Be My Midnight Kiss Read online

  It’s New Year’s Eve…and now or never for these two hearts

  When a woman with no faith in love meets the quintessential nice guy determined to breach her mile-high walls, sparks fly as both fight a decidedly unwelcome but equally unavoidable attraction.

  Steph Hargrove was a bombshell, a sexy, intrepid woman operating in the business world with guts, brains and daring. She was accustomed to going after whatever she wanted until a man she called friend betrayed her and the company she’d helped build—and nearly killed her in the process. Since that time, she’s been a shadow of the wild, wicked woman who’d carved a swath through her world.

  Gavin O’Neill is an artisan with wood, a gardener, a restorer of battered homes and a savior of strays. When first he meets the wounded woman who postures as invincible and worldly, the sadness in her eyes draws him even more than her lush figure does. However she insists otherwise, he sees that she needs the kindness and friendship he can give that to her while he’s waiting for the woman of his dreams, who will be small and soft and sweet, different in every way from the woman he keeps returning to see.

  Yet while he’s not interested in the virago and she refuses to be nurtured, a potent attraction keeps them circling each other. And while they’re busy listing the reasons they’re unsuited, something powerful is growing between them.

  New Year’s Eve is for lovers and new beginnings…will these two stubborn souls take the risk?

  THE TEXAS HEROES SERIES

  The Gallaghers of Morning Star

  Texas Secrets

  Texas Lonely

  Texas Bad Boy

  The Marshalls

  Texas Refuge

  Texas Star

  Texas Danger

  The Gallaghers of Sweetgrass Springs

  Texas Roots

  Texas Wild

  Texas Dreams

  Texas Rebel

  Texas Blaze

  Texas Christmas Bride

  The Book Babes of Austin

  Texas Ties

  Texas Troubles

  Texas Together

  More Sweetgrass Springs Stories

  Texas Hope

  Texas Strong

  Texas Sweet

  Be Mine This Christmas

  Texas Charm

  Texas Magic

  Be My Midnight Kiss

  Lone Star Lovers

  Texas Heartthrob

  Texas Healer

  Texas Protector

  Texas Deception

  Texas Lost

  Texas Wanderer

  Texas Bodyguard

  Texas Rescue

  Be My Midnight Kiss

  A Sweetgrass Springs Story

  Jean Brashear

  Copyright © 2017 Jean Brashear

  EPUB Edition

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  © Covers by Stacy Stephens

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  Dedication

  I can’t begin to thank you enough, all of you lovely readers who want to return with me to Sweetgrass Springs each time! Your enthusiasm for this little town and the time we all spend there is such a blessing. Thank you for every review you write, every note you send me, every comment or like or share—they may not be that big a deal to you, but I promise you they mean the world to me!

  I am so grateful for each and every one of you for the trust you express each time you choose to try another of my stories. It’s an honor and a privilege I never take for granted.

  So this one’s for you, all you Sweetgrass Springs lovers. May the spirit of this town where hope never fades and love never dies give your own hearts some of the same joy and respite it gives mine.

  And, always and forever, for Ercel, for more reasons than the number of stars in the sky.

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  About Be My Midnight Kiss

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  The Families of Sweetgrass Springs

  Cast of Characters

  Map of Sweetgrass Springs

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Excerpt from Texas Heartthrob

  About the Author

  Connect With Jean

  To see a larger version of the current generations of Sweetgrass Springs founding families, click or tap here

  To see a larger version of the current generations of Sweetgrass Springs founding families, click or tap here

  SWEETGRASS SPRINGS

  Cast of Characters

  (titles in parentheses mark a character’s primary story)

  THE FOUR FOUNDING FAMILIES:

  THE GALLAGHERS (Josiah Gallagher, Sweetgrass Springs founder)

  Ruby Gallagher – diner owner and the heart and soul of this struggling small town

  James Gallagher – Ruby’s brother and father of twins Jackson and Penny plus Rissa.

  Scarlett Ross – Ruby’s granddaughter, New York chef whose deceased mother Georgia never told her they had family in Texas (Texas Roots, Texas Dreams)

  Jackson Gallagher – video game tycoon and prodigal son of James who’s been missing for twenty years (Texas Rebel, Texas Christmas Bride)

  Penelope Gallagher – Jackson’s twin sister, shark lawyer who left Sweetgrass Springs behind (Texas Blaze, Texas Christmas Bride)

  Clarissa Gallagher – youngest child of James and horse whisperer; the only one of James’s children who cares about the ranch (Texas Wild)

  THE MCLARENS (Ronald McLaren, Sweetgrass Springs founder)

  Gordon McLaren – owner of the Double Bar M Ranch with his son Ian (Texas Hope)

  Ian McLaren – Gordon’s son whose mother abandoned him as a child; now runs Double Bar M Ranch. Unofficial mayor of Sweetgrass Springs and its mainstay alongside Ruby (Texas Roots, Texas Dreams)

  Sophia McLaren Cavanaugh – the mother Ian has never forgiven for leaving him behind (Texas Hope)

