Guarding a Forbidden Love


 
 
 
 “So, what have you been doing this morning? I’ve seen you using your crowbar and hammer,” she said in an attempt to change the subject.
 “I’ve been removing some of the rotten wood across the front. With those gone, I can then start replacing the rotten wallboard underneath. What’s your favorite color?”
 She sat back in her chair. “Pink. What’s yours?” she asked. The man was positively incorrigible.
 “Blue. What’s your favorite kind of food?” He bit into one of the cookies and washed it down with a sip of coffee.
 “I like all kinds of food, but Mexican is probably my favorite. What’s your favorite?”
 “Burgers. I love a big, juicy cheeseburger with a side of fries.”
 “Are you going to ask me what my sign is now? I’m a Libra and as stubborn as you seem, I would guess you’re a Taurus. Why are you asking me all of this?”
 He tilted his head slightly and the dimple danced in his cheek as he grinned. “I like to learn as much as I can about the woman I’m going to date.”
 
 
 Dear Reader,
 Winter is here and as the snow flies, we all seek our own little pocket of warmth in the world. My little pocket is a recliner chair with a soft, furry blanket and a good book. The blanket warms my body, but a good book heats up my very soul.
 I hope you find Guarding a Forbidden Love to be your heat for a few hours of pleasure. I had a lot of fun writing this one about a middle-aged woman and a sexy younger hunk. I hope Harper and Sam can convince you that love is love and age really doesn’t matter.
 Enjoy reading!
 Carla Cassidy
 
 
 GUARDING A FORBIDDEN LOVE
 Carla Cassidy
 
 
 
 Carla Cassidy is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author who has written over a hundred and seventy books, including a hundred and fifty for Harlequin. She has won the Centennial Award from Romance Writers of America. Most recently she won the 2019 Write Touch Readers Award for her Harlequin Intrigue title Desperate Strangers. Carla believes the only thing better than curling up with a good book is sitting down at the computer with a good story to write.
 Books by Carla Cassidy
 Harlequin Romantic Suspense
 The Scarecrow Murders
 Killer in the Heartland
 Guarding a Forbidden Love
 Colton 911: Chicago
 Colton 911: Guardian in the Storm
 Cowboys of Holiday Ranch
 Sheltered by the Cowboy
 Guardian Cowboy
 Cowboy Defender
 Cowboy’s Vow to Protect
 The Cowboy’s Targeted Bride
 The Last Cowboy Standing
 Colton 911
 Colton 911: Target in Jeopardy
 Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
 
 
 To Darlene, the daughter of my heart. I love being your mother. You make me laugh and you make me proud. I love you...more!
 
 
 Contents
 Chapter 1
 Chapter 2
 Chapter 3
 Chapter 4
 Chapter 5
 Chapter 6
 Chapter 7
 Chapter 8
 Chapter 9
 Chapter 10
 Chapter 11
 Chapter 12
 Epilogue
 Excerpt from Her Texas Lawman by Addison Fox
 
 
 Chapter 1
 Harper Brennan sat on her sofa and stared at the birthday cake in the center of her coffee table. The cake was a beautiful dark chocolate, frosted with a rich raspberry buttercream and baked in her very own bakery, the Sweet Tooth.
 She’d planned a very small birthday party for herself this evening with two of her best friends. Unfortunately, they had both canceled at the last minute. So now Harper was having a pity party for one and she was the guest of honor.
 She grabbed one of the silly pointed party hats she’d bought for the occasion and fastened it atop her head. She then stared at the single candle in the center of the cake. There was only one because there was no way the cake could hold forty-five candles.
 Forty-five. She’d never dreamed at this age she would be celebrating a birthday all alone. A little over six years ago, she’d been happily married and had dreamed of opening her own bakery.
 She’d managed to see her dream of the bakery come true, but her marriage had ended when her husband had left her for a twenty-five-year-old woman. Jerk. At least the happy couple had moved away so Harper didn’t have to see them together every day.
 She now sighed and picked up a lighter to light the single candle. In the mood she was in, she felt like bingeing on the cake and eating half of it or more. But she’d only eat a small piece because lately it seemed she only had to look at food and extra pounds jumped right to her tummy and hips. Damn middle age.
 Before she could light the candle, a knock sounded at her door. Maybe one of her friends had made it after all. She jumped up off the sofa and hurried to the front door. She opened it to see Sam Bravano standing on her front porch.
 “Hi, Harper. I’m here about the ad.” He smiled, revealing a dimple in one cheek.
 Sam Bravano. She’d seen him around town many times, but nothing had prepared her for seeing him so up close and personal.
 Lordy, if she were ten years younger, she would so jump his bones. And fine bones they were. With his broad shoulders and slim hips, and his slightly shaggy dark hair and his unexpected, yet vivid green eyes, he was definitely a piece of hunky eye candy.
 “Harper?” His smile faltered and she realized she’d just been standing there staring at him and maybe mentally drooling a bit. God, she hoped she hadn’t really been drooling.
 “Oh, yes...the ad. Uh, come on in.” She opened the door wider to allow him entry. As he passed by her, she caught the scent of sunshine, a hint of a spicy cologne and intoxicating male.
 “Please, have a seat.” She gestured him to