The Cowboy's Christmas Surprise

The Cowboy's Christmas Surprise
Marie Ferrarella

Since the first grade, Holly Johnson has known that Ramon Rodriguez is the only man for her. But the carefree, determinedly single Texas cowboy with the sexy swagger doesn’t have a clue. Until they share a dance and a kiss…and Ray finally sees his best friend for the woman in love she is. With his brothers racing each other down the aisle, Ray figured he’d be the last bachelor in Forever. That was before the night that changed his life. He can’t believe the sexy, beautiful lady who arouses heart-stopping desire is his pal and confidante, and loving aunt to the most adorable little girl. Now that he realizes what he’s been missing, Ray plans to make up for lost time…starting with the three little words Holly’s waited thirteen years to hear.

The Best Christmas Present

Since the first grade, Holly Johnson has known that Ramon Rodriguez is the only man for her. But the carefree, determinedly single Texas cowboy with the killer smile doesn’t have a clue. Until they share a dance and a kiss…and Ray finally sees his best friend for the woman in love she is.

With his brothers racing each other down the aisle, Ray figured he’d be the last bachelor in Forever. That was before the night that changed his life. He can’t believe the sexy, beautiful lady who arouses heart-stopping desire is his pal and confidante, and loving aunt to the most adorable little girl. Now that he realizes what he’s been missing, Ray plans to make up for lost time…starting with the three little words Holly’s waited thirteen years to hear.

Damn, what was going on here? Ray’s brain demanded silently.

This was Holly, right?

He wasn’t sure anymore but even so, he was fairly certain that it really couldn’t be. This woman didn’t dress like Holly, didn’t act like Holly, and most of all, she didn’t taste the way he’d always assumed that Holly would taste if he ever thought to fleetingly sample her lips.

The Holly Johnson he knew would have smelled of soap and tasted like some kind of minty toothpaste. Holly was practical. Holly was grounded. By no stretch of the imagination was she some femme fatale who got his pulse running like the lead car in the Indianapolis 500 and his imagination all fired up—like this woman did.

Dear Reader,

We’ve come to the last of the Rodriguez brothers. With all five of his siblings either married or, in Mike’s case, about to be married, Ray Rodriguez considers himself to be the last man standing—and this enthusiastic playboy with a golden tongue fully intends to remain that way. He’s having, he tells his best friend, too much fun to ever consider getting married. And that’s unfortunate for his best friend, because his best friend is Holly Johnson, who has been in love with Ray since the first grade. As his best friend, she knows him better than anyone, is privy to all his secrets and, sadly for her, gets to listen to Ray talk about each of his many girlfriends.

When a series of events—not the least of which is having his sister Alma give birth in the diner’s restroom, with Holly in attendance—cause him to look at Holly in a different light, he begins to wonder what took him so long to realize how terrific, not to mention beautiful, she really is. Now how to convince Holly that he’s really serious and not just pulling her leg?

Got your attention? Good. Start reading.

As ever, thank you for that—and from the bottom of my heart, I wish you someone to love who loves you back.

All the best,

Marie Ferrarella

The Cowboy’s Christmas Surprise

Marie Ferrarella

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marie Ferrarella, a USA TODAY bestselling and RITA® Award-winning author, has written more than two hundred books for Mills & Boon, some under the name Marie Nicole. Her romances are beloved by fans worldwide. Visit her website, www.marieferrarella.com (http://www.marieferrarella.com).

To

Charlie,

Who can still make

My heart

Skip a beat

Just by looking at me.

Contents

Prologue (#u9ea548df-4c58-5fb5-bdd7-0fafc73e181d)

Chapter One (#u09fa3614-93db-58c8-af53-2c5abc507237)

Chapter Two (#u5a0929be-063c-591d-9911-bcf68e105d5c)

Chapter Three (#u88fc5367-9643-5e2a-8b2c-1d2094a8bc46)

Chapter Four (#u09979e67-94e5-504b-b869-b8dd310cb865)

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)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)

Prologue

The bouquet of flowers she’d given her mother for her birthday had done more than serve its purpose. The arrangement of yellow mums, pink carnations and white daisies had remained fresh looking and had lasted more than the customary few days, managing to dazzle for a little more than a week and a half.