjennamindelor drop me a note c/o Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, 24th floor, New York, NY 10007.

Best wishes,

Jenna

A huge thank you to Ron Varga at Varga & Varga PC for answering my many questions about wills! Hopefully, I got it right.

For the sake of the story, I took fictional license with the world of professional bass fishing. Any inconsistencies are purely my own.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Bible Verse

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

Chapter One

“Hey, sleepyhead.” Rose Dean ruffled her eleven-year-old son’s brown hair. Soon to turn twelve, the kid was growing like a weed.

Greg jerked away. “Awww, Mom, cut it out.”

She watched him pad his way to the industrial fridge of the diner she’d inherited in Maple Springs, Michigan. Greg was tall like his father and she hoped the resemblance to her ex-husband remained outward. Refilling her coffee mug with freshly made brew, she said, “I like your hair.”

“It’s longer than yours.” He finger combed his bangs away from steely gray eyes as if erasing her motherly touch.

“That’s true.” Her son had never liked her short hair. But for Rose, it made things easier.

Three weeks ago, a few days before Memorial Day, they’d moved up north away from her steady job as an events manager at a conference center. Away from the steady influence of her parents, into a small town with a small high school that hopefully held smaller chances for trouble.

Rose wanted to be on her own. As much as she loved her parents and was grateful for everything they’d done for her, she didn’t ever want to move back in with them. She wanted her own home. Her own life. Independence.