The Soldier's Twin Surprise Read online

  Off-the-clock cowboy becomes...daddy?

  Even though his night of passion with Erica Campbell was incredible, for hotshot army pilot Clay Masters an enlisted woman’s off-limits. Until a fresh-out-of-the-service Rickie appears with news: she’s having his babies. Two of them! Rickie’s dreamed of her very own family for years. But can she count on Clay—a man whose dreams of military glory have just been dashed—to be her partner in parenthood...and in love?

  “I didn’t reenlist. I’m living in Jeffersville now.”

  Clay hadn’t seen that coming.

  “You shouldn’t have done it for me,” he said.

  She stiffened and took a step back. “I did it for me.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make assumptions. It’s just that...” He paused, trying to backpedal and not having much luck. “Then why are you here?”

  She flinched as if he’d struck her.

  Damn, he should have handled that better. “I didn’t mean to be a jerk. I guess my mood is only slightly better than it was the last time you saw me.”

  “You can say that again.” She arched a brow then slowly shook her head.

  “I owe you an apology for that day, too. But keep in mind that I’d just gotten the worst news of my life.”

  “You were also loaded down with pain medication, which can really take a toll on your thought process.” Her downturned lips slowly curled into a pretty smile. “So you’re forgiven.”

  He nodded, then pointed to the chair his mother had vacated. “Have a seat.”

  As she took the place beside him, she said, “I came to tell you something.”

  “What’s that?”

  She bit down on her bottom lip and paused for the longest time.

  Finally, she said, “I’m pregnant.”

  ROCKING CHAIR RODEO:

  Cowboys—and true love—never go out of style!

  Dear Reader,

  Last year, while visiting my son and his family on a military base, I had the opportunity to walk with the Stroller Warriors, a group of military spouses who meet at a park with their babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Then, while pushing strollers, they walk, jog or run to keep in shape while making friendships and providing support to each other.

  One day, I was able to join the Stroller Warriors for a tour of a Black Hawk hangar. I got to sit in a helicopter and meet the pilots and crew. If you visit my website, I have photos posted. It was an amazing experience, and it provided me with the story idea for The Soldier’s Twin Surprise.

  After a romantic evening, Captain Clay Masters realizes that the beautiful brunette tourist he slept with is actually a sergeant at a nearby base. Fraternization with an enlisted soldier, albeit unintentional on both parts, is against regulations, so they reluctantly go their own ways—until Sergeant Erica Campbell learns she’s pregnant—with twins!

  It’s not easy to face a pregnancy or parenthood alone, whether the other parent is deployed or absent for one reason or another. I was a single mom for a while and would love to connect with you on Facebook and share stories from the single mom or dad trenches.

  In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my latest book in the Rocking Chair Rodeo series.

  Happy reading!

  Judy

  PS: I love hearing from my readers. You can contact me through my website, judyduarte.com, or on Facebook: Facebook.com/judyduartenovelist.

  The Soldier’s Twin Surprise

  Judy Duarte

  Since 2002, USA TODAY bestselling author Judy Duarte has written over forty books for Harlequin Special Edition, earned two RITA® Award nominations, won two Maggie Awards and received a National Readers’ Choice Award. When she’s not cooped up in her writing cave, she enjoys traveling with her husband and spending quality time with her grandchildren. You can learn more about Judy and her books on her website, judyduarte.com, or at Facebook.com/judyduartenovelist.

  Books by Judy Duarte

  Harlequin Special Edition

  Rocking Chair Rodeo

  Roping in the Cowgirl

  The Bronc Rider’s Baby

  A Cowboy Family Christmas

  The Fortunes of Texas: The Rulebreakers

  No Ordinary Fortune

  The Fortunes of Texas: The Secret Fortunes

  From Fortune to Family Man

  The Fortunes of Texas: All Fortune’s Children

  Wed by Fortune

  Brighton Valley Cowboys

  The Cowboy’s Double Trouble

  Having the Cowboy’s Baby

  The Boss, the Bride & the Baby

  Visit the Author Profile page at www.Harlequin.com for more titles.

  Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010002

  To my son, Jeremy Colwell, who serves as a medic in the United States Army. I’m so proud of you and all you’ve accomplished. You make this mom army proud.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from The Cottages on Silver Beach by RaeAnne Thayne

  Excerpt from The Secret Son’s Homecoming by Helen Lacey

  Chapter One

  If Captain Clay Masters hadn’t been so focused on the sexy brunette wearing a red bikini, he might not have been nailed in the head by a spiraling football.

  Damn. He glanced at his old high school buddies, both of whom were laughing like hell, and then he retrieved the ball.

  Over the last thirteen years, he’d stayed in touch with Duck and Poncho via email, texts and occasional phone calls, but they hadn’t spent any real time together since they’d all gone off to college. But you’d never know that. The moment they got together last Saturday in the baggage claim area of the Honolulu airport, it seemed as if they’d never gone their separate ways.

  Now here they were, spending their well-earned vacation time on Oahu’s North Shore. The surf season had ended weeks ago, so the beach was secluded and nearly empty, other than the three friends and the petite brunette stretched out on a towel on the sand.

