A Texas Family Reunion

A Texas Family Reunion
Judy Christenberry

The Last Barlow?David Buford/Barlow has finally found his long-lost family, but the joy he feels at being reunited with his brother and sisters is complicated by his growing feelings for his "cousin" Alexandra. Will Alex ever be able to look at David as more than a protector and start thinking of him as a man–even a potential husband?It turns out David doesn't have much to worry about–Alex already knows he's the one for her. The trouble is, they don't have the courage to tell each other their feelings. Luckily, David's new family is there to step in and give these would-be sweethearts some help!But David and Alex aren't the only ones being gently pushed toward the altar!

Dear Reader,

I knew all along David would be the resistant one. It would be too much to expect every long-lost Barlow to want to be found. Poor David thought he already had enough family, but ultimately had to relearn what “family” really means. Who better to teach him than his blood siblings?

I think David’s attitude is quite understandable—not everyone reacts well to change. We try to plan our lives and then when things change, we can be left floundering. That certainly has been true for me. My life hasn’t turned out as I planned it long ago. In some ways it is so much better; in others, it’s not so good. But I’m trying to make the best of what I have. David learns to do the same, and comes to love his old family while learning to relate to his new family. I hope you enjoy David’s journey.

Since David is the last of the five living siblings, you may be wondering if I’m doing a ghost story with poor Wally. The answer is no, I don’t write paranormal. The last book is about Vanessa, who has been in every book but hasn’t had her own story. Since we all know she’s firmly planted in the family camp, her story will be about what she does best—rescuing someone who also needs a family.

Thanks for your loyalty throughout this series. I love writing books about family, and I’ve enjoyed these stories especially. If you have any comments or questions, you can reach me at my Web site, www.judychristenberry.com.

Happy reading!

A Texas Family Reunion

Judy Christenberry

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Judy Christenberry has been writing romances for over fifteen years because she loves happy endings as much as her readers do. A former French teacher, Judy now devotes herself to writing full-time. She hopes readers have as much fun with her stories as she does. She spends her spare time reading, watching her favorite sports teams and keeping track of her two daughters. Judy lives in Texas.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Chapter One

Will Greenfield was enjoying the quiet solitude of the office one afternoon in February. The winds were blowing outside and the temperature hovered just below freezing. The weak winter sun struggled to make a difference, but it wasn’t succeeding.

When he heard the outer door of Greenfield and Associates open, he looked up to see if his partners, Jim and Carrie Barlow, were returning. She’d had a doctor’s appointment this morning, and Jim had gone with her. But the man who’d opened the door wasn’t anyone he’d met before.

“Hello,” Will said. He stood and walked around his desk and into the outer office. “I’m Will Greenfield. How can I help you?”

The man looked familiar, although Will was certain they had never met before.

“I’m not a potential client, Mr. Greenfield,” the man said. “I’m here to see what kind of operation you run.”

Will stared at the man probably twenty-five years his junior. “And why would you be interested in that if you’re not a potential client?”

“My cousin is going to be working for you,” he said tersely.

Will knew immediately to whom he was referring. “You’re Alexandra Buford’s cousin?”

“Yes. My name is David Buford.”

“Does Alexandra have doubts about coming to work here?” Will asked.

“No, but I wanted to be sure you were legitimate.”

“I see,” Will said slowly. He had recently decided to hire a new agent when Carrie had become pregnant. Carrie wouldn’t quit work completely, but she’d have to slow down a little.

“What kind of clients do you handle?”

“We do mostly insurance work. Occasionally we search for people or handle cases the police have given up on.”

The man crossed his arms over his chest, and again Will was struck with a feeling of familiarity.

“Do you do any divorce cases, things like that?”

“Normally, no. Why? Do you have something against divorce cases?”

“They seem rather unsavory to me.”