The final piece of his family puzzle?

Arriving in Bellaroo Creek, teacher Poppy Carter isn’t quite prepared for the hard task ahead of her. But a school under threat and a class of unruly children is a breeze compared to single father Harrison Black, who’s proving more of a challenge than she could ever have anticipated!

Since his wife abandoned him and their children, Harrison has learned the art of keeping his distance—and new teacher Poppy doesn’t seem to understand boundaries! But when a storm traps them both together, Harrison begins to wonder whether Poppy just might make the perfect addition to their little family….

BELLAROO CREEK!

Three brave women, three strong men… and one town on the brink

Bellaroo Creek in the Australian Outback is a town in need of rescue! So the arrival of three single women and a few adorable kids is exactly the injection of life it needs. Are the town and its ruggedly gorgeous cattlemen prepared for the adventure ahead?

One town, three heart-warming romances to cherish forever!

THE CATTLEMAN’S READY-MADE FAMILY

by Michelle Douglas

MIRACLE IN BELLAROO CREEK

by Barbara Hannay

PATCHWORK FAMILY IN THE OUTBACK

by Soraya Lane

Dear Reader,

Writing can be a very solitary business. I love what I do, but sometimes I miss the human contact of a regular job! This book was unique to write, though, because the town of Bellaroo Creek was devised not just by me, but by two other wonderful authors.

This is the third book in the Bellaroo Creek series, about a town that is in desperate need of new residents. Many small towns in rural Australia struggle with their population, which has led to some innovative ideas to breathe fresh life into communities.

Bellaroo Creek is a town that all the locals are passionate about saving, but in the end everything hinges on finding a sole-charge teacher for the local primary school. In this book you’ll meet heroine Poppy Carter—a young woman who leaves the city to start afresh in rural Australia.

Poppy has had her share of heartbreak, which is why she does everything in her power to stay clear of sexy single dad Harrison Black. Little does she know that Harrison is as determined to stay alone as she is…only, things don’t always go to plan.

I hope you enjoy this story and, if you’ve read the two books in the series before it, enjoy being back in Bellaroo Creek, as well!

If you’d like to know more about me or my books, visit my website, www.sorayalane.com.

Soraya

Patchwork Family in the Outback

Soraya Lane

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Writing for Mills & Boon is truly a dream come true for SORAYA LANE. An avid reader and writer since her childhood, Soraya describes becoming a published author as “the best job in the world” and hopes to be writing heartwarming, emotional romances for many years to come.

Soraya lives with her own real-life hero on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze.

For more information about Soraya and her upcoming releases visit her at her website, www.sorayalane.com, her blog, www.sorayalane.blogspot.com, or follow her at www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor.

MILLS & BOON

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This book is dedicated to my incredible support crew… My mother, Maureen, because I wouldn’t be able to write one book without you helping me with the “little emperor” on a daily basis, and Natalie and Nicola for our fabulous emails and chats. I’m so lucky to have you all in my corner.

Contents

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

EPILOGUE

EXCERPT

ARE YOU OUR NEW TEACHER?

 Do you love children and like the idea of running a small country school?

 Do you want a fresh start in a welcoming rural town?

 Do you want to be a cherished part of our community?

Then come visit us in Bellaroo Creek! If you’re a dedicated teacher capable of running our small school, then we’d love to meet you. Rent a home for only $1 a week and help to save our school and our town.

CHAPTER ONE

POPPY CARTER STOOD in the center of her new classroom and clasped her hands behind her back to stop them from shaking. Had she taken on more than she could handle?

The desks were lined against the walls with chairs stacked on top of them, and the floor was clean and tidy, but it was the walls that were sending shivers down her spine. Where was the fun? Where were the bright colors that should adorn the room to welcome young pupils?

She sighed and walked to the main desk, pulling out the chair and sinking into it. Her problem was that she’d always been at schools with a half-decent budget, and she knew that this school was barely able to keep the doors open, let alone redecorate.

Poppy dropped her forehead to the desktop before resting her cheek against it instead and staring at the wall. She had a lot to do before tomorrow, and there was no way she was going to start her class in a room like this.

New beginnings, a fresh start and a bright future. That’s why she’d come here, and she was determined to make that happen.

“Hello?”

Poppy sat bolt upright. Either she was hearing things in this spooky old room or there was someone else here.

“Hello?”

The deep male voice was closer this time. Before she could call back, it was followed by a body. One that filled the entire doorway.

“Hi,” she said, glancing toward the closest window, planning her escape route in case she needed one.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you.” The man smiled at her, one side of his mouth turning up as he nudged the tip of his hat and leaned into the room. “We’ve had a bit of trouble here lately and I wanted to make sure there weren’t any kids up to no good.”

Poppy swallowed and nodded. “I’m probably not meant to be here myself, but I wanted to have a good look around and see if there was anything that needed doing.”

Chocolate-brown eyes met hers, softer than before, and matched with a dimple when the man finally gave her a full smile. “I take it you’re the famous Ms. Carter, then?”

