Jill Lynn - Her Texas Family

Falling for the Single Dad

Moving to a small Texas town, Lucy Grayson is looking to live life on her own terms. When she agrees to take a job in Doctor Graham Redmond’s office, the two instantly clash. The same can’t be said for the widower’s daughter. They quickly form a bond when Lucy begins teaching the little girl to dance. Graham soon realizes how good Lucy is for his daughter—and for him. Yet his late wife’s parents don’t agree. Their ultimatum to choose between them or Lucy fills Graham with despair. He can’t let his daughter lose her grandparents…but he also can’t lose the woman who could complete their family.

“I don’t ever plan to remarry.”

He didn’t have to make up this whole story for her. So they weren’t a match in the love department. The idea that Graham would never remarry was crazy.

“You don’t have to explain anything to me. It’s not like we were on a date.”

“I know. But I’m telling you, I wouldn’t be anyway. I’m really never getting remarried.”

Graham definitely seemed the type to marry and grow old with someone. Lucy could picture him having more kids, finding a stepmom for Mattie. The girl would love it. Maybe having a mom again would take away some of Mattie’s serious nature and let her be a kid.

What would keep Graham from considering marriage again?

“Was your marriage…that bad?” Graham’s frown told her what she already knew—she shouldn’t have asked.

“No. It was that good.”

Ouch. Why did those words sting? She hardly knew this man. She’d been in town two weeks, and yet his response made her feel as if she’d been shoved from a moving car.

This had nothing to do with her. Then why did it feel as though it did?

JILL LYNN is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers group and won the ACFW Genesis award in 2013. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethel University. A native of Minnesota, Jill now lives in Colorado with her husband and two children. She’s an avid reader of happily-ever-afters and a fan of grace, laughter and thrift stores. Connect with her at jill-lynn.com.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

—Psalms 139:14

To my husband: God blessed me big when He gave me you. Thank you for being better than I could have ever imagined, for making me laugh and for always cleaning my mess of a car. I love you!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Falling for the Single Dad Moving to a small Texas town, Lucy Grayson is looking to live life on her own terms. When she agrees to take a job in Doctor Graham Redmond’s office, the two instantly clash. The same can’t be said for the widower’s daughter. They quickly form a bond when Lucy begins teaching the little girl to dance. Graham soon realizes how good Lucy is for his daughter—and for him. Yet his late wife’s parents don’t agree. Their ultimatum to choose between them or Lucy fills Graham with despair. He can’t let his daughter lose her grandparents…but he also can’t lose the woman who could complete their family.

Introduction “I don’t ever plan to remarry.” He didn’t have to make up this whole story for her. So they weren’t a match in the love department. The idea that Graham would never remarry was crazy. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. It’s not like we were on a date.” “I know. But I’m telling you, I wouldn’t be anyway. I’m really never getting remarried.” Graham definitely seemed the type to marry and grow old with someone. Lucy could picture him having more kids, finding a stepmom for Mattie. The girl would love it. Maybe having a mom again would take away some of Mattie’s serious nature and let her be a kid. What would keep Graham from considering marriage again? “Was your marriage…that bad?” Graham’s frown told her what she already knew—she shouldn’t have asked. “No. It was that good.” Ouch. Why did those words sting? She hardly knew this man. She’d been in town two weeks, and yet his response made her feel as if she’d been shoved from a moving car. This had nothing to do with her. Then why did it feel as though it did?

About the Author JILL LYNN is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers group and won the ACFW Genesis award in 2013. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethel University. A native of Minnesota, Jill now lives in Colorado with her husband and two children. She’s an avid reader of happily-ever-afters and a fan of grace, laughter and thrift stores. Connect with her at jill-lynn.com .

Title Page Her Texas Family Jill Lynn www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. —Psalms 139:14

Dedication To my husband: God blessed me big when He gave me you. Thank you for being better than I could have ever imagined, for making me laugh and for always cleaning my mess of a car. I love you!

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

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Climbing a tree in heels? Not one of her better decisions.

Lucy Grayson held her cell phone toward the Texas sky and prayed for reception. The prayer didn’t work, nor did her ascent, which she’d hoped would somehow get her closer to a cell tower. Just beyond the tree, Lucy’s pitiful car sat on the side of the road with a flat tire, stranded like a woman with a broken high heel.

Her whole life was packed into that car...all of her shoes, most of her clothes and everything else she could cram in. Which made the thought of clearing out her trunk in order to reach her spare tire daunting. And so not necessary. Not if she could get hold of her sister and brother-in-law and borrow their truck, loading everything into it instead of dumping her things on the side of the road.

