The Texan's Happily-Ever-After

The Texan's Happily-Ever-After
Karen Rose Smith

The town's abuzz about an unlikely new couple: everyone's favorite pediatrician, Dr. Raina Gibson, and mysterious rancher Shep McGraw. Anyone with eyes can see that they're mad about one another…and Raina's crazy about the three children Shep raises as a foster dad. But no one expected wedding bells to peal–until Raina discovered she was pregnant!A marriage of convenience? Maybe at first. But my spies tell me that their shared passion is enough to set a hundred Texan ranches ablaze. It's just up to Raina and Shep to open their hearts once and for all to an unexpected love….

“Why did you ask me out here today?”

“Because I like you,” he said simply. “And because when I’m with you, all I can think about is kissing you.”

Her stomach did a flip. Her heart fluttered. The sun seemed even brighter and the sky even bluer.

“Say something,” he muttered. “If you want me to get back on my horse and forget this conversation ever happened.”

“Do you kiss with your hat on or off?”

With his hands still holding hers, he smiled. “No one’s ever asked me that before.”

“It’s nice to be first at something,” she joked.

“Raina, you are the most intriguing woman I have come across in years. And to kiss you, I’m definitely taking my hat off.” When he leaned in closer to her, she closed her eyes.

But his mouth didn’t cover hers. Instead, she felt his lips touch whisper-soft, slightly above her ear.

“A kiss shouldn’t be too quick.”

Dear Reader,

I’ll always remember the first time my husband and I really talked. In sharing, we connected on a deep level, inspiring trust that has lasted through the years. To form that bond, we had to become vulnerable to each other.

My hero, Shep McGraw, is a strong, silent Texan. A marriage of convenience teaches him he must lower his guard to trust his new wife. By risking vulnerability, he discovers the love and understanding that can lead to happily ever after.

I hope you enjoy Shep’s transformation from guarded single dad to my heroine Raina’s white knight. Shep and Raina’s romance is Book 5 in my THE BABY EXPERTS series. I hope readers will look forward to Book 6 in the series, coming in December 2010.

Readers can learn more about THE BABY EXPERTS at www.karenrosesmith.com.

All my best,

Karen Rose Smith

The Texan’s Happily-Ever-After

Karen Rose Smith

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

KAREN ROSE SMITH

Award-winning and bestselling author Karen Rose Smith has seen more than sixty-five novels published since 1992. She grew up in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Valley and still lives a stone’s throw away with her husband—who was her college sweetheart—and their two cats. She especially enjoys researching and visiting the West and Southwest where her latest series of books is set. Readers can receive updates on Karen’s releases and write to her through her Web site at www.karenrosesmith.com or at P.O. Box 1545, Hanover, PA 17331.

To Sis and Bern, our son’s godparents.

Thanks for the difference you made in his life.

Happy birthday, Sis. Bern, we miss you.

Author’s Note

Adoption procedures may vary according to state, individual circumstances and agencies.

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

Epilogue

Chapter One

Shep McGraw hurried to the emergency-room door. In his arms, two-year-old Manuel let out a cry that echoed in the hospital’s parking lot.

Tension and worry tightened Shep’s chest. He’d been through this before with Manuel’s earaches. Thank goodness Dr. Raina Gibson, the boy’s ear, nose and throat specialist, had been on call for her practice tonight. He thought about his two other sons, who were with their nanny. They hadn’t liked him leaving this late at night.

As Shep rushed through the automatic glass doors, he remembered another fateful E.R. visit many, many years ago. He shoved that out of his mind and hugged Manuel closer.

The woman in charge at the registration desk looked him over—from his tan Stetson to his fine leather boots—and he had to rein in his frustration with red tape. “My name’s Shep McGraw. I’m meeting Dr. Gibson here to treat my…son.”

“Mr. McGraw, if you’ll have a seat—”

Manuel’s crying had tapered off slightly, but now he screwed up his cute little round face and howled loud enough to scare his black wavy hair into disarray.