Finding Family...and Forever? Read online

  A dashing doctor hires the perfect nanny for his son, not realizing she’s about to turn his entire world upside down! Don’t miss the latest story in The Bachelors of Blackwater Lake by Teresa Southwick!

  Kidnapped as an infant, Emma Robbins has come to Blackwater Lake to seek out her birth family. But she can’t exactly just knock on their door and introduce herself! To bide her time, she fakes her identity and takes a job as a nanny for an adorable one-year old boy—and his incredibly sexy doctor daddy. Now she’s really gotten more than she bargained for….

  Dr. Justin Flint has sworn off women since his divorce. And while she’s the perfect caretaker for his little boy, having Emma under his roof is just way too tempting for the single dad! When an explosive kiss shatters their professional resolve, their mutual passion is revealed. But will their new affection distract Emma from her goal—or make her realize she’s found her once and future family?

  She stood when the little boy braced himself on the pumpkin. “Definitely his first steps.” And then she threw herself into his arms. “Oh, my gosh, Justin. He’s walking.”

  “I know.”

  And he was excited about that, too. But damn it, Emma felt so good in his arms, pink jacket, funky hat and all. He couldn’t help himself and pulled her in tighter for full body contact. Being this close to her had him thinking about long, slow kisses in his bed. There was no question that he started breathing faster, and it wasn’t his imagination that Emma was, too. He saw it when she stepped away and couldn’t look at him.

  “It’s getting cold,” she said.

  Justin hadn’t noticed. He was hot all over and wanted to do something about it.

  * * *

  THE BACHELORS OF BLACKWATER LAKE:

  They won’t be single for long!

  Dear Reader,

  The question readers ask most often is where my book ideas come from. The answer forces me to confess that I’m a news junkie. When not at the computer I usually have local, national or world news on the TV. That’s where I learned about a young woman who was taken from her mother as an infant and never knew the truth until she was in her twenties. I tried to put myself in her shoes, to imagine the feelings of betrayal, bitterness and anger at finding out you’re not who you always believed. And that’s what inspired Finding Family…and Forever?

  Nanny Emma Robbins finds herself in this situation when the woman who took her reveals the truth. She goes to Blackwater Lake to meet her biological parents, then realizes if she confesses all, life will change—possibly not for the better. Uncertainty immobilizes her—she can’t leave and is afraid to come clean about her identity.

  Local doctor Justin Flint needs child care for his son and feels as if he won the lottery when Emma applies for the position. What he doesn’t know is that the job offer is bailing her out in the short-term, but sooner or later she has to make a decision. Can she keep her secret from the doctor until she’s ready to deal with the situation on her own terms? More troubling is the fact that with every passing day she’s falling harder for the man and his little boy who could be the family she’s always wanted.

  What I love most about my job is writing the happy ending. Unlike what happens in the real world, a reader knows that in a romance novel no matter what the hero and heroine are going through all will be fine. There’s nothing I can do to alter the journey of a baby girl taken from her mother, but I can make sure that the characters I create will be all right!

  Happy reading,

  Teresa Southwick

  FINDING FAMILY…AND FOREVER?

  Teresa Southwick

  Books by Teresa Southwick

  Harlequin Special Edition

  ☐To Have the Doctor’s Baby #2126

  ~~Her Montana Christmas Groom #2156

  ☐Holding Out for Doctor Perfect #2187

  ☐The Doctor and the Single Mom #2204

  ¤The Maverick’s Christmas Homecoming #2230

  ¶¶The Doctor’s Dating Bargain #2234

  ¶¶Her McKnight in Shining Armor #2271

  ++Finding Family…And Forever? #2320

  Silhouette Special Edition

  The Summer House #1510 “Courting Cassandra”

  Midnight, Moonlight & Miracles #1517

  It Takes Three #1631

  ¶The Beauty Queen’s Makeover #1699

  At the Millionaire’s Request #1769

  §§Paging Dr. Daddy #1886

  ☐The Millionaire and the M.D. #1894

  ☐When a Hero Comes Along #1905

  ☐Expecting the Doctor’s Baby #1924

  +Marrying the Virgin Nanny #1960

  ☐The Doctor’s Secret Baby #1982

  +The Nanny and Me #2001

  ~Taming the Montana Millionaire #2059

  ☐The Surgeon’s Favorite Nurse #2067

  ☐Cindy’s Doctor Charming #2097

  Silhouette Books

  The Fortunes of Texas

  Shotgun Vows

  Silhouette Romance

  *And Then He Kissed Me #1405

  *With a Little T.L.C. #1421

  The Acquired Bride #1474

  *Secret Ingredient: Love #1495

  *The Last Marchetti Bachelor #1513

  **Crazy for Lovin’ You #1529

  **This Kiss #1541

  **If You Don’t Know by Now #1560

  **What If We Fall in Love? #1572

  Sky Full of Promise #1624

  ∆To Catch a Sheik #1674

  ∆To Kiss a Sheik #1686

  ∆To Wed a Sheik #1696

  ΩBaby, Oh Baby #1704

  ΩFlirting with the Boss #1708

  ΩAn Heiress on His Doorstep #1712

  §That Touch of Pink #1799

  §In Good Company #1807

  §Something’s Gotta Give #1815

  ☐Men of Mercy Medical

  +The Nanny Network

  §§The Wilder Family

  *The Marchetti Family

  **Destiny, Texas

  ∆Desert Brides

  ΩIf Wishes Were…

  §Buy-a-Guy

  ¶Most Likely To...