Poppy couldn’t help grinning back. “Take out the famous part and call me Poppy, and I’d say that’s me.”

He chuckled, removed his hat and stepped forward, hand extended. There was a gruffness about him that she guessed came with the territory of being a rancher, but up close he was even more handsome than he’d been from a distance. Strong, wide shoulders, a jaw that looked as if it had been carved from stone and the deepest dark brown eyes she’d ever seen....

Poppy cleared her throat and clasped his hand.

“Harrison Black,” he said, hand firm against hers. “My kids go to school here.”

Right. So he was married with children. It didn’t explain his lack of a wedding band, but then plenty of ranchers probably never wore a ring, especially when they were working. But it did make her feel less nervous about being in the room with him.

“How many children do you have?” she asked.

The smile was back at the mention of his children. “Two. Kate and Alex. They’re out there in the truck.”

Poppy looked out the window, spotting his vehicle. “I’m just heading back to my place for some supplies, so how about I say hi to them?”

He shrugged, put his hat on his head and took a couple of steps backward. The heels of his boots were loud on the wooden floor, making her look up again. And when she did she wished she hadn’t, because his eyes had never left hers and a frown was hovering at the corners of his mouth.

Instead of acknowledging him she reached for her bag and slung it over her shoulder, and when she looked back he was already halfway to the door.

“Ms. Carter, what made you come here?”

She met his gaze, chin held high, not wanting to answer the man standing in front of her, but knowing it was a question she’d be asked countless times from the moment she started meeting locals—as soon as her pupils began flooding through the door, parents anxiously following them.

“I needed a change,” she told him honestly, even if she was omitting a large part of the truth. “When I saw the advertisements for Bellaroo, I figured it was time for me to take a chance.”

Harrison was still staring at her, but she broke the contact. Walked past him and down the short hall to the front door.

“And a new haircut or color wasn’t enough of a change?”

She spun on the spot, temper flaring. This man, this Harrison, didn’t know the first thing about her, but to suggest a haircut? Did she look like some floozy who just needed a new lipstick to make her problems go away?

“No,” she said, glaring at him, feet rooted to the spot. “I wanted to make a difference, and keeping this school open seemed pretty important to your community, unless I’ve been mistaken?”

His eyes gave away nothing, his broad shoulders squared and his body grew rigid. “There’s nothing more important to me than this school staying open. But if you don’t work out? If we’ve taken a chance on the wrong person? Then we don’t just lose a school, we’ll lose our entire town.” He sighed. “Forgive me if I don’t think you look like a woman who could go a week without hitting the shops or beauty salon.”

She let him pull the door shut and marched toward his vehicle, desperate to see his children. Right now they were the only things that could cool her down, and the last thing she wanted was to get into an argument with a rude, arrogant man who had no idea what kind of person she was or what she believed in. To even suggest... She swallowed and took a deep breath.

“I think you’ll find I know exactly how much this school means to Bellaroo Creek,” she said over her shoulder, in a voice as calm as she could manage. “And please don’t pretend you know me or anything about me. Do I make myself clear?”

She could have sworn a hint of a smile flashed across Harrison’s face, but she was too angry to care.

“Crystal clear,” he said, striding past her.

If she hadn’t known two little children were watching them from the truck, she would have poked her tongue out. But Poppy just kept walking, and sent up a silent prayer that she’d never have to talk to their father ever again.

* * *

Harrison knew he’d behaved badly. But honestly? He didn’t care. Speaking his mind to the teacher hadn’t exactly been his best move, but if she didn’t hang around, then their town was done for. He’d needed to say it now because if she changed her mind they’d have to find someone else fast. The future of Bellaroo Creek meant more to him than anything. Because otherwise he’d lose everything he’d ever worked for, just to keep his children close.

He swung open the passenger door. “Kids, this is your new teacher.”

They looked out—all angelic blond hair and blue eyes. A constant reminder of their mother, and probably the only reason he didn’t still hate the woman.

“I’m Ms. Carter.” Harrison listened to the new teacher introduce herself, watching the anger disappear from her face as soon as she locked eyes on his children. “Your dad found me in the middle of planning your classroom.”

“Planning?” he asked.

She smiled and leaned against the open door, but he had a feeling her happy expression was for his children’s benefit, not his. “I can’t teach young children in a room that looks like the inside of a hospital,” she told him. “I don’t have long, but in the morning it’ll look deserving of kids.”

“You’re making it look better?”

Harrison grinned as his daughter spoke. She played the shy card for all of a minute with strangers, then couldn’t keep herself from talking.

“I want us to have fun, and that means putting a smile on your face from the second you walk through my door in the morning.”

So maybe she wasn’t so bad, but it wasn’t exactly evidence that the teacher would hang around for the long haul. He’d had enough experience to know that an isolated rural town wasn’t exactly paradise for everyone, especially for a teacher expected to teach children of all ages.

“If you need a hand...” he found himself saying.

