By Zoe Chant

Special Sneak Preview

Lily Carmichael had been driving all day and a good part of the night. She’d stopped in a dingy little motel, just long enough to get some sleep, but by dawn she was back on the road again in her battered little Subaru.

The sun was coming up over the mountains that now loomed before her. It painted the snow-covered crags in warm light, and the breathtaking hues of pink, orange and red that she still remembered from childhood holidays at her uncle’s farm.

Her uncle George had died not long ago, leaving behind his little farm. It had been in the family for generations, but her uncle had barely been able to make a living. No one in her family had the money for repairs, and so they had been forced to let the farm go.

A couple from the city had bought it to fulfill their dream of a happy life out in the country, but they'd given up last month when it turned out that their dream involved a lot of hard work and getting dirty in the garden and fields.

At the time, Lily'd been worried that the farm might end up in the hands of someone who'd tear down the old house and barn. But now...

Lily’s eyes fell on the bag on the seat next to her. Her bag was old and worn, too; she just didn’t have the spare change to buy a nicer one. And to tell the truth, she’d rather invest her money into the rare visits to her family than a new bag.

Still, despite the scuffed leather, this old bag currently held a check for over one hundred thousand dollars.

Enough to buy uncle George’s old farm. Enough to make a dream come true.

I still can’t believe I’ve won the lottery...

As the sun rose higher, a smile spread across Lily’s face. She felt giddy with exhilaration. She’d really won the lottery. It wasn’t enough to retire on and live a life of luxury―but it was enough to make her dream come true. She’d buy the farm and return to where she’d been so happy as a child.

When she’d told her boss, still too stunned to believe it, he’d immediately asked whether she didn’t want to go to vet school instead.

That had been an old dream, but one she’d put away long years ago. There was no way she would have been able to afford it.

Of course, now she could afford it―but was that what she wanted? Lily wanted a life surrounded by animals, and she loved her job as a vet tech. But she knew the long hours of the vets she’d worked for, and she knew how stressful school would be.

And she wasn’t getting any younger, as her mother liked to remind her. She’d scraped by for so long, always making do with the shittiest apartments and landlords, drafty windows, old cars that constantly needed fixing, and boyfriends that all seemed to run out on her when it started to get serious.

Lily wanted a home. She wanted to settle down and find a place where she could be happy. A place to raise a family... If she’d ever find a man who didn’t run screaming at the first talk of babies.

Anyway, it would be some time until she could even start to think of dating again. Despite the lottery win, she wasn’t rich. She’d just have enough to restore the farm and get started. She’d probably be working hard for years until it all ran smoothly. And then...

I’ll build a shelter for old animals. In spring, the apple trees will bloom. I could have bees, and plant new fruit trees...

Excitement filled her until it felt like she’d burst with joy. She could see it all so well already: the house newly repainted, the porch repaired, her uncle’s old dog sleeping patiently in the sun as she watered the flowers.

It’s going to be perfect. All that’s missing is a family...

Lily took a deep breath to distract herself from where her thoughts had strayed once more. Both of her best friends had married in the past few years, and as much as Lily loved entertaining her friends’ toddlers, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sharp disappointment every time a baby gurgled happily at her.

Maybe she was too picky. Maybe, if she’d just tried harder to make it work with any of the guys she’d been dating in the past few years...

Derek was cheating. Jordan cared more about his mom’s opinion of me than he cared about me. And Michael... Michael was perfect. Michael loved me. But he wanted nonstop adventure. He wanted to travel the world, and he made it quite clear that babies didn’t fit into his plans.

Not that there was anything wrong with traveling and adventure. Lily still dreamed of getting to explore Venice and Paris one day, preferably with a hot boyfriend who’d take her out for romantic candlelight dinners in the evenings. But she only wanted that if it also came with commitment and a family.

Then she smiled at her daydreams, her eyes coming to rest once more on her bag.

I’ve used up all the luck of a lifetime already. Be happy with what you have, she told herself firmly.

In time, maybe she’d get her family. But in the meantime, she had a farm to buy, and a dream to make come true. She’d already won the lottery. What could go wrong now?

***

Lily soon found out that there were a lot of things that could go wrong. She knew as soon as she pulled into the driveway that something wasn’t right.

The farm was in the hands of an estate agent now, and an old neighbor came over every day to look after the handful of animals that had been impossible to rehome.

But the farm didn’t look deserted.

There was a dirt-stained pickup truck parked next to the barn. The windows had been repainted. There were new curtains in the windows, tools strewn about the porch, and from somewhere, she could hear the soft sounds of a radio playing.

