He wants forever. She wants right now.
Ivy Millbrook isn’t interested in happily-ever-after. The only thing she wants from Seth Walker is no-strings-attached fun. Too bad Seth is holding out for the white picket fence. As a single father of two, he is the epitome of commitment and the complete opposite of Ivy. They’re at a standstill.
The situation intensifies when Seth insists on helping Ivy save her dairy farm. With the kids in tow, working together isn’t easy. But is the prospect of losing each other forever enough to push them toward a compromise?
She jerked away from him.
The warmth sparked by his you deserve love comment vanished faster than an apple under Cabana Boy’s nose. “You don’t know that.” Ivy’s hang-up when it came to kids might not be rational, but she had her reasons—reasons she didn’t plan on sharing with Seth.
“You don’t know me,” she continued.
“You won’t let me.”
“But there are so many incredible things I will let you do.”
He blew out an exasperated breath. “Come on. This is about more than sex. You like me. You look forward to my visits. We have fun together. My kids don’t bite.” He flashed a grin that weakened her knees all over again. Damn that dimple. “All right, they do, but not often, and never when there’s a chance they’ll talk someone into playing Uno. Look, you have a lot in common. All three of you love horses, hate brussels sprouts and live to cause me grief. Why not give this a shot?”
“Because I’m looking for sex, not a happy-ever-after.”
Welcome back to Castle Creek! You may remember Seth and Ivy from Staying at Joe’s. Seth’s a feed store owner and single father of two who has a thing for Ivy, a flirty dairy farmer. Unfortunately, Ivy’s not a forever kind of girl, and since Seth is done with casual, that means a happy ending just isn’t in the cards for these two.
At least, it wasn’t until I wrote their story.
Compromise is the name of the game here. Compromise, and adjusting expectations. While Ivy struggles to convince Seth he’s asking too much of her, she gradually realizes she’s asking too little of herself. And though Seth’s kids are everything to him, he begins to understand that keeping Ivy in their lives could be the best thing he’s ever done for them—and the only way he himself will be happy. Concession can be tough, but it can also win you the love of your life.
So let the games begin.
I hope you enjoy Seth and Ivy’s story as much as I enjoyed finally getting them together! I adore hearing from readers, so please feel free to email me at [email protected]. And hey, drop me a note if you’re interested in Ivy’s cheesecake recipe—the recipe takes a little effort, but I promise it’s worth it!
Thank you so much for coming back to Castle Creek!
All my best,
Kathy Altman
A Family After All
Kathy Altman
KATHY ALTMAN writes contemporary romance, romantic suspense and the occasional ode to chocolate. She’s also a regular contributor to USA TODAY’s Happy Ever After blog. Kathy prefers her chocolate with nuts, her Friday afternoons with wine and her love stories with happy-ever-afters. Find Kathy online at www.kathyaltman.com. She’d enjoy hearing from you!
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To my sister Mary.
I can thank you for making the long drive, and for the frosty walks from the hotel to the hospital and back again, and for the hot chocolates, and the cheerfulness, and the hugs and the prayers, but I can never thank you enough for simply knowing I’d need you.
You’re all kinds of amazing.
My most earnest thanks to Toni Anderson, who unfailingly supports me, guides me, cheers me, challenges me and sets the bar so darned high; and to Robin Allen, who generously plies her expertise at beta reading and proofing pages and taps her foot when I’m not writing fast enough. What would I do without you two to share this writing life with?
My deepest gratitude to my family, for your never-ending support and patience.
I’d also like to thank Mills & Boon editor Claire Caldwell for taking good care of me—I look forward to working with you on the next one!
And many, many thanks to the readers who appreciate happy endings as much as I do. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for you.
Big, squeezy hugs to you all!
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