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      CATHY GILLEN THACKER is married and a mother of three. She and her husband spent eighteen years in Texas, and now reside in North Carolina. Her mysteries, romantic comedies and heartwarming family stories have made numerous appearances on bestseller lists, but her best reward, she says, is knowing one of her books made someone’s day a little brighter. A popular author for many years, she loves telling passionate stories with happy endings, and thinks nothing beats a good romance and a hot cup of tea! You can visit Cathy’s website at www.cathygillenthacker.com for more information on her upcoming and previously published books, recipes and a list of her favourite things.

      Dear Reader,

      Guys like to help each other out—whether it’s by fixing a car, working together on a business deal, or providing moral support. When they are friends, they are there for each other. No questions asked. THE LONE STAR DADS CLUB is one of these unofficial yet highly effective groups. The five Fort Worth, Texas, men have known each other for years. They’ve seen each other through accelerating careers, good and bad marriages, and divorce. They share a love and concern for each other’s kids. And figure there is no problem they can’t handle together. Dan Kingsley is the architect of the group and the kind of guy who likes to find solutions to life’s thorniest problems by thinking outside the box. Emily Stayton is a personal chef, with a baby on the way. The single mum-to-be has learned the hard way to leave work at work, and never get too involved with a “client.” It’s a promise she has no problem sticking to, until she meets the sexy dad and understands the complex nature of his problem. Emily accepts Dan’s challenge to bring peace and tranquillity to mealtimes at his house—with the caveat she will be moving on as soon as the job is done. She doesn’t count on getting close to his three kids, or having him take such an interest in her baby. And she really doesn’t count on what happens between the two of them.

       Cathy Gillen Thacker

      Chapter One

      Dan Kingsland’s mind should have been on business. The catered outdoor buffet at the construction site of One Trinity River Place was to celebrate a huge accomplishment, not just for his own architectural firm, but four of his closest friends. Grady McCabe was the enterprising developer who’d put it all together. Travis Carson was the contractor building the three-block office-shopping-and-residential complex in downtown Fort Worth. Jack Gaines owned the electronic and wiring company that would install all the networks, phones and satellite systems. Nate Hutchinson helmed the financial-services company leasing seventy-five percent of the office space.

      Instead…all Dan could think about was the incredible lunch being served, picnic-style, to the 150 high-profile guests milling around outside the sleek stone-and-glass skyscrapers culled from Dan’s imagination. The food commemorating the end of Phase 1 was literally the best he had ever tasted. And it was all being prepared by one woman, using three portable outdoor stoves and what looked to be an equally portable Sub-Zero fridge.

      Dan savored another bite of perfectly seasoned potato salad. Maybe if they could eat like this at home…

      Grady McCabe gave Dan a wry look. “We all know what you’re thinking. Emily Stayton is not the answer to your problems.”

      Dan turned his gaze back to the dark-haired beauty in jeans, boots and traditional white chef’s coat. The young culinary artist certainly looked like the solution to his dilemma. He’d lived in Texas all his life and had never had barbecue this good. The fact that Emily Stayton was literally glowing with happiness while she worked made it all the more amazing.

      Dan shrugged. “The woman can cook.” More important, she handled the multiple demands on her time and attention with aplomb, bringing good cheer and relative calm to the hungry crowd at the portable buffet tables.

      “Of course she can cook—she’s a chef,” Travis said, lifting a brisket sandwich to his lips. The father of two preschoolers, he was always stating the obvious.

      “She worked in the best restaurants in the area before deciding she wanted more flexibility in her schedule, and then she struck out on her own as a personal chef,” Jack Gaines added with the factual precision of a guy who had founded an electronic-systems company and was singlehandedly bringing up his seven-year-old daughter with seemingly none of the problems Dan was having with his own irascible brood.

      “Great,” Dan said, already imagining what it would be like to have this woman in his kitchen, whipping up one incredible meal after another. “That ought to make it all the easier to convince her to come and work for me.” At this point, money was no object. He just wanted a solution to the problem that seemed to be growing larger every day. And if he had to think outside the box to get it, well…wasn’t that what he always did? Solve problems in whatever creative way necessary?

      “Not so great.” Nate Hutchinson held up a cautioning hand. The only one of them with no pressing familial obligations, he made it his business to know all the beautiful, unattached women on the local social scene. And their caterer fit the bill, if the lack of wedding ring on her left hand was any indication. “Emily’s leaving Fort Worth.”

      Frowning, Dan glanced back at the white catering van with the bright blue Chef for Hire logo on the side. “When?”

      “By the end of the month. She’s closing her business here this week,” Grady McCabe replied. “She wants to move back to the Texas hill country, where she grew up. This is her last gig in the Metroplex.”

      Dan wasn’t deterred by the stumbling block. He merely resolved to move around it. “Fortunately,” he said, scraping up the last of the ranch-style beans, “she hasn’t relocated yet.”

      Having learned early in life that timing was everything, Dan finished his meal and waited patiently until the crowd dispersed and cleanup was under way. He walked over to the banquet tables where Ms. Stayton was busy packing up. She was not only beautiful, but her eyes were a gorgeous blue. Not that this had anything to do with his interest in her. He wanted a chef, not a wife. He was definitely not looking to get married—or even involved—again.

      “I hear you’re leaving Fort Worth,” Dan said casually.

      The knowing glance she gave him said she’d noticed him studying her—and completely misinterpreted why. She stacked empty serving dishes into a large plastic container, then went to the next banquet table to collect some more.