  ~Montana Mavericks:

  Thunder Canyon Cowboys

  ~~Montana Mavericks: The Texans Are Coming!

  ¤Montana Mavericks: Back in the Saddle

  ¶¶Mercy Medical Montana

  ++The Bachelors of Blackwater Lake

  Other titles by Teresa Southwick available in ebook format.

  TERESA SOUTHWICK

  lives with her husband in Las Vegas, the city that reinvents itself every day. An avid fan of romance novels, she is delighted to be living out her dream of writing for Harlequin.

  To Susan Mallery, Christine Rimmer,

  and Kate Carlisle. You’re my plotting family

  and so much more. I’m grateful to call you friends.

  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

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  “I’m not looking for a wife.”

  “Thank yo
u for clarifying, because that’s not the box I checked on the nanny application.”

  Justin Flint, M.D., stared at the young woman sitting across the desk from him, liking the fact that Emma Robbins had a sharp, sassy sense of humor. On the other hand, that didn’t change the fact that his comment was out of line.

  It was just possible he was trying to discourage her because she was too pretty. He was a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and had relocated to Blackwater Lake, Montana, to give his almost one-year-old son a normal life. That didn’t include being taken in again by a pretty face, but saying so out loud would be too weird.

  “I’m sorry.” He dragged his fingers through his hair. “This is going to sound egotistical, but women applying for the nanny job have been coming on to me. That’s not the qualification I’m looking for in the person who’s going to take care of Kyle.”

  “You’re right. That does sound egotistical.” She smiled and, if possible, was even more beautiful. “It also makes you a concerned father, which I can respect. But let me assure you, I’m not the least bit interested in anything but a job.”

  “Good.” It was good but still took his ego down a peg or two. “Okay. Let’s take it from the top. This interview didn’t start off very well. My fault entirely. And I assure you that normally I behave in a completely professional way with my employees.”

  “I’d expect nothing less. But I can see why women flirt with you. It just has to be said that I’m not one of them.”

  If he were still in Beverly Hills, an agency would vet all nanny candidates, but in this small town things were different. Advertisements in the local paper and recommendations from the employees here at Mercy Medical Clinic, in addition to those of the mayor and town council, had generated half a dozen prospects. Unfortunately, the first four had clearly been more interested in batting their eyeslashes and giving him a look at their cleavage.

  “All right, then.” He browsed through the paperwork. “So, Miss Robbins, you’re from California.” That was the address she’d listed.

  “Yes, Studio City. It’s in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.”

  “Blackwater Lake is a long way from there.”

  She smiled. “I can see that.”

  He knew the Southern California neighborhood and it wasn’t far from the entertainment capital of the world. With a face like hers, she could be a starlet and he’d stake his professional reputation on the fact that she’d had no work done. The flawless skin and stunning features were nothing more than excellent genes.

  Emma Robbins looked as if she belonged on a movie screen. Long, shiny brown hair streaked with gold fell past her shoulders. Her eyes were brown and framed by thick lashes. But it was her mouth that mesmerized him—full, sculpted lips made for kissing, and he couldn’t seem to drag his eyes away from them. That thought definitely hadn’t been vetted by his common sense.

  “So, what brought you to Montana, Miss Robbins?”

  “Vacation.”

  “Have you ever been here before?”

  “No.”

  “What made you decide to come here? As opposed to, say, Hawaii?” He would bet she’d turn heads in a bikini. Although right now she looked like a preppy college girl with a white collar sticking up from the neckline of her navy pullover. Tailored jeans and loafers completed the look. “I’m just trying to get to know you.”

  Was it his imagination or did she not quite look him in the eyes?

  “This will sound corny, but one of my favorite books was set in Montana. I was between jobs and did some research. This town was advertised as the new and unspoiled Vail or Aspen. I wanted to check it out.”

  “So, what do you think?” he asked.

  “Words can’t describe how beautiful it is here,” she said sincerely.

  That didn’t answer the question about whether or not she wanted to stay. “I need to be honest with you about my situation.”

  “I would appreciate that, Dr. Flint.” The tone was firm, almost abrasively adamant, hinting that maybe someone hadn’t been truthful with her.

