Diana Whitney: Ooh Baby, Baby Part 2

36 Hours Serial

As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty-six hours will change the town and its residents forever….

Ooh, Baby, Baby Part 2

In the middle of the raging storm the power goes out, mud washes onto the roads…and Peggy Saxon gives birth to twins in the back of Travis Stockwell’s cab.

Peggy’s been handling things on her own since the end of her disastrous marriage. But she has to admit—things are a lot nicer with Travis around. She could get used to the feeling, if only she knew that it would last…

Travis can’t seem to stay away from the Saxon family. Those beautiful babies—and their mother—deserve the best of everything. But what if the best for them is the stable life he can’t provide?

The story concludes in Ooh Baby, Baby Part 3.

Dear Reader,

In the town of Grand Springs, Colorado, a devastating summer storm sets off a string of events that changes the lives of the residents forever….

Welcome to Mills & Boon exciting new digital serial, 36 Hours! In this thirty-six part serial share the stories of the residents of Grand Springs, Colorado, in the wake of a deadly storm.

With the power knocked out and mudslides washing over the roads, the town is plunged into darkness and the residents are forced to face their biggest fears—and find love against all odds.

Each week features a new story written by a variety of bestselling authors like Susan Mallery and Sharon Sala. The stories are published in three segments, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the first segment of every three-part book is free, so you can get caught up in the mystery and drama of Grand Springs. And you can get to know a new set of characters every week. You can read just one, but as the lives and stories of each intertwine in surprising ways, you’ll want to read them all!

Join Mills & Boon E every week as we bring you excitement, mystery, fun and romance in 36 Hours!

Happy reading!

A three-time Romance Writers of America RITA® Award finalist, RT Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee and finalist for Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence, Diana has published thirty romance and romantic suspense novels since her first Silhouette title in 1989. Diana has conducted many writing workshops and has published several articles on the craft of fiction writing for various trade magazines and newsletters. She is a member of Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Published Authors Network and Romance Writers of America. She and her husband live in rural Northern California with a beloved menagerie of furred creatures, domestic and wild!

Diana Whitney

www.millsandboon.co.uk

After giving birth to her twins in the back of a taxi, in the middle of one of the worst rainstorms in Colorado history, and having some cowboy get to know her intimately as he delivered her babies, Peggy Saxon thought she’d seen it all—until she awoke to find a woman stealing her babies! But she wasn’t about to let panic set in. There had to be a reasonable answer to why this strange woman was standing over the cribs in the middle of the night, when the house was locked. Forget reason, panic and anger were ready to take over! Her baby girl and boy were the best things in her life and she wasn’t about to let them go. This stranger was about to meet this determined mother and she’d better have a damn good explanation ready. And if that cowboy Travis was involved, that destructive thunderstorm would seem minor to what Peggy would dish out. Hell hath no fury like a mother…scared.

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

The woman turned, tightening her grip on the tiny baby girl nested at her shoulder. Peggy’s heart, jolted by shock, raced in fear. She stepped back, bumped into a large, warm body and spun around with a yelp.

Travis Stockwell reached out as if to steady her, eyed her raised fists and thought better of it. “I see you and Sue Anne have met,” he said, nodding toward the brick of a woman who flashed a warm, vaguely familiar smile.

Bewildered and disoriented, Peggy Saxon dropped her arms, turned and stared at the dark-eyed, dark-haired person who was tenderly cuddling newborn Virginia in her mannish, muscular arms. “Sue Anne…your sister?”

“Guilty as charged,” Sue Anne said cheerfully. “I’ve got to tell you, hon, these are two of the cutest babes I ever laid eyes on. Now I see where they got those adorable feathers of red hair. Whoa, sweetie!” She turned her face toward the blinking infant. “My, that was a big one. Betcha feel better now, hmm?”

Peggy moistened her lips, fighting the urge to leap forward and rip her child out of the stranger’s arms. “I’m pleased to meet you, but why— I mean, what—”

“What am I doing here?”

“That question did flash through my mind.”

Chuckling, Sue Anne laid Ginny back into the crib, cooed once, tweaked the tiny little cheek and straightened, eyeing her brother with blatant amusement. “Tell her, Travis.”

Peggy swung her gaze around, scraping him with a look. “Yes, Travis, if you wouldn’t mind.”

“Well, ma’am,” he drawled, barely able to contain a smug smile, “looks to me like your in-home assistance finally got here.”

“My what?”

“Guess I’ll be moseying along.” With that, Travis tucked his hands in his pockets and sauntered out, grinning like a cat with feathers in its teeth.

Peggy sagged against the wall for a moment, then hurried over to check each of her babies. T.J. was on his back, sound asleep. Virginia was awake, but yawning. Peggy inspected her daughter carefully, checking each and every baby appendage.

“Not that I wouldn’t like to steal a couple of those sweet little toes,” Sue Anne said with a knowing sparkle in her eyes. “But I figured the child might be needing them someday.”

Peggy turned, propped her hip against the crib and regarded the woman, realizing that her smile had been familiar because it was very much like her brother’s. The siblings shared the same whiskey-colored eyes and full, flashing grin, but the resemblance stopped there. Travis was lean and slender, with a tight, rounded rear that made blue jeans look like denim skin. Sue Anne Conway, who was wearing a plaid shirt and a pair of Levi’s, was built like a tractor, squat and square, with shoulders broad enough for a man to envy. Peggy recalled that Jimmy Conway’s shoulders were larger, but not by much.

Recognizing the blatant appraisal, Sue Anne laughed. “Believe it or not, I’m the spitting image of our mother. Travis takes after Pa. Except Travis isn’t a wimpy, drunken fool.”

“I see.”

There was enough ice in the comment to make Sue Anne wince. “Guess he didn’t mention that I’d be dropping by.”

Peggy folded her arms. “It must have slipped his mind.”

“Honey, nothing slips my brother’s mind. He’s got a reason for everything he does or doesn’t do.” She cocked her head, smiling kindly. “My guess is that he didn’t want to be on the receiving end of the look you’re giving me right now. Most men would rather be gut-gored than face off with an angry woman, and Travis isn’t any different. Except in his case, you can add babies to the list. He’s scared to death of the little critters, which is why it’s so comical he got stuck delivering yours in his taxi during the storm. First babies he’s ever touched in his life, as far as I know. If he had his way, they’ll be the last, too.” Her eyes twinkled. “But somehow, I doubt he’ll have his way on that. Thing is, he’s a stubborn cuss, and he’s been fretting about you.”