His Only Wife

Cathy McDavid

Everyone Was Sure She Was Gone For Good…Being back in Blue Ridge, Arizona, to help her grandmother was almost a relief after her busy job as a nurse in a Tucson E.R. Aubrey Stuart badly needed a few weeks of peace and quiet–but facing her past was another thing entirely. The boy she'd eloped with and hastily divorced ten years ago had matured. And Gage Raintree the man was a thousand times more tempting than he'd been then.…Except Her ExThey'd been too young and unsure of each other to fight back when their families decided they'd made a terrible mistake–especially when Gage thought his duty was to devote his life to the family ranch. But now he had six weeks before Aubrey went back to her career.Six weeks to show his first–and only–love he deserved a second chance….

“Firefighting is special. You make a real difference in the world.”

Genuine admiration tinged Aubrey’s voice, and his chest swelled.

“Like being a nurse?

“Firefighting is nothing like being a nurse. You put your life on the line for others. That takes courage and daring.” She tilted her head and stared him square in the face. “I have to say, Gage, you really impress me. Not that I wasn’t—”

She didn’t have a chance to finish, because he hauled her into his arms, lifted her onto her toes and brought her mouth to within a tiny fraction of his.

Her green eyes went wide. “If you’re thinking of kissing me, think again.”

“Oh, I’m going to kiss you, all right.”

Dear Reader,

Some years ago when my family was visiting Young, Arizona, I had the opportunity to meet the Payson Hotshots. The crew, fresh from the front line of the fire, strode into the Antler Cafе where we were having dinner, turning every head in the place. In speaking to them, we learned the citizens of Young were helping out by hosting the wilderness firefighters—feeding them and putting them up for the night at the local community center.

That weekend while I stood on our cabin porch watching the fire blaze in the nearby mountains, I wondered about the Hotshots and the amazing individuals who chose to work in such a dangerous profession. I also wondered about the people who loved them and made up their families.

From that experience, Gage and Aubrey’s story was born. His Only Wife is my first Harlequin American Romance, a line that I’m thrilled to be writing for. I hope you enjoy reading about Gage and Aubrey as much as I enjoyed writing about them.

Warmest wishes,

Cathy McDavid

P.S. I love hearing from readers. Visit my Web site at www.cathymcdavid.com to drop me a line.

His Only Wife

Cathy McDavid

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For the past eleven years Cathy McDavid has been juggling a family, a job, and writing and doing pretty well at it except for the cooking and housecleaning part. Mother of boy and girl teenage twins, she manages the near impossible by working every day with her husband of twenty years at their commercial construction company. They survive by not bringing work home and not bringing home to the office. A mutual love of all things Western also helps. Horses and ranch animals have been a part of Cathy’s life since she moved to Arizona as a child and asked her mother for riding lessons. She can hardly remember a time when she couldn’t walk outside and pet a soft, velvety nose (or beak, or snout) whenever the mood struck.

This book is dedicated to the courageous men and women who serve as wilderness firefighters in the western United States and all over the world. It has been a joy writing about you and an honor to make your acquaintance.

Contents

Chapter One (#u0ef36086-24a4-512d-9008-b609812376be)

Chapter Two (#u7c109c14-dc2c-5d96-8620-7bcdc694c1db)

Chapter Three (#uffd68b78-6967-5ce4-8733-4e17188c8f81)

Chapter Four (#u44250e27-157c-5d34-bf0b-dd8254080ed9)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#