Duets™
Two brand-new stories in every volume…twice a month!
Duets Vol. #81
Popular author Carol Finch takes us to Hoot’s Roost, Oklahoma, where there are quite a few single cowboys who don’t give a hoot about marryin’. But when two sexy city girls show up in town, that changes everything. Enjoy Carol’s funny, romantic Double Duets stories about The Bachelors of Hoot’s Roost—where love comes sweeping down the plain!
Duets Vol. #82
Delightful Tina Wainscott is back with another quirky Duets novel where the hero is driven to distraction by the gorgeous free-spirited heroine living next door! Tina tells “a charming story full of love and laughter,” says Rendezvous. Joining her in the volume is talented Candy Halliday with a story about a pilot hero who’s always winging it when it comes to relationships. It takes a special woman to bring this guy down to earth!
Be sure to pick up both Duets volumes today!
Lonesome Ryder?
Restaurant Romeo
Carol Finch
Contents
“The last thing I wanted was to be laid up and have a woman under my roof!”
Laura regarded Wade through her narrowed gaze. “So, you’re saying that you’re afraid of women.”
“I’m saying nothing of the kind,” he said, highly affronted. “You’re all of five foot nothing and I’m six-three in my stocking feet. Whaddya gonna do? Break my other leg?”
“I’m not referring to physical fight,” she clarified. “I’m talking about emotional terror. You figured you couldn’t make a woman happy so why try, right? It’s easier to give up, to quit.” She turned toward him then, all fierce determination. “Well, I’m not a quitter, Mr. Ryder. Now, go take a load off while I whip up supper,” she ordered, shooing him on his way.
Wade was so surprised by the unexpected turn of events that he was halfway across the room before he realized he’d allowed her to boss him around. Hell!
He didn’t want to share his personal space with a female, especially one as tempting as Laura. He wanted her to vamoose—pronto. He’d push and prod until she lost her temper and spit out the four-letter Q word. Then he’d have her exactly where he wanted her…besides naked in his bed….
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Hoot’s Roost, Oklahoma, where Wade Ryder has no intention of letting the love bug take a bite out of him ever again. He lives in a female-free domain of cattle and horses—until he’s laid up by a ranching accident. Suddenly he’s saddled with a temporary housekeeper and that’s when the trouble starts. Laura Seymour is irresistible, but Wade has a broken leg already, and the last thing he needs is a broken heart. He’s about to discover that the love of one very special woman can cure just about everything.
In the second story, cousin Quint Ryder, the ladies’ man, meets his match in a sassy redheaded restaurateur who’s immune to his flattery. His legendary reputation with women is on the line when the locals appoint him to charm Stephanie Lawson into converting her fancy-schmancey restaurant back into a blue-collar café so everyone can enjoy the former menu of meat ’n taters. Can Quint wrap her around his little finger? Or will Steph wrap Quint in a French crepe and serve him up as the Special of the Day? Or will they discover that love’ll getcha if you don’t watch out!
Enjoy!
Carol Finch
Books by Carol Finch
HARLEQUIN DUETS
36—FIT TO BE TIED
45—A REGULAR JOE
62—MR. PREDICTABLE
72—THE FAMILY FEUD
HARLEQUIN HISTORICALS
592—CALL OF THE WHITE WOLF
SILHOUETTE SPECIAL EDITION
1242—NOT JUST ANOTHER COWBOY
1320—SOUL MATES
This book is dedicated to my husband, Ed, and our children—Christie, Jill, Kurt, Jeff and Jon. And to our grandchildren—Brooklynn, Kennedy, Blake and Livia. Hugs and kisses!
1
THE MOMENT SHE WALKED through his front door, Wade Ryder knew this situation had disaster written all over it in screaming neon letters. Even worse, his first cousins, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb, were waggling their eyebrows and grinning like the idiots they were as they swaggered behind the blond-haired, blue-eyed knockout who was to become Wade’s temporary cook and housekeeper at the ranch.
The goddess in designer jeans and a trim-fitting pink knit blouse smiled politely. When her baby blues