Leigh Riker - Man Of The Family

His children will always come first

Griffin Lattimer has reinvented himself. He’s gone from TV news anchor to single father, managing a Florida apartment complex so he can spend more time with his kids, making them the center of his life. And then Sunny Donovan has the gall to accuse his daughter of stealing. It’s ridiculous, and Griffin refuses to listen…until he realizes the beautiful lawyer is telling the truth. She isn’t letting him or his child off the hook, either, and they begin to recognize the tough love for what it is: she cares. She also makes it clear she can’t stay. If Sunny goes back to New York, his kids will be heartbroken. And they won’t be the only ones…

Before he could tell himself not to, Griffin stopped her.

“Thanks,” he said at last. “I’m glad Amanda apologized. You were right. She did take your watch.”

Sunny half smiled. “And you didn’t let her get away with it.”

He shouldn’t care that she sounded proud of him. He shouldn’t be staring at that little uptilt at the corner of her mouth. “So what am I missing?” he asked, because nothing involving his daughter was simple these days. “Did she even sound sincere?”

“She…tried.” Sunny hesitated. “But you didn’t welcome my interference before, and I doubt you’ve changed your mind. I’m out of the advice-giving business.”

Ouch. Forcing his gaze away from her, he noticed the growing darkness. The sun had slipped lower in the sky and the colors had bled into a deeper shade of almost burgundy. “I’m impressed, Counselor. Didn’t imagine you’d give up that easily.”

“I have my moments.”

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY Copyright ,

One of the things I like most about writing is motivation. Without it I’d spend my days staring out my office window (always a temptation!). Deadlines sure make good motivation for authors . But I’m talking here about characters and their histories.

In Man of the Family, something traumatic happened long ago to my heroine, Sunny Donovan, and she is now on a crusade to help other girls avoid the same fate. Griffin Lattimer, my hero, was quite young when he lost his dad, and that has made him responsible to a fault.

Now Griffin is trying to find his long-missing wife and protect his kids from further hurt. The last thing he needs is to fall for Sunny. Why would a driven New York attorney stay with Griffin, the manager of a Florida apartment complex?

But love has been missing from his and Sunny’s lives for too long. Can they find true happiness with each other in a family of their own? Start reading to find out!

All the best,

Leigh

Man of the Family

Leigh Riker

www.millsandboon.co.uk

LEIGH RIKER, like many readers and writers, grew up with her nose in a book. To this day she can’t imagine a better way to spend time than curling up with a good romance novel—unless it is to write one! When she’s not in her home office on a small mountain in the Southeast, this Ohio native is probably traveling. For research purposes, of course. With added inspiration from her mischievous Maine coon cat, she is now at work on a new novel. You can find Leigh on Facebook at LeighRikerBooksand on Twitter, @lbrwriter.

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Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text His children will always come first Griffin Lattimer has reinvented himself. He’s gone from TV news anchor to single father, managing a Florida apartment complex so he can spend more time with his kids, making them the center of his life. And then Sunny Donovan has the gall to accuse his daughter of stealing. It’s ridiculous, and Griffin refuses to listen…until he realizes the beautiful lawyer is telling the truth. She isn’t letting him or his child off the hook, either, and they begin to recognize the tough love for what it is: she cares. She also makes it clear she can’t stay. If Sunny goes back to New York, his kids will be heartbroken. And they won’t be the only ones…

Introduction Before he could tell himself not to, Griffin stopped her. “Thanks,” he said at last. “I’m glad Amanda apologized. You were right. She did take your watch.” Sunny half smiled. “And you didn’t let her get away with it.” He shouldn’t care that she sounded proud of him. He shouldn’t be staring at that little uptilt at the corner of her mouth. “So what am I missing?” he asked, because nothing involving his daughter was simple these days. “Did she even sound sincere?” “She…tried.” Sunny hesitated. “But you didn’t welcome my interference before, and I doubt you’ve changed your mind. I’m out of the advice-giving business.” Ouch. Forcing his gaze away from her, he noticed the growing darkness. The sun had slipped lower in the sky and the colors had bled into a deeper shade of almost burgundy. “I’m impressed, Counselor. Didn’t imagine you’d give up that easily.” “I have my moments.”

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY Copyright , One of the things I like most about writing is motivation. Without it I’d spend my days staring out my office window (always a temptation!). Deadlines sure make good motivation for authors . But I’m talking here about characters and their histories. In Man of the Family, something traumatic happened long ago to my heroine, Sunny Donovan, and she is now on a crusade to help other girls avoid the same fate. Griffin Lattimer, my hero, was quite young when he lost his dad, and that has made him responsible to a fault. Now Griffin is trying to find his long-missing wife and protect his kids from further hurt. The last thing he needs is to fall for Sunny. Why would a driven New York attorney stay with Griffin, the manager of a Florida apartment complex? But love has been missing from his and Sunny’s lives for too long. Can they find true happiness with each other in a family of their own? Start reading to find out! All the best, Leigh

Title Page Man of the Family Leigh Riker www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author LEIGH RIKER, like many readers and writers, grew up with her nose in a book. To this day she can’t imagine a better way to spend time than curling up with a good romance novel—unless it is to write one! When she’s not in her home office on a small mountain in the Southeast, this Ohio native is probably traveling. For research purposes, of course. With added inspiration from her mischievous Maine coon cat, she is now at work on a new novel. You can find Leigh on Facebook at LeighRikerBooks and on Twitter, @lbrwriter .