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The Secret Christmas Child
Lee Tobin McClain
His high school sweetheart returns with a baby…And a devastating secret. Reese Markowski can’t believe he’s hiring his ex-girlfriend—but to save his program for dogs and at-risk kids, he needs Gabby Hanks. Single mum Gabby’s fierce love for her infant daughter is undeniable, as is the child’s effect on Reese’s wounded heart. Their Christmas reunion is a joyful surprise, but nothing prepares Reese for the truth about Gabby’s baby…
Will a fresh start heal old wounds?
His high school sweetheart returns with a baby...
And a devastating secret.
Reese Markowski can’t believe he’s hiring his ex-girlfriend—but to save his program for dogs and at-risk kids, the veteran needs Gabby Hanks. Single mom Gabby’s fierce love for her infant daughter is undeniable, as is the child’s effect on Reese’s wounded heart. Their holiday reunion is a joyful surprise, but nothing prepares Reese for the truth about Gabby’s baby...
Rescue Haven
LEE TOBIN McCLAIN read Gone with the Wind in the third grade and has been a hopeless romantic ever since. When she’s not writing angst-filled love stories with happy endings, she’s getting inspiration from her church singles group, her gymnastics-obsessed teenage daughter, and her rescue dog and cat. In her day job, Lee gets to encourage aspiring romance writers in Seton Hill University’s low-residency MFA program. Visit her at leetobinmcclain.com (http://leetobinmcclain.com).
Also By Lee Tobin McClain (#ucfa43be2-673c-5324-b297-72b3a3f03621)
Rescue Haven
The Secret Christmas Child
Redemption Ranch
The Soldier’s Redemption
The Twins’ Family Christmas
The Nanny’s Secret Baby
Rescue River
Engaged to the Single Mom
His Secret Child
Small-Town Nanny
The Soldier and the Single Mom
The Soldier’s Secret Child
A Family for Easter
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
The Secret Christmas Child
Lee Tobin McClain
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-0-008-90067-0
THE SECRET CHRISTMAS CHILD
© 2019 Lee Tobin McClain
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Note to Readers (#ucfa43be2-673c-5324-b297-72b3a3f03621)
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Text to speech
“Reese, I’m sorry about what happened before.”
Gabby looked into his eyes.
He frowned at her. “You mean...after I went into the service?”
She nodded and swallowed hard. “Something happened, and I couldn’t... I couldn’t keep the promise I made.”
That something being another guy, Izzy’s father. He drew in a breath. Was he going to hold on to his hurt feelings about what had happened?
Looking into her eyes, he breathed out the last of his anger.
“It’s understood.”
“Thank you,” she said simply. She held his gaze for another moment and then looked down and away.
It had been so long since he’d been part of a real, good family that he’d forgotten he wanted it. Tonight, with her family, made him realize how much he wanted one of his own.
But in the back of his mind, a voice of caution warned. She’d already broken his heart once before. He shouldn’t get too close again.
Dear Reader (#ucfa43be2-673c-5324-b297-72b3a3f03621),
Thank you for reading book one in my new Rescue Haven series. Since I love dogs and have a heart for at-risk kids, the Rescue Haven program was really fun for me to write...especially since it takes place at Christmastime, where sledding and church pageants and visits from Santa add to the fun.
The assault Gabby endured, her lonely pregnancy and the initial harsh judgments made by Reese and others are the darker side of this particular story. Darkness is part of life, but how fortunate we are to know a God who can bring joy out of sorrow. Izzy is the wonderful blessing that emerges from the pain of Gabby’s past.
If you felt there was a little extra emotion in the portrayal of the senior dog Bundi, you are right. Bundi is modeled on my sister’s dog. She’s fifteen years old and needs a little extra help navigating the world these days, but she still loves biscuits, belly rubs and everyone she meets. We could all learn a thing or two from Bundi!
Wishing you a very happy Christmas,
Lee
For I will turn their mourning into joy.
—Jeremiah 31:13
To Dana R. Lynn and Rachel Dylan
Contents
Cover (#u66aaf7bc-f989-52eb-b1b8-fb33e3961c85)
Back Cover Text (#u1ee6fbb8-12be-529e-a55b-bd0e8430fb49)
About the Author (#ucdb14607-99d2-5815-bd1a-612a3fdc3906)
Booklist (#u0487eb30-8907-51ca-b71a-cd35770a1e9b)
Title Page (#u3b0ae588-7280-5d9e-ac85-0461c6273f2e)
Copyright (#ue3944c1b-96c4-5f82-9841-91d46b137bf0)
Note to Readers
Introduction (#u2fd33f4c-3096-5750-b59b-27b4def82011)
Dear Reader (#u9d9b5f8b-a950-52fc-a7df-e7ae52c9d034)
Bible Verse (#u74605f78-0b63-5515-9b59-1ee549a829e1)
Dedication (#u9c2c41e9-9d79-57b8-878a-eb0cfbaee5f1)
Chapter One (#ucddf3242-adfa-58e5-8b0f-0571c2c1d486)
Chapter Two (#u5a3d3fd4-3dd9-5504-9809-29c0fa9d1011)
Chapter Three (#ub2ff77aa-7e42-5be2-8fde-40d375e7990a)
Chapter Four (#ua94c50f5-99cc-5447-a49b-5a00b000585d)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#ucfa43be2-673c-5324-b297-72b3a3f03621)
“I’m not working for Reese.” Gabby Hanks shook her head as she put the dinner tray she’d prepared beside her grandmother’s bed. “No. Uh-uh. No way.”
Nana shifted Gabby’s nine-month-old daughter, who’d started to fuss, in her arms and clucked her tongue, and little Izzy’s frown turned into a smile. One that matched Nana’s persuasive smile all too well, despite the seventy-five-year age gap between them. “I’m making you a good offer. A place to stay, free childcare and a job that’s right across the backyard. Which would be a real convenience, considering that heap of junk you’re driving.”
Despite her grandmother’s brusque tone, Gabby heard what Nana wasn’t saying: she herself needed help, even though she was too proud to ask for it. A bad case of the flu had left her weak and shaky. She shouldn’t be alone right now. “We can stay here for a few weeks, until Christmas,” Gabby said.
“And you can help Reese until Christmas, or at least interview for a position there,” Nana said. “I happen to know he needs seasonal help.”
“Nana. Why would an after-school program for at-risk kids need seasonal help?” Gabby pulled a second threadbare blanket over her grandmother’s legs and looked anxiously out the window at the low-hanging clouds. The northern-Ohio wind whistled through the old, poorly insulated house.
“Because those kids’ needs don’t just go away when school lets out for Christmas break,” Nana said. “Reese has an overload of boys whose parents work long hours and can’t supervise them, so the church board is sponsoring his Christmas Camp.” She picked up a piece of toast and bit off a tiny corner. “Thank you for fixing me dinner, honey. It’s real good.”
“You need to eat more.” Her grandmother was way skinnier than she should be, and Gabby’s heart constricted with guilt. Yes, she’d had to take a job on the other side of the state to pay her and Izzy’s bills, but she should have visited more often.
