Date with a Cowboy Read online

  “Right, my precious.”

  Molly was quiet for a moment, reveling in the glow of happiness that had surrounded them since that day they both learned the truth about their pasts. Although they had yet to tell Trent that Worth was his real father, it didn’t matter, at least not now.

  When they told him they were in love and were going to get married, Trent had asked if he could call Worth daddy. Thinking back on that day still tugged at Molly’s heart and would be forever imprinted there.

  She had cooked a special dinner with all the trimmings—candlelight, flowers, pot roast, Italian cream cake—wine for them, a Shirley Temple for Trent. Once the meal was over, they had gone into the living room where Worth had reached for Trent’s hand, drawing the child onto his lap.

  “Your mom and I have something to tell you,” Worth said in a none-too-steady voice.

  “What?” Trent mumbled, eyeing his mother and sounding uncertain.

  “It’s okay, sweetie,” she responded with a smile and a wink.

  “How would you like to live here all the time?” Worth asked, also smiling.

  “Wow!” Trent cut his gaze back to his mother.

  Molly grinned. “That’s what I think, too.”

  “Your mom and I are in love and want to get married.”

  Trent made a face. “Does that mean you’ll be kissing Mommy all the time?”

  Both adults laughed without restraint.

  “I’m afraid so,” Worth finally admitted, having regained his composure.

  “I guess that’d be okay.” Trent cocked his head to one side as if trying to figure out how best to communicate what was churning in his little mind. “Would you be my daddy?”

  “You betcha.”

  Trent seemed to think on that for a moment during which Molly held her breath. She suspected Worth was doing likewise.

  “Can I call you Daddy?”

  Worth’s mouth worked. “I’d like that a lot.”

  A smile broke across the child’s face. “Man, now I’ll be like all my friends. They all have daddies.”

  Molly looked on as Worth grabbed Trent and hugged him tightly, all the while seeking her eyes that were filled with tears. Only after blinking them away did she see the ones in Worth’s.

  Several days later she and Worth exchanged vows. From that moment on, they had become a family.

  During the year they had been married, her mother’s back had completely mended. And though she had insisted on keeping her job as housekeeper, Worth had said no, that it was time for her to retire and enjoy life—mainly her grandson.

  Maxine hadn’t argued, and thus was having a ball.

  As for Eva and Ted, they were another story altogether. Even though civility became the order of the day, a wedge remained between Worth and his parents. While Molly hated that, and felt responsible to some degree, there was nothing she could do. Worth had to work through his problems with his parents in his own way and in his own time.

  Following that fierce altercation with Ted and Eva, Worth had decided not to run for office, vowing, instead, to concentrate on making her and Trent happy, along with building his horse breeding empire. He and Art had figured a way to make it work without Olivia’s land.

  “You’re awfully quiet,” Worth said, interrupting her thoughts, dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose.

  “I was just thinking about this past year and everything that’s happened.”

  “Such as?”

  “Us. Trent. Your estrangement from your family.”

  Worth grimaced. “I’ve been thinking about that, too, but right now I still can’t get past their mean-spiritedness.”

  “Maybe one day you can because of Trent. They are, after all, his grandparents, and I want him to know them.”

  “You’re right, of course. I’m sure they’re sorry and are suffering, but I can’t completely forgive, nor can I forget.” His grimace deepened. “They cost me almost five years of my son’s life.”

  “I know how deeply that cuts, but—”

  “You think I should try and make amends?”

  Molly nodded her head. “I’d like that for the reason I just said, Trent. However, it’s your call as to how you handle your folks.”

  “Well, Christmas is knocking on the door.” He paused. “We’ll see what that brings.”

  Molly smiled, then kissed him. “You’re a good man, Worth Cavanaugh.”

  “And you’re a liar, Molly Cavanaugh. I’m a son of a bitch and we both know it.”

  They giggled, then hugged.

  “Do you miss your work?” he asked when their laughter subsided.

  “A little,” she said truthfully. “I miss Dr. Nutting, my old boss, but he certainly understands why I didn’t return.”

  “Have you thought about working here full time? I want you to be happy at home, but if not, that’s okay.”

  She heard the forlorn note in her husband’s voice and laughed. “Are you sure about that?”

  He grinned. “Well, I might be a tad jealous.”

  “Actually, I was thinking about doing some volunteer work at the local clinic a couple of days a week. That way I can keep my license current. I just hadn’t gotten around to telling you.”

  “Hey, that’s a great idea.”

  “I thought so, too.” Molly stretched, and in doing so, exposed a nipple to his greedy eyes and lips. He latched on to it and sucked.

  “You know our life is pretty much perfect,” she whispered, “even if I am married to a badass.”

  He laughed again, then sobered. “I just wish we could have another child. I’d like to be there for the whole meal deal, so to speak, watching your belly grow and feeling our child move.”

  “There’s no time like the present to get started.”

  Worth gave her a perplexed look. “You know what the doctor said.”

  “Doctors don’t walk on water. They make mistakes every day. I suggest we begin right now proving yours wrong. And the rest of our tomorrows, if that’s what it takes.”

  “Oh, God, Molly,” Worth whispered, tossing a leg over her hip, “I wouldn’t want to live life without you.”

  “Nor I without you.” She smiled at him with love. “So how about we get busy and make that baby.”

  All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

  All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  ® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

  Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House,

  18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

  DATE WITH A COWBOY

  © Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l 2013

  Iron Cowboy © Diana Palmer 2008

  In the Arms of the Rancher © Joan Hohl 2009

  At the Texan’s Pleasure © Mary Lynn Baxter 2006

  eISBN: 978-1-472-01085-8

  Table of Contents


  Title Page

  Iron Cowboy

  About the Author

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  In the Arms of the Rancher

  About the Author

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  At the Texan’s Pleasure

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Copyright