Eight dogs, eight cats...and one ornery cowboy!

Megan Jennings just found the ideal temporary home for sixteen suddenly displaced pets. Too bad the farm’s owner isn’t giving the two-legged, former New York attorney the same warm welcome. A city girl broke Cade Battle’s heart and no way the gun-shy cowboy’s trusting in the feelings Megan awakens. But after being orphaned as a teenager, Megan knows she’s finally found her forever family. Can she make Cade believe it, too?

KATHY DOUGLASS came by her love of reading naturally—both of her parents were readers. She would finish one book and pick up another. Then she attended law school and traded romances for legal opinions.

After the birth of her two children, her love of reading turned into a love of writing. Kathy now spends her days writing the small-town contemporary novels she enjoys reading.

Also By Kathy Douglass

Sweet Briar Sweethearts

How to Steal the Lawman’s HeartThe Waitress’s SecretThe Rancher and the City GirlWinning Charlotte BackThe Rancher’s Return

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

The City Girl’s Homecoming

Kathy Douglass

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09109-1

THE CITY GIRL’S HOMECOMING

© 2019 Harlequin Books S.A.

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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“My hero.”

She put her hands around his waist and hugged him tight, then reached up and kissed his cheek. She’d intended to keep things light, but when her lips touched his warm skin, electricity shot through her body, stunning her with its intensity. It was like grabbing a live wire. She sucked in a breath and got a whiff of his heady scent mingled with a hint of aftershave. He smelled so good. Their eyes met and held and sexual attraction arced between them.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her more closely to him. She leaned her head against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath his cotton shirt. It felt so good to be in his embrace. She couldn’t imagine anything would ever feel better. They stood that way for a long moment before Cade eased back and set her away from him. Megan wasn’t sure what had gone wrong. Could she have imagined the heat in his eyes or the way his breath had hitched when she’d kissed him?

* * *

FUREVER YOURS:

Finding forever homes—and hearts!—

has never been so easy

Dear Reader,

The past can be a powerful force. If we aren’t careful, things best left behind us will keep us from enjoying the present or from seeing the possibilities the future holds. Cade Battle, the hero in The City Girl’s Homecoming, is a prisoner of his past. He’s letting the hurt of a broken relationship blind him, leaving him unable to see what is right in front of his face—Megan Jennings, a woman with a heart of gold. Instead of opening his heart to the happiness that a relationship with Megan can bring, he holds on to the past with both hands.

Megan has loved and lost, leaving her a bit wary of giving her heart again. She’s moved to Spring Forest in an attempt to make a break from the past. When she’s asked to find homes for an elderly neighbor’s sixteen cats and dogs, Megan can’t say no. Cade’s father volunteers to foster the animals on his family’s farm until they can find their forever homes, so Megan and Cade are thrown together. Caring for the animals, they grow close. If they’re willing to leave the past behind them and take a chance, they just might find the love they’ve longed for.

I love hearing from my readers, so feel free to visit my website, kathydouglassbooks.com, and drop me a line. While you’re there, sign up for my newsletter. If you follow me on BookBub, you’ll be informed whenever I have a new book coming out.

I hope you enjoy Megan and Cade’s story.

Happy reading!

Kathy

To Melissa, Teri, Stacy, Karen and Christy. It was a pleasure!

As always, much love to my three personal heroes, my husband and two sons.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Dedication

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

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter One

Megan Jennings parked her midnight-blue Mercedes sedan on the edge of the driveway of the Whitaker sisters’ house and stared in amazement. Could she actually be seeing what she thought she was seeing? Leaning forward, she peered through the windshield. She blinked several times but the image remained. No, she wasn’t hallucinating. A man really was wrestling with the biggest pig she’d ever seen in her life. Judging by the sweat glistening on the man’s muscular chest, the battle had been going on for some time. From the squealing and fighting the pig was doing, the match wasn’t going to end any time soon.

The pig shoved the man against the side of the truck. The man grunted and temporarily lost his hold on the pig. Seeing an opportunity, the animal made a break for it. Cursing, the man threw himself on the pig, and the two rolled around on the grass.

Growing up in New York City, Megan had seen many strange sights in her twenty-eight years. In a few minutes spent walking around Times Square she could see everything from a naked cowboy to people dressed as cartoon characters. Over time, the sights had become humdrum and hadn’t caused her to even take a second look. But this? This was something beyond even her imagination.

She’d moved to Spring Forest, North Carolina, from Manhattan a couple of months ago. She liked the small town and was adjusting to the slower pace and different lifestyle. And yet, in all that time, she’d never seen anything remotely like this. Or a man built quite so well. And after having lived in a city filled with models and actors whose livelihood was at least in part based upon their good looks, that was saying something.

Intrigued, she turned off the car and crept closer to the action. She didn’t know much about pigs or the men who wrestled them, so she stepped cautiously, ready to return to the safety of her car if necessary. Her four-inch heels made walking on the gravel driveway a bit of an adventure, but she wouldn’t have dreamed of wearing flats. Even though she now lived in a small town, she still retained some of her big-city habits. She still wore the suits she’d worn while working at a major New York law firm. The professional garments gave her the confidence that had been stripped from her after her family’s unexpected deaths and the years spent in foster care.

Close up, the pig wrestler was something to behold. Tall, with muscles that clearly came from years of hard work, and a face that could only be described as sexy, he could make a fortune as a model if he ever wanted a career change. Looking at what he was doing now—the enormous pig froze, then threw its entire body at the man—any job would be a step up. Of course, that was all contingent upon his surviving the encounter with the gigantic animal, something that was not assured at the moment.

