The Playboy's Own Miss Prim Read online

  Shotgun Ridge was founded in the 1800s by Addie Malone, a woman brave enough to take on five thieves and strong enough to tame the land around her. Now the town needed more women like Addie to rustle up its bachelors, make roots and keep Shotgun Ridge thriving. Four matchmaking old men were determined to help nature take its course, and this time they had their sights set on Ethan Callahan, the town playboy.

  Ethan lowered his head, stopped just bare inches from Dora’s lips, kept his gaze on hers. “Tell me something, legs. Where did you learn those bidding skills you displayed earlier?”

  Dora tilted her chin, brushed her lower body against his deliberately. “At my daddy’s church.”

  Her breath was warm against his lips, firing his fantasies. “Your daddy’s—You’re a preacher’s daughter?”

  “Is that a problem?”

  The little wench was doing her best not to laugh at him. “You’re darned right it’s a problem. I nearly seduced you right here in the bedroom.”

  “Oh, believe me, cowboy. You were a long way from seducing me.”

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to another joy-filled month of heart, home and happiness from Harlequin American Romance! We’re pleased to bring you four new stories filled with people you’ll always remember and romance you’ll never forget.

  We’ve got more excitement for you this month as MAITLAND MATERNITY continues with Jacqueline Diamond’s I Do! I Do! An elusive bachelor marries a lovely nurse for the sake of his twin nieces—will love turn their house into a home? Watch for twelve new books in this heartwarming series, starting next month from Harlequin Books!

  How does a proper preacher’s daughter tame the wildest man in the county? With a little help from a few Montana matchmakers determined to repopulate their town! Sparks are sure to fly in The Playboy’s Own Miss Prim, the latest BACHELORS OF SHOTGUN RIDGE story by Mindy Neff!

  An expectant mother, blinded from an accident, learns that the heart recognizes what the eye cannot see in Lisa Bingham’s touching novel Man Behind the Voice. And when a little boy refuses to leave his ranch home, his mother must make a deal with the brooding, sexy new owner. Don’t miss Carol Grace’s delightful Family Tree.

  Spice up your summer days with the best of Harlequin American Romance!

  Warm wishes,

  Melissa Jeglinski

  Associate Senior Editor

  The Playboy’s Own Miss Prim

  MINDY NEFF

  To Cherie:

  For brainstorming about cowboys and sexy guys—and for the friendship. Thanks, girlfriend.

  A billion hugs!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Originally from Louisiana, Mindy Neff settled in Southern California, where she married a really romantic guy and raised five great kids. Family, friends, writing and reading are her passions. When not writing, Mindy’s ideal getaway is a good book, hot sunshine and a chair at the river’s edge with water lapping at her toes.

  Mindy loves to hear from readers and can be reached at P.O. Box 2704-262, Huntington Beach, CA 92647.

  Books by Mindy Neff

  HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

  644—A FAMILY MAN

  663—ADAM’S KISS

  679—THE BAD BOY NEXT DOOR

  711—THEY’RE THE ONE!†

  739—A BACHELOR FOR THE BRIDE

  759—THE COWBOY IS A DADDY

  769—SUDDENLY A DADDY

  795—THE VIRGIN & HER BODYGUARD†

  800—THE PLAYBOY & THE MOMMY†

  809—A PREGNANCY AND A PROPOSAL

  830—THE RANCHER’S MAIL-ORDER BRIDE*

  834—THE PLAYBOY’S OWN MISS PRIM*

  Contents

  Prologue

  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

  Prologue

  Well, it pains me to say that Vanessa—God rest her sweet soul—is not real sure about this next plan me and the boys have hatched.

  Ozzie Peyton glanced lovingly at the oil painting of his beloved Vanessa that hung over the stone fireplace. For a moment the flicker of lamplight danced over the delicate blush of her face, and Ozzie could have sworn he saw her cherry lips curve. He gave a smile and turned his attention back to his journal writing. Folks didn’t realize he consulted Vanessa about everything he did. They just wouldn’t understand.