She smiled politely at him, but he could see the storm still brewing in her eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Black, but I’m sure I can manage.”

He stared at her long and hard before walking around to the driver’s side. “I’ll look forward to seeing in the morning what you’ve done with the place.”

The teacher shut the passenger door and leaned in the window. “Your wife won’t be dropping the children off?”

Harrison gave her a cool smile. “No, it’ll be me.”

He watched as she straightened, a question crossing her face even though she never said anything.

“I’ll see you kids tomorrow,” she called out, walking backward.

Harrison touched his hat and pulled out into the road, glancing in the rearview mirror to see her standing there still, one hand holding her long hair back from her face, the other shielding her eyes from the sun.

She was pretty, he’d give her that, but there was no way she was going to stick it out here as their teacher. He could tell just from looking at her. And that meant he had to figure out what the hell he was going to do if she left. Because staying in Bellaroo wasn’t going to be an option for him if the school closed down, nor any of the other families who loved this town as much as he did.

“Daddy, don’t you think we should help our teacher?”

Harrison sighed and glanced back at his daughter. “I think she’ll be fine, Katie,” he told her.

She sighed in turn. “It’s a pretty big classroom.”

Harrison stared straight ahead. The last thing he needed was to grow a conscience when it came to their new teacher, and he had errands to run for the rest of the afternoon. But maybe his daughter had a point. If he didn’t want her to up and leave, then maybe he needed to make more of an effort. They all did.

“We might go back later on and see what we can do. How does that sound?”

“Great!” Katie was elbowing her brother, as if they’d both somehow managed to pull the wool over his eyes. “We could take her dinner and help her do the walls.”

Harrison stayed silent. Helping Ms. Carter redecorate? Maybe. Taking her dinner? Hell, no.

CHAPTER TWO

HARRISON LIKED TO think of himself as a strong man. He worked the land, could hunt and keep his family alive and comfortable in the wilderness if he had to, and yet his seven-year-old daughter managed to wrangle him as if he were a newborn calf.

“Dad, I think she’ll like this.”

He stared at his pint-size kid and tried to look fierce. “I am not buying a cake to take her.”

Katie wrapped one arm around his leg and put her cheek against his jean-clad thigh. “But Daddy, it wouldn’t be a picnic without a cake.”

“It’s not a picnic,” he told her, “so there’s no problem.”

His daughter giggled. “Well, it is, kind of.”

He looked at the cake. It did look good and they were being sold for charity, but what kind of message would that be sending if he arrived to help with cake? Taking sausages, bread and ketchup was one thing, because he could let the kids help their new teacher while he used the barbecue out back. But this was going too far.

“Daddy?”

He tried to ignore the blue eyes looking up at him, pleading with him. And failed. “Okay, we’ll take the cake. But don’t go thinking we’ll be spending all night there. It’s just something to eat, some quick help and then home. Okay?”

Katie smiled and he couldn’t help but do the same back. His little girl sure knew how to wrap him around her finger. “Come on, Alex,” Harrison called.

His son appeared from behind an aisle and they finally reached the cashier. Harrison had known old Mrs. Jones since he was a boy and was still buying his groceries from her and her husband.

“So what are you all doing in town today?”

He started to place items on the counter. “Had a few errands to run, so we’re a bit out of sequence.”

“And now we’re going to see our new teacher,” announced Katie.

“So you’ve already met Ms. Carter?”

Harrison frowned. He didn’t like everyone knowing his business, even if he did live in a small town with a gossip mill that ignited at any hint of something juicy. “We’re going to help her make some changes to the classroom, aren’t we, kids?”

Katie and Alex nodded as he paid for the groceries and hauled the bags from the counter.

“It’s mighty nice to have someone like Poppy Carter in town. Like a ray of sunshine when she came in this morning, she was.”

He smiled politely back. He didn’t need to feel any worse about how he’d spoken to her earlier, because no matter how much he tried to think otherwise, he did care that he’d been rude. It wasn’t his nature, and he realized now it might have been uncalled for. Did he doubt that she’d stick it out? Sure. But maybe he should have been more encouraging, rather than sending her scurrying back to wherever she’d come from before she’d even started.

“So what do you think?”

Harrison looked up and squinted at Mrs. Jones. He had no idea what she’d just asked him. “Sorry?”

“About whether she has a husband? Suzie Croft met her and was certain she had a mark on her finger where a ring had been, but I told her it was none of our business why she’d come here without a husband.” The older woman tut-tutted. “We advertised for someone looking for a fresh start, and that’s what we can give her. Isn’t that right?”

Harrison raised an eyebrow. Mrs. Jones liked to gossip better than all the rest of them combined. “I’d say we’ll just have to wait to find out more about Ms. Carter, once she’s good and ready to tell us her business.”

Who cared if she was married or not? Or whether she had a husband. All he cared about was that she was kind to his children, taught them well and stuck around to keep the school from closure. Tick all three off the list and he wouldn’t care if she was married to a darn monkey.

