Harlequin Heartwarming February 2023 Box Set: A Clean Romance


 
 
 
 
 
 “What are you talking about, Button?”
 Button.
 Kat’s heart squeezed.
 The baby slapped the table and gave her dad a wide toothless smile. He planted a kiss on the side of her face, then went still, as if recalling that he and his daughter were not alone.
 Oh yeah. Her heart had just officially melted, and she couldn’t decide if it was because of the open affection Troy showed his daughter or the way his cheeks warmed when he’d realized she was watching.
 “Have you thought about my proposition?” She kept her attention on the coffeepot as if it needed watching.
 “Your cousin’s behavior has nothing to do with you,” Troy said, sounding as if he’d practiced the words. “You don’t need to make it right.”
 Kat opened her mouth, but he stopped her by raising a finger. “I’m just putting that out there before I accept your offer.”
 It took Kat a moment to realize she didn’t have a fight on her hands. “That’s...good.”
 “Unless you’ve had second thoughts?”
 
 
 Dear Reader,
 Welcome to Larkspur, Montana, where you will meet the three spunky heroines of The Cowgirls of Larkspur Valley.
 Kat Farley comes from a big ranch family that acts first and considers consequences second, and as a result chose to make herself a quiet life in a small city. But she missed home and when she gets the opportunity to head back to Larkspur, she takes it—and ends up with a cowboy as a tenant on her small farm.
 Thrill-seeking rodeo rider Troy Mackay is a single dad who is looking to settle down and raise his daughter. He’s determined to give his baby a stable, loving upbringing, and he can’t be distracted by his attraction to Kat.
 I’ve lived in the heart of ranch country for many years, and I love writing cowboys and cowgirls. I also love stories of growth and redemption, of characters facing their fears and coming out on top. Throw in some country charm, a few assorted animals and small-town characters, and you have what I like to write best.
 I hope you enjoy Home with the Rodeo Dad. If you’d like to contact me or join my newsletter, check out my website, jeanniewatt.com. You can also find me on Facebook at Facebook.com/jeannie.watt.1.
 Happy reading!
 Jeannie
 
 
 
 Home with the Rodeo Dad
 Jeannie Watt
 
 
 
 Jeannie Watt lives on a small cattle ranch and hay farm in southwest Montana with her husband, her ridiculously energetic parents and the usual ranch menagerie. She spends her mornings writing, except during calving season, and during the remainder of the day enjoys sewing, doing glass mosaics and fixing fence. If you’d like more information about Jeannie and her books, please visit her website at jeanniewatt.com, where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
 Books by Jeannie Watt
 Harlequin Heartwarming
 Sweet Home, Montana
 Montana HomecomingMontana DadA Ranch Between Them
 Her Montana Cowboy
 Harlequin Western Romance
 Montana Bull Riders
 The Bull Rider Meets His MatchThe Bull Rider’s HomecomingA Bull Rider to Depend OnThe Bull Rider’s Plan
 Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
 
 
 I would like to dedicate this book to my beautiful daughter, Jamie Dallas, also a published author. I’ve had a blast pursuing our writing dreams together and it’s wonderful to have someone in the family who “understands.” I love you!
 
 
 Contents
 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
 
 
 CHAPTER ONE
 “EASY, BUTTON. We’re almost there.”
 Troy Mackay glanced in the rearview mirror of his Ford F-250 as his six-month-old daughter’s warning cry became a full-fledged howl. His shoulders tightened in response, but he didn’t panic like he would have only a few months ago.
 Livia hit a particularly high note just as the headlights shone over a mailbox with a crooked flag, at which point he was supposed to turn left, according to the directions his new landlord had given him.
 “Just another mile, kiddo.”
 Livia hiccupped, sucked in a breath and then howled again. Troy winced as he fought with himself to keep from stopping the truck right there.
 An eternity later, which showed as four minutes on the dashboard clock, he rolled to a stop in front of a dark house and turned off the ignition. Livia went quiet, as if sensing that a big change was taking place.
 It was.
 Troy Mackay, former career rodeo rider was now Troy Mackay, single dad and full-time farrier. Or he would be full time as soon as he hung out his shingle and got Livia enrolled in the local daycare center.
 Troy opened the rear door of the truck and unlatched the baby carrier. He was debating about whether to leave Livia strapped in or take her out and hold her when the porch light came on behind him.
 He whirled toward the light, wondering if a place this old had motion sensors, then he saw movement in the reflected light on the windows. There was someone in the house. Quickly, he relatched the baby carrier, closed the door and stood protectively in front of the truck. This house was supposed to be empty, so what was he facing?
 A squatter taking refuge, maybe?
 Livia let out a howl that shattered the stillness of the night.
 Get in the truck and drive. Come back in the morning.
 The need to protect his daughter was paramount, and Troy was about to do just that, even though he had no place to go. Then the front door opened, and a young woman stepped out, hugging her long sweater around her body.
 “Hi,” he called in the friendliest voice he could manage. “Maybe I’m at the wrong place. I’m looking for Littlegate Farm.”
 “Why?” The woman pulled her sweater more tightly around her, and