  He licked the end of his medium-tip, black ink pen.

  Me and Lloyd and Henry and Vern read a newspaper piece on an outfit out in Los Angeles, California, that held a fancy biddin’ auction where the goods was a handsome, interesting date for the night. This shindig was for a charity cause—and that got us to thinkin’ we ought to do something like that right here in town. Besides, Vernon pointed out that Shotgun Ridge was as good a cause for charity as anything. After all, we’re dying here. In a town with mostly men and hardly any young women, everybody agrees that we’re definitely ailing.

  I tell you what, though, we’ve got a pretty darn good start—on getting us some women, that is. Was a little touch-and-go there for a while, but Wyatt Malone is happier than a cow in clover over his new family.

  And that’s what our cause is all about. Women and babies and families. Vanessa warned me to take it slow, and that’s how come we’ve waited such a spell to make our next move. (That and the fact that none of us wanted to admit we didn’t know the first thing about no bachelor auctions.) And the more we got into it, the more nervous we got—especially Lloyd, but I think that was on account of his Mrs. (Iris) jawing at him. She tends to do that a lot, but Lloyd don’t seem to mind.

  Anyhow, we got to worrying that we might have jumped into a situation where we couldn’t at least halfway guarantee the outcome—and I gotta say, controlling the outcome of most anything is a big thing with me. A fault, I’m told, but there it is. Take me as I am.

  Vanessa, good woman that she is, never said a cross word or an “I told you so.” That’s because she always had such faith in me, and that’s something that makes a man feel about ten feet tall.

  But I’m digressing here. Me and the boys got a mite worried over this here bachelor auction we had planned—and I mean we had it planned. Yessiree, right down to the catered dinner and the requiring of fancy duds. Just so happens there’s this new little gal in town who does the best cooking and catering…but more on her at another time.

  Right now me and the boys are concentrating on Ethan Callahan. A ladies’ man if there ever was one. And a fine catch. But he’s so busy lovin’ ’em all, he’s missing out on the joy of lovin’ just the one.

  But like I was sayin’, this auction shindig threatened to get totally out of our hands, and I’m kind of liking the idea of being able to nudge here and there, to choose just the right match for just the right fellow. ’Cept my mind don’t work in a bunch of directions at once, and I like to concentrate on one thing at a time—a hard thing to do when you can’t control who’s biddin’ on who. Me and the boys had a scuffle or two over it—no punches thrown, mind you, but a few verbal barbs. And then, right about the time I was all set to scrap the whole idea, the details fell into place like a lasso over a calf’s neck. ’Course we all should have known and trusted that the good Lord does his best work in mysterious ways. (Vanessa had to remind me of that, and I did appreciate it.)

  And wouldn’t ya just know it, the perfect little filly has turned up….

  Never mind Vernon’s comment abo
ut saints and sinners and babies…I’m not questioning the Man Upstairs on this one!

  Chapter One

  Ethan Callahan tugged at the collar of his tuxedo shirt. He owned two of these penguin suits, was comfortable in them, but he’d just as soon be wearing his jeans and hat.

  He couldn’t believe he’d actually let the old folks railroad him into this ridiculous bachelor auction. A black-tie affair at Brewer’s Saloon, of all places. Owned by Lloyd and Iris Brewer, it was down-home cooking, jukebox tunes and the gathering place for friends and visitors to the town of Shotgun Ridge, Montana.

  “Well, now. You look right dapper,” Ozzie Peyton said. “You bet.”

  “I feel like an idiot.” He half glared at the three old fellas who considered themselves the town matchmakers. The fourth was out in the main room of the saloon on a makeshift stage gleefully emceeing the auction.

  They’d gotten it into their heads that the town needed women and babies. And their latest scheme to accomplish that goal was this bachelor auction.

  Well they could just turn their sights on someone else. Ethan had no intention of getting married and having babies. He liked his life just the way it was, thank you very much.

  He’d agreed to be auctioned off. One date. One night. Fairly harmless if a man stayed on his toes. And if he were to be totally honest, he’d have to admit that it could be fun. He loved women, considered himself a connoisseur of sorts, so a date with one wouldn’t be a hardship at all.