“Thanks,” he called over his shoulder as he carried the groceries out the door. “See you later in the week.”

The little bell above tinkled when he pushed the door open. He waited for his kids to catch up and race past him.

An hour at the school, then back home—that was the plan. And he was darned if he wasn’t going to stick to it.

* * *

Poppy was starting to think she’d taken on more than she could cope with. The room was looking like a complete bomb site, and she didn’t know where to start. It wasn’t as if she could just pop down to a paint store and buy some bright colors to splash on the walls. Here it was do it yourself or don’t do it at all.

She sighed and gathered her hair up into a high ponytail, sick of pushing it off her face each time she bent down.

Right now she had a heap of bright orange stars she’d cut out from a stack of paper, ready to stick together and pin across one wall. Then she planned on decorating one rumpty old wall with huge hearts and stars made with her silver sprinkles, before drawing the outline of a large tree for the older children to color in for her. She had stickers of animals and birds that could be placed on the branches, but for everything else she was going to have to rely on her own artistic skills. And her own money.

She didn’t have as much of that as she was used to, but at least being here meant she didn’t have anywhere to spend it. Groceries from the local store, her measly one-dollar rent and enough to keep the house running—it was all she needed, and she was going to make it work.

“Hello?”

Poppy jumped. Either she was starting to hear things or she wasn’t alone. Again. But surely it wasn’t...

Harrison Black. Only this time he brought his children with him into the room.

“Hey,” she said, standing up and stretching her back. “What are you guys doing here?”

Harrison held up two bags, a smile kicking up the corners of his mouth. “We come bearing gifts,” he said.

She grinned at the children as they stood close to their dad, both smiling at her. So this was his way of apologizing—coming back with something to bribe her with.

“You’re not here to help me, are you?” she asked them, crouching down, knowing they’d approach her if she was at their level.

It worked. Both children came closer, shuffling in her direction.

“Now, let me try to remember,” she said, looking from one child to the other. “You’re Alex—” she pointed to the girl “—and you’re Katie, right?”

They both burst out laughing, shaking their heads.

“No!” Katie giggled. “I’m Katie and he’s Alex.”

Poppy laughed along with them before glancing up at their dad. “I’m glad that’s sorted then. Imagine if I’d got that wrong tomorrow?”

The children started to inspect her bits and pieces, so she moved closer to Harrison. She wasn’t one to hold grudges, and with two happy children in the room, it wasn’t exactly easy not to smile in his direction. Even if he had been beyond rude less than a few hours earlier.

“So what’s in the bag?” she asked him.

“A peace offering,” he replied, one hand braced against the door as he watched her.

Poppy just raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.

“Dinner for us all.”

Her eyebrows rose even farther at that. “Your idea or theirs?” she asked, hooking a finger in the kids’ direction.

Harrison sighed, and it made her smile. She guessed he wasn’t used to apologies or to being questioned. “Theirs, but it was a good one, if that makes it sound any better.”

Poppy was done with grilling him. “I’m just kidding. It’s the thought that counts, and I’m starving.”

He held up the paper bags and cringed. “I just had a really bad thought—that you might be vegetarian.”

She shook her head. “I’d like to be, but I’m not.” Poppy took the bags from him and placed them on an upturned desk. “I love that they still use paper bags here.”

“Plastic is the devil, according to Mrs. Jones, so don’t even get her started on that topic.” Harrison stood back, letting Poppy inspect the contents. “Although she has an opinion about most things, so that kind of applies for any questions you throw her way.”

Poppy laughed and pulled out the cake. “Now, this is what I call a peace offering!”

A hand on her leg made her turn.

“The cake was my idea.” Katie pointed at it. “Daddy said no, but...”

“Uh-hmm.” Harrison cleared his throat, placing a hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “How about you help Ms. Carter and I’ll head out and fire up the barbecue?”

Poppy grinned and let Katie take her hand and lead her back to the pile of things she’d been working on.

Harrison Black might be gruff and forthright, but his daughter had him all figured out.

Poppy looked over her shoulder as he walked out the door, bag under one arm as he strode off to cook dinner. His shoulders were broad, once again nearly filling the doorway as he passed through. And she was certain that he’d be wondering why the hell he’d let his daughter talk him into coming back to help her.

* * *

Harrison was starting to realize he hadn’t planned this at all. They had no napkins, no plates and an old pair of tongs was his only usable utensil. His one saving grace was that the ketchup was in a squeeze bottle.

He looked up to see his children running toward him. It was still light, but that was fading, the day finally cooling off. He usually loved this time, when he came in for the day and settled down with his kids. And he was thinking that tonight they should have just stuck to their routine.

Poppy appeared then, walking behind his children.

“They couldn’t wait,” she called out. “Their stomachs were rumbling like they’d never been fed!”

He grinned, then tried to stop himself. What was it about this woman? She had him smiling away as if he was the happiest guy in the world, her grin so infectious he couldn’t seem not to return it.

