Ryder to the Rescue!
On location for his home-improvement show, “America’s Hottest Handyman” Ryder Wallace has his hands full with the station’s contest winner. Lauryn Schulte is a single mom with a falling-down house, a failing business and two kids under four—exactly the kind of woman that has this playboy running for the hills…but not this time. Not when her little girl has him playing tea party, building castles and cuddling her baby brother.
And Lauryn? She torments his libido in ways that should be outlawed. Ryder doesn’t do relationships with strings—but Lauryn has him tied up in knots. He’s got to cut and run. So why does he keep getting tangled up in the most outrageous idea of all—becoming a husband and a daddy?
She felt his eyes on her.
He watched her every move as she came downstairs from putting the kids to bed.
“Thanks for babysitting,” she said. “And for the pizza. I’m sure you have more exciting plans for your Friday night, but I appreciate that you stayed.”
“I didn’t have plans. And I enjoyed hanging out with you and the kids.”
She sat across from him. “You’re my daughter’s new BFF, you know.”
His eyes glinted. “We’re more than BFFs. She asked me to marry her.”
“Well, you gave her flowers and played Barbies with her. Of course she’s head over heels in love with you.”
“Is that all it takes?”
“For a three-year-old.”
He leaned forward and settled his hands on her knees. Even through the denim she felt the heat of his touch—a heat that seared her whole body. “What about the three-year-old’s mom?”
She eyed him warily. “Are you flirting with me?”
“If you have to ask, my skills must be rusty.”
“It’s more likely that mine are,” she admitted, feeling out of her element here.
He lowered his head toward her. “Then maybe we should work on changing that.”
* * *
Those Engaging Garretts —The Carolina Cousins
Building the Perfect Daddy
Brenda Harlen
BRENDA HARLEN is a former attorney who once had the privilege of appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada. The practice of law taught her a lot about the world and reinforced her determination to become a writer—because in fiction, she could promise a happy ending! Now she is an award-winning, national bestselling author of more than thirty titles for Mills & Boon. You can keep up-to-date with Brenda on Facebook and Twitter or through her website, www.brendaharlen.com.
This book is dedicated to my wonderful husband, who has proved, time and again over the years, he is capable of tackling the various home improvements our various homes have required (with thanks for finally putting up the new trim in the hallway!).
Contents
It was raining again.
The sound of the water drumming on the roof woke Lauryn up well before her seven-month-old son. She cracked an eyelid and squinted at the glowing numbers of her alarm clock—5:28 a.m.
Way too freakin’ early.
She rolled over and pulled the covers up over her head, as if that might muffle the ominous sound of the rain. When she’d had a couple of leaky spots patched in the spring, the roofer had warned her that the whole thing needed to be redone. She’d nodded her understanding because she did understand. Unfortunately, she didn’t