  But he wasn’t going to admit that to any one of the four old matchmakers. They were too full of themselves as it was.

  “I don’t know why you won’t just let me write you a check. You know I can afford to give you a lot more than you’ll make on this fiasco.”

  “Oh, stop your fussin’ and your braggin’,” Ozzie admonished, giving a tug to Ethan’s bow tie.

  Ethan smothered a grin as he looked down at Shotgun Ridge’s mayor. Seventy-something, Ozzie was still sharp as a tack, with steel-gray hair and piercing blue eyes. The man meddled, but he was genuinely goodhearted. And he was acting kind of strange, fidgety.

  “She should’ve been here.” Ozzie muttered to himself.

  “Who?”

  The old man’s hand stilled, then he brushed at a nonexistent speck of lint on Ethan’s tuxedo jacket, his vivid eyes wide with false innocence. “No one, uh, I mean Iris should have been back here by now to get you.”

  That was a blatant lie, and Ethan started to get a bad feeling. He remembered what the four meddlers had done to his neighbor and friend, Wyatt Malone. Presented him with a mail-order bride. Hannah and her son, Ian, were exactly what Wyatt had needed, and Ethan had even found himself aiding and abetting. Matchmaking, he thought with a shudder—but he wasn’t going to be caught in the same trap. “What are you up to, Ozzie?”

  “I’ve never known you to be dense, son.” Ozzie gave him a pitying look. “We’re up to a bachelor auction, that’s what. You bet. And I just imagine a fair amount of these ladies will want to stay right here in Shotgun Ridge. A fine class they are, too. They got money to buy a date, they’re likely high quality, and if they take it in their heads to migrate here to our fine town, well that’s just a bonus.”

  “Ozzie Peyton, you’re sounding like a snob.”

  “I am not.” He looked appalled. “Rich or poor, an executive or a…a church girl, they’ll be welcome. Now put on that lady-killer smile and get ready to go on the stage. I’ll just run on out and see how things are going. You bet.”

  Ozzie rushed out, and Ethan felt nerves crowd in. For crying out loud, it was only a little acting, a stroll down a raised plywood stage, a couple of turns. He was master of his own destiny, he reminded himself, a sophisticated man. He’d once dated a press secretary at the White House and dined with the president. He could handle five minutes on a stage.

  As much as he pretended to gripe, there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for Ozzie Peyton or this town. He owed them.

  But when he got home, he was going to kill his two brothers for hightailing it out of town and abandoning him this way.

  “Okay, Ethan, you’re on.” Vern and Henry all but shoved him through the swinging saloon doors and onto the stage.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got a treat for sure,” Lloyd extolled, his voice booming through the microphone. “This here’s our major beef—not to disparage any of our other fine bachelors, mind you.”

  Major beef? For the love of God, Ethan felt his face heat with the flush of embarrassment.

  “Our next and final bachelor up for bid is Ethan Callahan. A fine catch, I’m telling you. A renown horse breeder residing right here in Shotgun Ridge. If it’s a fancy five-star dinner in a swanky city you’ve a hankering for, or a hike through Yellowstone, this man has the means to make your dreams come true. He’ll fly you there in his own personal airplane or squire you in one of his flashy cars—though I’m sure there’s a sin somewhere in owning more than one pleasure vehicle,” Lloyd added dryly.

  Hoots and hollers ensued, and it was just the thing to relax Ethan. He was extremely proud of every one of his toys, from the ’Vette to the chopper. And if Lloyd teasingly hinted that it was gluttony to own three cars as well as all the other stuff, so be it. Pastor Lucas would just have to pray harder over Ethan’s soul.

  Because Ethan was a man who loved to have fun. And from the sound and enthusiasm of this crowd, they were definitely festive and out for a good time.

  Okay, he thought, grinning and winking at a brunette in gold sequins. I can get into this.

  Unbuttoning his tuxedo jacket, he slid a hand in one pocket of his trousers and poured on the charm, working the crowd of women who were raising their hands faster than Lloyd could ask for a bid or raise the amount.

