Julianna Morris - Winning Over Skylar

She’s changed…but has he?

Skylar Gibson isn’t the rebellious teen she used to be. Aaron Hollister, on the other hand, is still the entitled rich kid who betrayed her. And if he thinks she’ll let his business plans threaten her town, well, he’d better think again. But her first priority is protecting her secret—their fourteen-year-old daughter.

When the truth comes out, Skylar is shocked by Aaron’s reaction. Could there be more to this golden boy than she’d thought? It’ll take more than a trip down memory lane to prove he’s changed….

“Don’t flatter yourself, Hollister.”

Skylar gave him a once-over, then continued speaking. “Gossip in Cooperton is like ivy and blackberry briars—it’s everywhere. You can’t get away from it.”

Aaron crossed his arms. “Maybe you should try harder.”

“Maybe you should remember how impressionable teenagers are.”

“Oh, right, you’re a fine one to talk, Skylar.”

She stared, wondering how he had the gall to say that. “As I recall, you’re the one who did the talking.”

He had the grace to look uncomfortable. She had to wonder…how much did he remember about the past? Was she just one of many girls who’d succumbed to his charm and good looks? If so, she probably was a stranger. Who knew how many of them he’d discarded like yesterday’s newspaper.

It was reassuring in a way; she didn’t actually want him remembering too much.

Dear Reader,

While on a vacation hike along the ocean, I began thinking about how children would be affected by a playboy father infamous for marrying and divorcing on a regular basis. Would they follow in his footsteps? Would they ever want to get married themselves? What sort of people would they be? Thus, Those Hollister Boys were born, sons of Sullivan Spencer “Spence” Hollister, known in the tabloids as “S.S. Hollister, the man with an ex-wife in every port.” Spence has children and ex-wives all over the world and is a hedonist who survives on charm and an enormous fortune.

And who better to team with Spence’s marriage-wary eldest son than a feisty redhead? I love writing strong-willed heroines, and Skylar Gibson is one of my favorites. Aaron and Skylar have a history together, including a teenage daughter he knows nothing about. Or does he?

Classic Movie Alert: If you love old movies the way I do, take a look at Hobson’s Choice (1954), directed by David Lean and set in Victorian England. Starring Charles Laughton, Brenda De Banzie and John Mills, this romantic comedy is about another strong-willed woman who determinedly makes her own future.

I hope you have fun reading Winning Over Skylar, the first book in my series Those Hollister Boys. I enjoy hearing from readers and can be contacted c/o Harlequin Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 3K9, Canada.

Wishing you all the best,

Julianna Morris

Winning Over Skylar

Julianna Morris

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JULIANNA MORRIShas an offbeat sense of humor that frequently gets her in trouble. She has also been accused of being interested in everything. Her interests range from oceanography and photography to traveling, antiquing, painting, walking on the beach and reading (mysteries and most other fiction and nonfiction). Julianna loves cats of all shapes and sizes. Her family’s feline companion is named Merlin, and like his namesake, Merlin is an alchemist—he can transform the house into a disaster in nothing flat. And since he shares the premises with a writer, it’s interesting to note that he is particularly fond of knocking books onto the floor.

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To the memory of my wonderful Uncle Don who put marriage, family and church first in his life. When I think of you, I always see the smile on your face.

Contents

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

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Extract

Prologue

EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Skylar Naples held the blanket-wrapped infant in her arms and stared down at the tiny, scrunched-up face.

Holy cow.

This was her kid.

She winced as she shifted in the hospital bed. Giving birth sucked, but the result was kind of awesome.

“I’ll try to be a good mom,” she said. “Honest.”

The baby yawned and closed her eyes. She’d have to be fed again soon, and Skylar felt a twinge of worry. There were so many things a baby needed—doctors, food, clothes...roller skates. She’d never had roller skates herself, but her daughter was going to have them. She wanted her kid to have everything she’d never had. It wouldn’t be easy to do it working as a cashier at a hamburger stand, no matter how nice the owners were being to her.

Still, she’d have to find a way.

Mr. and Mrs. Gibson had thrown her a baby shower, so she had some stuff to start. She’d also picked up things at garage sales. She hadn’t liked doing it at first, but Mrs. Gibson had said that babies and toddlers grew so fast they didn’t have time to wear clothes out, so she may as well get them secondhand for a while.

Skylar carefully adjusted the bundle in her arms. She was renting a room from an older lady who’d offered to watch the baby in exchange for yard work and housecleaning. Mrs. Bealer was sweet and kind and a Sunday school teacher at her church, so it should be okay to trust her. Hopefully. A fierce protectiveness had filled Skylar the moment she first saw that tiny red face; she wasn’t sure she trusted anyone with her child.

“Karin Grace is Mrs. Gibson’s name,” Skylar whispered. “I like it. So if you don’t object, that’s what I’ll call you. Only she goes by Grace, and we’ll use Karin. Okay?”

The baby’s mouth worked sleepily. It might be silly to ask, but Skylar didn’t know much about being a mother and a name was awfully important.

“Karin,” she said, to see how it felt on her tongue.

The baby’s eyes opened and looked at her. It seemed like a good sign.

Skylar rested her head on the pillow and continued making plans. She’d have to do this alone. She didn’t want anything to do with her own messed-up parents or Karin’s father.

Her eyelids drooped. She was so tired. Her last thought before drifting off was that she wished she’d met Jimmie Gibson before she’d gotten herself in trouble and that Karin was his daughter.

* * *

SKYLAR WOKE WITH a start.

The baby.

She panicked before realizing her daughter was still in her arms, even though she’d fallen asleep holding her. Jeez, at the very least she should have put Karin on the bed first.

“Hello, hello,” called a voice from the door.

At first the only thing visible was a huge bunch of balloons, and then she saw Mr. and Mrs. Gibson...and Jimmie.

“Hi,” she said awkwardly. Jimmie had been so sweet to her since she’d moved to Trident to work for his parents, but now the baby was here and the whole thing was much more real than before.