Pamela Bauer - The Marriage Portrait

“Is that your business proposition? You want us to act as if we enjoy each other’s company when we’re with your mother?” asked Cassie, her eyes never leaving his.

“Actually I think we need to pretend it’s a little more than being friendly.”

Cassie’s heart started to pound faster. Her face felt flushed. “Are you saying you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend?”

“No, I want you to pretend to be my wife.”

Dear Reader,

November is an exciting month here at Harlequin American Romance. You’ll notice we have a brand-new look—but, of course, you can still count on Harlequin American Romance to bring you four terrific love stories sure to warm your heart.

Back by popular demand, Harlequin American Romance revisits the beloved town of Tyler, Wisconsin, in the RETURN TO TYLER series. Scandals, secrets and romances abound in this small town with fabulous stories written by some of your favorite authors. The always wonderful Jule McBride inaugurates this special four-book series with Secret Baby Spencer.

Bestselling author Muriel Jensen reprises her heartwarming WHO’S THE DADDY? series with Father Fever. Next, a former wallflower finally gets the attention of her high school crush when he returns to town and her friends give her a makeover and some special advice in Catching His Eye, the premiere of Jo Leigh’s THE GIRLFRIENDS’ GUIDE TO…continuing series. Finally, Harlequin American Romance’s theme promotion, HAPPILY WEDDED AFTER, which focuses on marriages of convenience, continues with Pamela Bauer’s The Marriage Portrait.

Enjoy them all—and don’t forget to come back again next month when another installment in the RETURN TO TYLER series from Judy Christenberry is waiting for you.

Wishing you happy reading,

Melissa Jeglinski

Associate Senior Editor

Harlequin American Romance

The Marriage Portrait

Pamela Bauer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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For a woman who has been an inspiration to me my entire life, my sister Carol Ann.

Pamela Bauer was born and raised in Minnesota where you need a sense of humor if you’re going to survive winter. That’s why she writes romantic comedies set in the Midwest with heroes who know how to warm a woman’s heart…and toes. She has received awards from Affaire de Coeur and Romantic Times Magazine and her books have appeared on the Waldenbooks romance bestseller list. She currently makes her home in Minnesota where she lives with her husband who is her real-life hero, her two adult children and a bichon-poo who thinks he’s human. When she’s not writing, she enjoys watching foreign films, going to the theater and fishing.

Books by Pamela Bauer

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

688—THE PICK-UP MAN

718—MAIL ORDER COWBOY

803—SAVING CHRISTMAS

814—CORPORATE COWBOY

852—THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT

Dear Reader,

I love happy endings. Call me an incurable romantic, but when two people fall in love, I want them to have a “happily ever after.” The cynics of this world may say there is no such thing, but I know differently. My parents recently celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Talk about inspiration!

We all know the road to “happily ever after” can be a bumpy one, even for two people in love. Or as my friend Sandy would say, “Marriage is a journey, not a cruise.”

It certainly has been a wonderful journey for my husband and me. We’ve shared joys and sorrows, successes and failures, dreams and disappointments. We started out as two love-struck teenagers, but along the way we became not only lovers, but the best of friends.

In The Marriage Portrait, Mac and Cassie’s journey doesn’t start in the traditional way. They marry not for love, but for convenience. But like us, they get more than they bargained for. I hope you will enjoy their story as they travel their road to “happily ever after.”

Warmly,

P.S. I love hearing from readers. You can write to me c/o MFW, PO Box 24107, Minneapolis, MN 55424.

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

“Ladies, it’s time for new business,” Louella Gibbons, the chairwoman of the Minnetonka Mums, declared with a clap of her gavel. The garden club, composed entirely of senior citizens, had gathered for their monthly meeting. All talk of hybrids and pollination ceased as they looked to their leader.

“I believe Tessie has a request.”

All eyes turned in the direction of the white-haired woman who pushed her chair back and stood—all five feet two inches of her. With a somber expression on her face, she said, “I’ve decided to take you up on your offer to help with Michael.”

Murmurs of approval spread around the table, but they were quickly silenced as Louella said, “Order, ladies.”

Tessie continued. “I’ve given him plenty of time to do his thing, but as you know, he’s going to be thirty-five next month. I’m afraid if I don’t do something, it’ll be too late. I’m not getting any younger, either.”

“No, none of us are,” Agnes Dienhardt contributed.

“And we all know what’s happening,” Tessie continued.

“The pool’s getting shallower with every year that passes,” Francine Collona answered with an ominous shake of her head.

“You don’t want him to wait so long that it’s empty,” another Mum piped in.

“He definitely needs a little push in the right direction,” Agnes added.

“You all know I’m not the kind of mother to interfere, but…” Tessie trailed off.

“He’s leaving you no choice,” someone finished for her.

“Exactly,” Tessie stated with a knowing nod. “And I have good intentions. I only want him to be happy.”

“Of course. We all do. We love him, too,” Louella said on behalf of the group.

“Then you’ll do it?” Tessie asked, giving the group an encompassing glance.

“Of course, we’ll do it, but someone will have to make a motion,” Louella answered.

Betty Jean Greer raised her hand and said, “I move that the next project we undertake be the courtship of Dr. Mac.”

“I second,” another voice said.

“All in favor?” Louella asked.

A chorus of ayes could be heard.

“Anyone opposed?”

Silence.

Louella then decreed, “Passed. The Minnetonka Mums have agreed that they will do whatever they can to assist Tessie in finding Dr. Mac a wife.”

Tessie smiled broadly at the group of women gathered. “Thank you so much. You are the dearest friends a woman could have.”

“That’s what Mums are for,” Agnes reminded her with a pat on Tessie’s hand. “Besides, we’ve all been itching for you to give us the go-ahead. We have lots of ideas.”