Nancy Thompson - A Bride, A Barn, And A Baby

And the prince wore spurs

A bourbon-tinged evening turns into a night of spur-jangling passion. And wrapped in the arms of hunky cowboy Zane Phillips, Lucy Campbell feels like her dreams have come true all at once! But she knows Zane needs a chance to let their move from friends to lovers sink in. That is, until reality knocks...and Lucy discovers she’s pregnant.

This wasn’t how Zane imagined daddyhood would happen. And with pretty Lucy...his best friend’s little sister! He wants to do right by her and the baby, but Lucy wants the fairy tale, not a marriage of obligation. And while this simple cowboy isn’t sure he can measure up as her Prince Charming, the real magic is that he’s had her heart all along...

“Do you like bourbon? It’s all I have right now. Bourbon or water. Or bourbon and water.”

“It’s fine,” she said. When Zane picked up the bottle and poured them each about two fingers’ worth of the amber liquid, she accepted the glass.

“I didn’t know you were a bourbon drinker.”

She wasn’t. She didn’t drink much, and the strong taste of bourbon wasn’t her favorite, but tonight it would do.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

This time his right brow arched. A challenge. He didn’t quite smile, but his eyes lingered on hers long enough to be suggestive. He made a harrumph noise that seemed as if he was considering the possibility of them or sizing her up. It was thrilling and frightening, electric and grounding.

Flirting with Zane was like a wild roller-coaster ride that twisted her every which way. Sometimes it made her feel as if she was about to tumble out of herself, or shoot straight off the edge of the universe. But when the car that was his attention finally delivered her to the station with a buzzing rush, she was always well aware she’d never been in any real danger of falling. Scratch that—she’d fallen a long time ago...

* * *

Celebration, Tx:Love is just a celebration away...

A Bride, a Barn, and a Baby

Nancy Robards Thompson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

National bestselling author NANCY ROBARDS THOMPSON holds a degree in journalism. She worked as a newspaper reporter until she realized reporting “just the facts” bored her silly. Now that she has much more content to report to her muse, Nancy loves writing women’s fiction and romance full-time. Critics have deemed her work “funny, smart and observant.” She resides in Florida with her husband and daughter. You can reach her at www.nancyrobardsthompson.comand Facebook.com/nancyrobardsthompsonbooks.

This book is dedicated to Kathleen O’Brien for your friendship and spot-on plotting advice.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text And the prince wore spurs A bourbon-tinged evening turns into a night of spur-jangling passion. And wrapped in the arms of hunky cowboy Zane Phillips, Lucy Campbell feels like her dreams have come true all at once! But she knows Zane needs a chance to let their move from friends to lovers sink in. That is, until reality knocks...and Lucy discovers she’s pregnant. This wasn’t how Zane imagined daddyhood would happen. And with pretty Lucy...his best friend’s little sister! He wants to do right by her and the baby, but Lucy wants the fairy tale, not a marriage of obligation. And while this simple cowboy isn’t sure he can measure up as her Prince Charming, the real magic is that he’s had her heart all along...

Introduction “Do you like bourbon? It’s all I have right now. Bourbon or water. Or bourbon and water.” “It’s fine,” she said. When Zane picked up the bottle and poured them each about two fingers’ worth of the amber liquid, she accepted the glass. “I didn’t know you were a bourbon drinker.” She wasn’t. She didn’t drink much, and the strong taste of bourbon wasn’t her favorite, but tonight it would do. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” This time his right brow arched. A challenge. He didn’t quite smile, but his eyes lingered on hers long enough to be suggestive. He made a harrumph noise that seemed as if he was considering the possibility of them or sizing her up. It was thrilling and frightening, electric and grounding. Flirting with Zane was like a wild roller-coaster ride that twisted her every which way. Sometimes it made her feel as if she was about to tumble out of herself, or shoot straight off the edge of the universe. But when the car that was his attention finally delivered her to the station with a buzzing rush, she was always well aware she’d never been in any real danger of falling. Scratch that—she’d fallen a long time ago... * * * Celebration, Tx: Love is just a celebration away...

Title Page A Bride, a Barn, and a Baby Nancy Robards Thompson www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author National bestselling author NANCY ROBARDS THOMPSON holds a degree in journalism. She worked as a newspaper reporter until she realized reporting “just the facts” bored her silly. Now that she has much more content to report to her muse, Nancy loves writing women’s fiction and romance full-time. Critics have deemed her work “funny, smart and observant.” She resides in Florida with her husband and daughter. You can reach her at www.nancyrobardsthompson.com and Facebook.com/nancyrobardsthompsonbooks .

Dedication This book is dedicated to Kathleen O’Brien for your friendship and spot-on plotting advice.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

May 2017

“I know I should’ve called first,” Lucy Campbell said when Zane Phillips opened his front door, “but I come bearing gifts.”

Standing in the doorway, looking cranky, his big frame taking up a lot of space, Zane silently eyed her offerings.

“I brought The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo’s Fire and Say Anything... and a few others.” She handed the DVDs to him one by one as she read off each title. He frowned as he looked at them, and then he held up the one on top.

“This is a problem,” he said, looking at the movie as if he didn’t know what to do with it. “I’m not in the mood to say anything.”

“That’s why I brought over a selection.” Lucy reached into his personal space and tapped the DVD case. “If you’re not in the mood for that movie, you can choose another one.”

He shook his head. “No. Luce, you’re not understanding me. I’m not in the mood for talking. Period. I don’t feel like company tonight.”

“I understand you better than you think I do. Hence the movies.” And the reason she hadn’t called before showing up. “You don’t have to talk. All you have to do is watch. And eat Chinese food.”

She held up a brown paper sack.

“Are you going to let me in? The kung pao beef is getting cold.”

Storm clouds were rolling in and the fragrance of rain hung in the humid air.

“You brought kung pao?” His tone was lighter.

She nodded. “And General Tso’s chicken, fried rice and egg rolls.”

She’d known it wouldn’t be easy getting past his front door. That was why she’d brought the food. She thrust the large brown sack at him, and he almost dropped the stack of movies. He shifted the DVDs into one hand and accepted the bag. Pushing past him, Lucy stepped onto the beige carpet into the living room of Zane’s Bridgemont Farms house and squinted into the dim light. The curtains were drawn. The only light on was the one in the kitchen. It cast enough of a golden glow to illuminate the mess in the front room. An empty pizza box, spent beer cans, a couple pairs of socks, some wadded-up jeans and a pair of mud-caked boots lying askew on the carpet. It all looked as if he had left it where he had dropped it, amid the stacks of cardboard boxes and piles of things he’d been sorting.