MEET THE FORTUNES!
Fortune of the Month: Stacey Fortune Jones
Age: 24
Vital Statistics: Blond hair, green eyes, stretch marks (sigh)
Claim to Fame: Raising bubbly baby girl all on her own
Romantic Prospects: None, or so she thinks. Romance and diapers just don’t mix.
“I’m sure you’ve heard all the rumors. Folks are saying that Colton is interested in me. Colton Foster? Don’t be ridiculous! He’s known me since I was born! He’s seen me with skinned knees and braces and all sorts of teenage awkwardness. And I just gave birth six months ago. Sexy, huh?
“The only trouble is, I’ve started having these, uh, feelings for him. And I have no idea what to do about them. It’s so inappropriate—not to mention embarrassing! And I have a sinking suspicion that—yikes!—Colton has figured it all out!”
The Fortunes of Texas: Welcome to Horseback Hollow!
Happy New Year, Baby Fortune!
Leanne Banks
LEANNE BANKS is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author who is surprised every time she realizes how many books she has written. Leanne loves chocolate, the beach and new adventures. To name a few, Leanne has ridden an elephant, stood on an ostrich egg (no, it didn’t break), gone parasailing and indoor skydiving. Leanne loves writing romance, because she believes in the power and magic of love. She lives in Virginia with her family and a four-and-a-half-pound Pomeranian named Bijou. Visit her website, www.leannebanks.com.
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This book is dedicated to my husband, Tony,
for takeout and tolerance, super editors Gail Chasan and Susan Litman,
and genius plotter Marcia Book Adirim.
Contents
Chapter One
Stacey Fortune Jones was sure she had the cutest date at the New Year’s Eve wedding reception for her cousin Sawyer Fortune and his bride, Laurel Redmond.
“Your baby is just gorgeous,” Sherry James, one of her neighbors, said as she patted Stacey’s six-month-old daughter’s arm. “She has the best smile.”
“Thank you,” Stacey said. Clothed in a red velvet dress with a lace headband, white tights and red shoes, her little Piper was a true head turner. Stacey had enjoyed getting Piper ready for her first big night out, and it seemed her daughter was having fun. Her big green gaze took in all the sights and sounds of the celebration, and she smiled easily with everyone who approached. “She’s a sweet baby now that she’s gotten through her colic.”
Sherry made a sympathetic clucking noise. “Colic can be hard on both the baby and the parents.”
Stacey gave a vague nod. “So true,” she said. In Stacey’s case, there was no need for the plural. There was no dad to help. He’d abandoned Stacey before Piper had even been born. Thank goodness her parents had let her move back in with them.
“Well, you’ve obviously done a great job with her. She’s the belle of the ball tonight,” Sherry said.
“Thank you,” Stacey said again.
“Oh, my husband’s calling me,” Sherry said. “You take care, now.”
Jiggling her daughter Piper on her hip, Stacey headed for an empty seat at a table to give her feet a rest. Looking around, she couldn’t believe that an airplane hangar could be transformed into such a beautiful reception site. Miles of tulle and lights decorated the space, and buffet tables groaned with delicious food. The sounds of a great band and happy voices echoed throughout the building. The guests, dressed in their finest, added to a celebratory mood. This wedding was the event of the season for the citizens of the small town of Horseback Hollow, Texas. People would be talking about it for years to come.
Although some might consider the choice of an airplane hangar a strange place to hold a wedding, it suited the groom and bride, since this was where the two were running a flight school together. No one had thought Sawyer or Laurel would ever settle down, let alone with each other. But the two stubborn yet free-spirited people had come to the conclusion that they were perfect for each other.
Stacey watched the newly married couple dance together and couldn’t help thinking about the wedding she had been planning with her ex, Joe. Sometimes she wondered if she had ever really known Joe at all, or if she had been in love with an illusion of the man she’d wanted him to be. Now she didn’t know if she’d ever find the love she saw on the faces of the bride and groom. Even though the hangar was filled with family and friends, and her little Piper was in her arms, Stacey suddenly felt alone.
“Hey,” a male voice said. “How’s it going?”
Stacey blinked to find her longtime neighbor, Colton Foster, sitting beside her. She gave herself a mental shake and tried to pull herself out of her blue moment. Colton’s sister, Rachel, was Stacey’s best friend; but Stacey had been overwhelmed with taking care of Piper, so she hadn’t seen him except in passing since the baby had been born.
She’d