The Texan's Bride

The Texan's Bride
Linda Warren

Sheltered her entire life, Jessie Murdock has rarely gotten her way. Until her dying father makes a deal with Cadde Hardin. Cadde will get shares of Shilah Oil on one condition–marry Jessie. In love with him for years, Jessie doesn't hesitate to sign the papers. But she didn't sign up for a completely absent husband.Now Jessie has a counter offer. She'll give Cadde controlling interest of the business if he'll give her a baby…the natural way. Only he has a few caveats of his own. When life refuses to follow their written plan, Jessie and Cadde have to decide which is more important: their unspoken love or the family business.

“Jessie, we need to talk.”

Cadde’s deep voice demanded Jessie’s attention.

She looked up, trying to appear as innocent as possible. “About what?”

“You know damn well about what. We spoke last night and you seemed in agreement about the next steps for Shilah Oil.”

“I didn’t promise you my vote.”

“Oh, no, you’re way too smart for that.” Anger now edged his voice. “Do you get some kind of perverse pleasure out of blocking my every move?”

“Actually, no.”

“Then what the hell is it?” He waved a hand around the green-and-white room. “If the oil company goes under, so will all of this. Why are you keeping Shilah stagnant? It’s me, isn’t it? You’re not comfortable with me taking over Roscoe’s position so you’re trying to stick it to me every way you can.”

She shook her head. “No. I think you’re more than qualified to fill Daddy’s shoes.”

“Then what the hell is it, Jessie? What do I have to do to get your support? What do you want?”

“It’s quite simple. I want a baby.”

Dear Reader,

I’m happy to present you with the second book in The Hardin Boys series. Cadde Hardin and Jessie Murdock are two strong-willed people who know exactly what they want. Cadde has worked years toward one goal: owning an oil company. Jessie wants a family. She has the power to make his dream come true and vice versa. But as we all know, life doesn’t come with a blueprint.

As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a nurse. I took all the right courses and worked as a nurse’s aide. My dream was set, but like I said, life’s blueprint is different from our own. In college I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and I had to adjust, regroup and create new goals. Today I write happy-ever-after books for Harlequin. Not too bad of an adjustment.

Cadde and Jessie think their goals are set, but they get derailed for a lot of reasons. Through some heartache the two of them learn a hard lesson—love is not a business arrangement. I have to admit I shed a few tears while writing this book. I have a box of tissues on my desk that is now almost empty.

You know this story has a happy ending, so hang in there. I hope you enjoy The Texan’s Bride. It took a piece of my heart. Please look for the third book in the series, The Texan’s Christmas, Cisco’s (Kid’s) story, in December.

With love and thanks,

Linda Warren

P.S.—It’s always a pleasure to hear from readers. You can email me at Lw1508@aol.com or write me at P.O. Box 5182, Bryan, TX 77805. Visit my website at www.lindawarren.net or www.facebook.com/authorlindawarren. I will answer your letters as soon as I can.

The Texan’s Bride

Linda Warren

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RITA

Award-nominated and award-winning author Linda Warren has written twenty-nine books for Harlequin, including Superromance, American Romance and Everlasting Love. Drawing upon her years of growing up on a farm/ranch in Texas, she writes about sexy heroes, feisty heroines and broken families with an emotional punch, all set against the backdrop of Texas. When she’s not writing or at the mall, she’s sitting on her patio with her husband watching the wildlife and plotting her next book. Visit her website at www.LindaWarren.net.

To Jennifer…may all your dreams come true.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the following people

who answered my many questions and

made this book possible:

Vicki, Jennifer, James O., Phyllis, Lauren, Mark,

Laura and Scott.

All errors are strictly mine.

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