Read Rocky Mountain Valentine Online
Authors: Carol Steward
Rocky Mountain Valentine
A Forever Valentine?
As a photojournalist, Lisa Berthoff knew better than to let her personal feelings about a subject interfere with a job. But when the subject was rugged cowboy Adam MacIntyre and his beautiful ranch, Lisa found it impossible to stay objective. Not when, for the first time, Lisa felt like she was home—on the ranch…and in Adam’s arms.
Adam knew what he wanted out of life: to live on the land of his ancestors and stay close to his family. Then along came footloose Lisa Berthoff, who was distant from her sisters and lived out of a suitcase. His siblings might have all happily marched down the aisle, but Adam wasn’t about to fall for a drifter who didn’t believe in settling down. Or was it already too late?
Dear Reader,
Home, family, community and love. These are the values we cherish most in our lives—the ideals that ground us, comfort us, move us. They certainly provide the perfect inspiration around which to build a romance collection that will touch the heart.
And so we are thrilled to offer you the Harlequin Heartwarming series. Each of these special stories is a wholesome, heartfelt romance imbued with the traditional values so important to you. They are books you can share proudly with friends and family. And the authors featured in this collection are some of the most talented storytellers writing today, including favorites such as Roz Denny Fox, Margaret Daley and Mary Anne Wilson. We’ve selected these stories especially for you based on their overriding qualities of emotion and tenderness, and they center on your favorite themes—children, weddings, second chances, the reunion of families, the quest to find a true home and, of course, sweet romance.
So curl up in your favorite chair, relax and prepare for a heartwarming reading experience!
Sincerely,
The Editors
CAROL STEWARD
To Carol Steward, selling a book is much like riding a roller coaster—every step of the process, every sale brings that exhilarating high. During the less exciting times, she’s busy gathering ideas and refilling her cup. Writing brings a much-needed balance to her life, as she has her characters share lessons she herself has learned.
When she’s not working at the University of Northern Colorado, you can usually find her spending time with her husband of more than thirty years, writing and being thankful she survived raising her own three children to reap the rewards of playing with her adorable grandchildren. Throughout all the different seasons of life, she’s learned to simplify her life and appreciate her many blessings.
Carol Steward
Rocky Mountain Valentine
I’d like to thank my husband, Dave, and my kids, Sarah, Matthew and Scott.
It’s not always easy having a writer for a wife and mother, yet they keep encouraging me, even when the going gets tough.
Dedication
To my two dads: Tom Bohannan and Jack Steward.
We miss you more each day!
Contents
PROLOGUE
L
ISA
B
ERTHOFF WATCHED
the quarter-size flakes of snow swirl in the darkness as her sister and brother-in-law drove away for their honeymoon. Guests left and family hurried around, cleaning up after the wedding and reception. No one wanted to be stranded at the church. The blizzard had dumped twelve inches in the three hours since they had arrived.
On her way up the stairs to the bridal suite, she glanced at the bride’s bouquet, caught in the crystal chandelier. “That could only have happened to Katarina,” she said with a chuckle.
Adam MacIntyre, the groom’s youngest brother added, “It’s becoming a family trait, getting the bouquet caught on something.”
Lisa smiled. “Oh, yeah. Emily’s caught in the tree—I forgot about that. Guess I was only concerned with how to avoid catching it.” Lisa had been expecting Katarina to throw the bouquet to her or Adam since they were the only unmarried siblings left.
“You’re not superstitious, are you? That was only a coincidence.”
“Superstitious? Not me, but I saw you hiding across the room.” Lisa laughed. “Don’t tell me you weren’t half expecting our families to set us up. First Emily and Kevin caught a bouquet, and six months later they’re married. Five months later Alex and Katarina catch Emily’s bouquet, and eight months later—”
“Doesn’t matter now, does it?” He motioned toward the chandelier. “We’re free from the wedding curse. What do we need to finish up here? Since Kevin had a car full of people, and the rest of the family went to their hotels, I agreed to make sure you get home okay before I leave.”