  Michael Cavanaugh – Ian’s half-brother by Sophia’s second husband. Neither Michael nor Ian was ever told the other exists (The Book Babes, Texas Hope)

  THE PATTONS (Tobias Patton, Sweetgrass Springs founder)

  Vernon Patton – deceased, abusive father of Veronica and Theodore (Tank)

  Veronica Patton Butler – Jackson Gallagher’s teenage sweetheart left behind when he vanished. She married Jackson’s close friend David Butler. Owner of a flower farm and David’s widow (Texas Rebel, Texas Christmas Bride)

  Theodore “Tank” Patton – deputy sheriff and the most reviled man in Sweetgrass Springs (Texas Hope)

  THE BUTLERS (Benjamin Butler, Sweetgrass Springs founder)

  Raymond Butler – deceased father of David Butler

  David Butler – one of the most beloved citizens of Sweetgrass Springs. High school buddies with Jackson Gallagher, Ian McLaren and Randall Mackey. Died leaving his widow Veronica with a son Ben and twins Abby and Beth.

  Beth Butler – David’s sister who died in the car accident that caused Jackson Gallagher to be banished


  OTHER IMPORTANT SWEETGRASS SPRINGS CHARACTERS:

  Randall Mackey, close friend of Ian McLaren, Jackson Gallagher and David Butler. Joined the Navy after high school; became a SEAL. After leaving the service, wound up as a stuntman in Hollywood (Texas Wild)

  Bridger Calhoun, former SEAL buddy of Mackey’s, now a firefighter (Texas Blaze, Texas Christmas Bride)

  Harley Sykes (wife Melba, a quilter) – one of the coffee group that meets every morning at Ruby’s. One of the town’s most colorful characters.

  Raymond Benefield (wife Nita, also a quilter) – one of the coffee group regulars.

  Arnie Howard – coffee group regular at Ruby’s who’s been warming Ruby’s bed for many years but can never convince her to marry him

  Jeanette Carson – sharp-tongued veteran waitress at Ruby’s. Attended high school a few years behind Ian McLaren, for whom she’s been carrying a torch for years (Texas Charm)

  Brenda Jones – skittish teenaged waitress at Ruby’s who just showed up in Sweetgrass one day and has secrets she keeps (Texas Sweet)

  Henry Jansen – busboy turned cook at Ruby’s; young man whose chivalry towards Brenda turns to blushes when noticed (Texas Sweet)

  Spike Ridley – tattooed Goth pastry chef with an attitude; her skills are unparalleled, but her motto might as well be “have mixer will travel.”

  Walker Roundtree – country music superstar; spars with Jeanette and performs at several Sweetgrass weddings (Texas Charm)

  Chapter One

  Austin, Texas

  Laken Foster arrived at the storefront beneath Stephanie Hargrove’s downtown loft and buzzed to be let in.

  “Come on up.” Steph unlocked her door as her energetic friend moved up the stairs at less than her usual warp speed.

  “There are perfectly great condos with elevators all over downtown now,” Laken pointed out.

  Steph shrugged. “This works for me.”

  “Are you really glad you moved to Austin? Everyone in Sweetgrass misses you.”

  “That’s nice to hear.” But she didn’t want to discuss the matter. It was not the fault of the good people of that tiny town that she felt more alone surrounded by all the loving couples, all the romance she’d never be part of, than when she was all by herself. “I’ll get my purse. Want me to drive to book club?” She’d been invited to join Laken’s reading group, the Book Babes, and appreciated the new friends she’d made.

  “Nah. My car is parked illegally a block away. Let’s make tracks before I get a ticket.”

  “Or towed. You know how downtown works.”

  “My place in SoCo didn’t have garage space either. I learned to be pretty creative about finding street parking.”

  “You miss living in the city.”

  “No, of course not—” Laken exhaled in a gust. “Not exactly. Michael isn’t in Sweetgrass, and I don’t want to be without him.”

  “He’d move for you.”

  “He would, but his veterinary practice is in the country. He loves it there. Sweetgrass is too far to commute, and he gets called out at all hours.”

  “But you could telecommute from here, too. You know Jackson would let you.” They both worked for Enigma Games, Jackson Gallagher’s enormously successful video gaming company. Laken had come onboard as in-house counsel after falling in love with Michael Cavanaugh, while Steph had been with Enigma since its early days in Seattle.

  She’d been betrayed there. Nearly died there. Had trusted the wrong man and been frozen ever since.

  She’d thought she was finished at Jackson’s company, certain that her bad judgment couldn’t be forgiven, but Jackson Gallagher was as loyal to his people as they were to him. He’d given her a long sabbatical to recover but insisted her marketing skills made her indispensable to Enigma.

  Laken glanced away. “We’re not talking about me. How come you left, really? Did something happen?”

  “Nothing happened. The city suits me better. I don’t need to be in the office with Jackson that often, anyway. I’ve actually thought about returning to Seattle. As long as I have internet, I can handle my job from anywhere…”

  “But—?”

