A cowboy puts his life on the line for the woman expecting his child in The Coltons of Shadow Creek!
Determined to steer clear of the horrors his villainous mother brought on his family, rancher Thorne Colton keeps to himself. That means resisting Maggie Lowell. The last time he succumbed, passion took control. But when an explosion nearly claims her life, Thorne discovers their night together yielded more than sizzling memories.
Pregnant and under Thorne’s protection in Shadow Creek, Maggie isn’t sure where the bigger threat lies. Out in the open, she’s a killer’s target. On his ranch, she’s in close quarters with the man who’s driven to keep her and their child safe but broke her heart once and might do it again...
“Help!”
Her mind raced as she searched for something, anything, she could use to carry water back to her car. She needed the fire department, but they would take too long to get here. Maybe she could dump enough water on her trunk to put the fire out before it spread? But why was it on fire in the first place? Cars didn’t spontaneously combust...
“Help!” she yelled again. Where was everyone?
“Maggie?” She heard her name, barely audible over the rush of blood in her ears. There was a bucket sitting a few feet away, full of grain. She dumped it out and scooped up water from the trough.
“My car,” she yelled, not bothering to look back. “Call the fire department!”
She ran back outside, water sloshing over the sides of the bucket and soaking her clothes. Smoke was pouring out of her trunk in earnest now, the stench of it filling the air and burning her nose. There was a shout behind her but before she could respond, the world exploded in a ball of heat and light.
* * *
The Coltons of Shadow Creek: Only family can keep you safe...
Pregnant by the Colton Cowboy
Lara Lacombe
LARA LACOMBE earned a PhD in microbiology and immunology and worked in several labs across the country before moving into the classroom. Her day job as a college science professor gives her time to pursue her other love—writing fast-paced romantic suspense with smart, nerdy heroines and dangerously attractive heroes. She loves to hear from readers! Find her on the web or contact her at [email protected].
This book is for Elizabeth, friend extraordinaire.
Contents
The rain started just as Maggie Lowell finished the last entry in the account book. The drops fell in a gentle patter, but a quick glance at the dark sky outside made it clear the sky wouldn’t stay peaceful for long. Time to go home.
She quickly packed up her laptop and papers with one hand and pecked out a text to Mac with the other.
All done. Everything looks good.
Maggie normally didn’t come to a client’s home to work on their books, but she made an exception for Joseph “Mac” Mackenzie. He was impossible to refuse—always smiling, always kind. He’d been one of her first clients in Shadow Creek, and he hadn’t hesitated to promote her bookkeeping services to all his friends. Since Mac was a deservedly popular man, it hadn’t taken long for Maggie to build a solid roster of clients. Mac’s actions