Maybe the former owners had rented the farm out for a month or two? These days, it was nearly impossible to find buyers for a place like this. Lily knew, because her uncle had tried to sell before his death, but he couldn’t even get half his asking price. And then it had been too late.

Perhaps she should have tried to call the estate agent again, but she hadn’t dared to make plans until she’d held the check in her hands. It just hadn’t felt real before. And yesterday, when she’d set out, everything was closed for the holiday weekend. No one had answered when she’d tried the agent's number.

No one would buy this place, she told herself resolutely. Not now, not when for once in my life, luck’s on my side.

When she stepped out of the car, she heard the familiar woof of her uncle’s old dog. It came from the direction of the barn, and she smiled, happy to see that some things hadn’t changed. She’d have to say hello as soon as she found out what was going on here.

Someone had obviously been working on the porch. Several of the old, moldy planks had been torn out and replaced with new wood. There was a tub of varnish standing in a corner, as though whoever had been at work here had just taken a break.

The agent must have sent a handyman, she thought with some relief. That makes sense. They must think it will sell better with some repairs. Well, I would have needed to find someone to do those anyway.

Then, all of a sudden, the door opened, and a stranger stepped outside. Lily stared, wide-eyed and breathless at the vision before her.

The man was gorgeous. He had wide shoulders and a broad chest that stretched the old tee-shirt he was wearing. His biceps strained against the fabric. The shirt was splattered with paint.

How the hell did they find a handyman like that out here? Lily thought weakly.

And then their eyes met.

She could just barely bite back a soft gasp, because she had never seen eyes like that before. They were brown, but unlike any brown she’d ever seen. They seemed lit by an inner fire that turned them golden―the color of honey, of sunlight hitting a tree. It was the color of the eyes of a wild animal―but he was no animal. He was, quite simply, the most overwhelmingly masculine man Lily had ever seen.

His hair was brown, and just long enough that the ends curled slightly. It framed a handsome face with a square jaw and just the slightest hint of dark stubble. His mouth was generous, and for a moment Lily dreamed of what it might feel like to be pulled into those strong arms and find herself kissed breathless...

“What do you want?” the man said curtly. “I’ve told them in the town, I don’t want anyone snooping around on my property... Oh!”

He fell silent all of a sudden, taking a small step back despite his unfriendly words, as though he’d only just really seen her.

His eyes widened, and Lily gasped softly as she watched the gold in them flare up. For a moment, it was as if the world around them ceased to exist.

She was drowning in a sea of gold. Heat pulsed through her, throbbing at the core of her being. A great wave of arousal washed through her. She imagined those strong arms wrapped around her, his hard cock filling her, thrust after thrust carrying her to an ecstasy greater than anything she’d ever known...

And then the man sheepishly lowered his head, and Lily stumbled a step backwards in confusion.

Her body was still throbbing with arousal. Her panties were soaked, her clit swollen and unbearably sensitive as she moved. She’d never felt like this before.

And even now, although she was scared by the intensity of this sudden, overwhelming need, she couldn’t help staring at him and imagining what it would feel like to feel that strong, hard body claiming her. Or what it would feel like to have his babies, a boy and a girl with those incredible, golden eyes...

“Sorry,” the stranger said, breaking her train of thought. He gave her a small smile, suddenly looking worried. “That was really impolite. I just wasn’t expecting anyone―and they got so curious in the town, when all I want is some peace and quiet. I’m Logan. Logan Anders. I only just bought this place. It’s still a mess, as you can see.”

“Lily Carmichael,” she replied automatically, before she’d fully taken in what he’d just said. “Wait a minute―you bought the farm? When?”

“Only a few days ago.”

Lily’s mind was reeling. A few days ago? Why had no one told her?

The neighbors might have called Mom to share the gossip, but she and Dad went to Florida for the week...

And no one would have thought to inform Lily, because no one knew she’d want to buy the farm herself. After all, no one expected the broke vet tech to suddenly win the lottery over night.

And I told everyone when we came for uncle George’s funeral that there’s no way I can pay off my loans and my car and find a way to keep this place going, she thought miserably. Well done, Lily, you’ve managed to mess up yet again.

“Carmichael? Like the man who used to own this farm?” Logan asked after a moment.

Lily took a deep breath, then nodded. “He was my uncle. I’ve come... I was hoping to... Well, it’s too late now, I guess. I was hoping to buy the farm back myself.”

“Oh.” Logan stared at her, looking just as confused as Lily felt. After a moment, he raised his hand to brush back a strand of hair.

When their eyes met again, Lily felt the same surge of arousal, the liquid gold of his gaze pulling at her.

All she had to do was take a step forward, and she’d be able to press herself against that hard, muscled body...

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