A Buckhorn Baby

A Buckhorn Baby
Lori Foster

A sizzling new Buckhorn Brothers novella from New York Times bestselling author Lori FosterIf there's one thing headstrong bookstore owner Amber Hudson knows, it's how to get what she wants. And what she wants most is for Noel Poet, the hottest firefighter in Buckhorn, Kentucky, to finally admit they have a future together. But when life throws her an unexpected curveball, Amber must face the fact that she's set her sights on something that could be out of reach forever.Noel might be head over heels for Amber, but he has no intention of letting her call all the shots. He's determined to play Amber's game his own way—and remind her that some things are worth fighting for. Yet when Amber gets the shock of her life, games are the last thing on his mind. Because now it's time to prove that old demons are no match for the happy-ever-after that could be theirs…Don't miss the other titles in the Buckhorn Brothers series!

A sizzling new Buckhorn Brothers novella from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster

If there’s one thing headstrong bookstore owner Amber Hudson knows, it’s how to get what she wants. And what she wants most is for Noel Poet, the hottest firefighter in Buckhorn, Kentucky, to finally admit they have a future together. But when life throws her an unexpected curveball, Amber must face the fact that she’s set her sights on something that could be out of reach forever.

Noel might be head over heels for Amber, but he has no intention of letting her call all the shots. He’s determined to play Amber’s game his own way—and remind her that some things are worth fighting for. Yet when Amber gets the shock of her life, games are the last thing on his mind. Because now it’s time to prove that old demons are no match for the happy-ever-after that could be theirs...

Don’t miss the other titles in the Buckhorn Brothers series, including Buckhorn Beginnings, Forever Buckhorn, The Buckhorn Legacy, Buckhorn Ever After in the All For You anthology, Back to Buckhorn, A Buckhorn Summer and A Buckhorn Bachelor.

A BUCKHORN BABY

Lori Foster

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

Dear Readers (#udb48c409-fead-559f-ab35-ec0a3d0d64b4),

Welcome back to Buckhorn!

Though I know an actual Buckhorn exists, mine is an entirely fictional town in beautiful Kentucky. My first Buckhorn story was published back in 2000 and the series has become a true reader favorite. For me it seemed a natural fit to combine my need to help stray cats and dogs by continuing the series with a new generation of the leading family in Buckhorn.

Through a special contract with my publisher, the advance and all royalties on A Buckhorn Baby will go directly to the Animal Adoption Foundation, a local no-kill animal shelter that does an amazing job healing, protecting, and loving cats and dogs until a “forever home” can be found for them.

I hope you enjoy Amber and Noel’s long-awaited story, and I especially hope you enjoy knowing that by purchasing this story, you’ve helped a dog or cat in need. And don’t miss A Buckhorn Bachelor (http://ads.harpercollins.com/hqnboba?isbn=9781460397664&oisbn=9781474075534), my 2016 benefit novella, included as a bonus in this collection!

To see other “benefit books,” visit lorifoster.com/benefit-books (http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/)

And to see other books in the Buckhorn series, visit lorifoster.com/connected-books/#buckhorn (http://lorifoster.com/connected-books/#buckhorn)

From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Lori Foster

About the Author (#udb48c409-fead-559f-ab35-ec0a3d0d64b4)

LORI FOSTER is a New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author with books from a variety of publishers, including Berkley/Jove, Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin and Silhouette. Lori has been a recipient of the prestigious RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Fantasy and for Contemporary Romance. For more about Lori, visit her website at www.lorifoster.com (http://www.lorifoster.com).

Contents

Cover (#u1885680e-92ca-58d3-b707-17ae0c7ae372)

Back Cover Text (#u891d91e8-3fb1-582f-b8e4-8cd7e3e92b75)

Title Page (#u7d6a80ae-d5ef-52ca-8dfd-69c612671425)

Dear Readers (#u377e11ef-095b-50b4-9414-e8fba0dc9d31)

About the Author (#u47844f95-bd99-545e-9c8d-9c1129a6d4b6)

CHAPTER ONE (#uc73defc7-410e-5e3d-b533-1304cc48b958)

CHAPTER TWO (#ud8ad7130-2c12-5601-8be8-7f259ba39696)

CHAPTER THREE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE (#udb48c409-fead-559f-ab35-ec0a3d0d64b4)

BRIGHT SUNSHINE DANCED through the leaves of towering elms and oaks, adding dappled shade to the gathering of family. They sat at multiple picnic tables and in lawn chairs scattered about. Many of her cousins had brought their dogs to play with her father’s and uncle’s animals. For once, Amber Hudson hadn’t brought along her own fur-baby, Rookie. They’d spent the morning together, taken a walk, played fetch in the yard, and then she’d left him in the fenced-in backyard, but with the doggy door open so he could come and go in the house as he pleased.

Their group had grown, she thought with a smile, seeing the spouses of her brother and cousins, who were now a part of it all. Everyone joined in for Father’s Day since they had some of the best dads ever.

Filled with love and pride and warm affection, she smiled at her own father. Morgan Hudson was an amazing icon in the community; she wasn’t the only one who adored him. Everyone in Buckhorn, Kentucky, cared for her dad.

He’d be so surprised by her announcement, and no doubt her uncles would cheer right along with everyone else.

Her family, more than most, loved babies.

Her gaze skipped over to Noel Poet, the reason she hadn’t brought Rookie along. She hoped to visit with Noel directly after the gathering—and by visit, she meant touch all over, maybe kiss all over, and explore again that off-the-charts sexual chemistry. More and more each day, she craved him whenever they were apart.

Considering the night he’d had, it amazed her that he’d made it today. As usual, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. Thanks to the current heat and humidity, sweat darkened the ends of his blond hair. He wore loose board shorts that showed off his hairy calves, laceless sneakers on his big feet and a T-shirt printed with STILL PLAYS WITH FIRETRUCKS.

Fighting exhaustion, he slouched against a tree, using one thick shoulder as a prop to keep him on his feet as he spoke to her mother, Misty.

Because of a barn fire the night before, he couldn’t have gotten much rest. Noel wouldn’t complain, though. He never did. It went against his man-code, which had helped solidify his friendship with the men in her family, since they were all a bunch of “suffer in silence”-type guys, too.

Continually Noel’s dark brown eyes sought her out with a sort of casual possessiveness that thrilled her.

Noel was quiet and contained, strong and heroic, with a rock-hard body, a gorgeous, expressive face, and Lord help her, she had it bad for him. Of course, she hadn’t told him that, because he hadn’t yet told her. She’d tried every trick in the book to get him to open up on how he felt, but other than presenting himself as her steady date and showing a lot of sexual compatibility, he kept his thoughts to himself.

Her father liked Noel. Her mother adored him. Her cousins all respected him.

Amber frowned as she considered things. Around Noel, she didn’t feel like her usual cocky, take-charge self. Somehow he made her feel...more feminine. Even delicate.

She snorted at that nonsense.

Her daddy hadn’t raised any wimps, never mind how he’d always pampered her.

She and Noel were more on than off, so why did she lose her edge around him?