The man’s lips were moving, but he was speaking too quietly for her to hear what he was saying. Curiosity got the better of her and Megan came as close as she dared.

“Keep it up and you’ll be roasting on a spit,” the man threatened under his breath. His voice was deep, and despite the words he was muttering, quite sexy. The pig shoved against the man in response, drawing another grunt. “The sisters like me, so they’ll totally believe me when I say you escaped. Meanwhile you’ll be Sunday dinner and leftovers for the week.”

The pig didn’t seem to appreciate the comment and in response bucked and jerked, making the man hold on for dear life. It looked like he was riding the pig like a wild horse. Megan wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d tossed his cowboy hat—which had somehow managed to stay on his head during the entire encounter—into the air and yelled yee-haw! Unable to contain herself, Megan giggled at the absurdity of it all.

Startled by the sound, the man looked up at her and temporarily lost his grip on the pig, who broke free and turned toward the man. The man jumped in front of a ramp leading to the back of the pickup truck. Megan’s breath caught in her throat as the angered animal lowered its head and charged. A strangled cry broke through her lips as the pig drew within inches of the man’s bare torso. At the last second the man stepped gracefully out of the way and the pig ran up the ramp and into the back of the truck. In the blink of an eye, the man removed the ramp and then slammed the tailgate shut.

Whew. Megan realized she’d begun to perspire and drew a couple of fingers across her damp brow, removing the moisture before the man could notice. Relief that the pig-wrestler was all right mingled with amusement at the spectacle, and she began to laugh. “Oh, my goodness. I have never in my life seen anything like that.”

The pig-wrangling man glanced over his shoulder at her, a fierce glare twisting his handsome face. At his look, the laughter died in her throat and her smile melted away. Clearly he didn’t find her delight amusing.

She started to apologize, then gave herself a mental shake, stopping just in time. She wasn’t going to let the man make her feel guilty for finding humor in the situation. She’d let several foster families squash her natural joy, making her feel bad about showing any expression of happiness. It was as if they’d wanted her to be as miserable as possible. Some had gone out of their way to make her so.

Well, she was in control of her life now and she wasn’t going to let anyone determine what she should feel or how she should react.

The man grabbed a plaid shirt from the bumper of the truck and used it to wipe his sweaty face and torso before shoving his arms into the sleeves. He buttoned the bottom four buttons and jerked on the fabric as if trying to remove the wrinkles. He wiped at a huge grass stain a couple of times before dropping his hand, apparently deciding there was no sense fighting a losing battle.

When it became obvious that the man wasn’t going to introduce himself, she took a step in his direction, hand extended. Before she could reach him, the back door of the house opened and Bunny Whitaker, one of the women she’d come to see, came down the stairs. “Yoo-hoo. Did you get Little Piggy into the truck, Cade?”

Little Piggy? Megan shook her head at the name. That pig was anything but little.

“Yes, ma’am.”

If only Bunny knew that her friend had threatened to take that Little Piggy to market, she wouldn’t be smiling at him right now.

“He didn’t give you any trouble, did he?”

“No, ma’am. Not even a little bit.”

Megan felt her eyes widen at his falsehood. If that fight hadn’t been trouble, she didn’t know what was.

“That’s because he’s such a good boy, aren’t you, Little Piggy?” Bunny leaned into the back of the truck and rubbed the pig, who snorted.

Bunny straightened. “I really appreciate you taking him in for us. We hate to part with him, but Birdie and I don’t have the room to keep him. I know you’ll give him a good home.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Bunny looked up. When she noticed Megan, she smiled. “Hello. Is it time for our meeting already?”

“I’m a little bit early,” Megan said, closing the distance between them. “I’m still trying to get used to small-town traffic. When I leave my office I still factor in time for traffic jams that have yet to materialize.”

“We don’t have many of those. Not unless geese are crossing the road or somebody’s cows get out. And don’t worry if you’re a little bit late. People around here aren’t ruled by the clock. When you tend animals, you understand that things beyond your control can happen.” She dusted her hands on her denim skirt. “Have the two of you met?”

“No.” Megan said.

Bunny smiled and waved for Cade to come closer. He dragged his feet as he walked over, clearly reluctant to join them. Since he’d smiled at Bunny, Megan decided she was the reason for his reticence.

Once he was near, Bunny put her arm around Megan’s waist. “This is Megan Jennings. She’s new to town. Pretty as she is on the outside, she’s even prettier on the inside. She’s the new lawyer that Daniel Sutton hired to help him.”

Megan felt her face and the tips of her ears grow hot, but she managed a smile that she hoped hid her embarrassment. She hadn’t known Bunny long, but she knew the sweet older woman wouldn’t deliberately hurt or embarrass anyone. Still, looking at the expression on the man’s face, it was clear he didn’t find Megan’s looks or anything else about her appealing.

“And this is Cade Battle,” Bunny continued. “He’s a great friend of mine and Birdie’s. He’s part owner of Battle Lands Farm and one of the best people I know. If you ever need help with anything, Cade is the man you should call. He’s completely trustworthy.”

Megan noticed that Cade seemed embarrassed at Bunny’s effusive praise and color crept beneath his light brown skin. Knowing she wasn’t the only one who was ill at ease made Megan feel slightly better. She held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Cade.”

He wiped his hand on his shirt, then shook hers. His grip was firm, but not the too-tight handshake men often gave when trying to intimidate her. Of course, those men had been opposing counsel, who—if they were any good—would have known squeezing her fingers didn’t scare her. It pissed her off.

Cade’s palm was covered with calluses, no doubt a by-product of the hard work he did on a daily basis. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Jennings.”