  Poncho nudged Clay’s arm and nodded toward her. “She sure is rocking that red bikini.”

  He had that right. Clay hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off her ever since she set out her towel on the sand. And when she’d applied her sunblock? He’d been tempted to ask if she wanted his help.

  But he hadn’t come here to hit on the first woman he saw. He wanted quality time with his buddies. Once they arrived, he’d traded in his flight suit for board shorts and flip-flops. He hadn’t even bothered shaving the past two mornings, which gave him a shadow of a beard. And instead of answering to sir or Captain, he’d reverted to the nickname he’d earned as a star quarterback at Wexler High—Bullet.

  “Remember what I told you when I picked you up at the airport,” Clay told his buddies. “This week, I’m just a good ol’ boy from Texas, soaking up the sun and enjoying the surf.”

  “We heard you,” Poncho said. “But hell, Bullet, maybe you should reconsider and proclaim your military status. Just look at her.”

  Clay had been looking. She was stunning, with long brown hair and a body shaped to feminine perfection.

  But ever since he’d gone to West Point, he’d been assigned to a military installation. And it hadn’t mattered where he was stationed, there were
always plenty of local women who wanted to latch on to a military man, particularly an officer, for the bragging rights. And the benefits package wasn’t bad, either.

  That didn’t mean Clay hadn’t had his share of romantic flings, but whenever he left the base, he usually kept his Army status under wraps.

  “She looks lonely.” Poncho nodded toward her. “I’m going to talk to her. Maybe she’d like to join us for a cold beer.”

  Duck laughed. “Just leave it to me, y’all. I’ve had more luck with the ladies than either of you.”

  “Maybe so, but she doesn’t strike me as being your type.” Clay stole another glance at the bikini-clad brunette. “She doesn’t look like a buckle bunny or a rodeo queen.”

  At that, Poncho gave Duck a nudge. “Don’t get carried away, man. She’s got her eye on Bullet. I’ve seen her stealing peeks at him every so often.”

  Clay had noticed that, too, which was more than a little tempting. But he wasn’t about to desert his friends, no matter how gorgeous a lady was. “Come on,” he said. “This isn’t supposed to be a week of nights on the prowl. We’re here to relax and have fun—with each other. So are you going to stand around gawking at our neighbor or play ball?”

  Poncho snatched the football from Clay’s hands, and the game picked up right where they’d left off. But like before, Clay had a hell of a time keeping his focus on throwing passes. Or catching them.

  “Hey, Bullet.” Poncho slapped his hands on his hips. “You’re lagging, old man.”

  Clay shook off his hormone-driven thoughts, realizing he’d gotten sluggish. So he threw a hard spiral to Poncho, who dropped it. “Ha! Look who’s lagging now.”

  They continued to toss the ball, but how was Clay supposed to keep his mind on the game when he couldn’t keep his eyes off the sexy brunette?

  Finally, he decided to throw in the towel. So he called a time-out to his friends. “I’m ready for a cold beer.” He was also ready to start the grill.

  As his buddies trudged through the sand to the place where they’d left their stuff, two other young women, a blonde and a redhead, arrived at the shore and began setting out their ice chest and towels.

  “What do you know,” Poncho said. “Looks like we have company. And if Duck and I play our cards right, we could all get lucky tonight.”

  Poncho and Duck might be willing to sidle up to the newcomers, but Clay was still drawn to the olive-skinned brunette who could’ve modeled for the latest Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Not that she was doing anything especially sexy or alluring. Hell, she was just reading a book.

  “It’s clear that Clay has scoped out the brunette,” Poncho said, “which is fine by me. I’ve always favored blondes. That is, unless Duck wants to arm wrestle me for her.”

  “No problem,” Duck said. “I’ll take the redhead.”

  “Okay, guys.” Clay folded his arms across his chest. “What if they’re not interested?”

  “Oh, they’re interested. They keep looking over here and giggling. But you’ll have to work a little magic on the brunette.” Poncho chuckled. “Something tells me you’ve gotten a little rusty at laying on the charm.”

  “I’ve still got the touch. There are some things a guy doesn’t forget.” But Clay wasn’t in the mood for romantic fun and games tonight, especially if his friends struck out with the new arrivals. In fact, he had half a notion to go back to their rented beach house, open a cold one, turn on the TV and hang out inside. Alone.

  “While you light the grill,” Poncho told Duck, “I’ll lay a little buenos días on the lovely twosome and invite them to our barbecue.” Then he glanced at Clay. “What are you waiting for? Go offer the brunette an invite. Or would you rather I lay a little groundwork for you first?”

  “I don’t need your help.” Clay stole another glance at the brunette. Chances were, she was on vacation, too.

  Oh, what the hell. He supposed it wouldn’t hurt to talk to her. Maybe she’d be interested in the cowboy type and in sharing a night they’d both remember—long after they each went their own ways.

  * * *

  Sergeant Erica Campbell lay on her back, her open historical romance novel held up to shield her eyes from the sun’s glare while she read.

