A Home Come True
He's the one with a family planRelocating his sprawling family to this small Texas town wasn't the career move Austin cop Luke Hollister planned. Especially when the case he's working involves one of Holly Heights's own. Just ask his new neighbor Jennifer Neil, the high school math teacher who's fiercely protective of her community and personal space. Luke's here to serve, too. He's got a foster mom, siblings and little niece to keep safe. Yet the more he and Jen are thrown together, the more Luke wants to settle here for good-with the fiery redhead. But can he convince Jen to turn the dream house for one she’s building into a real home?
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Heâs the one with a family plan
Relocating his sprawling family to this small Texas town wasnât the career move Austin cop Luke Hollister planned. Especially when the case heâs working involves one of Holly Heightsâs own. Just ask his new neighbor Jennifer Neal, the high school math teacher whoâs fiercely protective of her community and personal space. Lukeâs here to serve, too. Heâs got a foster mom, siblings and little niece to keep safe. Yet the more he and Jen are thrown together, the more Luke wants to settle here for goodâwith the fiery redhead. But can he convince Jen to turn the dream house for one sheâs building into a real home?
âThink youâll ever take the plunge?â
Luke expanded on the question, though he had no idea why he was asking. âPicture life with four or five mean redheads running around your empty house?â
Jen snorted. âCan you even imagine me as a mother?â She crossed her arms over her chest. âI came down here to talk about Joseph and his math homework. Youâre tricky.â
âUnless youâre going to tell me whatever it is you and Joseph are hiding, Iâll pick a new topic. Maybe kissing.â
She blinked at him. âYou think I canât handle a kiss without spilling the beans?â She leaned over the armrest of her chair. âTest me.â
Before heâd decided he was going to do it, Luke had his lips pressed to hers. Instead of spice and heat, Jenâs kiss was sweet and perfect. Nothing like he would have imagined.
But now he could picture starting each day with one like it... And, oh...that wasnât going to happen.
When I began this series about three friends who win the lottery, I spent some time imagining what Iâd do with an unexpected windfall. Itâs fun to daydream, but my practical side kept getting in the way!
My no-nonsense heroine Jen dreams of a comfortable home with the space sheâs always wanted and the chance to buy new instead of making do with hand-me-downs. When the Hollisters move in across the street, she adds one more goal: chasing away the cop who tried to bully her friends. That cop turns out to be a good man doing his very best to keep his family, a collection of foster kids and the woman who brought them together, safe. Both Jen and Luke understand that âfamilyâ is a collection of the people who love you, and nothing matters more. I hope you enjoy spending time with them.
If youâd like to know more about my books and whatâs coming next, enter fun giveaways or meet my dog, Jack, please visit me at cherylharperbooks.com. Iâm also on Facebook (CherylHarperRomance) and Twitter (@cherylharperbks). Iâd love to chat!
Cheryl Harper
CHERYL HARPER discovered her love for books and words as a little girl, thanks to a mother who made countless library trips and an introduction to Laura Ingalls Wilderâs Little House stories. Whether stories are set in the prairie, the American West, Regency England or Earth a hundred years in the future, Cheryl enjoys strong characters who make her laugh. Now Cheryl spends her days searching for the right words while she stares out the window and her dog, Jack, snoozes beside her. And she considers herself very lucky to do so.
For more information about Cherylâs books, visit her online at cherylharperbooks.com or follow her on Twitter, @cherylharperbks.
This oneâs for my familyârelatives, old friends, new friends and internet friends far, far away who encourage me when I need it.
Contents
DAYDREAMING ABOUT SHOVING a buttered dinner roll into Sarah Hillmanâs mouth to keep her from laughing again was a sign that it was time to leave the party. Almost everyone Jennifer Neil loved was there, but the noise of so many conversations, the heat of too many people in a cramped space and Sarahâs joyful laugh had hit the overwhelming stage. Jen needed some quiet, some breathing room. Soon.
Food this good should mean no leftovers but three of Rebeccaâs perfect buttery-soft dinner rolls were left, and they would make excellent missiles to launch across the table. Sarahâs best choice for return fire would be the grilled asparagus at her elbow. Jen hated asparagus. A food fight would not be the smartest way to maintain their peace.
Stephanie Yates was telling a story about a Peruvian lizard in her Peruvian shower that would have been hilarious except for two things. Jen had already heard this story half a dozen times, and Sarah Hillman had tipped her head back to laugh again. The throbbing pain in Jenâs temple resumed.
When the walls started to close like this, Jen knew she needed to exit. She was suffocating. No matter how hard it would be, she had to save herself.