His voice was even sexier when he wasn’t out of breath, and it sent shivers dancing down her spine. What was that about? She smiled. “It’s Megan.”

“Megan,” he repeated, although he didn’t return her smile.

“Well, good. Now you’ve each made a friend.” Bunny beamed with satisfaction and turned her attention to Cade. “I came out here to let you know lunch is on the table. And Megan, you’re more than welcome to join us. We have plenty.”

Cade shook his head and backed up. “I won’t be able to stay after all, Bunny.”

“No? Why not?”

The deliberate way he didn’t look in her direction gave Megan a sneaking suspicion. She wasn’t the paranoid type, nor was she so conceited that she thought she was the driving force behind everyone’s actions, but in this moment, based on his behavior, she believed she was the reason Cade didn’t want to stay.

“I need to get going. There’s a lot of work waiting for me. And getting Little Piggy settled may take longer than I had anticipated.”

“Okay,” Bunny looked crestfallen for a moment, but then she rallied. “At least let me give you a couple slices of cake.”

“You don’t have to do that,” he said, but Bunny had already made her way up the stairs and into the house.

Neither Cade nor Megan spoke for a moment. She’d seen Cade around town a couple of times, but they’d never actually interacted with each other. Every time she’d gotten near him, he’d frowned at her like he was doing now. She’d heard that everyone had a twin somewhere in the world, so she’d comforted herself with the thought that he’d mistaken her for someone else. Someone who’d done him wrong. But now that Bunny had introduced them, it had to be clear to him that they’d never met. Yet he was still being incredibly unfriendly to her. He had to be the grumpiest man in town.

The silence stretched out, and neither of them made a move to break it. They were engaged in a strange battle of wills that Megan was determined to win. She didn’t know why it mattered, but it was important that she let him know that she wasn’t going to fall at his feet. Even as gorgeous as he was, she wasn’t inclined to tolerate his unpleasant attitude.

“Here you go,” Bunny said, coming back down the stairs. She handed him a paper bag and winked at him. “I added a couple of pieces of chicken just in case you get hungry on the way home.”

“Thanks,” he said. He smiled at the older woman. “I appreciate it.”

Bunny stood on her tiptoes to give Cade a kiss on his cheek. He was so tall that he needed to lean over so she could reach him. Cade glanced at Megan, tipped his hat, then without a word got into his beat-up truck and drove away.

“Well now,” Bunny said, taking Megan’s arm. “I hope you’re hungry. We have a feast.”

Megan smiled, determinedly putting Cade Battle out of her mind. “I’m starved.”

“Good,” Bunny said as they climbed the stairs.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Megan asked as they stepped into the kitchen. The aromas of fried chicken, fresh rolls, corn on the cob and pound cake greeted her as she stepped inside. The delicious smells reminded her of home. Or at least the home she’d had the first fourteen years of her life.

“No. I have it all under control,” Birdie said stepping into the kitchen and going immediately to the stove. “Just have a seat and make yourself at home.”

Megan pulled out a chair and sat down at the old oak table. Though the farmhouse was a hundred years old, the kitchen had clearly been renovated recently.

Megan first met the sisters a month ago when she’d been assigned their case by her boss, Daniel Sutton. Birdie and Bunny had grown up in this house and had lived here all of their lives. Neither sister had ever married. They were different as night and day, but fit together like puzzle pieces. If there was an area where one was weak, the other was strong enough to compensate for it. Bernadette, who was called Birdie by everyone, was tall and thin and in great shape. She was a no-nonsense type who didn’t tolerate fools, but underneath the gruff exterior, she was as generous and kind as could be. Gwendolyn, or Bunny, as she was affectionately called, was short and plump, with a heart of gold. She was a bit of a dreamer and a little too gullible and naive for Megan’s comfort—thank goodness she had Birdie around to protect her—but she was always positive and encouraging. Megan liked them both very much.

“Cade still outside?” Birdie asked.

“No. He left. He had something to get back to,” Bunny said.

Birdie only grunted. Megan hadn’t known Birdie long enough to know what that sound meant, but apparently Bunny did.

“Exactly,” Bunny replied. “I wrapped up some chicken and cake for him for the road.”

Working in tandem, the sisters filled three plates to overflowing. Once they joined her at the table, Megan spoke. “I have some information for you.”

“Not at lunch, dear. We never discuss business at meals. It’s not good for digestion,” Birdie said. “There’s plenty of time for that later.”

During her years of practice, Megan had had many business lunches and dinners. And she’d always discussed business between bites. Most times business had been wrapped up before dessert. But then, that had been in New York, where everything moved at a much faster pace and no second could be wasted. Some days there had been barely enough time to breathe, much less eat a leisurely meal. But she was in Spring Forest now, and clearly, they did things differently here.

Since discussing business was forbidden, Megan picked up her corn on the cob and took a bite. It was delicious. Before moving to North Carolina, she’d shopped at farmers markets twice a week. She’d been impressed by the fruits and vegetables she’d purchased there, which tasted so much better than anything she’d bought at the store. But as good as that produce had tasted, it didn’t compare to this. She’d never enjoyed such flavorful food before, and her taste buds smiled with pleasure.

“How are you adjusting to small-town life?” Birdie asked.

“It’s different from New York, but I enjoy it. I like the peace and quiet and the sense of community. I like the way everyone pulls together to help those in need.” Not that she hadn’t experienced a sense of support and community in New York. She’d had two good friends she could count on. And they would continue to be her friends whether she lived in the same building or in an entirely different state. But she’d needed a change. She’d had to get away from Tim, her former fiancé, and his family.

