Avery Spencer is now a substitute mother for her niece, Nell, since the passing of her sister Crystal shortly following Nell's birth. Nell was conceived over a one night stand while attending a friend's wedding in Niagara Falls. She and the father, Callum Shepard, were both lonely candidates with pasts that made their agreement to sleep together strictly sex with no attachments. Now Avery has guardianship of Nell. Avery and Crystal grew up without a father and felt desperately cheated so Avery feels morally bound to tell Callum of his new status as a father, so he might be part of Nell's life. Avery takes a vacation from her job as a cupcake chef in order to introduce Callum to his daughter.

Arriving at Callum's door with her announcement, she immediately has the door shut in her face. Having been lied to before by a woman concerning paternity, there is no way Callum is going to be taken in again. Nell heads back to Cadence Creek to await the plane ride back to her home in Burlington, thinking this was Callum's loss and will be less worry for her over a possible custody fight with the genetic father. Callum knows this baby could be his; evidence in her resemblance to his sister as a baby. Relenting and keeping them with him for 2 weeks to better know Nell and acquire a DNA test, things turn dicey and Avery is head over heels in love even knowing Callum will never trust a woman again. Even sex , good cupcakes and warm company won't make things right. What Callum doesn't want to face is falling in love with Avery. Avery has her own little plan to help Callum forget his fears and secrets of the past to move forward with love in his life.

It takes a tale of a hunky rough cowboy with a disturbing past and the love of an honest, faithful young woman to get the job done! This heroine has a heart of gold and a gorgeous baby to succeed. I thoroughly enjoyed this very cute little story of a lonely young woman and a damaged man learning to trust in love again. Donna Alward has a real way with words to keep the reader feeling the emotional trauma and mistrust within the lives of others. For a short story it had everything it takes to satisfy the reader and leave them with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Book Summary

Little cowgirl makes three For Avery Spencer, the sight of rugged, sullen and dangerously sexy Callum Shepard is enough to set her pulse racing. Too bad she's only on his ranch to tell him that her adorable baby niece is his daughter! Reclusive rancher Callum is shocked to discover he's a father. But now Callum must learn to believe he does have what it takes to become a dad, and convince Avery that both she and baby Nell belong on the ranch—with him!