A Baby On His Doorstep

A Baby On His Doorstep
Roz Denny Fox

A chance to prove himself…When Rio McNabb's bronc-riding career is side-lined by an injury, the only upside is his gorgeous live-in nurse, Binney Taylor. There’s just one hitch – Binney used to have a crush on his identical twin brother. Rio's sure that he can earn her affection, but then a stranger shows up with an infant boy claiming that Rio is the father!As a foster kid, Binney's always longed for a real family. Now, with Rio and the surprise baby, Lonesome Road Ranch feels like the home she never had. But she's trying to keep things professional, because when Rio heals, everything could change. Rio has competed with his twin his entire life. For Binney and the baby, he'll finally have to prove he's the better man.

A CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF

When Rio McNabb’s bronc-riding career is sidelined by an injury, the only upside is his gorgeous live-in nurse, Binney Taylor. Just one hitch—Binney used to have a crush on his identical twin brother. Rio’s sure that he can earn her affection, but his confidence is rocked when a stranger shows up with an infant boy claiming that Rio is the father.

As a foster kid, Binney’s always longed for a real family. Now, with Rio and the surprise baby, Lonesome Road Ranch feels like the home she never had. But she’s trying to keep things professional, because when Rio heals, everything could change. Rio has competed with his twin his entire life. For Binney and the baby, he’ll finally have to prove he’s the better man.

“I’m worn out,” Rio grumbled. “Can we just get the rest of my clothes on so I can go to sleep?”

Binney tucked the single crutch under his bare arm and slipped her arm around his damp waist. “I’ll be quick.”

It took them a while to make it across to the bed, where Rio sank back with a groan.

Binney was totally unprepared to experience a punch in her gut from merely looking at him sprawled on his bed in nothing but briefs. Averting her eyes, she started at his feet and worked up his legs, and felt his suspicious gaze track her every move.

Privately she chanted, You’re a nurse. He’s a patient. You’re a nurse. He’s a patient.

One fine-looking patient who showed by his grin that he’d begun to enjoy the whole process way too much as she smoothed lotion over his chest and the nicely rippled muscles along his lower abs.

A Baby On His Doorstep

Roz Denny Fox

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

ROZ DENNY FOX’s first book was published by Harlequin in 1990. She writes for several Harlequin lines and her books are published worldwide in a number of languages. Roz’s warm home-and-family-focused love stories have been nominated for various industry awards, including the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® Award, the Holt Medallion, the Golden Quill and others. Roz has been a member of the Romance Writers of America since 1987 and is currently a member of Tucson’s Saguaro Romance Writers, where she has received the Barbara Award for outstanding chapter service. In 2013 Roz received her fifty-book pin from Harlequin. Readers can email her through Facebook or at rdfox@cox.net, or visit her website at korynna.com/rozfox (http://www.korynna.com/RozFox/).

I’d like to dedicate this story to my daughters

and their families. You make me so proud,

and you complete my life.

Contents

Cover (#u2bc98abc-c7c5-54b3-9b83-1de4ae9a76a3)

Back Cover Text (#ud11c52ce-5f19-521e-a06f-32e267c46e63)

Introduction (#u31e0e4b5-328d-57ee-ae2a-9a65166afa21)

Title Page (#ud2b894fe-35db-5cc0-a743-9d3011c9d97f)

About the Author (#uf7ae70e2-f7be-5c22-9fa7-0a339098de80)

Dedication (#u0ab5d680-a467-54b2-a986-393e854933bf)

Chapter One (#ue39905a2-1a22-5683-9401-5331de9f0d20)

Chapter Two (#u02b95b06-f033-5e53-8318-770b0310bae5)

Chapter Three (#uf4863610-b9aa-57dd-8b19-40a5bb4befa4)

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)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#u9cf95bf5-670c-511e-8cb2-343c49af3220)

Rio McNabb vaguely registered the sights, sounds and blended odors of hay, animals and concession stands at the regional rodeo in Abilene, Texas. Really he’d honed in more on the bronc rider who preceded him who’d failed to make the required time to be in money contention.

Striding toward his chute, he smiled at the handlers preparing the mount that would be his last ride with the PRCA. He’d earned enough over his years on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit to buy the Lonesome Road Ranch from his folks. Like most ranchers they’d been land rich and cash-strapped. But after today he could cut back rodeos and concentrate on building his horse-breeding business. The ranch, situated well off any beaten path, was a secluded spot where he and his twin brother were third-generation McNabbs born and raised there. Not that Ryder cared, although maybe someday he’d change his mind. Championships meant far more to him than they ever had to Rio.

Having traveled across the States since junior rodeos, he’d be glad to get off the road. Several years ago his parents had sold all of their cattle to happily retire at a senior living complex in San Antonio. At the moment they were on their dream vacation in Australia.

Bronc riding had been good to him, though. A win today would be a fine way to go out, plus give him more than enough funds to buy a palomino mare he’d had his eye on for a while.

All at once he heard a commotion in the chute. The bronc he’d drawn to ride today, Diablo Colorado, Spanish for Red Devil, was new to the circuit. Rio had given him a cursory inspection earlier and noted the horse was a big, powerful sorrel gelding. Rio guessed the animal was living up to his name based on the difficulty handlers were having getting him into the chute.

“Don’t envy you this one,” Colton Brooks called down to Rio.

He smiled and acknowledged the warning, although feisty horses weren’t anything new to him. Over the years he’d suffered his share of hard knocks, bruises and even a few broken bones. Probably another reason at thirty-two to hang up his spurs and leave serious competition to the young dudes. Unlike his brother, a hypercompetitive bull rider who reveled in piling up points in his sport to be acclaimed in the professional standings, Rio had been content to seek out smaller venues with fair winnings. Rather than sticking with the PRCA, he figured after today to keep his hand in by joining the RHAA. The Ranch Horse Association of America showcased skills of true cowboys. His twin scoffed at those events, and at the notion of ever returning to the homeplace Ryder called Hicksville Ranch. Thinking about that had Rio grimacing. He loved the Lonesome Road and would be happy to live there until he couldn’t climb aboard a horse anymore.

Tightening his gloves, he resettled his dove-gray Stetson before climbing up to join the handlers who’d finally gotten Diablo into the chute.

Rio sank onto the saddle, then vaulted out again as the horse bucked inside the enclosure and wildly tossed his head. Rio considered asking for a tie line to run from the bit to the cinch. A head-tosser could easily break a rider’s nose, or blacken his eyes. But hearing the crowd cheer and chant his name, and because he alone knew this was his goodbye ride, he decided to ride this devil and give the fans their money’s worth.

Gingerly taking his seat again, Rio wrapped the reins tight, slid his boots into the stirrups, raised his right arm and let out a rebel yell.

The gate slammed open. The sorrel bucked stiff-legged right in the opening. And instead of bolting or bucking into the larger arena, Diablo rose on his hind legs and without warning crashed over backward, crushing Rio between seven hundred fifty pounds of muscled horse and a well-built, steel-reinforced wooden fence that he felt crack around him.