The Lawman's Surprise Family

The Lawman's Surprise Family
Patricia Johns

Their Secret ChildFor eight years, journalist and single mother Sofia McCray kept her son a secret from his maverick father. But when she returns to her small Montana hometown, her high school sweetheart isn’t the rebellious teen she left behind. Ben Blake is a widowed cop who’s been through heartbreak, and he wants their child in his life. When her next assignment throws Sofia together with the handsome police officer in his squad car, she discovers just how much he truly cares about his community, their son…and her. Now Sofia must learn to trust her own heart to reunite a family that’s meant to be together.

Their Secret Child

For eight years, journalist and single mother Sofia McCray kept her son a secret from his maverick father. But when she returns to her small Montana hometown, her high school sweetheart isn’t the rebellious teen she left behind. Ben Blake is a widowed cop who’s been through heartbreak, and he wants their child in his life. When her next assignment throws Sofia together with the handsome police officer in his squad car, she discovers just how much he truly cares about his community, their son…and her. Now Sofia must learn to trust her own heart to reunite a family that’s meant to be together.

“I’m willing to have you get to know our son,” Sofia said.

“But I don’t want to include anyone else in that right now,” she continued. “Meeting his dad is big enough without complicating that. And that includes your family.”

“So your whole family kept the secret?” he asked, a tinge of bitterness in his voice.

They had, and saying it out loud made it sound worse somehow. They’d all agreed that keeping the secret would be best for the child.

“Ben, I’ve been the center of Jack’s world for his entire life,” she said, her voice quivering with emotion. “This isn’t about our families. Not yet, at least.”

“Agreed,” he said. “This should be about you and me.”

Just about the two of them…well, the three of them now.

“We tried that once,” she said past a lump in her throat. “It didn’t work too well.”

“Yeah.” His voice was low and deep, and she suddenly wished she could lean into his strong shoulder, smell that old scent of leather and cologne and feel loved again. “Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” she repeated. And for the next two weeks, she thought.

PATRICIA JOHNS writes from northern Alberta where she lives with her husband and son. The winters are long, cold and perfectly suited to novel-writing. She has her BA in English lit, and you can find her books in Harlequin’s Love Inspired and American Romance lines.

The Lawman’s

Surprise Family

Patricia Johns

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

A person may think their own ways are right,

but the Lord weighs the heart.

—Proverbs 21:2

I’d like to dedicate this novel to my father, a surprising fount of romance novel ideas. Whenever I get stuck in a plot, he can see the way out. Thank you, Dad!

And, of course, I’d like to dedicate this book to my husband, who inspires the romantic in me.

I could never do what I do without the love of these two sweet, supportive men.

Contents

Cover (#u65ae63e6-adfc-5b2d-a038-cf29e7702405)

Back Cover Text (#ucf611461-9137-556f-ad2f-b669375743df)

Introduction (#u1c89e7c4-ef6e-5ae1-9cd2-d8900aa0b05d)

About the Author (#u0ebfa352-4e6f-500b-8ccb-4243d786e4c4)

Title Page (#u33af3223-1379-5422-b32a-ff35549d0a2d)

Bible Verse (#ub48f0493-c45c-576b-861b-811494bee9a2)

Dedication (#u9c60a027-9207-5176-8f33-32597e7c3791)

Chapter One (#u92515a6f-8e15-5ef1-8d64-65ea82e877ff)

Chapter Two (#u7b58c30a-dd9c-55f3-b6c7-ec9ca0a0875b)

Chapter Three (#u4b351b83-1a01-5072-ae29-7475b56e035d)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)