Free Halfway There by Susan Mallery

Halfway There
     
    A Fool’s Gold Series Novella
     

    Susan Mallery
     
     
     
    Readers have fallen in love with the town and people of Fool’s Gold in Susan Mallery’s New York Times bestselling series . Meet her latest couple in this special Fool’s Gold novella !
     
    Fayrene Hopkins may be only twenty-four years old, but she runs her own business and has big plans—plans that don’t involve falling in love yet. She’s determined to make her mark on the world before settling down.
     
    She thinks she’s got life all figured out—until she meets Ryan Patterson on her latest job. Fayrene senses his interest in her, and she has to admit he gets her pulse racing. Luckily, starting a relationship with Ryan is safe—he’s leaving Fool’s Gold when his work contract is up.
     
    Ryan has goals of his own and a job waiting for him in Texas. He doesn’t expect to get waylaid by a sassy blonde and cozy town. But what started out as temporary is starting to look like the real thing. If only he can convince Fayrene that some plans are made to be broken.
     
    Return to Fool’s Gold in Just One Kiss, Two of a Kind and Three Little Words. Plus , look for the entire Fool’s Gold series — and dozens of other memorable titles by Susan Mallery — available now from Harlequin HQN .
     
    Dear Reader,
     
    I’ve been a romance reader nearly all my life. I discovered the joys of these fabulous books when I was about thirteen and “borrowed” a Harlequin Presents from my best friend’s mother. I couldn’t help myself. She left a stack of them in the family room, and they started calling my name. Who could ignore that?
     
    After college, I turned my love of reading romances into a love of writing romances. My most popular series to date is set in the town of Fool’s Gold, California. Fool’s Gold is a tourist favorite, nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Sierra Nevada. There are festivals and friendly neighbors and California’s longest-serving mayor.
     
    For the past several years, I’ve set a new trilogy in Fool’s Gold each summer. There are also bonus e-reads, like this one, and sometimes a Christmas story.
     
    This year bodyguards are coming to Fool’s Gold. And who doesn’t love a yummy bodyguard! The books that follow this novella are Just One Kiss , Two of a Kind and Three Little Words. Oh, there’s also a Christmas book this year, called Christmas on 4th Street.
     
    I hope you’ll enjoy your visit to Fool’s Gold. If it’s your first time, welcome. If you’ve read the series before, I’ll let you know that Ford Hendrix finally comes home and gets his own book later this year!
     
    Happy Reading,
Susan Mallery
     
    Contents
     
    Chapter One
    Chapter Two
    Chapter Three
    Chapter Four
    Chapter Five
    Chapter Six
    Chapter Seven
    CHAPTER ONE
     
    “THE BABIES ARE coming! The babies are coming! Someone call nine-one-one!”
    Ryan Patterson glanced up from his computer as a petite blonde raced past his open office. She was wide-eyed, with her hands waving in the air. She looked to be on the verge of complete panic, in case the screaming hadn’t been enough of a clue.
    He had to admit, even running around like a deranged chicken, she was kind of cute. He liked how she wore her skirt just short enough to be interesting. Her hazel eyes were big, her mouth full. Early to mid-twenties. Yup, except for the shrieking, she was what his father would call a damned fine example of a woman.
    Ryan stood and stepped out of his small glassed-in office. The woman made a complete circuit of the larger central space, then raced back toward him.
    “Did you call?” she demanded, wringing her hands together. “I feel sick to my stomach. It’s too soon. At least I think it is. I thought we had another week.” She sucked in air. “Did you call?” she asked again.
    “I will, ma’am, as soon as I confirm there’s a pregnant woman in the building.”
    It was still early. Just after eight in the morning. Ryan had