She was mere miles from their home, so she could walk. But surely her phone was just being ornery. It had to have some reception. Another impatient glance at the screen told her nothing had changed in the past twenty seconds of her life.

Drat.

Lucy wiggled her left foot, attempting to free it from her red ankle bootee without reaching down to untie it. She certainly couldn’t climb down in these shoes. She’d slipped a few times on the way up and didn’t want to risk the same during her descent.

A look down had her stomach tripping all over itself. Lucy had climbed higher than she realized, hoping just a little more height would give her the results she wanted.

Averting her gaze to the limb directly in front of her, she shimmied out of her left ankle boot. It dropped to the ditch below with a muted thud. The sole of her bare foot met rough bark, and she started the same process with her other shoe. One final kick of her heel against the tree limb sent it flying from her foot. Perfect. Now to get down.

A yelp sounded.

At the bottom of the tree, a man stood staring up at her, his hand pressed against his forehead. Oh, no. She hadn’t...

“Is there another shoe coming that I need to be aware of?”

Lucy pressed her lips together to hold back the ill-timed amusement that begged for release. Keeping her right arm wrapped around the tree trunk, she pointed to her other shoe, which had landed a few feet away from him. “No. Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay. I think.” He stopped rubbing his forehead, leaving the red mark from her boot weapon visible. “What are you doing up there?”

Now, that was a tough question to answer. Picnicking? Going for a climb? Moving to Texas? Nothing seemed quite right. And her actual answer, now that she had an audience, did sound a bit...unusual. Or for her, usual. Her family would definitely call this a typical Lucy moment.

“I was making a phone call.” Or trying to.

The man’s brow crinkled, and he continued to peer up at her with confusion. Lucy scrambled down the tree, each bough swaying under her now bare feet. Despite feeling somewhat like a monkey, the sensation of being free did give her a thrill.

She landed in front of him with a very ungraceful, un-dancer-like crash.

During her descent, he’d crossed his arms over a white-checked oxford he wore with crisp jeans and brown leather shoes that even her fashion sense approved of. He was a head taller than her, with chocolate hair and midnight-green eyes.

A wave of recognition rushed through her, causing her skin to prickle with awareness.

Lucy remembered this man from her sister’s wedding. She didn’t know his name. She just recalled seeing him that night.

At Olivia and Cash’s reception, he’d been dancing with a little girl. The small child had worn glasses and a frilly dress, and her shoes had been propped up on his toes as they’d twirled around the dance floor. Lucy had melted at the sight. After all, she was a dancer.

Right. That was what had attracted her attention. Not the fact that the guy was totally droolworthy and hadn’t noticed her for a second. Usually when guys tried to gain her attention, she couldn’t care less. This one hadn’t known she existed...although now that she’d clocked him in the head with a shoe, she’d be unforgettable. For all the wrong reasons.

Did it really matter that he was looking at her without an ounce of recognition?

It wasn’t as if Lucy wanted to follow her sister’s path and sign up for a wedding ring while in Texas. She didn’t do serious relationships. She did fun. Lucy had made the decision way back in high school, and she’d stuck to it ever since. It had taken only one experience—one moment of going gooey over a guy—to teach her she much preferred to keep things light. And it was a lesson that had served her well over the years.

“I saw your flat tire and thought you might need help.” The look of bewilderment still etched across his face had her fighting a smile. Not everyone knew what to make of her personality. But did he have to look so shocked? So he’d found her up a tree trying to make a phone call. She wasn’t acting that crazy. “Where are you headed?”

“I’m actually moving here. Right now I’m trying to get to my sister’s house, which is just—” North? East? Lucy searched for the Rocky Mountains that had declared which way was west for the whole of her life, but was only met with the low green hills that permeated Texas Hill Country. Finally, she just pointed. “That direction.”

He reached forward and removed something from her hair, tossing it to the side. Looked like a baby branch by the size of the thing. How had she not noticed that monstrosity hitchhiking a ride on the way down?

“Your sister?”

“Yeah. Olivia Maddox.” Even after seven months of her sister being married, that new last name still felt so weird to say.

“Graham Redmond.” He offered his hand, and Lucy shook it, introducing herself. “Cash is a friend of mine.”

Lucy just nodded. I know. Men. This conversation only served to support her philosophy of keeping them in the fun/friend category instead of getting overly involved with one.