The Deputy's Unexpected Family

From stubborn bachelor to family man...

The Comfort Creek Lawmen have a new member

Returning home has stirred painful memories for officer Gabe Banks. But responding to a robbery at Harper Kemp’s bridal shop has upended his world. Harper’s adopted four-year-old is the daughter he never knew existed. Gabe’s no longer the bad boy Harper remembers, but he’s still terrified of commitment. Despite their fierce attraction, Harper must protect her little girl’s heart...and her own.

PATRICIA JOHNS writes from Alberta, Canada. She has her Hon. BA in English literature and currently writes for Harlequin’s Love Inspired, Western Romance and Heartwarming lines. You can find her at patriciajohnsromance.com.

Also By Patricia Johns

Love Inspired

Comfort Creek Lawmen

Deputy Daddy

The Lawman’s Runaway Bride

The Deputy’s Unexpected Family

His Unexpected Family

The Rancher’s City Girl

A Firefighter’s Promise

The Lawman’s Surprise Family

A Baxter’s Redemption

The Runaway Bride

A Boy’s Christmas Wish

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

The Deputy’s Unexpected Family

Patricia Johns

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08555-7

THE DEPUTY’S UNEXPECTED FAMILY

© 2018 Patricia Johns

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

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“I think I need to apologize.”

“Sure. But there are no apologies necessary.”

“No?” Gabe eyed her uncertainly. “Look, that was... I’m not hitting on you.”

“Great.” She wasn’t sure if that was an improvement.

“That doesn’t clear it up. I mean, yes, I find you attractive. More than attractive—gorgeous. I always have. That’s no excuse.”

“But it wasn’t only you.”

“It wasn’t?” He raised his eyebrows. “You sure about that?”

“I felt it, too. But obviously, we can’t go there.”

“Obviously. You’re my daughter’s mother. And you and I have to maintain a good relationship for her sake. We can’t just try this on for size and change our minds later without it affecting Zoey.”

“We’re blessed, in a way. We don’t have some failed romance between us. We’re better for it.”

“And we need to keep it that way. I know that, and I won’t...let things get complicated. If that makes you feel any better.”

So they were on the same page. But it didn’t exactly fix whatever attraction was stewing between them.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

—James 1:17

Dear Reader,

It’s hard to wait for blessings, isn’t it? We get impatient, and when we see others enjoying the blessings we pray for, it can be hard. In this book, Harper has to make her peace with the love and romance she wishes she had in her life in the face of her younger sister’s wedding.

When my husband and I got engaged, we told our church family. There was a woman who was a few years older than me—a single mom. She threw her arms around me with a genuine hug, and she said, “I’m so happy for you! May God bless me, too!” That stuck with me, because she was so gracious, so lovely, so genuinely happy for the joy of others, and I thought, I want to be like her.

It might not be easy, but I’ve made it a habit now that when others reach my goals before I do to say, “I’m happy for her! May God remember me, too.” Because I’ve learned that just because God has blessed one person, doesn’t mean His plans for anyone else have diminished.