She and Tim had met on their first day of law school and quickly fallen in love. They’d gotten engaged after they’d both passed the bar. His parents and his sisters had welcomed her into their family. She’d spent holidays and vacations with them, and they’d always made a big deal of her birthday. She’d been so sure that after all those years of bouncing from place to place in foster care, she’d finally found a family again.

Then she and Tim had broken up. Since the breakup had been friendly, Megan had believed she would remain friends with his family. She’d been wrong. She’d made excuses for them when they stopped returning her calls. But when her birthday came and went without acknowledgement, she’d realized they’d well and truly cut her from their lives.

She’d decided that the best way to deal with the painful situation was to make a clean break. On impulse, she’d written the names of the forty-nine other states on slips of paper and placed them in a hat. She’d pulled out North Carolina and had begun her job search there. Last month she’d been hired by Daniel Sutton, turning his one-man law firm into a one-man-and-one-woman firm. Sutton Law Office was very different from the five-hundred-lawyer firm where she’d worked before. It was a change, but not an unpleasant one.

While they ate, Megan and the Whitaker sisters chatted about Furever Paws, the animal rescue the sisters had founded on their property. The shelter, which was run mostly by volunteers, provided a necessary service in the community. Lost or unwanted pets were housed until new families could be found for them. The shelter held adoption fairs providing opportunities for the humans and animals to meet.

Once they’d eaten their cake and finished their sweet tea, Megan was able to steer the conversation to the reason she was here—their finances. She pulled a file from her leather bag and then looked from one sister to the other. Life had taught her that there was no such thing as sugarcoating bad news. Since Birdie and Bunny were going to be hurt, there was no use in beating around the bush.

“Well, ladies, I’m afraid what I have to say isn’t good. Your brother Greg has been embezzling from you.”

Bunny gasped and clasped her hands together against her chest.

Birdie shook her head. “Are you sure? I can’t believe Gator would do that to us. Can you, Bunny?”

“No.” Bunny’s voice was barely over a whisper, but Megan heard the pain there.

Even though Megan had expected this response, her heart still ached for them. Bunny didn’t want to believe anything bad about anyone, and Birdie had a blind spot when it came to her baby brother. Nothing he did would ever be wrong in her eyes. Even now, faced with evidence of his crimes, she still referred to him by the family’s old, affectionate nickname.

Megan had the proof that he’d been stealing from them for years, but whether she could convince the sisters to do anything about it was anyone’s guess. Still, she had to try. Bunny and Birdie were more than her clients. They were her friends. They were friends of the community. They cared about everyone and everyone cared about them.

“I have proof,” she said, passing over copies of the documents to each of them. Neither sister touched the stacks of papers. They barely looked at them. “This is the information from the forensic accountant I hired. I have time to go through everything now and answer any questions you have.”

“I’m sure you do. We just aren’t ready to think about any of this right now,” Bunny said. “We need time to process what you’ve told us.”

“I understand that, but it’s important that we act sooner rather than later.”

“We know, but we have other things to deal with right now and can’t handle another.”

“Like what?” Megan knew the news must be hard for them to grapple with, but putting off thinking about it wouldn’t do them any favors—not when they were at risk of losing their home.

“Rebekah,” Bunny replied immediately, and Birdie nodded.

“What about her?” Rebekah was the director of the animal shelter and one of Megan’s new friends.

“There’s something going on with her,” Bunny replied. “She seems a little run-down and tired these days. I came upon her the other day and she looked positively ill.”

“I saw her a few days ago and she looked fine to me,” Megan said, hoping to end this discussion so she could get the sisters back on track.

“Do you think it could be stress from dealing with Grant?” Birdie asked as if Megan hadn’t said a word. “That nephew of ours is such a perfectionist. He might be putting pressure on her.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Bunny said. “We should talk to him and make sure he knows how much we like Rebekah and how pleased we are with her work.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” Megan said. “But what are we going to do about your money? If Greg continues to steal from you, you’ll be in big trouble. It’s possible that you could lose everything, including your home, the rest of your land and the animal rescue.”

At that bit of grim news, the sisters stopped talking about Rebekah and Grant and gave her their full attention. Birdie looked at her sister and then back at Megan. “Go on.”

“I’d like to set up a trust that would protect your property and money that your brother currently doesn’t control. Once we gain control of the rest, we’ll be able to protect that, as well. And if neither of you is interested or feels qualified to act as trustee, I’ll hire one for you.”

The sisters shared a long look. “That would be all right,” Birdie said finally.

“Great. I’ll take care of that right away. Now, the second thing we need to discuss is whether or not you want to bring criminal charges against Greg.”

“I don’t know. I can’t imagine putting my baby brother in jail,” Birdie said.

“Your baby brother is robbing you blind,” Megan pointed out. “If we hadn’t caught him in time, you could have ended up on the street.”

“Still...we need time to think about that.”

“Good enough.” At least she’d gotten them to take the first steps to protect themselves in the future. “Take your time and consider what I’ve told you. In the meantime, I’ll get busy setting up the trust. I’ll make sure that your brother doesn’t have the ability to make financial decisions for you any longer. Your assets will be protected, although I can’t promise we’ll be able to get any of your money back. No doubt it’s already gone.”

“Okay.” Birdie picked up the documents Megan had given to them and tried to hand them back.

“Those are your copies,” Megan said. “I have my own. Read them over at your leisure. If you have any questions, I’m always available to answer them.”

“Oh, there’s no need for that, dear,” Bunny said. “We trust you. It’s good to know we’re in such good hands.”

