One Magical Montana Summer
Circumstances took Casey Brandâs vacation plans with her sister and new niece on a slight detour. Now sheâs staying in Brock McCallisterâs garage apartment in exchange for her help with his daughter with autism. But she still has horses to ride, sunsets to savor and a handsome man to admire...who is proving more friendly than expected.
Getting divorced and dealing with custody issues has pretty much beaten Brock down. Yet how can he stay in a foul mood with Caseyâs optimistic outlook right next door? Because of her, his daughter is communicating better, his home shining brighter. Sheâs even brought life back to the ranchâs old chapel. But is she ready to perform the same dramatic transformation with his tattered heart?
âItâd be a shame. You coming out all this way just to go home so soon.â
âI know,â Casey replied. âBut I canât impose on my sister for the summerânot now.â
âThatâs right,â he agreed. Then added, âI have a loft apartment above the barn. Itâs a little rough, but itâs livable.â
Casey looked at Brock and listened while he continued.
âThe way you are with Hannahâitâs pretty impressive. And it got me thinking that we could help each other out. Hannah does fine with academicsâsheâs even strong in math and science. But itâs her...â
âPragmatics,â she filled in for him.
He glanced at her again. âExactly. How âbout I let you use the loft for the summer in exchange for some private social-language support. How does that set with you?â
Casey stared at Brockâs profile. âAre you serious?â
âYeah. Why? Do you think itâs a bad idea?â
âHeck no, I donât think itâs a bad idea. I think itâs a pretty genius idea.â
* * *
The Brands of Montana:
Wrangling their own happily-ever-afters
Dear Reader,
Thank you for choosing Meet Me at the Chapel. This is my seventh Special Edition book featuring the Brand family. Amazing! Brock McAllister and Casey Brandâs journey to finding lasting love was a joy to write. Casey is an independent special education teacher whose favorite companion is a micro-teacup poodle, Hercules, and Brock is a soon-to-be single-father ranch foreman fighting for custody of his daughter with autism. This is a friends-fall-in-love story filled with beautiful imagery, tender moments and, of course, romance!
In Meet Me at the Chapel, you will encounter old friends from previous Brand books. It just wouldnât be a Brands of Montana book if Hank and Barbara Brand didnât make an appearance. They have been in all seven Brand stories! I love writing about the Brand family because I have an opportunity to unearth my fond childhood memories of Montana and give them a new life in the pages of my books. What a blessing!
I invite you to visit my website, joannasimsromance.com, and while youâre there, be sure to sign up for Rendezvous Magazine for Brand family extras, news and swag. Part of the joy of writing is hearing from readers. If you write me, I will write you back! Thatâs a promise.
Happy Reading!
Joanna
JOANNA SIMS is proud to pen contemporary romance for Mills & Boon Cherish. Joannaâs series, The Brands of Montana, features hardworking characters with hometown values. You are cordially invited to join the Brands of Montana as they wrangle their own happily-ever-afters. And, as always, Joanna welcomes you to visit her at her website: joannasimsromance.com.
Dedicated to Aa and MM
Thank you for allowing me to use your proposal as inspiration. Congratulations on your engagement!
Chapter One
âRecalculating.â
Casey Brand had been lost in thought until the portable GPS interrupted her daydream. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel of the moving truck, hands placed firmly at ten and two, before she glanced at the GPS screen.
âRecalculating.â
âNo!â Casey argued with the machine. âWe are not recalculating!â
âRecalculating.â
The map on the screen of the GPS had disappeared, replaced by a single word: searching. She hadnât been to her uncle and auntâs ranch since she was a teenager, so finding it by memory wasnât a viable option. She needed the GPS to do its job. Casey took her eyes off the road for a second to tap the screen of the GPS.
âDarn it!â She was going to have to pull over.
Her trip from Chicago to Montana had been fraught with setbacks: violent thunderstorms, road construction, bad food, horrible menstrual cramps and a rental truck that struggled to maintain speed on every single hill. Not wanting to risk stopping on an incline, Casey punched the gas pedal several times to help the truck make the climb to the top of the hill.