Sara Orwig - The Rancher's Cinderella Bride

Old friends, pretend lovers—from USA TODAY bestselling author Sara Orwig!

Meg Aldridge needs a fiancé. Her family’s demands that she marry have become unbearable. But a monthlong pretend engagement to her best friend, Gabe Callahan, should shut them right up. After all, they’ve been feuding with the Callahans for years.

Gabe’s willing to give up the ladies temporarily and focus his attentions on Meg. She’s his best friend; there’s no danger of complications. But a made-over Meg is wearing sexy clothes and makeup...and stirring up new feelings. Will a month of being lovers for appearance’s sake become a lifetime of the real thing?

The Rancher’s Cinderella Bride is part of the Callahan’s Clan series.

“Now, how can you possibly know about my love life?”

“Word gets around about you,” Meg replied, teasing.

“Well, what do you know,” Gabe said with a smile. “You’ve been discussing me with others.”

“Don’t flatter yourself—I may not be the one bringing up your name, you know.”

He laughed. “I better back off right now. I know you well enough to know when my teasing is getting to you.”

“You don’t know as much about me as you think you do. The last time you teased me I was fourteen years old.”

He tilted her chin up. “We’re in a spotlight from the security light. Just in case anyone is observing us, let’s make this look like the real thing.”

“No one in this neighborhood is paying attention to us.”

Gabe slipped his arm around her waist. “You know, Meg, we’ve never kissed.”

He leaned closer and her heart beat faster.

When his mouth brushed hers, heat swept through her. His arms tightened around her, drawing her against his hard length as his mouth covered hers.

Oh. She was in trouble.

* * *

The Rancher’s Cinderella Brideis part of the Callahan’s Clan series— A wealthy Texas family finds love under the Western skies!

The Rancher’s Cinderella Bride

Sara Orwig

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SARA ORWIG, from Oklahoma, loves family, friends, dogs, books, long walks, sunny beaches and palm trees. She is married to and in love with the guy she met in college. They have three children and six grandchildren. Sara’s one hundredth published novel was a July 2016 release. With a master’s degree in English, Sara has written historical romance, mainstream fiction and contemporary romance. Sara welcomes readers on Facebook or at www.saraorwig.com.

To my editor, Stacy Boyd, with many thanks for your friendship and editing.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Old friends, pretend lovers—from USA TODAY bestselling author Sara Orwig! Meg Aldridge needs a fiancé. Her family’s demands that she marry have become unbearable. But a monthlong pretend engagement to her best friend, Gabe Callahan, should shut them right up. After all, they’ve been feuding with the Callahans for years. Gabe’s willing to give up the ladies temporarily and focus his attentions on Meg. She’s his best friend; there’s no danger of complications. But a made-over Meg is wearing sexy clothes and makeup...and stirring up new feelings. Will a month of being lovers for appearance’s sake become a lifetime of the real thing? The Rancher’s Cinderella Bride is part of the Callahan’s Clan series.

Introduction “Now, how can you possibly know about my love life?” “Word gets around about you,” Meg replied, teasing. “Well, what do you know,” Gabe said with a smile. “You’ve been discussing me with others.” “Don’t flatter yourself—I may not be the one bringing up your name, you know.” He laughed. “I better back off right now. I know you well enough to know when my teasing is getting to you.” “You don’t know as much about me as you think you do. The last time you teased me I was fourteen years old.” He tilted her chin up. “We’re in a spotlight from the security light. Just in case anyone is observing us, let’s make this look like the real thing.” “No one in this neighborhood is paying attention to us.” Gabe slipped his arm around her waist. “You know, Meg, we’ve never kissed.” He leaned closer and her heart beat faster. When his mouth brushed hers, heat swept through her. His arms tightened around her, drawing her against his hard length as his mouth covered hers. Oh. She was in trouble. * * * The Rancher’s Cinderella Bride is part of the Callahan’s Clan series— A wealthy Texas family finds love under the Western skies!

Title Page The Rancher’s Cinderella Bride Sara Orwig www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author SARA ORWIG , from Oklahoma, loves family, friends, dogs, books, long walks, sunny beaches and palm trees. She is married to and in love with the guy she met in college. They have three children and six grandchildren. Sara’s one hundredth published novel was a July 2016 release. With a master’s degree in English, Sara has written historical romance, mainstream fiction and contemporary romance. Sara welcomes readers on Facebook or at www.saraorwig.com .

Dedication To my editor, Stacy Boyd, with many thanks for your friendship and editing.

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Extract

Copyright

One

July

Gabe Callahan sat on the porch of his ranch house with his booted feet propped on a rail as he watched a red pickup race up the road and onto the circular drive in front of the house. Aldridge Landscape Design was in red letters on the side, against a white circle background. Having known the driver as far back in his life as he could remember, he couldn’t imagine what could have made her so desperate to call him, let alone to drive the two hours southwest from Dallas to his ranch. Unless she had been in Downly, the nearest town and only thirty minutes away from him. For Meg the drive would be longer.

As the truck screeched to a stop, he winced and stood, walking to the top of the steps. He waited there till Megan Louise Aldridge popped out of the pickup and charged toward the porch.

“Good morning, Meg,” he said, addressing her the way he had since she had been in preschool and he had been in the first grade. He nodded toward the pickup. “When are you going to learn to drive?”

She didn’t laugh or even smile at his usual teasing, so whatever the problem was, it was big.

“Let’s go inside,” he said quietly, realizing something was really wrong. That alone was startling because Meg was usually cheerful. At least the Meg he remembered. He hadn’t seen much of her the past few years.

“Let’s sit in the library,” he directed as he motioned her into the house.

As she walked beside him, he caught a whiff of the familiar lilac perfume she had worn since middle school. He gave her a sidelong glance. She hadn’t changed much. Though she was taller now, her long pale brown hair was still held back from her forehead by a blue headband—the same style hairdo she’d worn since preschool. Her hair had always been either caught by a headband or braided in pigtails. And once again, she wore no makeup. Frank, honest, sweet—that was exactly how he’d describe the Meg he remembered. And exactly how she looked right now.

Though these days they kept in touch mainly through social media and through the grapevine, back in the day Meg had been a great friend—and in the earliest years, his best friend. As kids, she had been there for him during the bad times and he had been there for her. All that despite a family feud that had put a wedge between the Callahans and the Aldridges.