Michelle Major - Her Soldier Of Fortune

Nate doesn’t know what kind of trouble Bianca is in

He only knows that he is honor-bound to protect her. He owes her brother that much. And ever since Nate Fortune found out he is related to the world-renowned Texas family, he’s braced for the unexpected. But nothing could have prepared the former navy SEAL for the reappearance of Bianca Shaw. The shy teenager Nate used to know as “Busy Bee” has blossomed into a beautiful young woman—and she’s just arrived at his Paseo ranch with a suitcase and her four-year-old son in tow.

Bianca isn’t sure she should get lost in the arms of a man whose embrace feels so much like home. Because this soldier’s heart holds secrets, and Bianca wonders if her dreams of family are too good to be true...

MEET THE FORTUNES!

Fortune of the Month: Nathan “Nate” Fortune

Age: 37

Vital Statistics: Tall, dark and muscle-y; a military man with a cowboy’s heart.

Claim to Fame: The former navy SEAL is one of the Fortune triplets. But not one of “those” Fortunes—and he wants nothing to do with his notorious relatives.

Romantic Prospects: We’re pretty sure there is something brewing between him and single mom Bianca Shaw. But it’s...complicated.

“When I came back to Paseo, I thought I was putting the past behind me. But then Bianca showed up on my doorstep. Eddie’s little sister is not so little anymore, and if she was anybody else, well, I might just sweep her up in my arms and never let her go.

“But she is Eddie’s little sister, which makes her the very last person I should be interested in. There is so much she doesn’t know about what happened to her brother overseas. And I’m determined that she never find out. Even if it means I have to push her and her little boy, EJ, away...”

* * *

The Fortunes of Texas: The Rulebreakers—Making their own rules for love in the Wild West!

Her Soldier of Fortune

Michelle Major

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MICHELLE MAJOR grew up in Ohio but dreamed of living in the mountains. Soon after graduating with a degree in journalism, she pointed her car west and settled in Colorado. Her life and house are filled with one great husband, two beautiful kids, a few furry pets and several well-behaved reptiles. She’s grateful to have found her passion writing stories with happy endings. Michelle loves to hear from her readers at www.michellemajor.com.

To the Fortunes of Texas readers—thanks for making me a part of your reading life with these books.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Nate doesn’t know what kind of trouble Bianca is in He only knows that he is honor-bound to protect her. He owes her brother that much. And ever since Nate Fortune found out he is related to the world-renowned Texas family, he’s braced for the unexpected. But nothing could have prepared the former navy SEAL for the reappearance of Bianca Shaw. The shy teenager Nate used to know as “Busy Bee” has blossomed into a beautiful young woman—and she’s just arrived at his Paseo ranch with a suitcase and her four-year-old son in tow. Bianca isn’t sure she should get lost in the arms of a man whose embrace feels so much like home. Because this soldier’s heart holds secrets, and Bianca wonders if her dreams of family are too good to be true...

Introduction MEET THE FORTUNES! Fortune of the Month: Nathan “Nate” Fortune Age: 37 Vital Statistics: Tall, dark and muscle-y; a military man with a cowboy’s heart. Claim to Fame: The former navy SEAL is one of the Fortune triplets. But not one of “those” Fortunes—and he wants nothing to do with his notorious relatives. Romantic Prospects: We’re pretty sure there is something brewing between him and single mom Bianca Shaw. But it’s...complicated. “When I came back to Paseo, I thought I was putting the past behind me. But then Bianca showed up on my doorstep. Eddie’s little sister is not so little anymore, and if she was anybody else, well, I might just sweep her up in my arms and never let her go. “But she is Eddie’s little sister, which makes her the very last person I should be interested in. There is so much she doesn’t know about what happened to her brother overseas. And I’m determined that she never find out. Even if it means I have to push her and her little boy, EJ, away...” * * * The Fortunes of Texas: The Rulebreakers— Making their own rules for love in the Wild West!

Title Page Her Soldier of Fortune Michelle Major www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author MICHELLE MAJOR grew up in Ohio but dreamed of living in the mountains. Soon after graduating with a degree in journalism, she pointed her car west and settled in Colorado. Her life and house are filled with one great husband, two beautiful kids, a few furry pets and several well-behaved reptiles. She’s grateful to have found her passion writing stories with happy endings. Michelle loves to hear from her readers at www.michellemajor.com .

Dedication To the Fortunes of Texas readers—thanks for making me a part of your reading life with these books.

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Nathan Fortune heard car wheels crunching up the driveway through the open kitchen window at his family’s ranch outside the tiny town of Paseo, Texas. It was almost noon, but he’d just made his second pot of coffee for the day.

Ignoring whoever was stopping by for an unannounced visit, he poured a steaming stream of coffee into a mug, took a big gulp, then promptly spit it into the sink. Grimacing, he grabbed a container of vanilla creamer from the refrigerator and dumped a generous amount into his cup. While it wasn’t up to the standards of his brother’s wife, at least it was palatable.

He’d never realized he made coffee that tasted like tar until late last spring when Ariana Lamonte arrived on the ranch. Hope sparked inside him that maybe Jayden and Ariana had returned to the ranch from their research trip down to Corpus Christi. They weren’t scheduled to be back until next week, but if they were here now he could definitely convince Ariana to make him a cup of coffee in that fancy espresso maker he and the third triplet, Grayson, had gotten for her last Christmas.

During his time as a navy SEAL, he’d come to master over a dozen different types of guns, but that shiny machine remained a mystery to him. Ariana loved coffee, and Nate needed caffeine like he needed air when memories of that final mission in Afghanistan kept him up at night. Sometimes he slept like the dead, and even managed to convince himself that he was getting over that last tragic mission. But then he’d wake in a cold sweat, nightmares prodding at him like an insistent finger, making sure he knew he could never move past the way he’d failed the man who had been his best friend.

The doorbell rang, and he sighed. Definitely not his brother and Ariana. He took another swig of coffee and wiped a sleeve across his mouth, approaching the front door slowly. Most people in Paseo knew Nate well enough to simply call out a greeting and let themselves in. Actually, most people would assume he was out working the land at this time of day. Normally they’d be right, except he’d been up half the night and needed coffee to keep him going—even the kind that tasted like burnt tar.