Lisa had convinced her mother and eldest sister, Emily, that she could make it to Katarina’s house without a problem. Leave it to them to arrange for an escort. “I just need to load the cake into Katarina’s van and get my things from upstairs. I won’t be long. You can go on home.”
“Katarina and Alex’s house is on my way out of town. Besides, I don’t think Kat’s van is going anywhere on these roads. I’ll take care of the cake.”
Lisa ran upstairs, gathered her things and put them into her bag. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, and paused. She swayed back and forth, watching the fabric move in fluid motion, then spun on one foot and watched the dress fan out and swirl around her legs.
“Katarina’s quite a seamstress. All three of you looked beautiful in your dresses.”
Lisa turned. She swallowed a lump of embarrassment at being caught doing something so childish. Adam was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossing his chest. The MacIntyre men looked handsome as ever in their tuxes. Adam was no exception. “Thank you. You and your brothers clean up pretty nicely yourselves.” She turned to find her purse. “I thought you were taking the cake to the van.”
“It had already been taken care of by the pastor, our family friend Mike. I thought I’d better see if you had anything else to carry down. Mike doesn’t think his car will make it, so I offered to give him a ride home, too.”
After a quick glance to make sure she had everything, Lisa slipped into the leather coat Katarina had loaned her. “Sorry for the delay.” She felt her cheeks heat up again and grabbed her purse.
“Not a problem. I rather enjoyed watching your little dance.”
She faced Adam, waiting for him to move out of the way. “It was terribly rude of you not to let me know you were there.”
“Did you expect me to join you?”
She tried to take her eyes off his dark brown gaze and his wide smile. “Dream on. My boyfriend would not appreciate me dancing with someone else, even if you and I are practically related.”
“Then again, he’s not here, is he?”
Lisa tried to get past Adam. “We’re keeping Mike waiting.”
Adam chuckled. “Mike’s going to have a long wait if he’s waiting on me. I dodged that bouquet.”
“You are a true cad,” she said, pushing her way past him. “If you think I was implying...” She stopped and spun around to face him again. “I didn’t...” Lisa lifted her finger to lecture him, then decided it wasn’t worth the effort and continued down the stairs.
Adam followed. “Everyone knows this MacIntyre will avoid the altar at all costs.”
“Doesn’t appear to be an immediate problem, does it?” Lisa snapped, picking up her pace.
“You ought to talk.” Adam smiled.
Lisa ignored his remark.
Mike looked up as Lisa and Adam made their way down the stairs. “I need to go get my briefcase from my car. I’ll meet you at your truck.” Mike opened the door and stepped outside. A strong gust of wind blew past them, rattling the chandelier.
Lisa sucked in a breath of icy air and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she saw the bridal bouquet blow loose, right into her hands.
Lisa ducked as another piece flew past her and hit Adam in the chest.
Lisa stared at the bouquet in horror.
“Not superstitious, huh? Tell you what,” Adam suggested. “Let’s keep this
our
little secret.”
“Keep what a secret?” Lisa countered. She tossed the bouquet on the stairs. “I didn’t see a thing.”
CHAPTER ONE
One Year Later
L
ISA
B
ERTHOFF SWITCHED
her cell to her other ear and eased the sporty rental car to the shoulder of Highway 1.
“Lisa, Francie here. I need you in Colorado to do the story on a bed-and-breakfast. We’re backlogged for weeks. Your ticket’s waiting at the airport. Leaves this afternoon.”
“When?” Lisa’s voice rose an octave. She looked longingly at the Pacific Ocean.
Tell me I’m not hearing this.
“Come on, Francie. I finally make it to the coast just in time for the migration of the whales, and you send me off to cover a bed-and-breakfast?” She shouldn’t complain. A job was a job, even a temporary assignment.
“What’s wrong? Did you finally meet someone to take your mind off of Dale?”
“That’s not it at all. He did me a favor by leaving. I was just hoping to see the sights while I was here this time. I’ve been going full speed for months. Give me a couple of days.” She hoped her hard work would pay off soon. Lisa had bailed the magazine out of more binds this past year than she had had dates.
“Sorry to tell you this, dear, but we really need you to get moving on this right away.”