Megan didn’t bother to tell the older woman that it was that kind of blind trust that had landed them in the mess they were in. At her age, she wasn’t likely to change. But since Megan was trustworthy and her boss Daniel was as well, she knew the sisters truly were in good hands. No one else would be able to harm them anymore.

Megan stood and grabbed her briefcase.

“Don’t tell me you need to leave right now,” Bunny said.

“I’m afraid so. Thanks again for lunch. It was wonderful.” Megan walked beside the sisters to the front door. Before Megan stepped onto the shady porch, Bunny gave her a hug. Surprised, Megan froze. It had been a while since she’d been the recipient of such open affection. Pushing down unexpected emotions, she returned the hug, then walked to her car. As she drove away, she hoped the sisters would take her advice and bring criminal charges against their brother. Family was a precious thing, and anyone who took advantage of their siblings deserved to be punished.

As she headed for her office, her thoughts drifted back to Cade Battle. He was probably the best-looking man she’d ever seen, and undoubtedly the grumpiest. Still, he’d been kind to Bunny so she knew he couldn’t be all bad. Not that it mattered. He clearly didn’t like her.

And she couldn’t help wonder why it bothered her so much that he didn’t.

Chapter Two

As Cade turned from the driveway onto the road, his stomach growled in protest. He’d looked forward to lunch with the Whitaker sisters all morning. Birdie and Bunny were fabulous cooks and baked the absolute best desserts. While he’d been knocked around as he fought to get the pig into his truck, it had been the thought of the delicious meal waiting for him that had kept him going. And then Ms. Susie Sunshine in her power suit had come along and ruined it all.

Cade had seen her around town a few times over the past month. Who could miss her? Tall, with a curvy body and a stunning face, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life. Their eyes had met and locked on one of those occasions and his mouth had gone dry. He’d ignored the reaction. It had only taken one look at her impeccable makeup, gorgeous hair, perfectly manicured nails and stylish clothes to instantly know the type of woman she was. He’d once been in love with her type. He’d been left heartbroken by her type. He needed to avoid her type.

She had city girl written all over her. There wasn’t the slightest doubt in his mind that she’d moved to Spring Forest because she was running from something. Perhaps she thought that a change of scenery would fix whatever was wrong with her life. But once she’d recovered from her broken heart or lost job or whatever it was that had sent her here, she’d hightail it out of North Carolina so fast she’d leave a trail of smoke behind her.

Just look at her clothes. She dressed as if she was still living in the city. He knew she was a lawyer, but Daniel Sutton was, too, and he didn’t walk around wearing three-piece suits. No, he dressed like he was a member of the community, not someone who was passing through on the way to someplace better.

Cade had made the mistake of believing his former fiancée could be happy living a quiet life on the Battle Lands Farm. Deadra had sworn that she loved him and that sharing her life with him was all she wanted. Then she’d left him for a slick Chicago lawyer and hadn’t looked back. He’d been fooled once by a pretty city woman. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Despite knowing the danger she presented to his emotional well-being, there was something about Megan Jennings that appealed to him. He’d heard her gasp when Little Piggy had charged him, and knew it was because she’d been afraid for him. Though clearly her fear was rooted in her concern for a fellow human and not him specifically, her reaction had warmed his heart. It didn’t change the fact that she was a city girl. And it certainly didn’t mean he would let down his guard with her. Still, it was proof that a caring heart beat beneath that designer suit.

Frowning, Cade turned on the radio, hoping the music would erase all thoughts of Megan and the sound of her laughter from his mind. It didn’t work. Despite the singer’s voice and the sound of the drums and bass, he could still hear Megan’s sexy alto voice. Just hearing her say his name had been enough to set his imagination racing in the wrong direction. And he could still picture her sparkling eyes. But none of that mattered. He didn’t have time for a woman, even if he met one who would be happy living here. He had plans.

Cade switched off the radio and drove the rest of the way home in silence. When he reached the farm, he signaled and turned into the driveway beneath the iron sign announcing the Battle Lands Farm. Rather than stopping at the front of the house, he continued to the back to where the barns were located. The pig, which had been relatively quiet, suddenly began to snort and move around as much as it could in the truck bed.

The back door of his father’s house opened and he stepped outside. Although his dad was in his midfifties, he was still strong as an ox. With his father’s help, it would be a lot easier to get the pig out of the truck than it had been to get it in.

“So, this is our new guest,” his dad said, with a smile. Reginald Battle took being a good neighbor to new heights. If there was someone he could help, he did without hesitation. If he couldn’t help, he didn’t rest until he found someone who could. Never once in his life had Cade seen his father reject anyone’s request for assistance. While their farm wasn’t an animal rescue, they constantly took in animals that the Whitaker sisters were unable to accommodate. The pig was just the latest in a string of goats, chickens and geese that had come to reside on their farm. This was their first pig. And given how difficult it was to get it into the truck, Cade hoped it would be the last.

“This is him.” Cade shook his head and grinned. “Bunny called him Little Piggy.”

Reginald roared at the name. “She didn’t think that one through.”

“Not at all. Anyway, I want to get this pig settled in the barn. This little trip has set me behind on the work I planned to do for the day.”

“Then let’s get this one into his new home.”

Cade backed the truck up to the barn, and then he put the ramp in place. He and Reginald exchanged looks and at his father’s nod, Cade lowered the tailgate. The pig wasted no time in going from the bed of the truck into the barn. Once they got the pig inside, Cade heaved a sigh of relief. His father had already filled the feeding troughs with food and water. Reginald always claimed being a good neighbor didn’t cost a thing, but Cade knew that wasn’t true. In this case, it cost valuable time on top of maintenance costs, such as extra feed. Battle Lands Farm was profitable and could easily absorb the cost. Cade, on the other hand, got the same twenty-four hours as everyone else, so he would have to work faster and harder to make up for lost time.