“Dad, is it ready yet?” Alex was looking up at him as if he were beyond starving.

“We have a few technical issues, but so long as you’re okay with no plates and wiping your fingers on the grass—” he nodded toward the overgrown lawn “—then we’ll be fine.”

Poppy came closer and took out the loaf of bread, passing a piece to each child. “Sounds fine to me,” she said. “Sauce first or on the sausage?”

“Both,” Katie replied.

“Well, okay then. Sauce overload it is.”

Harrison tried not to look at her, but it was impossible. Even his children were acting as if they’d known her their entire lives.

He knew he should be happy. A teacher who could make his children light up like that should be commended. But there was something about her that worried him.

Because there was no going back from this. If she left, then...it wasn’t even worth thinking about.

All he could do was get to know her and make sure he did everything within his power to convince her to stay.

He cleared his throat and passed her the first sausage, which she covered with lashings of ketchup.

If only he could stop staring at the way her mouth had a permanent uptilt, the way her eyes lit up every time she spoke or listened to his children or the way her ponytail fell over her shoulder and brushed so close to her breasts that he was struggling to avert his eyes. Because none of those things were going to help him.

Just because he hadn’t been around a beautiful woman for longer than he could remember didn’t give him any excuse to look at her that way. Besides, he was sworn off women...for life.

“So what do I need to know about Bellaroo?”

Harrison blinked and looked at Poppy, her head tipped slightly to the side as she looked up at him.

“What do you want to know?”

* * *

Poppy wrapped Alex’s sausage in bread before doing her own and joining them on the grass. It was parched and yellowed and in definite need of some TLC, but she didn’t mind sitting on it. Besides, it was either that or the concrete, so she didn’t really have a choice.

“So what’s happened to this place? I mean, is it just that too many families moved away from here, or is there something else going on that I don’t know about?” she asked Harrison.

He was chewing, and she watched the way his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, the strong, chiseled angle of his jaw as he swallowed.

She needed to stop staring. For a girl who’d moved here to get away from men, she sure wasn’t behaving like it.

“Are you asking me if the town is haunted? Or if some gruesome crime happened here and made all the residents flee?”

Harrison’s tone was serious, but there was a playful glint to his eyes that made her glare at him mockingly.

“Well, I can tell you right now that I searched the place online for hours but couldn’t come up with anything juicy,” she teased in return. “So if it’s been hidden that well, I guess I can’t expect you to spill your guts straight off the bat.”

Now it was Harrison laughing, and she couldn’t help but smile back at him. His face changed when he was happy—became less brooding and more open. He was handsome, she couldn’t deny, but when he grinned he was...pretty darn gorgeous. Even if she did hate to admit that about a man right now.

“Honest truth?”

Poppy nodded, following his gaze and watching his children as they whispered to each other, leaning over and looking at something in the long grass.

Harrison drew his knees up higher and fixed his gaze in the distance. “It’s hard to bring fresh blood into rural towns these days, and most of the young people that leave here don’t come back. Same with all small towns.” He glanced at her, plucking at a blade of grass. “I’ve stayed because I don’t want to walk away from the land that’s been in my family for generations. It means something to know the history of a place, to walk the same path as your father and your grandfather before him. This town means a lot to me, and it means a lot to every other family living here, too.”

Poppy nodded. “Everyone I’ve met so far seems so passionate about Bellaroo,” she told him earnestly. “And I really do believe that if you fight hard enough, then this town will still be here by the time you’re a grandfather.”

He shrugged. “I wish I was as positive as you are, but honestly?” Harrison sighed. “I never should have spoken to you the way I did earlier, because if you don’t stick around, then there’s no chance we’ll be able to keep our school open. And that’ll mean the end of our town, period.” He blew out a big breath. “Being sole-charge teacher to a bunch of five-to eleven-year-olds isn’t for the fainthearted, but if you do stay? There won’t be a person in Bellaroo who won’t love you.”

Now it was Poppy sighing. Because she didn’t need all this pressure, the feeling that everything was weighing on her shoulders.

Before she’d moved here, she’d taken responsibility for everything, had tried to fix things that were beyond being repaired. And now here she was all over again, in a make-or-break situation, when all she wanted to do was settle in to a gentler pace of life and try to figure out what her own future held.

“Sorry, I’ve probably said way too much.”

Poppy smiled at Harrison’s apology. “It’s okay. I appreciate you being honest with me.”

The kids ran over and interrupted. “Can we go back and finish the room?”

“Of course.” Poppy stood up and offered Harrison a hand, clasping his palm within her fingers. She hardly had to take any of his weight, because he was more than capable of pushing up to his feet without assistance. But the touch of his skin against hers, the brightness of his gaze when he locked eyes with her, made her feel weak, started shivers shaking down her spine.

“How about I join you in the classroom after I’ve tidied up here?”

Poppy retrieved her hand and looked away, not liking how he was watching her or how she was feeling. “Sure thing. Come on, kids.”

She placed a hand on Alex’s shoulder and walked with them the short distance to her new classroom.

