Wedding Bells at Wandering Creek

Wedding Bells at Wandering Creek
Patricia Thayer

P.I. Jack Sullivan, black-eyed and dark-hearted, is at Wandering Creek Ranch on official business–business that doesn't include falling for the striking blonde who tries to throw him off her land….Willow Kingsley's ranch in the Hollywood Hills is her sanctuary. She'll fight the gorgeous stranger and protect her own. What she doesn't realize is that Jack's on her side, and when she's in his arms he'll do everything in his power to keep her safe….

He leaned closer to her and smiled. Willow could see the stubble along his strong jaw, the long lashes that framed his brown eyes—dangerous eyes that held a suggestion of surprising sadness, too.

“I’m not so bad…when you get to know me,” he added.

Wrong. She’d known Jack Sullivan for only a few days, but she’d recognized trouble the second she’d looked at him. She took a deep breath. “Getting to know you isn’t in our agreement.”

He leaned closer. “Not everything has to be by the book…Willow.”

His husky whisper of her name shot a shiver down her spine. She had to break free of her attraction to this man.

Dear Reader,

It was a pleasure to set Wedding Bells at Wandering Creek Ranch in my state of California, where I’ve lived for the past thirty-five years. I hope to show you another side of the Golden State—not just the bustling Los Angeles area, but the open land and small ranches that are tucked away along the beautiful coastal mountains.

I used this picturesque setting as the backdrop for my story. My heroine grew up with famous movie star parents who valued their privacy and wanted to raise a family outside the prying eyes of Hollywood.

In the story, Willow Kingsley wants to continue the dream of her deceased father, actor Matt Kingsley, who worked with underprivileged children. Her goal is to reopen Kingsley’s Kids’ Camp at the ranch, but when private investigator Jack Sullivan shows up looking for Willow’s brother, it could ruin everything. She has to do something to disguise him, so she turns him into a ranch hand.

I hope you enjoy visiting the Wandering Creek Ranch and the people who live and work there…especially the cowboys.

Thanks for reading,

Patricia Thayer

www.patriciathayer.com

Wedding Bells at Wandering Creek Ranch

Patricia Thayer

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

In the cowboy’s arms…

Imagine a world where men are strong and true to their word…and where romance always wins the day! These rugged ranchers may seem tough on the exterior, but they are about to meet their match when they meet strong, loving women to care for them!

If you love gorgeous cowboys and Western settings, this miniseries is for you!

Look out for more stories in this miniseries, only from Harlequin Romance

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Next month in WESTERN WEDDINGS:

JUDY CHRISTENBERRY

Coming Home to the Cattleman

To Mom,

You were always there with your love and support.

Even if I don’t say it, I hope you know

how much I appreciate you…. So now am I your favorite?

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

SHE LOOKED LIKE every man’s fantasy.

Jack Sullivan peered through the grove of oak trees at the woman on horseback. Tall and slender, she rode the large, coal-black stallion with surprising ease. Caught by the breeze, her long wheat-colored hair lifted off her shoulders with each graceful stride. Her slender, jean-clad legs cradled the sides of the horse as they moved through the grassy meadow.

Too bad he wasn’t hired to find Willow Kingsley.

Off in the distance, a rocky hillside fringed the seven hundred acres of the Wandering Creek Ranch. Who would have thought an oasis like this existed just thirty miles from Los Angeles? But this ranch was the home of a movie star couple, onetime child star Molly Reynolds and the late western star Matt Kingsley. Their union had produced two children, a son, Dean…and their daughter, Willow.

And Jack was hoping big sister could tell him where to find brother Dean.

A smile appeared on Willow’s pretty face as the stallion bobbed its head up and down, protesting her control. She tugged on the reins. “So, you’re feeling frisky this morning.”