Moyra Tarling - The Family Diamond

Maura wasn’t altogether sure what happened next, but seconds later she was sprawling on her back on the dusty ground with Spencer on top of her.

Spencer slowly eased away from her, breathing hard.

“Are you completely and utterly mad? Red, do you know how close those hooves came to that pretty little head of yours?”

“They weren’t that close,” she protested, refusing to acknowledge he was right. “And don’t call me Red.”

“I’ll call you Red if I damn well feel like it.”

Outraged, she opened her mouth to protest. But her words were forgotten when her gaze collided with his. When he slowly began to lower his mouth toward hers, her pulse went into overdrive.

“Don’t you dare—” she began.

“Oh, I dare,” Spencer said huskily. “You know, Red, I’ve wanted to do this from the first moment I set eyes on you.” With that, he covered her mouth with his.

Dear Reader,

Not only is February the month for lovers, it is the second month for readers to enjoy exciting celebratory titles across all Silhouette series. Throughout 2000, Silhouette Books will be commemorating twenty years of publishing the best in contemporary category romance fiction. This month’s Silhouette Romance lineup continues our winning tradition.

Carla Cassidy offers an emotional VIRGIN BRIDES title, in which a baby on the doorstep sparks a second chance for a couple who’d once been Waiting for the Wedding—their own!—and might be again.…Susan Meier’s charming miniseries BREWSTER BABY BOOM continues with Bringing Up Babies, as black sheep brother Chas Brewster finds himself falling for the young nanny hired to tend his triplet half siblings.

A beautiful horse trainer’s quest for her roots leads her to two men in Moyra Tarling’s The Family Diamond. Simon Says…Marry Me! is the premiere of Myrna Mackenzie’s THE WEDDING AUCTION. Don’t miss a single story in this engaging three-book miniseries. A pregnant bride-for-hire dreams of making The Double Heart Ranch a real home, but first she must convince her husband in this heart-tugger by Leanna Wilson. And If the Ring Fits… some lucky woman gets to marry a prince! In this sparkling debut Romance from Melissa McClone, an accident-prone American heiress finds herself a royal bride-to-be!

In coming months, look for Diana Palmer, a Joan Hohl-Kasey Michaels duet and much more. It’s an exciting year for Silhouette Books, and we invite you to join the celebration!

Happy Reading!

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Silhouette Romance

A Tender Trail #541

A Kiss and a Promise #679

Just in Time for Christmas #763

All About Adam #782

No Mistaking Love #907

Just a Memory Away #937

Christmas Wishes #979

Finally a Family #1081

It Must Have Been the Mistletoe #1122

Twice a Father #1156

Marry in Haste #1242

Wedding Day Baby #1325

The Baby Arrangement #1367

A Diamond for Kate #1411

The Family Diamond #1428

was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was there that she was first introduced to and became hooked on romance novels. In 1968, she immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, where she met and married her husband. They have two grown children. Empty-nesters now, they enjoy taking trips in their getaway van and browsing in antique shops for corkscrews and buttonhooks. But Moyra’s favorite pastime is curling up with a great book—a romance, of course! Moyra loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 161, Blaine, WA 98231-0161.

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

Epilogue

Maura O’sullivan stood at the foot of the wooden stairs leading up to the veranda of the elegant two-storied ranch house.

The taxi had pulled away. There was no turning back. Suddenly, a feeling of apprehension and excitement scampered along her nerve-endings, and the courage and conviction that had brought her to California in search of the father she’d believed was dead, seemed to drain out of her.

The urge to call out to the taxi driver, to tell him she’d made a mistake almost overwhelmed her.…

“I thought I heard a car pull up.” At the sound of the deep masculine voice Maura felt her pulse take a crazy leap. She quickly corralled her misgivings and glanced up at the man who’d appeared on the veranda from the side of the house.

Dressed in faded blue jeans and a white T-shirt, Spencer Diamond was even more handsome than she remembered. Oozing confidence, and with a hint of arrogance in his step, he came down the stairs to meet her.

“Welcome to California!” He stopped in front of her.

“Thank you,” she replied as she met his steady blue gaze.

“Why didn’t you call from the bus station? I could have driven the wagon into town and picked you up,” Spencer said as he picked up the suitcase and bag at her feet.

“I don’t suppose you mean one of those old covered wagons, do you?” Maura asked, interest and humor lacing her tone.

Spencer held her gaze for a fleeting moment and instantly felt that sharp tug of attraction he’d experienced the first time he set eyes on Maura O’sullivan two months ago in Kentucky.

He smiled and shook his head. “Afraid not. Covered wagons are only permitted on the roads during Kincade’s annual Easter Parade or on special occasions such as weddings.”

“Oh…I see.” Disappointment echoed through her voice. “Ever since I was a little girl I’ve always wanted a ride in a real covered wagon, like the ones the settlers used when they made the trip across the country to California.”

“One of my father’s friends collects pioneer memorabilia,” Spencer told her. “Perhaps while you’re here I can arrange a tour for you, and maybe even a ride in one of the wagons.”

“That would be lovely,” Maura responded warmly.

“How was your bus trip?” Spencer asked as they climbed the stairs.

“Better than a wagon ride I guess,” she joked. “But long and tiring just the same.”

Spencer ushered her ahead of him, giving him the opportunity to study her. She wore a jean jacket and coffee-colored shirt and a pair of jeans that fit snugly, accentuating the rounded curve of her bottom.

A mass of coppery-red hair cascaded down her back in riotous disarray and framed a heart-shaped face he’d never quite been able to forget.

Not for the first time Spencer wondered at the reason for Maura’s complete change of heart. Two months ago, while he and his parents had been visiting a stud farm near Lexington, Kentucky, he’d happened to mention to a group of his host’s friends the difficulties he was having with one of his prize racehorses.