Their dad was gruff and charming at the same time, and it wasn’t something she wanted to be thinking about. Not at all.

She was here to teach and to find herself. To forget her past as best she could and create a new life for herself. Alone.

Which meant not thinking about the handsome rancher about to join her in her classroom.

* * *

“Wow.”

Poppy looked down, paper stars between her teeth as she stood on a chair and stuck the last of them to the wall. There was already a row strung from the ceiling, but she was determined to cover some old stains on the wall to complete the effect she was trying to create.

“Your children are like little worker bees,” she mumbled, trying to talk without losing one of the stars.

“Little worker bees who’ve started to fade,” he replied.

Poppy glanced back in his direction and saw that he’d scooped Alex up into his arms. The young boy wasn’t even pretending he was too big to be cuddled, and had his head happily pressed to his father’s chest as he watched her.

“It’s getting pretty late. Why don’t you head home? I’ll be fine here.” She wobbled on the chair, but righted herself before it tipped.

“How about we give you a lift home?”

Poppy shook her head. “It’s only a short walk. I’ll be fine, honestly.”

Harrison didn’t look convinced. “What else do you need to do here?”

Hmm. “I want the kids to walk in tomorrow and not be able to stop smiling,” she told him. “So I need to put the glue glitter over the hearts in the middle, and the same with the border over there—” she pointed “—because that’s where I’m going to write all their names in the morning when they arrive, in their favorite colors.”

She heard Harrison sigh. Which made it even crazier when, from the corner of her eye, she saw him put his son down on his feet and pick up a gold glitter pen.

“Is this what you use for the fancy border thing?” he asked.

Poppy took the remaining paper stars from between her teeth and bit down on her lower lip to stop herself from smiling. She nodded, watching as Harrison walked to the wall and started to help.

“Like this? Kind of big, so it’s obvious?”

“Yep, just like that,” she said, still trying to suppress laughter.

From what she’d seen of him so far, she had a feeling he’d just storm out and leave her if she made fun of him for using the glitter, and she didn’t mind the help. Not at all. Even if a masculine rancher wouldn’t have been her first choice in the artistic department.

She stepped down and pushed her chair back behind her desk before finding the silver glitter and covering some shapes at the other end of the wall from Harrison.

“Daddy, we didn’t eat the cake,” called out a sleepy-sounding Katie.

Poppy had forgotten all about the cake. She moved back to look at the wall, pleased with the progress they’d made. The children could help her decorate it more in the morning, but for now it looked good.

“How about we finish up and reward ourselves with a piece? What do you say?” she asked.

Harrison passed her the pen as his kids nodded. “Only problem is we don’t have a knife.”

She gave him a wink. “But I have a pocketknife. That’ll do, right?”

He stared at her, long and hard. “Yeah, that’ll do.”

Poppy pulled it out and passed it to him, careful not to let their skin connect this time. “Well, let’s each have a big piece, huh? I think we all deserve it.”

And hopefully, it would distract her, too. Because she might be done with men, but she sure wasn’t done with chocolate.

CHAPTER THREE

“THANKS FOR THE ride.” Poppy swung her door shut and waved to the children in the back. She didn’t expect to hear another one open and close.

“I’ll walk you to the door.”

What? She hadn’t ever had a man walk her to the door just to be chivalrous.

“Thanks, but I’m fine. It’s not like we’re in the city and I’m at risk of being mugged,” she joked.

The look on his face was anything but joking. “I’m not going to drive you home and not walk you to the door. It wasn’t how I was raised, and if I want my daughter to grow up expecting manners, and my son to have them, then I want to make sure I set a damn good example.”

“Well, when you put it like that...” She smiled at Harrison, shaking her head as she did so.

“I know I’m old-fashioned, but then so is this place. You’ll realize that pretty soon, Ms. Carter.”

“There’s nothing wrong with old-fashioned,” she said. And there wasn’t; she just wasn’t used to it. “Except, of course, when it comes to plumbing.”

His eyebrows pulled together as he frowned. “You having problems with this place?”

She waved her hand toward the door as they reached it. “The shower produces just a pathetic drizzle of water, and the hot doesn’t last for long. But for the price I’m paying I wasn’t exactly expecting a palace.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” he told her.

“Honestly, I shouldn’t have said anything. Everything’s fine.”

Harrison stood a few steps away, cowboy hat firmly planted on his head, feet spread apart and a stern look on his face. “I’ll take a look myself, check it out. Maybe later in the week.”

“If you’re certain?” She didn’t want him going out of his way, but if he could work his magic on the shower she’d be more than grateful.

“I’m certain,” he replied. “You take good care of my kids at school and I’ll make sure your house doesn’t fall down around you. Deal?”

“Deal.” This guy was really something. “You better get those children home. Thanks for all your help tonight. I’m glad you came back.”

“So we could start off on the right foot second time around?” he asked, one side of his mouth tilting into a smile.

“Yeah, something like that. And thanks for the lift.”