  “Seattle has a lot of memories I’m not sure I’m ready to face, but I also don’t really fit the Sweetgrass lifestyle. All those ridiculously happy couples—” Abruptly she registered Laken’s unhappy expression. “Wait—is something going on with you and Michael?” However envious she was of all those couples so deeply in love, she wouldn’t wish strife on any of them. Some of them, like Jackson himself, had suffered greatly before finding love.

  An odd expression flitted over Laken’s features. “Something’s going on, all right,” she muttered.

  Abruptly she went pale and clutched her stomach. She grabbed Steph’s arm. “Sorry—” She raced for the bathroom and slammed the door.

  From behind it came the unmistakable sounds of retching.

  Swell. Laken was sick and was going to share the wealth. Steph willed her own too-sympathetic stomach not to join the club. After several deep breaths, she approached the door. “Want me to call Michael or take you to an urgent care clinic or—”

  “No!” A flush. Water running. The door opened and a panicky Laken tried to smile. “Don’t. Please. I’ll be fine—”

  Abruptly her face took on a nasty greenish cast. She slammed the door again.

  Where is my hand sanitizer? Steph was reaching for her phone while looking for a bottle. She searched for Michael on her phone contacts.

  The door opened again. “You don’t need to call anyone,” Laken said, sagging against the door.

  “Of course I do. Michael would want to know, and I’ll call the group to tell them we aren’t going to make it. We’re driving to get you help first—”

  “I’m beyond help.”

  Steph’s mind went wild with frightening suppositions—

  Until she realized Laken was smiling.

  Then abruptly her friend’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m not sick. I’m…pregnant.” She tried to smile again, but instead her face crumpled. “I’m…” She closed her eyes. “Pregnant.” Her hand covered her mouth.

  Steph’s brows rose. “But it’s evening. Morning sickness—”

  “Leave it to me to do it all ass-backwards. I’m just dandy in the mornings and most all day. I don’t know if Junior here is a night owl or simply perverse.” She laid a hand on her stomach, a few more tears spilling over.

  Yet there was wonder shining through the fear.

  Steph couldn’t tell how she should respond. “Um…congratulations?”

  Sunny once more, Laken chuckled. “Call Michael with those. He’s over the moon and insanely happy—or he would be if I’d just marry him.”

  They’d been together for two years, and Michael had made no bones of the fact that he wanted them to be together forever. Laken was the roadblock to making their bond permanent. “You’re not happy about this? You—of course you know there are options.”

  “Not for me. Living with a man who’s devoted his life to saving every furry species on earth? Who would sell his soul for me to help him repopulate the earth all by ourselves?”

  “But if you don’t want this baby—”

  Laken’s eyes were stark with both fear and longing. “I want it more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.” Brusquely she scrubbed at her wet cheeks. “But what do I know about being a mother? My parents have been divorced forever, and I mostly raised myself. Michael’s baby deserves the best mom in the world, and I—I’m not—I can’t—I don’t know how to—”

  Steph froze in place. What was she supposed to say to make things better? Her own mother had chosen the sweet surrender of drugs over her daughter. She knew less than Laken did about good mothering.

  Laken shoved to standing. “And listen to me, whiney-babying it. I’m the luckiest woman ever that Michael lost his mind and fell in love with me. Heaven knows he could raise this baby singlehanded. He’ll be the best dad in the world b
ut me, I—” She sank to the sofa. “I don’t know if I can do this. And I don’t want to go see Earth Mother Ellie tonight because she’ll tell me how easy it all is, how you just have to love them and love their father and everything will be fine.” She shook her head. “I’ve barely figured out how to take care of the dog Michael gave me. Plus everyone in Sweetgrass will be watching me and they’re all like Ellie, such amazing mothers, but I’m going to do everything wrong. I just know it.”

  Wow. Steph wanted to help this woman who was a kindred spirit, who’d become such a good friend, but Steph understood Laken’s fears only too well. Some women weren’t meant to be mothers. Her own had been one of them, and Steph was no different.

  Laken did, however, have the best man in the world at her side.

  Right now, though, Laken wouldn’t want Michael’s easy assurance because Michael couldn’t understand. He’d never doubted his own ability to love, but she knew from conversations with Laken that her friend and she shared that essential awareness of the lack in themselves.

  “Penny didn’t want to get married or have babies, but look at her. She’s an awesome mom to JJ.”

  “Yeah, she was a shark lawyer like me, but at least she grew up in Sweetgrass. Her parents loved each other until the day her mother died, and her father still hasn’t gotten over losing Mary. Plus Penny has Bridger.”

  Steph understood. “Bridger and Michael are a lot alike. They’re both healers. Nurturers.” And seriously hot. Some women had it all.

  “Penny belongs there. I don’t. I could have left and gone back to my life until this happened. I always figured one day Michael would tire of my BS, and we’d just…part ways. Remain good friends.”

  Steph snorted. “Seriously?”

  “No, of course not. I was never going to be nice about splitting up. I’d be boiling bunnies.”

  Steph laughed, and Laken chuckled.

  Then her face crumpled again. “But now—” Her face was a study in misery. “We’ll be tied together forever, and I don’t want him to be with me because of this child. I’ve been that kid, living in a house filled with hard feelings. And the all-out battles over custody—”