  Earlier this afternoon, she’d noticed the three hotties who’d been splashing in the water and playing football on the shore. The one called Bullet had glanced her way, and when their eyes met, he tossed her a big, Texas-size grin. She meant to ignore him, but he seemed so boyish and charming that she couldn’t help returning his smile.

  All three of them were attractive and well built, but Bullet either spent a lot of time at the gym or had a job that required strength and vigor.

  His light brown hair was short, much like his friends’. Water glistened on his broad shoulders. Six-pack abs and a taut belly drew her undivided attention like a sharp, crisp salute. Now there was a real hunk. And a drop-dead gorgeous one at that.

  But the last thing she needed to do, especially this weekend, was to give someone the idea that she wanted company. So she quickly averted her gaze, reached into her small tote bag for the spray bottle of sunblock and applied it. Then she lay back down on the towel and reached for her novel.

  Male laughter erupted yet again, drawing her from her story as it had several times since she’d come outside her rented beachfront bungalow to catch a few rays. As much as she’d wanted to ignore the three men who were sharing the same stretch of beach with her, she found that next to impossible. Two of them had a slight southern drawl, and she suspected they were Texas natives, just as she was. One of them also appeared to be Latino. So was she, although she couldn’t speak a lick of Spanish.

  Their short haircuts suggested they might be in the military. That wouldn’t be unusual. There were quite a few bases located on the island.

  She made it a point to avoid men stationed on Oahu, even though that wasn’t easy. Men often approached her, even when she was in uniform, and tried to hit on her. So the bikini she was wearing today was a little risky, since it might draw even more attention to her.

  It’s not that she was stuck-up or prudish, but she’d witnessed firsthand how deployments and conflicting duty assignments could take their toll on a relationship, especially when both people were in the military.

  She loved being stationed in Honolulu. She didn’t much like being downtown in Waikiki, though. It was too much like other big cities. But the North Shore, as far as she was concerned, was paradise on earth.

  Again, she glanced at the handsome tourists. They seemed to be in their late twenties or early thirties. And they shared a playful camaraderie she found interesting.

  Listening to their conversation, she’d picked up on their nicknames. She and her sister Elena had done the same thing, calling themselves Rickie and Lainie when they were girls. She wondered if they would have continued doing that until adulthood. Probably. They’d been so close. And for the most part, they’d only had each other.

  As the guys teased each other about a dirt-bike crash that resulted in Bullet getting a gash in his head and Poncho puking at the sight of blood, she realized they’d grown up together. That they’d been friends for a long time.

  She wished she’d kept in contact with some of her high school friends, but when she enlisted nearly six years ago, she’d lost touch with them. Not that she hadn’t made new ones. It’s just that the Army had a way of shaking things up with regular deployments or reassignments.

  Again, the three laughed at something that had landed them in detention, further convincing her that they were high school buddies who’d come to Hawaii on vacation. Not that it mattered. Erica wasn’t here to gawk at hot guys. She was here to think, to regroup and to kick that shadow of guilt she felt as she grieved for her adoptive parents.

  She’d cried when she’d gotten the news of the accident and then again at the funeral. She’d loved them. How could she not? They’d rescued her from the foster care system when she’d been in the third gra
de.

  Still, it had taken a long time for her to bond with the couple. But that was probably due to the hospitalization and the death of her twin sister that same year. Now there was a crushing loss that had struck hard, leaving a void that would never go away.

  Needless to say, the Army was Erica’s family now. And in a couple of months, when her contract was up, she’d eagerly reenlist without giving it a second thought.

  She’d just reached an especially steamy part of her novel when a shadow crossed her face, drawing her from the heated love scene. She assumed the sun had passed behind a cloud until a man cleared his throat.

  Startled, she glanced up. When she spotted one of the guys standing over her, the hottie she’d heard them call Bullet, she slammed the book shut and set it aside with the cover facedown. Her cheeks, already warmed by the sun, as well as the words on the page, heated to the boiling point.

  Talk about getting caught red-handed—or rather red faced! Had he realized she’d been in the middle of a love scene?

  “I’m sorry,” Bullet said. “I didn’t mean to surprise you or interrupt your reading.”

  She sat up and combed her fingers through her hair. “You have nothing to be sorry about. That book wasn’t very good anyway. I was just about to throw it into the ocean.”

  “I could do that for you,” he said. “I’ve got a pretty good arm.”

  “So I noticed. I assume that’s why they call you Bullet.”

  His lips quirked into a crooked grin, and he gave a little shrug.

  Arrogant guys were a real turnoff. Usually. But she loved football and found this particular quarterback intriguing. But there was no way in hell she’d hand over that blasted book to him. And even though she’d claimed otherwise, it had been a great story, one she intended to finish, although that wasn’t going to happen this afternoon.

  Neither of them spoke, and as he studied her, she felt vulnerable. And half-dressed. If her swimsuit cover-up was handy, she’d slip it on now.

  She blamed the self-consciousness on that damn love scene, but in all honesty, Bullet wasn’t making it easy to forget the words she’d read. The bare chest. The heated kiss. The hand slipping into the slick, silky folds...