Harrison tipped his hat and walked backward, waiting until she’d gone inside before he turned away. Poppy leaned on the doorjamb and watched him get into the car and drive slowly off, trying hard not to think about how nice he was.

Considering she’d wanted to make a voodoo doll of him and stab it after his comments earlier in the afternoon, she’d actually enjoyed his company. Or maybe it was just that his children were really sweet.

She shut and locked the door.

Who was she kidding? The guy was handsome and charming, or at least he had been this evening, and she was terrified of how quickly she’d gone from hating the entire male population to thinking how sexy the rancher dad was.

And she couldn’t help but wonder why the children had never mentioned their mom and why he’d never spoken about the wife that was surely waiting at home for them.

Poppy walked down the hall and opened the fridge, reaching in for the milk and pouring some into a pot to heat. There was no microwave, so it was old-fashioned hot chocolate.

A scratching made her stop. Another noise made a shiver lick her spine.

Poppy reached for another pot and crept slowly toward the back door. She was sure she’d locked it, but... She jumped. Another scratching sound.

She slowly pulled the blind back and looked outside, flicking the light on with her other hand. If someone was out there, who was she going to call for help?

Meow.

It was a cat. Poppy put the pot down and unlocked the door, standing back and peering out into the pool of light in the backyard.

“Are you hungry?” she asked, knowing it was stupid to ask the cat a question but not caring.

She left the door open and walked back for the milk, taking a saucer and tipping some in. Poppy placed the dish inside the back door and waited. It didn’t take long for the black cat to sniff the air and decide it was worth coming in, placing one white paw on the timber floor, looking around and then walking to the saucer.

Poppy shut the door and relocked it. The cat was skinny, and she wasn’t going to turn him out if he had nowhere to go.

“Want to sleep on my bed?”

The cat looked up at her as he lapped the milk and she went back to stirring her own, adding some chocolate to melt in the pot with it.

“I think we’ll get on just fine, you and I,” she said. “Unless you go shack up with someone better looking or younger than me down the road. Then I’ll know my life’s actually over. Okay?”

The cat stayed silent.

Black cats were supposed to be bad luck. Heaven help her if there was any more of that coming her way. Because she’d had enough bad luck lately to last her a lifetime and then some.

“Come on, kitty,” she said, pouring her hot chocolate into a large mug. “Let’s go to bed.”

* * *

Harrison pulled onto the dirt road that led to Black Station and glanced in the rearview mirror. Katie and Alex were both asleep in the back, oblivious to everything going on around them, and he didn’t mind one bit. All he wanted was for them to be happy, because if they were happy, he was happy.

And they had had a pretty nice evening.

He pushed all thoughts of their new teacher from his mind, but struggled to keep her out of it. She’d been kind, sweet, polite—not to mention the fact that she was the prettiest woman he’d seen in years—but there was still something about her niggling away at him. Something that meant he didn’t believe she’d be able to stay. Or maybe it was just that he didn’t believe anyone could stick it out here unless they’d been born and bred in a rural town.

His wife sure hadn’t. And part of him believed that if a mother couldn’t even stay to care for her own children, then Poppy Carter wouldn’t stay for other people’s children. Maybe he’d expected someone older, someone less attractive. Not a woman in her late twenties with long, straight hair falling down her back and bright blue eyes that seemed to smile every time she looked at his children. Not a beautiful, modern woman who looked as if she should be lunching with friends or shopping in her spare time.

But then, maybe he was being unfair. Just because she liked to look pretty and wear nice clothes didn’t mean she wouldn’t be able to make a life here for herself. For all he knew she could have her own personal demons that had sent her scurrying away from her former life.

Harrison pulled up outside the house and went to open the door before going back to the truck to carry his children one at a time into their bedrooms. They might be five and seven years old now, but they were still his babies. He’d raised them himself and he was determined to fight to keep their school open. Because he wouldn’t ever let them feel as if they’d been abandoned, and that meant boarding school wasn’t an option he was willing to consider, not until they were ready for high school.

Their mom had walked out on them, and he didn’t ever want them to think he’d do the same. They were his children, his flesh and blood, and he would do anything in his power to protect them. No matter what.

But if he could fix up the teacher’s house and make life a little easier for her here in Bellaroo Creek, then he would do it. Because instead of pushing her away, he was going to do everything within his power to convince her to stay.

He’d like to think that his reasons were based purely on keeping his children happy. He had a feeling that part of him, some deep, dark part that was hidden away under lock and key, liked the look of Poppy. A lot. Even if he wouldn’t ever be ready to admit it.

Old Mrs. Jones had been right. Poppy arriving in their town was like a beaming ray of sunshine descending upon the place, and they were long overdue for someone like her to be their lucky charm. It wasn’t just his children at stake here, it was the future of their entire town.

Poppy Carter was going to keep Bellaroo Creek alive, or she was going to be the final straw that closed the area for good. He just had to believe that she was going to be their falling star—the once-in-a-lifetime teacher that they had only ever dreamed of.

