A Forever Kind of Family
TWO'S A DATE. THREE'S . . . A FAMILY?When they become guardians of their best friends' orphaned baby, Ryan Garrett and Harper Ross expect disaster. The two can't be more different–she's an uptight career woman; he's a laidback ladies' man. But for little Oliver, they're now mommy and daddy.For Harper, playing house with the flirtatious Ryan is as difficult as being a mother. Fussy babies elude her…but sexy Ryan pursues her! He reminds her of the night they spent together years ago; she needs to forget it. All they agree on is their love for the baby. They'll do anything for the little guy…But when their custody is threatened, will they go all the way…and marry?
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The bouquet was enormous.
She smiled as she picked up the card, her eyes blurring with tears as she read it.
For my new mummy on her first Motherâs Day. Love, Oliver xoxo
She looked at Ryan. âCrayon?â
âOliver doesnât yet have the dexterity to hold a pen.â She shot him a look and he said, âOkay, but he wrote on the back.â
She saw the blue scribble there.
She kissed the little boy on the cheek.
âThank you for the pretty flowers, Oliver.â
âShouldnât I get a thank-you, too?â Ryan asked.
âThank you,â she said.
His brows lifted. âWhat about a kiss for me?â
She took a step closer and let her gaze settle on his lips. Sheâd thought about Oliverâs mum all day, how much she admired her friendâs willingness to go after what she wanted. She wished she could be that fearless and reach for what she wanted.
Ryan was so close, all she had to do was rise up on her toes and brush her lips against his. Then take his hand and lead him to her bedroom.
Could she be fearless enough to do it?
Those Engaging Garretts! The Carolina Cousins
BRENDA HARLEN is a former attorney who once had the privilege of appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada. The practice of law taught her a lot about the world and reinforced her determination to become a writerâbecause in fiction, she could promise a happy ending! Now she is an award-winning, national bestselling author of more than thirty titles for Mills & Boon. You can keep up-to-date with Brenda on Facebook and Twitter or through her website, www.brendaharlen.com.
One of the best things about setting this book in the fictional town of Charisma, North Carolina, was that it gave me an excuse to visit that beautiful state and some wonderful friends who call it home.
In particular, I would like to dedicate this book to the lovely and immensely talented Virginia Kantra, with much appreciation for carving time out of her busy schedule to have lunch with me ⦠which somehow extended to dinner ⦠and I think there might have been wine â¦
Contents
The baby was crying.
Harper Ross jolted awake, her heart pounding and her throat aching.
After eighteen daysâand eighteen nightsâshe should have been accustomed to Oliverâs middle-of-the-night outbursts, but she wasnât. By this time, sheâd expected to feel more comfortable with the baby and more confident about her ability to care for him, but she didnât.
As the assistant producer of an award-winning television show, she wasnât just competent but confident. When she was in the studio, she was in charge and in control. When she was with her best friendâs orphaned little boy, though, she felt completely helpless.
She didnât know what to do for him, how to console himâor if anything could. She was completely out of her element with the child. When sheâd learned that she was now responsible for sixteen-month-old Oliverâsheâd panicked. She didnât know the first thing about caring for a child. She didnât know what to feed him, when to put him to bed or even how to change a diaper.
Thankfully, she knew how to research, and the internet was overflowing with informationâincluding step-by-step video demonstrations of diaper changing. But there was still so much she didnât know, and every free minute she had, she spent reading childcare manuals and psychology textbooks.
She wouldnât have minded the steep learning curve so much except that her co-guardianâRyan Garrettâhad stepped into his role with no apparent difficulty, his ease with the child highlighting her own ineptitude. And although Ryan usually dealt with Oliverâs middle-of-the-night demands, he didnât seem to be responding tonight.
She and Ryan had given up their respective apartments and moved into Melissa and Darren Cannonâs house so that Oliver would be able to stay in familiar surroundings, but she knew that nothing could ease the loss of his parents.
She drew in a slow deep breath and pushed her legs over the edge of the mattress, swallowing around the lump in her throat. Her best friendâs baby needed so much more than she could give him, but she was trying. Of course, she might be more successful if she could get more than a few hours of uninterrupted sleep in any given night, but so far that hadnât happened.
Oliver had apparently started sleeping through the night when he was five months old, but he hadnât done so even once since the accident. According to Ryanâs mom, who had become their go-to source for all child-related questions, his nighttime waking was neither surprising nor cause for concern. His life and his routines had been disrupted and it was reasonable that he would be upset and confused. Harperâs understanding of that didnât make her any less cranky.
