Deb Kastner - The Doctor's Secret Son

You Can Go Home Again

Delia Rae Ivers said goodbye to small town Serendipity ten years ago for medical school. To start a new life, she’d ended her romance with the town rebel, Zach Bowden—and kept their little boy a secret. But when her mother falls ill, Delia answers the town’s online ad for a new doctor. It’s time to come home to family, friends…and the man she loved a decade ago. Will forgiveness give them a second chance to become the family they were meant to be?

Hadn’t anything else scandalous happened in the ten years she’d been gone?

It seemed to her everyone had far too keen of memories where she and Zach were concerned.

Delia had a hard time breaking her gaze away from Zach. He took one step toward her and then stopped, undecided.

Alexis, Mary and Samantha stood and hovered around Delia until she, too, came to her feet.

But instead of meeting her halfway, Zach stepped sideways and planted his hat on his head.

“Ladies,” he murmured with a clipped nod. A moment later he was striding out the door and down the road.

Delia was equally distressed and relieved. She didn’t care for him brushing her off with such callousness, but she wasn’t quite ready to talk to him, either. She didn’t yet know how to say what needed to be said, nor when would be the best time to do it.

Maybe there was no best way to say it.

Zach, you have a son.

DEB KASTNER

lives and writes in colorful Colorado with the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains for inspiration. She loves writing for Love Inspired Books, where she can write about her two favorite things—faith and love. Her characters range from upbeat and humorous to (her favorite) dark and broody heroes. Her plots fall anywhere in between, from a playful romp to the deeply emotional. Deb’s books have been twice nominated for the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Book of the Year for Love Inspired. Deb and her husband share their home with their two youngest daughters. Deb is thrilled about the newest member of the family—her first granddaughter, Isabella. What fun to be a granny! Deb loves to hear from her readers. You can contact her by email at Debwrtr@aol.com, or on her MySpace or Facebook pages.

The Doctor’s Secret Son

Deb Kastner

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Love Inspired!

2012 is a very special year for us. It marks the fifteenth anniversary of Love Inspired. Hard to believe that fifteen years ago, we first began publishing our warm and wonderful inspirational romances.

Back in 1997, we offered readers three books a month. Since then we’ve expanded quite a bit! In addition to the heartwarming contemporary romances of Love Inspired, we have the exciting romantic suspenses of Love Inspired Suspense, and the adventurous historical romances of Love Inspired Historical. Whatever your reading preference, we’ve got fourteen books a month for you to choose from now!

Throughout the year we’ll be celebrating in several different ways. Look for books by bestselling authors who’ve been writing for us since the beginning, stories by brand-new authors you won’t want to miss, special miniseries in all three lines, reissues of top authors and much, much more.

This is our way of thanking you for reading Love Inspired books. We know our uplifting stories of hope, faith and love touch your hearts as much as they touch ours.

Join us in celebrating fifteen amazing years of inspirational romance!

Blessings,

Melissa Endlich and Tina James

Senior Editors of Love Inspired Books

Dear Reader,

Welcome back to Serendipity, Texas, for the second book in the Email-Order Brides series. Many of the same characters who first appeared in Phoebe’s Groom are back for more laughter, learning and love as childhood sweethearts Zach and Delia attempt to mend their relationship and move on as a family with their nine-year-old son, Riley. I hope you enjoy your return to Serendipity and the quirky characters I’ve grown to love while writing this series.

Next up in the Email-Order Brides series is The Nanny’s Twin Blessings. This is the story of Drew Spencer and his adorable three-year-old twins. And if you’ve been following the romance between Cup o’ Jo café owner Jo Murphy and cantankerous old Frank Spencer, be sure to catch this book—you won’t be disappointed!

I love to hear from readers! Email me at DEBWRTR@aol.com, or look me up on Facebook.

Keep the faith,

Deb Kastner

To my grandchildren, Isabella and Anthony.

You are the future of our family’s faith.

* * *

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Bearing with one another and forgiving one another; Even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

—Colossians 3:12–14

Contents

Dear Reader Dear Reader, Welcome back to Serendipity, Texas, for the second book in the Email-Order Brides series. Many of the same characters who first appeared in Phoebe’s Groom are back for more laughter, learning and love as childhood sweethearts Zach and Delia attempt to mend their relationship and move on as a family with their nine-year-old son, Riley. I hope you enjoy your return to Serendipity and the quirky characters I’ve grown to love while writing this series. Next up in the Email-Order Brides series is The Nanny’s Twin Blessings. This is the story of Drew Spencer and his adorable three-year-old twins. And if you’ve been following the romance between Cup o’ Jo café owner Jo Murphy and cantankerous old Frank Spencer, be sure to catch this book—you won’t be disappointed! I love to hear from readers! Email me at DEBWRTR@aol.com, or look me up on Facebook. Keep the faith, Deb Kastner

Prologue Prologue Text Message Riley Ivers: My mom is crying. She just got off the phone with Grandpa. Justin Sanderson: What’s up? Riley Ivers: She says we have to move. Justin Sanderson: Dude, tell her the house next door to mine has a For Sale sign out front. Riley Ivers: I wish. My grandma’s sick. We have to move near her. Justin Sanderson: Where? Riley Ivers: Texas. Justin Sanderson: No way! Riley Ivers: I don’t want to move away from Baltimore. Justin Sanderson: Tell her you don’t want to go. Riley Ivers: I did. She said she doesn’t want to go, either, but we have to ’cause of Grandma. Justin Sanderson: Oh, man. Riley Ivers: This stinks.

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

Chapter Twenty-Two

Epilogue

Questions for Discussion

Prologue

Text Message

Riley Ivers: My mom is crying. She just got off the phone with Grandpa.

Justin Sanderson: What’s up?

Riley Ivers: She says we have to move.

Justin Sanderson: Dude, tell her the house next door to mine has a For Sale sign out front.

Riley Ivers: I wish. My grandma’s sick. We have to move near her.

Justin Sanderson: Where?

Riley Ivers: Texas.

Justin Sanderson: No way!

Riley Ivers: I don’t want to move away from Baltimore.

Justin Sanderson: Tell her you don’t want to go.

Riley Ivers: I did. She said she doesn’t want to go, either, but we have to ’cause of Grandma.

Justin Sanderson: Oh, man.

Riley Ivers: This stinks.

Chapter One