  Justin could relate. “I brought my current nanny with me from Beverly Hills where my medical practice was.”

  “Obviously there’s a problem or I wouldn’t be here.”

  “If you call hating mountains, a lake, trees and blue sky a problem, then yes.”

  She laughed. “I have nothing to say to that.”

  “The issue has more to do with missing her grown children and the fact that one of her daughters is a month away from giving birth to her first grandchild.”

  “That could distort your perception of the most majestic mountains ever and a lake and sky that are prettier than anything I’ve ever seen in my life.”

  He thought so, too. “The thing is, I talked her into staying until either her replacement could be found, or two weeks prebirth. Kyle hasn’t known any other caregiver, and the change is going to be disruptive for him.”

  “How old is he?”

  “Ten months.”

  She glanced at a photograph on his desk. “May I?”

  “Please.” He handed her the frame.

  “He’s a cutie. Just like his father.” She caught herself, then met his gaze. “I swear that wasn’t flirting. What I meant was, he has your eyes, and the shape of his face is all you.”

  He took the photo back from her and smiled at the baby, pleased she thought Kyle had inherited something good from him. Hopefully his son would have better judgment in people, specifically women people, than his old man.

  “He’s little and doesn’t understand what’s going on. I’d like the change to be as easy as possible for him.”

  “I can understand that.” She folded her hands in her lap.

  “If I decide to hire you, what assurance can you give me that you’ll fulfill your obligation?”

  In truth, there wasn’t anything. If the sacred vows of marriage didn’t stop his wife from ignoring her responsibilities, what could this stranger say to convince him? Kyle’s mother had put her own interests over what was best for her son, their son. Since her death, Justin found that buying the best child care possible was the only guarantee he had.

  “Dr. Flint—” She leaned toward him, earnest in her defense. “There’s nothing I can say to convince you of my sincerity, but I’m well qualified. I have a degree in early childhood development and the references I provided might help ease your mind. A short-term contract would probably be best. If either of us isn’t satisfied with the bargain at any time, a suitable notification period should be spelled out. Enough time for either or both of us to make other arrangements.”

  That seemed fair to him, but he wasn’t ready to say so just yet. Instead, he asked, “What about your life in California?”

  “I’m not sure what you want to know.”

  “Do you have family? Friends? A house to be sold or closed up?” Someone special?

  Justin found himself most interested in the answer to the question he hadn’t asked out loud. She was pretty. He was a guy and couldn’t help noticing. She must have a boyfriend and, if not, candidates were probably lined up around the block waiting to apply for the position.

  Emma sat back and crossed one slender leg over the other. “I don’t have family. On top of being an only child, my father died when I was ten and Mother passed away a little less than a year ago.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you.” Her mouth pulled tight, but it looked like more than grief. “She left me the house, but I have a friend who will take care of it.”

  He wanted very much to know if the friend was a man, but asking wouldn’t be professional. Before he could say more, there was a knock on his office door just before Ginny Irwin, the clinic nurse, poked her head into the room. “Dr. Flint, your first afternoon appointment is here.”
>
  Since she could have relayed that information by intercom, Justin suspected she hiked upstairs to the second floor in order to get a look at the nanny applicant.

  “Thanks, Ginny. I’ll be right down.”

  “Okay.” She stared curiously at the young woman across the desk from him, then backed out, closing the door behind her.

  “All right,” he said, “I guess we’re finished.”

  “There’s just one more thing I’d like to say.” Emma picked up her purse from the floor beside her, then stood.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I want this job very much. And I’m very good with children.”

  He would check that out for himself. “All right. I have one more interview.”

  “Will you let me know one way or the other?”

  “Yes.” He stood up and felt as if he towered over her, then hated that it made him feel protective. There was something vulnerable and fragile about this woman, but getting sucked into the feeling was a bad idea. “I’ll do a thorough background check and personally contact all the references you listed.”

  “Good. I’d expect nothing less. And I’ll do the same for you.”

  “Oh?”

  “It’s a live-in position, right?”

  “It is. And light housekeeping will also be required. But my primary concern is the well-being of my son. If I get called for an emergency in the middle of the night, trying to find child care could be a problem. I need someone there.”

  “So if I’ll be living under your roof, it would be a good idea for me to know something about you. That way, everyone feels better.” She shrugged then held out her hand. “It was very nice to meet you, Dr. Flint.”

  Justin wrapped his fingers around hers and felt a sizzle all the way up his arm. That was enough to make him want the next job applicant to actually be Mary Poppins. He needed to hire someone right away. His current nanny was very close to leaving him in a real bind when she headed back to the Sunshine State.

  So far, Emma Robbins was the most qualified applicant, if her references checked out. That made her the leading candidate. On the downside, he was too aware of her as a woman.

 
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