Cooper Creekâs newest dad
One minute, Keeton West is a confirmed bachelor and bull rider who lives out of a suitcase. The next, heâs the single dad of a baby he didnât know existed. Now back in his hometown, everyone remembers the tragedy that changed hisâand Sophie Cooperâsâlives forever. He desperately needs Sophieâs help with little Lucy. But spending time with Keeton seems to remind Sophie of all she lost. She wonât get close to another bull rider. Yet one sweet baby girl has her own way of bringing two hearts together.
âWhat am I going to do with her, Sophie?â Keeton asked.
âIâd say the same thing parents have done with babies for hundreds of years. Take her home and raise her.â
âIâm a bull rider. Iâm on the road almost fifty percent of the time. Iâm living in a house that isnât even livable.â
Bull rider. That reminder had Sophie stepping back in her car, away from him, away from the tug on her heart and back into her shell. âYes, well, Iâd say youâd better get it livable.â
âYou could help me.â
âI did. I changed the nastiest diaper in the history of diapers.â She glanced at her watch. âIâm late.â
âWe have to talk about the land.â
âLater.â
âDinner?â He leaned in, holding tight to Lucy.
âNope. I donât date bull riders.â She started her car and reached to close the door. He stood there, not moving.
âIâm not asking you out.â
Ouch. That hurt a little, for some crazy reason. âGood, Iâm not accepting.â
âFine, Iâll see you later,â he said with a grin.
BRENDA MINTON
started creating stories to entertain herself during hour-long rides on the school bus. In high school, she wrote romance novels to entertain her friends. The dream grew and so did her aspirations to become an author. She started with notebooks, handwritten manuscripts and characters that refused to go away until their stories were told. Eventually she put away the pen and paper and got down to business with the computer. The journey took a few years, with some encouragement and rejection along the wayâas well as a lot of stubbornness on her part. In 2006, her dream to write for Love Inspired Books came true. Brenda lives in the rural Ozarks with her husband, three kids and an abundance of cats and dogs. She enjoys a chaotic life that she wouldnât trade for anythingâexcept, on occasion, a beach house in Texas. You can stop by and visit at her website, www.brendaminton.net.
A manâs heart plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps. âProverbs 16:9
I would like to dedicate this book to my agent,
now retired, Janet Benrey. Thank you for long years of hard work, hand-holding, encouragement and the careful prodding that kept me going and kept me focused. Youâre more than an agent, youâre a friend.
And Melissa, my amazing editor and encourager. Thank you for everything you do!
To my awesome BFFs, you are always there for me. I love you and wish we could have coffee every morningâin person, not on the phone.
And Maryâ¦for being a mom and so much more. Thank you for making this easier.
Chapter One
When Keeton West entered Convenience Counts store at seven in the morning, Sophie Cooper was the last person he expected to see. But there she was, running down the sidewalk, brushing a hand through her shoulder-length auburn hair. Not really auburn, though. Her hair had always been dark brown. The hint of red probably came from a bottle, but he liked it.
He even kind of liked her in a slim-fitting business suit, her high heels clicking on the floor as she walked through the door. She looked like an executive from some Tulsa high-rise office building, not the daughter of a wealthy rancher. She was a sleek and shiny European car in a world of pickup trucks.
He grinned at that comparison and watched as she hurried through the glass door at the front of the store. He thought about approaching her, and then reconsidered. Exhaustion must be getting to him or it wouldnât have crossed his mind.
For the past two nights heâd gotten almost no sleep. And then this morning heâd gotten up early to head into Dawson for a few necessities. The baby in his arms had insisted on the supplies.
The problem was, he didnât know what things a baby required. She cried, thatâs about all he knew. And he knew in baby talk, crying meant something. Either she was hungry, needed changing or something else was wrong. At about two in the morning he started to think the last choice might be the correct one. After he gave her the last bottle he had, he was at a loss. A few hours later he found himself here, hiding from Sophie Cooper before he could ask the storeâs proprietor for baby advice.