  His grin widened, and he scanned the room. He had to hand it to the old guys. They knew how to pack a room and they threw a heck of a party. The place was filled with glittering, sweet-smelling ladies. At this rate the town balance was likely to tip in the opposite direction—too many women and not enough cowboys. He kind of liked the sound of that.

  Competitive spirit and ego reared up as he worked the room with his eyes, enticing women to up their bids. If he had to be a part of this crazy plan, he might as well turn it into a challenge, make sure he commanded a higher price than his neighbors or employees.

  His gaze swept past the door, then slammed back, causing him to stop his performance mid-stride.

  Oh, man, he thought when his brain finally kicked back in gear. Here comes trouble in a tight pair of jeans.

  As though he’d spoken the thought aloud, her gaze honed in on his, held.

  And for an instant Ethan forgot to draw a breath.

  She was a dynamite package, self-assured, holding his stare when most women would have coyly looked away. That alone intrigued him…and turned him on.

  He raised a brow. An invitation.

  She appeared to struggle with a reluctant smile, then shifted her attention, only pausing for a bare instant as she noted the dressy attire in the rest of the room versus her casual sweater and jeans. With a nearly imperceptible shrug, she gave her head a gentle shake, flicked her honey-blond hair off her shoulders and strolled into the room as though she wore a sexy floor-length silk gown and diamonds. With a smile she let Ozzie direct her to an empty seat. Right up front.

  Mmm, yes indeed, Ethan thought, following her progress with his eyes, his gaze riveted on the sassy sway of her hips in those skintight jeans. Mighty fine.

  Suddenly the evening took on a new energy.

  But he was falling down on his performance. He was supposed to flirt with all the women. Even though he’d already set his sights on just the one.

  He smiled at a man in the audience who’d obviously been intrigued by the blonde’s entrance, too, and the man smiled back. A guy-to-guy communication, Ethan thought, then missed a step when the young man raised his hand.

  Surely not.

  A slight frown tugged at his brows. Llo
yd accepted the bid, then another right on its heels—from a woman, thank God. And then…

  Shocked, Ethan watched the guy raise his hand again. He nearly stumbled, actually stopped moving for a full five seconds and gawked. Then he jerked his gaze away. Was he encouraging the guy? A guy!

  The dish in jeans gave a nod of her head, and Lloyd acknowledged it. Ethan started to breathe easier, and told himself he would not look back at the male bidder. But he did. And the man’s hand was up again.

  Genuine panic set in.

  My God, the bid was already up to five thousand dollars!

  Lloyd was apparently having trouble with his voice and his reflexes, because he was extremely slow to notice when the blonde put her hand up again. He was too busy staring, flabbergasted, at the man who was bidding.

  Ethan was beginning to think he’d have to totally embarrass himself and point out the woman who was discreetly attempting to top the bid. He felt a bit like a dog running in circles trying to get his master’s attention, and he nearly shouted out the acknowledgment himself. But Lloyd found his stride once more.

  And darn it all, studly tuxedo man raised his hand again.

  Ethan’s brows slammed down. My God, nothing had prepared him for this.

  The room went silent.

  “Six thousand going once…” Lloyd called, a nervous quaver to his voice.

  No one made a move.

  Ethan’s gaze whipped to the blonde. She was actually smirking. Okay, fine. Six thousand dollars was a staggering amount of money to most people. He’d pay it himself, he tried to tell her with his eyes.

  “Six thousand going twice…”

  “Please!” He formed the word silently with his mouth.

  Dora Watkins struggled valiantly with her grin. She’d never seen a sexy cowboy so flustered. And she’d heard enough about playboy Ethan Callahan to know that wasn’t a characteristic state for him.

  When her father had told her to meet up with Ozzie Peyton at Brewer’s Saloon for an introduction to the wealthy Shotgun Ridge cowboy, she’d had no idea it would be in the middle of a bachelor auction. But Dora was known to think on her feet and take most anything in stride.