Surprise! Youâre A Daddy!
Lifeâs been full of surprises lately for rancher Garrett Frostâand not in a good way. His mother has just dropped a bombshell about his past, so Garrett takes some time away to come to terms with family secrets. And who should he run into but Arden Cade, the beautiful photographer who shared a single night of passion with Garrett six months ago. He is even more shocked when he discovers sheâs pregnantâand heâs the daddy.
To make matters worse, Arden hadnât even planned on telling Garrett about the baby. Despite her lies, Garrett is determined to be a good father. Heâs not the type to cut and run, and he canât deny that heâs falling for Arden all over again. But heâll have to find a way to forgive her betrayal...and make peace with that skeleton in the family closet.
Arden swallowed, knowing that his real question had nothing to do with addresses or phone books.
Garrett was asking if his suspicions were accurate, and she couldnât bring herself to answer. There was a huge difference between not tracking down a man to deliver life-altering news he probably didnât want to hear and actually lying to his face.
He took a step closer. âYou seemed so startled to see me the other day. Terrified, as a matter of fact.â
Feeling cornered, she took deep breaths, trying to lower her elevated blood pressure.
âMaybe Iâm completely off base,â he continued, âbut extenuating circumstances have made me more distrustful than I used to be. If Iâm wrong, you can laugh at me or indignantly cuss me out. But tell me the truth, Arden. Are you carrying my child?â
Dear Reader,
I first visited Colorado when I was a teenager and have made numerous trips since then. Itâs a beautiful state full of wonderful communities, the perfect setting for my new trilogy, The Colorado Cades.
The Cade siblings, two brothers and the younger sister they raised after their parentsâ deaths, really tugged at my heart. Itâs not easy to find happiness when youâve experienced great lossâbut with hope and faith, it is possible.
On an evening when she needed to escape grief and nostalgia, Arden Cade had an uncharacteristic one-night stand with cowboy Garrett Frost, an out-of-towner visiting Cielo Peak. She never expected to see him againâ¦and she certainly didnât expect to become pregnant from their night together!
Six months later, after receiving some shocking news of his own, Garrett returns to Cielo Peak to stay with a friend while making difficult decisions. When Garrett sees Arden, two things are quickly evidentâthe chemistry between them is as potent as ever. And sheâs been keeping an unforgivable secret.
Iâm hard at work on the next two books in the trilogy. For behind-the-scenes looks at my process and anecdotes about the writing life, follow me on Twitter or like me on Facebook. I love interacting with readers!
Happy reading,
Tanya
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Three-time RITA® Award nominee Tanya Michaels writes about what she knowsâcommunity, family and lasting love! Her books, praised for their poignancy and humor, have received honors such as a Booksellersâ Best Bet Award, a Maggie Award of Excellence and multiple readersâ choice awards. She was also a 2010 RT Book Reviews nominee for Career Achievement in Category Romance. Tanya is an active member of Romance Writers of America and a frequent public speaker, presenting workshops to educate and encourage aspiring writers. She lives outside Atlanta with her very supportive husband, two highly imaginative children and a household of quirky pets, including a cat who thinks sheâs a dog and a bichon frise who thinks sheâs the center of the universe.
Dedicated with gratitude to Barbara Dunlopâwonderful author, friend and dinner companion.
Chapter One
Never in her twenty-five years had Arden Cade done anything so rash. What was I thinking? Although she usually woke in gradual, disoriented stages, this morning she was instantly alert, hoping to discover the previous night had been a dreamâa vivid, thoroughly sensual dream.
But there was no disputing the muscular arm across her midsection or the lingering satisfaction in her body.
Physically, she was more relaxed than sheâd been in nearly a year, her loose limbs at odds with her racing thoughts. Her first impulse was to bolt from the bed, putting distance between herself and the still-sleeping cowboy. She hesitated, not wanting to wake Garrett before sheâd had a chance to gather her composure. Besides, his body heat and the steady rumble of his breathing were soothing. Beckoning. It was so tempting to snuggle closer beneath the sheets andâ
Donât you learn?
Cuddling into his heat was what had landed her in this situation. But sheâd been cold for so long. Sheâd needed to feel something other than suffocating grief. If only yesterday hadnât been the ninth of March.... What the hell had made her think scheduling a photography job would keep her too busy to mourn?