From Maverick to Daddy

From Maverick to Daddy
Teresa Southwick

When Lily slipped her hand into Mallory’s, she felt that pesky lump in her throat again.

Emotion expanded in her chest and squeezed her heart. This little girl meant the world to her and she would do anything in her power to make Lily happy.

Hand in hand they walked through the store, sticking to the main aisle. Almost at the exit leading to the mall, there was a display of girls’ fancy dresses. Lily stopped dead in her tracks to look at an off-white, full-skirted, sleeveless lace-over-satin dress.

“I love this,” she said.

“It’s very beautiful,” Mallory agreed. “But you don’t have anywhere to wear something like that.”

“A flower girl could wear it.” Serious dark eyes looked up at her. “For a wedding.”

Mallory’s heart squeezed again, this time with an emotion more complicated than love. How did you protect the child you cared about so much from something that wasn’t within your power to make happen? Even if you wanted it.

* * *

Montana Mavericks: 20 Years in the Saddle!

From Maverick

to Daddy

Teresa Southwick

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

TERESA SOUTHWICK lives with her husband in Las Vegas, the city that reinvents itself every day. An avid fan of romance novels, she is delighted to be living out her dream of writing for Mills & Boon.

To Christine Rimmer, fabulous plotting partner, writer and friend.

It’s always a pleasure to work with you, and your generous help on this book is very much appreciated.

Contents

Cover (#uaff118bf-7c6b-5c0e-9cbb-4756555c9f1d)

Introduction (#u9f9ed580-dce1-51bd-b1d4-dd96688877a5)

Title Page (#uc92bd292-b150-52c4-8ebb-6e85e43b07cd)

About the Author (#u636d20aa-aa7d-530a-a9cb-58071a76dfc8)

Dedication (#uf3cdf1b7-e8e0-52d9-8125-836640800c00)

Chapter One (#ub9d17d7d-4edf-583f-9fc8-cd978fdcd34e)

Chapter Two (#u0756aba6-dc3c-5196-b19f-68d0ea9e331d)

Chapter Three (#u1e7a4ddc-e747-5a10-bba5-74409458e51f)

Chapter Four (#u59a421e0-6b49-5062-9174-2d23567a1acb)

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)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#ulink_5e575d80-277d-5e11-a3ab-8329f2c3ed7c)

The little Asian girl sitting at the desk where his father’s receptionist normally sat was one heck of a surprise to Caleb Dalton. It was something you didn’t see every day, at least not in the law offices of Ben Dalton. Cute as could be, she looked about seven or eight, going on twenty-five. A dainty, beautiful little doll.

“Hi, there,” he said, politely removing his hat.

“Are you a real cowboy?” Her black eyes glittered with excitement.

“Yes, ma’am, I am.”

“Cool.” Her delicately shaped mouth curved into a smile for just a moment, then she was all business. “I’m sorry to tell you, but the office is closed. Can you come back tomorrow?”

“I’m pretty sure Mr. Dalton will see me anyway.” The man was his father and that should get him a pass.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“Sort of.” Picking his dad up to take him out for a beer should qualify.