New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer brings readers back to the range with a reader-favorite tale of love, family and cattlemen!

Blake Donavan has one nemesis—love. He’s spent so many years building a wall between himself and the outside world that he doubts anyone could ever thaw the ice around his heart. But he gets the surprise of a lifetime when a little girl with his green eyes shows up on his doorstep. He’s a daddy! What’s a rancher to do?

Little Sarah is accompanied home by Meredith Calhoun, who isn’t so eager to see Blake. Although she was once a thorn in Blake’s side, Meredith is now a stunningly beautiful woman. She’s spent time away from home and matured, becoming a successful author. But can she melt Blake’s hardened heart to create a forever family with the man of her dreams and his newfound daughter?

Also available from Diana Palmer

Heather’s Song

The Australian

Magnolia

Renegade

Lone Star Winter

Dangerous

Desperado

Merciless

Heartless

Fearless

Her Kind of Hero

Lacy

Nora

Rawhide and Lace

Unlikely Lover

Man of the Hour

Trilby

Lawman

Hard to Handle

The Savage Heart

Courageous

Lawless

Diamond Spur

The Texas Ranger

Lord of the Desert

The Cowboy and the Lady

The Case of the Mesmerizing Boss

The Case of the Confirmed Bachelor

The Case of the Missing Secretary

Fit for a King

Paper Rose

Rage of Passion

Once in Paris

After the Music

Roomful of Roses

Champagne Girl

Passion Flower

Diamond Girl

Friends and Lovers

Cattleman’s Choice

Lady Love

The Rawhide Man

Outsider

Night Fever

Before Sunrise

Protector

Maggie’s Dad

Midnight Rider

Matt Caldwell: Texas Tycoon

The Last Mercenary

Carrera’s Bride

Heart of Stone

Wyoming Tough

True Blue

Wyoming Fierce

The Rancher

Wyoming Bold

Invincible

Wyoming Strong

Texas Born

The Morcai Battalion: The Recruit

Untamed

The Morcai Battalion: Invictus

Selected Books by Diana Palmer

Silhouette Desire

*That Burke Man #913

*Beloved #1189

*A Man of Means #1429

*Man in Control #1537

*Boss Man #1688

*Iron Cowboy #1856

*The Maverick #1982

†Will of Steel #2054

Silhouette Special Edition

*Matt Caldwell: Texas Tycoon #1297

*Carrera’s Bride #1645

*Heart of Stone #1921

Silhouette Books

*A Long, Tall Texan Summer

*Lone Star Christmas “Christmas Cowboy”

*Love with a Long, Tall Texan

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Silhouette Romance

*Calhoun #580

*Justin #592

*Tyler #604

*Sutton’s Way #670

*Ethan #694

*Connal #741

*Harden #783

*Evan #819

*Donavan #843

*Emmett #910

*Regan’s Pride #1000

*Coltrain’s Proposal #1103

*The Princess Bride #1282

*Callaghan’s Bride #1355

*Lionhearted #1631

*Cattleman’s Pride #1718

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Harlequin Romance

*Winter Roses

†Diamond in the Rough

*Tough to Tame

*Long, Tall Texans

†The Men of Medicine Ridge

No one can resist a book by Diana Palmer!

“Nobody does it better.”

—New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard

“Palmer knows how to make the sparks fly…

heartwarming.”

—Publishers Weekly on Renegade

“A compelling tale…[that packs]

an emotional wallop.”

—Booklist on Renegade

“Sensual and suspenseful.”

—Booklist on Lawless

“Diana Palmer is a mesmerizing storyteller who

captures the essence of what a romance should be.”

—Affaire de Coeur

“Nobody tops Diana Palmer

when it comes to delivering pure,

undiluted romance. I love her stories.”

—New York Times bestselling author

Jayne Ann Krentz

“The dialogue is charming,

the characters likable and the sex sizzling.”

—Publishers Weekly on Once in Paris

DIANA PALMER

has a gift for telling the most sensual tales with charm and humor. With more than 40 million copies of her books in print, Diana Palmer is one of North America’s most beloved authors and considered one of the top ten romance authors in the United States.

Diana’s hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, art, astronomy and music. She has been married to James Kyle for over thirty-five years. They have one son, Blayne, who is married to the former Christina Clayton, and a granddaughter, Selena Marie.

THE RELUCTANT FATHER

CONTENTS

THE RELUCTANT FATHER

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Epilogue

Dear Reader,

Will of Steel started out to be a different sort of book altogether, a comedy about a young girl and a police chief who came together because of their respective uncles’ wills. But that isn’t how it turned out, as you will discover.

Authors know that characters tend to take on lives of their own once they are created. You can have a pattern for a book, but the hero and heroine can revise it to their own liking. No, I’m not certifiable: this is actually how the creative process works. So I plot the book, and the characters write it their own way.

Rourke was in Tough to Tame and Dangerous, and he popped up again in this book, with a bit more background. I didn’t invite him, he just came along for the ride. He’s one of those men I can’t get rid of. Cash Grier was another. He’ll get a book of his own down the line, I guess.

Thanks for your support and your kindness, and all the prayers and hugs. I am doing well, although I’m a little less mobile than I used to be. Chronic illness forces changes, not many of them welcome. I am grateful to have loyal fans and laptop computers and a thoughtful husband and understanding family. Those are blessings worth rubies in this world. The most beautiful ruby is my granddaughter, Selena, but I won’t go on about that, although I could!