“So, how are your plans going?”

“Not bad.” Cade was developing a farm-to-table business. He’d convinced his father to go organic several years ago, believing it was better for their customers as well as the environment. The business was what he should be focusing on instead of how sweet Megan Jennings smelled. “I’ve just finalized the marketing plan and I’ve determined how much produce I’ll have available for this year’s trial. I’m also working on a delivery schedule. But, none of this will make a bit of difference if I don’t have any customers. Then I’ll end up selling everything to grocery stores again.”

“I know you don’t like doing that.”

“No.” Cade worked hard to produce the best fruits and vegetables. He wanted the people who ate that food to get the best flavor and the maximum amount of nutrients. That meant dining on the food within a day or two of it being harvested, not after weeks. In order to accomplish that, he needed to have local clients in the restaurant business who shared his vision. He would continue to provide produce at the farmer’s market that was held at the Granary’s parking lot from late spring to early fall. But he wanted to move the business in this other direction, as well. Until he had enough clients for his farm-to-table produce, he would continue to supply grocery chains.

“It’ll work out. I’m sure of that. Once you put your mind to something, Cade, you always find a way to make it happen. You’ll figure this out, too.”

Cade appreciated his father’s support. Of course, it would be easier to pull this off if his mind was focused on his plan and not the very beautiful and oh-so-wrong for him Megan Jennings.

* * *

When Megan was finished with her meeting at Whitaker Acres, she returned to her office. The drive had enabled her to clear her mind. There was something so peaceful about driving on roads that weren’t so congested that traveling three miles took nearly half an hour. The scenic countryside was an extra added bonus.

She loved this little town. Only about twenty miles from downtown Raleigh, it was an easy commute to the state capital. And though it had the requisite chain stores, the town possessed a charm and personality all its own. The downtown had many small businesses that made Spring Forest unique. Snap Pop Candy Shop, Whole Bean Coffee, and Mimzi’s Ice Cream, all within walking distance of her office, had been major selling points in her decision to take the job. There was something about the small town that gave her a sense of home. It felt familiar even though she’d never been here before.

She parked her car at the back of the converted craftsman house that served as the Sutton Law Office building and went inside.

Emma Alvarez, the office manager and Daniel’s fiancée was at her desk when Megan arrived. She looked up. “How did it go with Bunny and Birdie?”

“Only time will tell. Right now they’re in denial. Birdie can’t believe that Gator would steal from them. I tried to show them the proof we have, but they wouldn’t even look at it. I left copies with them. Hopefully they’ll read the files and decide to press charges.”

Emma patted Megan’s hand. “You’ve done all you can. That’s all you can expect of yourself.”

“I know.” Megan was silent for a moment.

“What else happened?”

Although they hadn’t known each other long, Emma was pretty attuned to Megan. There was no sense trying to deceive her. “I met the grumpiest man in town.”

“Who?”

“Cade Battle. I think he’d intended to stay for lunch until I got an invitation. Then he suddenly didn’t have time. He was just this side of rude.”

“Rude? To you? Why?”

Megan shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“As good as the sisters cook, missing lunch is no more than he deserved.”

“True.” Emma’s diamond solitaire sparkled on her left ring finger, catching Megan’s eye. “It’s getting close to the big day.”

Emma nodded. “I can hardly wait.”

“I bet.” Megan knew firsthand the excitement that came with planning a wedding. And she knew the disappointment that came when the wedding was called off and the couple didn’t become a family. She really hoped Emma and Daniel managed to pull it off. They were good people and deserved to be happy.

Emma glanced at the clock and shut down her computer. “I need to get going. It’s time for me to pick up the girls.”

Emma had initially been hired by Daniel as a nanny for his three daughters. Once he realized how organized she was, he’d asked her to become his temporary office manager, working from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Somewhere in there, they’d fallen in love. Emma kept the same hours so she could be available for her soon-to-be stepdaughters.

“See you tomorrow,” Megan said, walking to her office at the back of the building. The office was so different from the one she’d had at her New York firm. That one had been outfitted with expensive furniture. Original artwork had hung on the walls. This one was simply decorated and had a homey feel to it. While her New York office had been designed to impress clients, this office was designed to make her clients feel comfortable.

Megan updated her case files to reflect her meeting with the sisters and then put a reminder on her calendar to follow up with them. That simple task had her once more thinking about Cade Battle and the way he looked with his shirt off. He was definitely well built. There was something about him that appealed to her on a basic level. She quickly slammed the door on that thought reminding herself that he didn’t like her. After returning calls to other clients, she turned off her computer and headed for the Main Street Grille.

It was only a couple of blocks from the office, so she decided to walk and return for her car after she’d gotten her order.

As expected, the Grille was doing brisk business. The food, burgers and sandwiches for lunch with typical pub offerings added to the dinner menu was anything but typical. The burgers were juicy and flavorful. The corned beef on a Kaiser roll and pastrami on rye tasted as good as the sandwiches she’d bought at her favorite deli in New York.

She looked around. The tables and booths were filled with families enjoying a night out together and a yearning grew within her. Two children near her laughed, the sound mingling with boisterous conversation. Someone bumped into her and she looked around.

“Sorry,” a man’s voice said.

Megan looked up and into Cade’s face and her silly heart skipped a beat. His eyes swept over her and her skin began to tingle as if he’d actually touched her. She’d never had such a strong reaction to a man and the intensity of the feeling surprised her.

