Mary Sullivan - Rodeo Father

TEMPTED BY A FAMILY…

Travis Read never wanted to settle down anywhere—with anyone. He’s in Rodeo, Montana, just long enough to fix up a house for his sister and he’ll be on his way. Then he meets Rachel McGuire. Beautiful and kind—and with magnetic whiskey-colored eyes—Rachel is everything that Travis could want. Except that Rachel is also very, very pregnant.

A struggling widowed mom, Rachel wants to give her family the stability she’s never had. Travis dashed those hopes by buying her dream house. Okay, she can start over. But she wasn’t counting on such a fierce attraction between them. And this cowboy was never meant to settle down…

“You can let go of me now…”

Cripes. Travis was holding Rachel with his other arm, tucked against his body and out of harm’s way.

“Oh…sorry…ah, I—” He didn’t know what to say because he didn’t know what he’d been thinking.

A small handful, a perfect fit, her belly hard and warm against him, she belonged in his arms.

It felt natural and good to hold her.

No! No, no, no. He didn’t need a woman in his life right now, especially not one laden with burdens he didn’t want to bear.

A funny smile curled her lips. “I truly can take care of myself, Travis. I deal with stuff like this most nights.”

“I really didn’t know I was doing that.”

“I know. I could tell.”

The feeling of well-being, and the sense of rightness she engendered in him, shook him so badly that he rushed to let her go.

Before he could, the softest of touches flitted across his ribs. Wonder filled him.

The touch had come from Rachel’s big belly.

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

Rodeo Father is my very first Harlequin Western Romance and I am thrilled to be a new member of the Western family.

I have a soft spot for cowboys and babies, so Western fits the bill perfectly for me!

In Rodeo Father, nomadic loner Travis Read arrives in yet another town, determined to stick around only long enough to make a home for his sister and nephews. He will move along the second they are settled.

He doesn’t count on having his heart stolen by the appealing widow who lives across the street, and by her little girl, too. Travis has had enough burdens to last a lifetime, so he doesn’t need this attraction to a pregnant woman.

What he doesn’t realize is the profound depth of his own loneliness and the desire to set down roots he didn’t know existed.

Travis has lived on the outside looking in for too long. When the widow invites him into a world of tenderness and affection he thought existed only for others, he can’t resist.

He has always thought the life of a family man, and of fatherhood, was restricted to others and never meant for him.

Rachel McGuire turns out to be the answer to dreams he wouldn’t admit he’d been having. Rodeo, Montana, becomes home.

I absolutely loved writing Travis and Rachel’s story. I hope you enjoy reading it!

Mary Sullivan

Rodeo Father

Mary Sullivan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

A city girl born and raised, MARY SULLIVAN found her mother’s anecdotes about growing up in rural Canada fascinating. Mary’s first career as a darkroom printer fueled her creativity. When traditional darkrooms disappeared with the advent of computers, she learned enough about the machines to use them to fuel her other passion—writing. Once she redirected her energy to creating stories of romance, her mother’s tales came back to her and now she devotes her time to writing about rural life. She chooses cowboys and cowgirls for many of her stories. Her Harlequin Superromance books have won awards and earned wonderful reviews. She is now thrilled to write Harlequin Western Romances, too! She loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website, marysullivanbooks.com.

To my wonderful agent,

Pamela Hopkins, who continues to have

faith in me book after book after book.

Offering you a profound Thank You.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text TEMPTED BY A FAMILY… Travis Read never wanted to settle down anywhere—with anyone. He’s in Rodeo, Montana, just long enough to fix up a house for his sister and he’ll be on his way. Then he meets Rachel McGuire. Beautiful and kind—and with magnetic whiskey-colored eyes—Rachel is everything that Travis could want. Except that Rachel is also very, very pregnant. A struggling widowed mom, Rachel wants to give her family the stability she’s never had. Travis dashed those hopes by buying her dream house. Okay, she can start over. But she wasn’t counting on such a fierce attraction between them. And this cowboy was never meant to settle down…

Introduction “You can let go of me now…” Cripes. Travis was holding Rachel with his other arm, tucked against his body and out of harm’s way. “Oh…sorry…ah, I—” He didn’t know what to say because he didn’t know what he’d been thinking. A small handful, a perfect fit, her belly hard and warm against him, she belonged in his arms. It felt natural and good to hold her. No! No, no, no. He didn’t need a woman in his life right now, especially not one laden with burdens he didn’t want to bear. A funny smile curled her lips. “I truly can take care of myself, Travis. I deal with stuff like this most nights.” “I really didn’t know I was doing that.” “I know. I could tell.” The feeling of well-being, and the sense of rightness she engendered in him, shook him so badly that he rushed to let her go. Before he could, the softest of touches flitted across his ribs. Wonder filled him. The touch had come from Rachel’s big belly.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text Introduction Dear Reader Title Page About the Author 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 Extract Copyright , Rodeo Father is my very first Harlequin Western Romance and I am thrilled to be a new member of the Western family. I have a soft spot for cowboys and babies, so Western fits the bill perfectly for me! In Rodeo Father, nomadic loner Travis Read arrives in yet another town, determined to stick around only long enough to make a home for his sister and nephews. He will move along the second they are settled. He doesn’t count on having his heart stolen by the appealing widow who lives across the street, and by her little girl, too. Travis has had enough burdens to last a lifetime, so he doesn’t need this attraction to a pregnant woman. What he doesn’t realize is the profound depth of his own loneliness and the desire to set down roots he didn’t know existed. Travis has lived on the outside looking in for too long. When the widow invites him into a world of tenderness and affection he thought existed only for others, he can’t resist. He has always thought the life of a family man, and of fatherhood, was restricted to others and never meant for him. Rachel McGuire turns out to be the answer to dreams he wouldn’t admit he’d been having. Rodeo, Montana, becomes home. I absolutely loved writing Travis and Rachel’s story. I hope you enjoy reading it! Mary Sullivan

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