Kathryn Springer - The Bachelor's Twins

Two Little Matchmakers

Anna Leighton’s eight-year-old twin daughters think they’ve given their hardworking single mom the perfect birthday gift. But the family canoe trip with outdoorsman Liam Kane is far from relaxing. Their rocky shared past—and the secret Anna’s been keeping—means she’s given Liam a wide berth for ten years…until now. Liam may be bowled over by his former high school crush’s beauty, but these days he’s a die-hard bachelor who’s building a cabin for one. But the rugged Liam underestimates the power of an unstoppable force: two little girls who want a daddy.

He wasn’t what she expected.

For a bachelor who’d grown up with brothers, Liam had endless patience with her two little girls who chattered nonstop on the canoe ride. And now he was surprising her again.

“What’s that?” she asked him as he approached her with a white box.

“Happy birthday, Anna.” He opened it and took out a cake with one candle.

She couldn’t stop her smile. “I can’t remember the last time I had a birthday cake.”

She reached for the knife, but the girls stopped her. “You have to blow out your candle first, Mom!”

Liam lit the candle. “Make a wish,” he murmured.

Inexplicably, tears stung her eyes as she struggled to think of something. She closed them.

I wish…I wish I still believed wishes came true.

She blew out the candle and opened her eyes. Liam stood there huddled over the cake with her two little girls at his side, and she couldn’t help her next thought.

Maybe her wish had already come true.

Dear Reader,

It was so much fun to return to Castle Falls! When I introduced Cassie and Chloe Leighton in The Bachelor Next Door, I didn’t realize their mother would be the heroine of my next book. That’s the fun of the writing journey!

As a single mom with a secret, Anna placed a heavy burden on herself. I think we can be guilty of that, too, sometimes. We don’t want to ask for help because we’re afraid people will think we’re weak. But guess what? We are! God offers us His strength and He brings people into our lives who will share our burdens.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to Castle Falls! And if you’re curious about Aiden’s quest for their missing sister, watch for the next book in the series! I love to hear from my readers, so visit my website at www.kathrynspringer.com, and while you’re there, be sure to sign up for my free newsletter. It will keep you posted on upcoming releases and special giveaways!

Walk in Joy,

USA TODAY bestselling author KATHRYN SPRINGER grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin, where her parents published a weekly newspaper. As a child, she spent many hours at her mother’s typewriter, plunking out stories that her older brother “published” (he had the stapler!) for a nominal fee. When Kathryn isn’t at the computer, she enjoys reading other people’s books and spending time with her family and friends.

The Bachelor’s Twins

Kathryn Springer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

—Galatians 6:2

To Stacey Orr, librarian extraordinaire,

who somehow knows the promise of coffee

and chocolate will get an introverted writer

to leave her office! But more than that, your

gracious hospitality makes public speaking

(something that ordinarily strikes fear in the heart

of said introverted writer!) feel more like

spending an afternoon with friends.

Thank you for bringing books and people together!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

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

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“Hold still, Liam! Remember, this is for a good cause.”

Liam Kane smothered a sigh while his mom fussed with the silk square sprouting from the pocket of his vest.

“I’m holding.”

Even though it was the third time she’d fussed with it.

Even though the needle on the outdoor thermometer was inching toward seventy-five degrees. A comfortable temperature for the middle of June in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—unless, of course, you happened to be wearing a tuxedo. Then, not so much.

A bead of sweat trickled down the side of Liam’s face, only to be absorbed by the lime-green noose—okay, technically it was a bow tie—clipped to the front of his shirt. “Tell me again why Aiden isn’t the one wearing this getup?”

Everyone knew Liam’s fun-loving, extroverted kid brother never minded being the center of attention. Tourist or local, whenever someone booked a day trip with Castle Falls Outfitters, they invariably requested Aiden to be their guide. Not that Liam cared. He preferred to spend his days in the shop, designing and building canoes for the family business instead of paddling them down the river.

“He was supposed to.” Liam’s adoptive mom—“Sunni” to her friends and family because the nickname fit her warm, cheerful personality—plucked a loose thread dangling from one of the buttons on his shirt. “But the director of the Timber Shores Retreat Center called this morning in a bit of a panic, wondering if someone could give her new counselors some guiding tips. Aiden volunteered.”

“How—” convenient...clever? “—nice of him.”

“I thought so, too.” Sunni took a step back and studied the finished product, smiling her approval before she turned to the newest member of the Kane family. “What do you think, Lily?”

Liam’s sister-in-law, who’d been watching the transformation take place from her perch on the window seat, tried to hide her amusement. And the camera Liam had seen her aim in his direction. “I think Liam looks very, um...dashing.”

Both women giggled, and Liam shook his head. There was no use confiscating the camera, though. In less than an hour he would be on display for the whole town to see, doing his part to raise funds for the animal shelter’s new addition. Population-wise, Castle Falls didn’t so much as warrant a dot on the map. But winters were long and the rest of the seasons notoriously short, so people would probably turn out in droves for the first community-wide event of the summer.

Liam suspected the timing was part of Sunni’s plan.

“What’s so funny—” Brendan, Liam’s older brother, sauntered into the room, took one look at him and laughed. “Never mind.”

Relief shot through Liam. “I thought you had a meeting this morning.”

“Postponed until next week.” Brendan hooked one arm around Lily’s trim waist and tucked her against his side. “I’m free for the rest of the day.”

“Great.” Liam sent up a silent but heartfelt prayer of thanks. “You can take my place at the fund-raiser.”

“I’m sure Lily could use Brendan’s help overseeing the children’s area.” Sunni smiled at the newlyweds. “Besides that, I don’t think there’s time for you to change, sweetheart. And speaking of time...” She glanced at the clock above Brendan’s desk. “The Sunflowers volunteered to handle the bake sale, and I promised Anna I would unlock the shelter a few minutes early so she and Rene Shapiro can help the girls set up.”