She’s an expert in beauty—not babies!
Big-city journalist Madison Jules’s only hope for an authentic parenting column rests with firefighter Jack Cole. Temporarily relocating to small-town Lovestruck, Vermont, and nannying the single dad’s precious twin girls can’t be harder than her usual writing gig, right? But the babies unexpectedly tug on her heartstrings...as does their sexy dad. When opportunity knocks, Madison is unsure if she still loves the draw of the big city until she learns Jack isn’t who she thought he was...
Madison’s gaze slid toward the babies in the tub and then back toward him. “I suppose I owe you a thank-you. I was beginning to think I’d make a terrible mother someday, but now...”
“There’s more to being a mother than knowing how to change a diaper, Madison. Simply showing up is a hell of a good start.”
Jack wasn’t sure which one of them leaned in first or if they’d simply been drawn to each other by some invisible force, but she was suddenly right there, just a whisper away, so close that he could see the heat in her eyes, as precious and unexpected as liquid gold.
He cupped her cheek in one of his hands—the lightest of touches, but it sent shock waves of awareness coursing through him, warm like honey. “You’ll make a wonderful mother. Trust me.”
“I trust you,” she whispered, and the last shred of Jack’s resistance fell away.
His gaze dropped to her perfect pink mouth and he dipped his head toward hers. Somehow Jack summoned the wherewithal to send her a questioning look, because as much as he wanted this, he needed to know she wanted it, too.
She nodded, lips parting, and every cell in his body seemed to cry with relief.
* * *
LOVESTRUCK, VERMONT: Welcome to the loveliest town in Vermont!
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Lovestruck, Vermont, my brand-new series for Harlequin Special Edition! Baby Lessons is the first in a four-book series about newcomers to a charming small town where love comes in packages. My hope is that you’ll have a big smile on your face as you read Madison and Jack’s story. You might even shed a tear or two.
Our hero in this book, Jack Cole, is a fireman. I’ve wanted to write a book featuring a firefighter for a really long time because my stepdad, Lanny Cunningham, is a retired firefighter who worked for the Los Angeles Fire Department for many years.
Displaced big-city fashionista Madison Jules meets Lieutenant Jack Cole when she nearly burns a barn down with her hair straightener. The next time she runs into him isn’t any less awkward, so when she applies for a part-time job as the night nanny for his infant twin daughters, he’s not exactly thrilled to hire her. But Madison and Jack are both hiding an important secret, so there are much bigger problems at hand than the fact that Madison doesn’t know how to change a diaper. They make such a great couple, though. I had so much fun writing about their shenanigans.
I hope you enjoy this little trip to the Vermont countryside. As always, thank you so much for reading. And please look for the next book in the Lovestruck series—more firefighters!—coming this Christmas.
Happy reading!
Teri Wilson
Baby Lessons
Teri Wilson
Teri Wilson is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of romance and romantic comedy. Several of Teri’s books have been adapted into Hallmark Channel Original Movies, most notably Unleashing Mr. Darcy. She is also a recipient of the prestigious RITA® Award for excellence in romantic fiction for her novel The Bachelor’s Baby Surprise. Teri has a major weakness for cute animals and pretty dresses, and she loves following the British royal family. Visit Teri at teriwilson.net.
Books by Teri Wilson
Harlequin Special Edition
Furever Yours
How to Rescue a Family
Wilde Hearts
The Ballerina’s Secret
How to Romance a Runaway Bride
The Bachelor’s Baby Surprise
A Daddy by Christmas
Drake Diamonds
His Ballerina Bride
The Princess Problem
It Started with a Diamond
HQN
Unmasking Juliet
Unleashing Mr. Darcy
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
For Lanny, our family’s real-life firefighter hero.
With special thanks to Captain Jeremy Huntsman and San Antonio Fire Station 34 for all the amazing research help and inspiration!
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
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Excerpt from More than Neighbors by Shannon Stacey
Chapter One
Vermont hates me.
It was an undeniable fact. Nothing had gone right in the ten days since Madison Jules had relocated from Manhattan to Lovestruck, Vermont. Not one single thing.
Seriously, why?
She squinted at her reflection in the mirror, trying to assess the situation as best she could in the semidarkness. Even without electricity, she could tell that it was bad. Half her hair was smoothed into a perfect glossy bob, while the other half was a mass of uncontrollable curls. And since the power clearly had no intention of returning, things probably weren’t going to improve anytime soon.
Perfect. Just perfect. She was going to have to go to the office like this. But first, she was going to have to deal with whoever had decided to pound on her door at six thirty in the morning.
Six thirty! If Vermont was an individual human instead of a geographic location, it would be a morning person. Yet another thing it didn’t have in common with Madison.
“Coming!” She shuffled to the door in her favorite Kate Spade slippers—the cute velvet ones that said Eat Cake for Breakfast—and wrapped her polka dot robe more tightly around her frame. “Aunt Alice, if it’s you, do you have electricity up at the main house? Because I sure don’t.”
It wasn’t her aunt, as Madison found out when she swung the door open to reveal a fireman dressed in full firefighter regalia—bulky jacket with reflective trim, heavy pants, scuffed black boots. A fire helmet was jauntily positioned on his head, perfectly angled to accentuate the scowl on his face.
Maybe she wasn’t the only nonmorning person in Vermont, after all. Finally, someone who understood her.
“Hi,” Madison said, peering past him
