Cathy Thacker - The Texas Valentine Twins

A Sweetheart Deal

Wyatt Lockhart is bound to regret moving in with Adelaide Smythe. She’s broken the Texas rancher’s heart before, and their last spontaneous reunion resulted in a couple of surprises—twin babies! Wyatt won’t shirk his fatherly duties, but being this close to Adelaide makes it hard to remember why he should stay far away.

Adelaide knows she hurt Wyatt, and she’s determined never to do it again. Once they figure out how to share parenting duties, she’ll give him enough space to keep both their hearts safe. But life together at the Circle H is already growing on her. For the sake of their family’s future, can Wyatt forgive Adelaide for the past?

“Don’t want to get too comfortable here?”

Wyatt’s scent—all warm, sexy man—sent another thrill thrumming through her. She rose, clothing in hand. Determined to be practical, even if he wouldn’t be. “More like I don’t want to overstep my bounds. Become even more intrusive to your living space than the twins and I already are.”

“Hey.” He caught her arm and reeled her back into his side. “Are you unhappy here?”

“No. It’s just…” She tried to ignore the way his gaze scanned the V of her robe. “You and I have made a lot of changes really quickly.”

“Because we had to,” he countered, all implacable male. “What I want to know is why you’re suddenly running so hot and cold again.”

Exasperated, Adelaide ran both her hands through her hair. “I’m unnerved because we’re doing what we always do! Getting way, way ahead of ourselves!”

Wyatt gathered her in his arms. “No,” he countered gruffly, smoothing the hair from her face. “We’re catching up.”

The Texas Valentine Twins

Cathy Gillen Thacker

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CATHY GILLEN THACKER is married and a mother of three. She and her husband spent eighteen years in Texas and now reside in North Carolina. Her mysteries, romantic comedies and heartwarming family stories have made numerous appearances on bestseller lists, but her best reward, she says, is knowing one of her books made someone’s day a little brighter. A popular Mills & Boon author for many years, she loves telling passionate stories with happy endings and thinks nothing beats a good romance and a hot cup of tea! You can visit Cathy’s website, www.cathygillenthacker.com, for more information on her upcoming and previously published books, recipes and a list of her favorite things.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A Sweetheart Deal Wyatt Lockhart is bound to regret moving in with Adelaide Smythe. She’s broken the Texas rancher’s heart before, and their last spontaneous reunion resulted in a couple of surprises—twin babies! Wyatt won’t shirk his fatherly duties, but being this close to Adelaide makes it hard to remember why he should stay far away. Adelaide knows she hurt Wyatt, and she’s determined never to do it again. Once they figure out how to share parenting duties, she’ll give him enough space to keep both their hearts safe. But life together at the Circle H is already growing on her. For the sake of their family’s future, can Wyatt forgive Adelaide for the past?

Introduction “Don’t want to get too comfortable here?” Wyatt’s scent—all warm, sexy man—sent another thrill thrumming through her. She rose, clothing in hand. Determined to be practical, even if he wouldn’t be. “More like I don’t want to overstep my bounds. Become even more intrusive to your living space than the twins and I already are.” “Hey.” He caught her arm and reeled her back into his side. “Are you unhappy here?” “No. It’s just…” She tried to ignore the way his gaze scanned the V of her robe. “You and I have made a lot of changes really quickly.” “Because we had to,” he countered, all implacable male. “What I want to know is why you’re suddenly running so hot and cold again.” Exasperated, Adelaide ran both her hands through her hair. “I’m unnerved because we’re doing what we always do! Getting way, way ahead of ourselves!” Wyatt gathered her in his arms. “No,” he countered gruffly, smoothing the hair from her face. “We’re catching up.”

Title Page The Texas Valentine Twins Cathy Gillen Thacker www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author CATHY GILLEN THACKER is married and a mother of three. She and her husband spent eighteen years in Texas and now reside in North Carolina. Her mysteries, romantic comedies and heartwarming family stories have made numerous appearances on bestseller lists, but her best reward, she says, is knowing one of her books made someone’s day a little brighter. A popular Mills & Boon author for many years, she loves telling passionate stories with happy endings and thinks nothing beats a good romance and a hot cup of tea! You can visit Cathy’s website, www.cathygillenthacker.com , for more information on her upcoming and previously published books, recipes and a list of her favorite things.

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

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“When were you going to tell me?” Wyatt Lockhart demanded. He was obviously furious.

Adelaide Smythe looked at the ruggedly handsome rancher standing on the front stoop of her Laramie, Texas, cottage and tried not to react. An impossible task, given the way her heart sped up and her knees went all wobbly any time he was within sight.

Purposefully ignoring the intent look in his way-too-mesmerizing smoky blue eyes, she picked up both duffel bags of baby clothes, blankets and burp cloths and carried them to her waiting SUV.

Aware he was still waiting for an answer, she stated coolly over her shoulder, “I wasn’t.”

Wyatt moved so she had no choice but to look up at him.

He looked good, but then he always looked good in the way of strong, tall and sexy. Radiating an impressive amount of testosterone and kick-butt attitude, he stood, brawny arms folded in front of him, legs braced apart. Back against the rear corner of her vehicle.

His gaze drifted over her, as if he were appraising one of the impeccably trained cutting horses that he bred and sold on his ranch. “You didn’t think I would find out?”

Adelaide tensed. Of course she had known.

She shrugged, her carelessness in direct counterpoint to his concern, and slid the duffels into the cargo area next to the boxes of diapers and formula.

Finished, she lifted her chin defiantly and looked into the piercing gaze that always saw way more than she would have preferred. “I knew your mother might mention it, eventually.” Just as she had intuited that the most cynical of the Lockhart sons would be more than just a little unhappy when he heard about the arrangements.

Wyatt stepped back as if to ward off a punch. “My mom knows?”

It was her ranch. Of course Lucille Lockhart knew Adelaide and the twins were moving temporarily into the Circle H bunkhouse the following week!

Wondering how Wyatt imagined she could manage this without the matriarch’s explicit permission, Adelaide favored him with a deadpan expression. “It was Lucille’s idea, obviously.” As was the notion that Adelaide start bringing over the things she was going to need now, instead of waiting and trying to do it and transport her six-week-old twins all at one time.