Harrison shook his head and flicked the television on, falling onto the sofa. Maybe he’d been reading too many fairy tales to Katie. Because he was actually starting to believe that maybe Poppy was that person, after all.

* * *

Poppy’s stomach had a permanent flutter in it. She’d barely been able to eat any breakfast, she was so nervous, and now she was sitting in her chair, thrumming her fingers across the timber surface of her desk.

She sat and stared at the wall they’d decorated the night before, smiling as she thought of big, gruff Harrison using her fairy glitter so they could finish up and head home. She’d met lots of great dads in her time as a teacher, but even she hadn’t expected him to volunteer with glitter.

The slam of a car door made her snap to attention. It was happening. Her first day as sole teacher of Bellaroo Creek School had officially begun.

Poppy stood and crossed the room, pinning the door back to welcome the first of her pupils. A smiling mom was headed her way, three children running ahead of her, straight toward Poppy.

“Slow down!”

She grinned as their mom yelled at them. They skidded to a halt in front of her just before they reached the door.

“Hi, kids. I’m Ms. Carter, your new teacher.”

The three boys looked up at her, not saying a word, but she could tell straight away from their cheeky expressions that they were going to be a handful.

“Hi.”

Poppy held out her hand. “You must be pleased school’s starting,” she said, touching the mother’s shoulder before stepping back. “I know how exhausting three boys can be.”

“I just hope they don’t send you running for the hills. Twenty kids each day would drive me crazy.”

Poppy shook her head. “I do this because I love it, so don’t worry about a few rowdy children scaring me away.” She looked across the yard and saw a familiar truck pulling in close to the curb. “Besides, I’m told the lovely Mrs. Leigh volunteers one day a week as teacher aide.” Poppy waved a hand. “Here are the Black children, nice and early.”

The other woman followed her gaze. “You’ve met the Black family already?”

Poppy couldn’t look away if she tried. She could see Harrison turn in the driver’s seat, talking to his children, before he pushed open his door and went around to help them out.

“I haven’t met Mrs. Black yet, but the children seem lovely.” She couldn’t drag her gaze from Harrison as he strode toward them, schoolbags slung over his shoulder, eyes locked on hers. Katie skipped along ahead of him, little Alex at his side.

“Honey, there is no Mrs. Black,” the other woman teased. “Harrison is dad of the year in Bellaroo. His wife left him with the kids when Alex was a baby, so he’s kind of a legend around here. We call him Mr. Sexy and Single.”

Poppy gulped. He was single?

She looked away and concentrated her energies on the mom she was talking to. “I never caught your name?”

“Pat. And my boys are Scott, John and Sam.” She smiled and took a few steps backward. “It was great meeting you. I’ll see you this afternoon at pickup.”

Poppy waved goodbye and turned to face the next parent...who just happened to be Harrison. Katie gave her a wave and ran straight through the door, but Alex stayed close to his dad.

“Morning,” Poppy said brightly. “How are you, Alex?”

He looked a little shy, but managed a smile.

“He had only one term in school last year, so it’s all a bit daunting.”

Poppy knelt down, pleased to be closer to his son than the man towering over them. “Sweetheart,” she said, tucking her fingers gently under his chin to tilt it up. “I’ll look after you all day, so you don’t need to worry. You can even come and sit with me if you’re scared, okay?”

He nodded.

“Why don’t you run in and play with the other kids?” Poppy asked him.

Alex threw his arms around his dad’s leg before doing as she’d suggested.

“Thanks,” Harrison said, his voice gruff.

“No problem. It’s what I do.”

They stood awkwardly, and she couldn’t stop thinking about the fact that he’d raised both his children on his own. It wasn’t often she heard of a dad being in that position. No wonder he’d been in no rush to get home last night—it wasn’t as if he’d had a wife waiting for him.

Another vehicle pulled up and a few kids climbed out.

“I’d better get in there,” Poppy said, nodding toward the classroom.

Harrison touched a few fingers to the rim of his hat.

“And thanks again for last night. I really appreciated your help,” she added.

He walked a couple of steps away before turning around and looking straight into her eyes. “I’ll fix up that plumbing for you after school when I come to collect the kids.”

Poppy swallowed. Hard. Maybe it was because she knew he was available, that he wasn’t some other woman’s husband.

Because if he were, she’d never let herself think about him the way she was right now...not ever. She knew how it felt to be the other woman, so even thinking about married men inappropriately was forbidden as far as she was concerned.

But now... Harrison was as handsome as any man she’d ever laid eyes upon, and the way his jeans clung to his butt when he walked away, the cowboy hat on his head, his checked shirtsleeves rolled up to show off tanned arms...it was making her think all kinds of sin.

“You must be Ms. Carter!”

Poppy blinked and tried to forget all about the man walking toward his truck. She was a teacher, and she had more parents to meet.

She’d be seeing Harrison again after school, and he’d be in her home. In her bathroom.

So no more thinking about him until then.

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