The Cowboy's Double Trouble

The Cowboy's Double Trouble
Judy Duarte

NANNY TO THE RESCUE!Braden Rayburn takes his responsibilities seriously. So how’s he supposed to run his newly inherited ranch while being an interim father to his orphaned half-siblings, who don’t speak a word of English? Especially since the onetime pro-rodeo rider knows absolutely nada about raising a family. Lucky for him, he just met the beautiful answer to his prayers.The high-energy boy and girl twins had Elena Ramirez at “hola.” But being a nanny—even a temporary one–at Braden’s Texas ranch wasn’t on the bilingual Brighton Valley native's career path, even if her attraction to the kids’ gorgeous guardian is mutual. Elena’s big-city dreams don’t include falling for a footloose cowboy. Or is the Rayburn rancher already the perfect family man?

Braden leaned toward her.

The very moment he touched her skin, her breath caught and her heart fluttered to a stop.

As her pulse scrambled to make up for the lost beat, Elena couldn’t take her eyes off him. Why was that? You’d think she didn’t trust him, but the truth was, right this very minute, she didn’t trust herself.

She ran her tongue around her lips, hoping to lick off whatever sweet, sticky mess she’d left there. Yet, as she did, their gazes zeroed in on each other once again, and her hormones spiked. A jillion silent words seemed to swirl around them, yet neither of them uttered a single one out loud.

This was so not good. Not good at all.

Could she last the three weeks?

* * *

Brighton Valley Cowboys: This Texas family is looking for love in all the right places!

The Cowboy’s

Double Trouble

Judy Duarte

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Since 2002, USA TODAY bestselling author JUDY DUARTE has written over forty books for Mills & Boon Cherish, earned two RITA

Award nominations, won two Maggie

Awards and received a National Readers’ Choice Award. When she’s not cooped up in her writing cave, she enjoys traveling with her husband and spending quality time with her grandchildren. You can learn more about Judy and her books at her website, www.judyduarte.com (http://www.judyduarte.com), or at Facebook.com/judyduartenovelist (http://www.facebook.com/judyduartenovelist).

To my critique partners, Crystal Green and Sheri WhiteFeather. Can you believe we’re celebrating our twentieth anniversary this year?

I have no idea where I’d be without you, your story skills—or, more importantly, your friendship.

I love you, guys!

Contents

Cover (#u108ced3b-b79c-5d17-9d9a-ddffba5003a3)

Introduction (#u6ded8f0b-a4c0-5d34-9333-f363f45a79a2)

Title Page (#u4320d9a1-5038-5813-b74c-1daf73803b49)

About the Author (#ua77a73f7-5674-566e-b2b1-c195b73644ed)

Dedication (#u7dc360f4-9532-5822-9141-c14dbcd6026c)

Chapter One (#ulink_4124b920-3205-50d2-a9ba-6b1836b400f0)

Chapter Two (#ulink_31e9a94f-9c90-5aa8-899a-037678361678)

Chapter Three (#ulink_e5239bad-7b52-5db2-b41f-fac10c075d10)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#ulink_44e400f0-9c0a-5b0e-9175-7805e5e16969)

A snarl, a hiss and a cat’s frantic “meeee-owww” shattered the silence in the barn.

Braden Rayburn turned away from the stall of the broodmare that was ready to foal and spotted six-year-old Alberto climbing up the wooden ladder to the hayloft while juggling a squirming orange tabby in his arms. The boy had found the small stray earlier this morning, but clearly, the cat wasn’t up for an adventure.

“No!” Braden called out, hoping to stop an accident ready to happen before any blood could be spilled. “Alberto! Put it down.”

The small boy turned at the sound of his name and froze on the third rung, but he continued to hold the cat. He undoubtedly understood the word no, but that was it.

Alberto—or “Beto,” as his twin sister called him—didn’t speak English. And Braden’s Spanish was limited to a few words, mostly isolated nouns.

“Put the...” Braden blew out a ragged sigh and tried to remember how to say cat in Spanish. “Put the gato down. It’s going to scratch the living daylights out of you.” From the tone of his voice, his frustration was coming through loud and clear.

Fortunately, Beto seemed to finally understand and climbed down. Still he held the poor critter that didn’t appear to be the least bit relieved by their descent, so a bite or a scratch was imminent.

“Let the gato go.” Braden used his hands in his own form of sign language and motioned as he added, “Down.”