Forging a Family
Single mom-to-be Lindsay Holland is hoping for a fresh start in her sleepy New England hometown. First on her agenda is finding a way to support herself and her precious baby. But the only job opening is as an office manager for her high-school sweetheart—the man she once ran from. She knows Brian Calhoun needs help resurrecting his family’s blacksmith shop, but can she get him to take a chance on her? Organizing a Valentine’s Day fund-raiser together makes Lindsay realize just how much she wants a second chance with the handsome craftsman. As sparks fly, can they transform their rekindled friendship into a new, loving family?
MIA ROSS loves great stories. She enjoys reading about fascinating people, long-ago times and exotic places. But only for a little while, because her reality is pretty sweet. Married to her college sweetheart, she’s the proud mom of two amazing kids, whose schedules keep her hopping. Busy as she is, she can’t imagine trading her life for anyone else’s—and she has a pretty good imagination. You can visit her online at miaross.com.
Liberty Creek
Mending the Widow’s Heart
The Bachelor’s Baby
Oaks Crossing
Her Small-Town Cowboy
Rescued by the Farmer
Hometown Holiday Reunion
Falling for the Single Mom
Barrett’s Mill
Blue Ridge Reunion
Sugar Plum Season
Finding His Way Home
Loving the Country Boy
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk
The Bachelor’s Baby
Mia Ross
ISBN: 978-1-474-08033-0
THE BACHELOR’S BABY
© 2018 Andrea Chermak
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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“Can I make a suggestion?”
“You’re the boss.”
“I mean, just as me. Not your boss.”
“Oh.” Resting her hands in her lap, Lindsay gave him a curious look. “Go ahead.”
“How ’bout if we both agree to let the past be in the past, and go on from here? That way you can stop apologizing for what happened years ago.”
“Does that mean you forgive me?”
Until recently, Brian never would’ve thought that kind of thing was possible. But now, sitting here with the woman who’d single-handedly helped him save his fledgling business, he couldn’t imagine anything else. Smiling, he said, “Yes, Lindsay, I forgive you.”
She beamed at him. “If I could get out of this chair gracefully, I’d hug you.”
“No problem. I’ll settle for that smile.”
“Really?”
“Sure. I always loved seeing you happy.”
He hadn’t intended to say that out loud, but when those incredible blue eyes brightened with joy, he decided maybe it hadn’t been such a bad idea, after all.
I hope you enjoyed your visit to snowy Liberty Creek!
I was watching one of my favorite home improvement shows one day, and there was a guest star who ran a custom metalworking shop. He made that cold, impersonal medium into beautiful works of art, and an idea started forming in my head. I remembered going to a local living history museum and a Renaissance festival and being fascinated by the blacksmiths and how the tools of their trade hadn’t changed much in the three hundred years separating their eras. From there, Brian Calhoun’s vintage forge and the challenges it would face operating in this century came to life for me, and the research was some of the most interesting I’ve ever done.
But as good a metalsmith as he was, he needed some help. Lindsay Holland walked onto the stage of this charming little town, and I liked her right away. Sassy, smart and independent, she’s the kind of woman I admire: one who takes the curveballs life gives her and turns them into home runs. Despite the odds stacked against her, she was able to move past her failures and do what was necessary to build a better future. The world can be a tough place to navigate, and it takes serious determination—and faith—to be successful. Lindsay had the first trait all along, and once she discovered the second, she found the strength to make a good life for herself and her daughter.
If you’d like to stop in and see what I’ve been up to, you’ll find me online at miaross.com, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. While you’re there, send me a message in your favorite format. I’d love to hear from you!
Mia Ross
Love one another.
—John 13:34
For the talented artisans and craftspeople
working to keep our history alive.