“I didn’t see you standing there,” Cade said. A hint of something she didn’t recognize flashed in his eyes for a moment only to be replaced by coolness and indifference. He stepped away from her. Disappointment settled in her stomach.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said. “It’s crowded in here.”

He nodded then looked around as if searching for someone. Clearly he was uninclined to continue the conversation.

“Do you come here a lot?” Megan asked. It seemed foolish to be standing there and not talk. After all, they might not be friends, but they weren’t strangers any longer.

“Often enough.”

That was vague. What, did he think she would stalk him by hanging around here on a regular basis hoping to see him? That wasn’t likely. Megan refused to chase a man, no matter how handsome he was or how much faster her heart beat when he was around.

Although Megan liked the food, she didn’t dine here often. She rented a house in the historic part of town about a twenty-minute walk from the office. Although small, the house had a very nice kitchen. Most days she cooked dinner for herself and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Crockett. The older woman had mentioned having a hankering for a steak and fries from the Grille, so Megan had decided to grab the food here today. She considered letting Cade know he was safe from her, but decided against it. Instead she marched to the counter and gave her to go order. Once placed, she stood by the front window and waited for it, refusing to look at him again. The seconds seemed to crawl until her order was ready. When her name was called, she ran to the counter and grabbed the brown bag and headed home.

* * *

Cade watched as Megan Jennings took her bag and left. Though he told himself not to stare, he couldn’t keep his eyes from focusing on her curvy backside as she strode from the restaurant. After their brief encounter, she hadn’t looked in his direction once, choosing to look out the window instead. Not that he wanted her attention. He didn’t.

The last thing he wanted was to have Megan Jennings anywhere near his life. She was a city woman through and through and he didn’t need that kind of trouble. When he decided to have a relationship again, it was going to be with a nice country girl. Someone who loved the farm life as much as he did. So why was his mind suddenly filled with thoughts of Megan?

“Who’s the girl?”

“Nobody,” Cade said, turning to his brother. Chase must have arrived while Cade had been distracted by Megan. “Let’s grab a table.”

“It didn’t look like nobody,” Chase said as he slid into the booth.

“Nobody important,” Cade clarified.

Chase laughed. “Really?”

“Yes. I only met her today. So whatever you’re thinking, forget about it.”

“What I was thinking is that it looks to me like a city girl has gotten your attention. Not that I have a problem with that.”

“You’re not the one who was burned.”

“True. But from the way you were staring, it doesn’t look as if you’ve learned your lesson.”

Cade didn’t bother telling his brother just how wrong he was. Cade had learned his lesson good and well. He’d never let a girl like Megan near his heart again. “Forget about her. I’m sure you didn’t come all the way to Spring Forest to harass me. Let’s eat.”

* * *

Megan arrived at home and changed out of her work clothes into a pair of green cotton shorts and a coordinating floral top. Green had been her mother’s favorite color and Megan wore something in that color every day to honor her mother’s memory. Some days Megan missed her family so much her heart actually ached. Wearing green helped her feel closer to her mother.

Megan grabbed the bag containing dinner then walked across the street to her neighbor’s house. Mrs. Crockett had been widowed many years ago and had never remarried. Most people believed the elderly woman was weird or crazy, and consequently no one ever visited her.

The day Megan moved into her house, she’d witnessed the woman holding a conversation with one of her sixteen cats and dogs. Megan could have turned her back on the other woman like everyone else in town had chosen to do, but she hadn’t. She recognized loneliness when she saw it. So instead, she’d approached the woman and introduced herself. Mrs. Crockett had smiled broadly and introduced each of the animals by name. Then she’d invited Megan in for a glass of sweet tea. In no time flat they’d become fast friends, and Megan brought her dinner each night.

Megan knocked on the door. Within seconds it opened.

“Oh, is that dinner? You know you don’t have to cook for me all the time.”

Megan smiled at the protest. Mrs. Crockett only received a pittance from Social Security and her late husband’s pension. Unfortunately her limited income wasn’t sufficient to cover care for the animals, pay rent and buy sufficient groceries for herself. Mrs. Crockett had chosen to prioritize the first and frequently didn’t have food. She also hadn’t paid her rent in quite a while and was only days away from being evicted. Daniel and Megan had done all they could to help, but had run out of options. No matter how often they’d advised her of the consequences of her choices, Mrs. Crockett insisted on taking care of the animals regardless of the cost to herself. As a result, she was about to lose her home.

“It’s just as easy to cook for two as for one. But today I picked up dinner at the Grille. I got that steak you said you wanted.”

“You can’t tell me you want to spend your Friday evening with an old woman. Surely the men in town must be beating down your door to get you to go out with them.”

“You live across the street from me,” Megan pointed out with a smile as she put the carryout containers onto the table. “Have you seen any men, young or otherwise, knocking on my door?”

Mrs. Crockett tsked as she poured sweet tea into crystal glasses. The table had been set with delicate china and a vase of fresh flowers that came from her garden. Embroidered napkins matched the lacy tablecloth. The care her neighbor took to make the table look so nice illustrated how much she looked forward to their meals.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with the young men in this town. In my day, men knew how to come courting. My Harvey was such a charmer.” Mrs. Crockett glanced at the picture of her late husband that sat in a place of honor on the upright piano. Though the photograph had faded with time, Megan could still make out the young man’s proud smile. “He never once showed up on my doorstep empty-handed. He always brought flowers or candy or some trinket he knew I would like. Men these days don’t have a clue. Or manners. They don’t even hold the door for you. And sometimes they only want what you young people refer to as a booty call.”

