Cradling Kira in one arm, Skylar stood on tiptoe and reached up and circled his neck with her hand
Cooper tensed, but it didnât stop her. She stroked his roughened skin and felt the texture of his thick hair curling into his collar.
At her touch, his eyes darkened and she pulled him toward her, meeting the firm line of his lips gently, softly. One touch and emotions exploded around them. He cupped her face and took over the kiss with a deep, yearning intensity. He tasted of sunshine and the outdoors. As he caressed her lips, a sensual heat built in her and mingled with the wildness in both of them. His callused hands held her face, but all she felt was his powerâin her and all around her. A gentle power that was riveting. Evocative. Real.
The kiss went on and on, bonding them together in a new wayâas a man and as a woman fully aware of the differences.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the last book in THE BELLES OF TEXAS trilogy. This one is close to my heart, and Iâll tell you why. The heroineâs four-year-old daughter, Kira, has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, a disease Iâm familiar with. When I was planning this book, I knew Skylarâs child had something wrong with her, but I didnât know what. One day I went for a checkup, and the nurse suggested I give her juvenile arthritis. I should probably tell you I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was eighteen.
I hesitated. I deal with the disease daily and I didnât want to give it to a little girl, even if she was fictional. The nurse said I was well acquainted with how rheumatoid arthritis affects a person so the story should be easy to write. It wasnât. Every pain Kira Belle suffered, I felt, too. But I made sure she had loving people all around her, just like I have in my life. I was pleased with the way the story turned out, even though I cringed a lot while writing it.
Some scenes in the book were taken from my childhood and I admit I used artistic license with the well scene. Enjoy Skylarâs story. I promise it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
With love and thanks,
Linda Warren
Award-winning, bestselling author Linda Warren has written twenty-three books for the Harlequin Superromance and Harlequin American Romance lines. She grew up in the farming and ranching community of Smetana, Texas, the only girl in a family of boys. She loves to write about Texas, and from time to time scenes and characters from her childhood show up in her books. Linda lives in College Station, Texas, not far from her birthplace, with her husband, Billy, and a menagerie of wild animals, from Canada geese to bobcats. Visit her Web site at www.lindawarren.net.
I dedicate this book to the millions of people
who suffer with arthritis.
May they soon find a cure.
A special thanks to:
J.O. Siegert for answering my many questions about water wells and ranching.
Mark Fuller, DVM, for always coming to the rescue for all my animal problems.
Micki Gutierrez, RN, for offering a great suggestion.
And, Lara Chapman for kindly sharing information on Giddings, Texas.
All errors are strictly mine.
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
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
EPILOGUE
SKYLAR BELLE HATED BEING ignored, especially by a man.
Especially by him.
The padded chair squeaked against the hardwood floor as she moved uneasily due to her infuriated thoughts. But she wasnât going to put up with his blatant rudeness one more day.
âThe ex-con has to go.â She said the words loudly and clearly, with an angry undertone, determined to snare her sisterâs attention. What she got was silence.
Damn freakinâ silence.
Her oldest sister, Caitlyn, sat transfixed with her hand on her stomach, a goofy expression Sky had never seen before plastered on her face. The look seemed out of place on her responsible, bossy sister. Finding out youâre pregnant could do that to a woman, though. Skylar knew that.
Her other sister, Madison, held her four-month-old daughter on her shoulder, burping her and occasionally kissing the babyâs cheek. Maddie was enraptured and totally oblivious to everyone else in the room.
Neither sister had heard a word sheâd said.
She might need a cannon or a bomb to break into their thoughts.
âSheâs asleep,â Maddie whispered, gingerly getting to her feet. âIâll put her down and then we can talk. I know you said something, Sky.â
âYes, and Iâd appreciate it if you two could focus.â They were in the study, having their monthly meeting to discuss the High Five ranch. Or trying to have the meeting, was more accurate.
As Maddie left, Cait rubbed her flat belly. âI can hardly believe a little person is growing in here.â
Sky leaned back, studying her sister with the black hair and Belle blue eyes. The ranch had always been Caitâs top priority, but now Sky couldnât even get her attention to discuss it. âI never thought youâd be this sappy.â