Readers have fallen in love with the town and people of Foolâs Gold in Susan Malleryâs New York Times bestselling series. Meet her latest couple in this special Foolâs Gold novella!
Fayrene Hopkins may be only twenty-four years old, but she runs her own business and has big plansâplans that donât involve falling in love yet. Sheâs determined to make her mark on the world before settling down.
She thinks sheâs got life all figured outâuntil she meets Ryan Patterson on her latest job. Fayrene senses his interest in her, and she has to admit he gets her pulse racing. Luckily, starting a relationship with Ryan is safeâheâs leaving Foolâs Gold when his work contract is up.
Ryan has goals of his own and a job waiting for him in Texas. He doesnât expect to get waylaid by a sassy blonde and cozy town. But what started out as temporary is starting to look like the real thing. If only he can convince Fayrene that some plans are made to be broken.
Return to Foolâs Gold in Just One Kiss, Two of a Kind and Three Little Words. Plus, look for the entire Foolâs Gold seriesâand dozens of other memorable titles by Susan Malleryâavailable now from Harlequin HQN.
Dear Reader,
Iâve been a romance reader nearly all my life. I discovered the joys of these fabulous books when I was about thirteen and âborrowedâ a Harlequin Presents from my best friendâs mother. I couldnât help myself. She left a stack of them in the family room, and they started calling my name. Who could ignore that?
After college, I turned my love of reading romances into a love of writing romances. My most popular series to date is set in the town of Foolâs Gold, California. Foolâs Gold is a tourist favorite, nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Sierra Nevada. There are festivals and friendly neighbors and Californiaâs longest-serving mayor.
For the past several years, Iâve set a new trilogy in Foolâs Gold each summer. There are also bonus e-reads, like this one, and sometimes a Christmas story.
This year bodyguards are coming to Foolâs Gold. And who doesnât love a yummy bodyguard! The books that follow this novella are Just One Kiss, Two of a Kind and Three Little Words. Oh, thereâs also a Christmas book this year, called Christmas on 4th Street.
I hope youâll enjoy your visit to Foolâs Gold. If itâs your first time, welcome. If youâve read the series before, Iâll let you know that Ford Hendrix finally comes home and gets his own book later this year!
Happy Reading,
Susan Mallery
CHAPTER ONE
âTHE BABIES ARE coming! The babies are coming! Someone call nine-one-one!â
Ryan Patterson glanced up from his computer as a petite blonde raced past his open office. She was wide-eyed, with her hands waving in the air. She looked to be on the verge of complete panic, in case the screaming hadnât been enough of a clue.
He had to admit, even running around like a deranged chicken, she was kind of cute. He liked how she wore her skirt just short enough to be interesting. Her hazel eyes were big, her mouth full. Early to mid-twenties. Yup, except for the shrieking, she was what his father would call a damned fine example of a woman.
Ryan stood and stepped out of his small glassed-in office. The woman made a complete circuit of the larger central space, then raced back toward him.
âDid you call?â she demanded, wringing her hands together. âI feel sick to my stomach. Itâs too soon. At least I think it is. I thought we had another week.â She sucked in air. âDid you call?â she asked again.
âI will, maâam, as soon as I confirm thereâs a pregnant woman in the building.â
It was still early. Just after eight in the morning. Ryan had arrived at six and had been focused on his work. He hadnât even heard anyone walking into the building. Other than the blonde, of course.
A quick look around the office confirmed that they seemed to be alone. Ethan Hendrix, Ryanâs new boss, didnât believe in paying his engineers to sit around. Most of them were already on job sites or up at the manufacturing facility just outside of Foolâs Gold. Because Ryan was working on a new design, he was in the main office. Heâd been on the job all of a week. Ethan had mentioned something about hiring a temp to handle the phone, but hadnât given Ryan a name or ETA.
The woman stared at him blankly. âThereâs no pregnant person,â she said, as if convinced he was an idiot. âItâs Misty. Iâm cat sitting, and sheâs pregnant. I told Ethan I couldnât leave her alone, so he said to bring her in to work with me. I didnât think it would be a problem because Charity, her owner, said she wasnât due for a week and theyâd all be back by then. Theyâre in Florida for a charity bike race that Josh isââ
The woman drew in a breath. âNone of this matters. Misty is giving birth. We have to get help.â