Megan had just taken a bite of her pastrami sandwich and nearly choked at the older woman’s comment. She took a swallow of her tea. “Where did you hear that phrase?”

Mrs. Crockett laughed. “I may be an old woman, but I do have a television and radio. Not to mention the internet. I know all about what’s going on in this crazy world.”

“Apparently,” Megan said with a laugh.

“Now, if my sweet boy Willie was still alive, he could show you the way a young man should behave.”

Willie had been Mrs. Crockett’s only child. He’d followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Army. Sadly he’d died in an unfortunate training accident while in his twenties. Of course had Willie lived, he would be old enough to be Megan’s father. Not that she would ever point that out. Megan knew Willie would forever be twenty-six in Mrs. Crockett’s memory as well as in her heart.

“I’m sure you raised him right.”

“That I did.” Mrs. Crockett focused on her meal for a few minutes before speaking again. “Surely you must have met someone in the time you’ve been here. Someone who could help you forget the ex-boyfriend you left behind in New York.”

Megan immediately pictured Cade Battle in all his shirtless glory, then just as quickly dismissed him. She might not know everything about men, but she could tell when one wasn’t interested in her. And Cade Battle definitely fit into that category. Their encounter at the Grille this evening had emphasized that. Not only that, he actually appeared to dislike her, although she couldn’t for the life of her imagine why. They’d never even met before today. “Nope. Not a one.”

“That’s a shame. I don’t know what’s wrong with men your age.”

Megan heard the disappointment in the older woman’s voice. “Well, I haven’t been in town long. I’m sure I’ll meet someone soon.”

That seemed to pacify Mrs. Crockett, and their conversation drifted to other topics. Once they’d finished eating, they carried their plates to the kitchen and washed them. A delicious-smelling peach cobbler was cooling on the counter. Mrs. Crockett placed heaping helpings into etched glass bowls and added a scoop of vanilla ice cream. As usual, they ate their dessert at the kitchen table. The night was pleasant, and the window was open, letting in the sweet breeze. Megan was going to miss sharing these companionable nights with her neighbor.

“I’ve talked to your grandniece, Grace,” Megan said. She’d avoided the conversation while they’d eaten the main course, but knew she had to bring it up.

Mrs. Crockett lifted her eyebrow but didn’t reply. Instead she scraped her spoon around the inside of her bowl.

“I know you don’t want to move in with her family and you won’t have to. Grace has found a wonderful senior living home. She visited the facility and liked it. Best of all, it’s only twenty minutes away from her house, so she and her children will be able to visit you regularly. And you’ll be able to visit her.”

“I appreciate all that you and Daniel are trying to do for me,” Mrs. Crockett said, speaking slowly.

“But?”

“How can I possibly leave my babies? They need me. I can’t just abandon them to fend for themselves again. If I can’t stay in this house, then fine. I’ll just have to think of something else.”

“There is nothing else,” Megan said gently. She’d tried every legal maneuver she could think of, pushing the envelope as she stretched her creativity. Nothing worked. Mrs. Crockett was going to be evicted.

One of the cats rubbed against Mrs. Crockett’s leg. She picked him up and rubbed her nose into his fur. “So you just expect me to turn my back on them and forget they exist? I can’t.”

When other people looked at Mrs. Crockett they saw a crazy cat and dog woman. Megan saw more than that. She saw a woman with a kind heart and a lot of love to give. People judged her because she chose to give that love to stray animals. Megan knew the reason why she did that. Mrs. Crockett had once told Megan that animals didn’t join the military and break their mother’s heart. Mrs. Crockett couldn’t risk loving people again. That didn’t mean people couldn’t love her.

“I’ve been thinking about that and I believe I have a solution.”

“Let’s hear it.” Though Mrs. Crockett might have been trying to sound cool, Megan heard the hope and excitement in her voice.

“The Whitaker sisters run the Furever Paws Animal Rescue on their property. We can take the animals there.”

“Bunny and Birdie?”

Megan nodded.

“They’ve always been nice girls.”

The Whitaker sisters were in their sixties and hadn’t been girls in nearly half a century. But then Mrs. Crockett was ninety years old, so even at their advanced age, they still seemed like girls to her.

“Then you know they’ll take good care of your animals.”

“I’m sure the shelter is a good place, but I want more than that for my babies. I want them to have good homes where they’ll be loved.”

“The shelter tries to find good homes for the animals.”

“Can you promise they’ll find a home for mine?”

“I don’t think they’ll be able to keep them all together,” Megan said honestly.

“No, I don’t suppose they will.”

“But I’ll make sure they each find a good family. I promise you that.”

Mrs. Crockett heaved a heavy sigh, then looked around her kitchen. “So many memories. I look around this house and there are memories everywhere. I moved in here after my Harvey died. I raised my boy here. I’m going to miss this place.”

“I know. And if there was a legal way you could stay here, I would be in court arguing it. But there isn’t.”

“I know. I appreciate all that you’ve done for me.”

“The new place your grandniece found sounds nice. You’ll have a private room. The room is big enough for you to have a small sitting area, so you’ll be able to take some of your own furniture. It won’t be the same as living here, but it’s still something. And of course you’ll carry your memories inside you.”

“You’ll find good homes for all of them? No matter how long it takes?”

Megan drew her finger across her chest. “I cross my heart.”

“All right then, I’ll go.”

Thank goodness. Megan stood. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning to help you pack.”

Mrs. Crockett stood, as well. When they reached the front door, she gave Megan a hug. “You’re a good girl, Megan. I hope you find a family soon, too.”

Megan nodded. After fourteen years of searching and not finding one, she knew it wasn’t going to be nearly as easy as finding families for the animals.

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