Cathy Gillen - The Bride Said, 'Finally!'

“Feel what?” Jenna asked, ignoring the way his gaze kept drifting to her lips.

Jake hauled her against him. “This.”

The next thing Jenna knew, Jake had wrapped his arms around her back and lowered his lips to hers. His kiss was hot, sure and so sensual it took her breath away. Despite herself, she had missed this, missed him and the special…and yes, powerful way he made her feel.

Jenna knew if they didn’t stop soon they would end up in one of the beds upstairs. And while that was all she had wanted when they had been together before, she also knew this was no way, and no place, to lose her virginity….

Dear Reader,

It’s another wonderful month at Mills & Boon American Romance, the line dedicated to bringing you stories of heart, home and happiness! Just look what we have in store for you….

Author extraordinaire Cathy Gillen Thacker continues her fabulous series THE LOCKHARTS OF TEXAS with The Bride Said, “Finally!” Cathy will have more Lockhart books out in February and April 2001, as well as a special McCabe family saga in March 2001.

You’ve been wanting more books in the TOTS FOR TEXANS series, and author Judy Christenberry has delivered! The $10,000,000 Texas Wedding is the not-to-be-missed continuation of these beloved stories set in Cactus, Texas. You just know there’s plenty of romance afoot when a bachelor will lose his huge inheritance should he fail to marry the woman he once let get away.

Rounding out the month are two fabulous stories by two authors making their Mills & Boon American Romance debut. Neesa Hart brings us the humorous Who Gets To Marry Max? and Victoria Chancellor will wow you with The Bachelor Project.

Wishing you happy reading!

Melissa Jeglinski

Associate Senior Editor

The Bride Said, ‘Finally!’

Cathy Gillen Thacker

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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CATHY GILLEN THACKERis a full-time wife/mother/author who began typing stories for her own amusement during “nap time” when her children were toddlers. Twenty years and more than fifty published novels later, Cathy is almost as well-known for her witty romantic comedies and warm family stories as she is for her ability to get grass stains and red clay out of almost anything, her triple-layer brownies and her knack for knowing what her three grown and nearly grown children are up to almost before they do! Her books have made numerous appearances on bestseller lists and are now published in seventeen languages and thirty-five countries around the world.

Books by Cathy Gillen Thacker

MILLS & BOON AMERICAN ROMANCE

102—HEART’S JOURNEY

134—REACH FOR THE STARS

143—A FAMILY TO CHERISH

156—HEAVEN SHARED

166—THE DEVLIN DARE

187—ROGUE’S BARGAIN

233—GUARDIAN ANGEL

247—FAMILY AFFAIR

262—NATURAL TOUCH

277—PERFECT MATCH

307—ONE MAN’S FOLLY

318—LIFETIME GUARANTEE

334—MEANT TO BE

367—IT’S ONLY TEMPORARY

388—FATHER OF THE BRIDE

407—AN UNEXPECTED FAMILY

423—TANGLED WEB

445—HOME FREE

452—ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE

456—THE COWBOY’S MISTRESS

472—HONEYMOON FOR HIRE

483—BEGUILED AGAIN

494—FIANCÉ FOR SALE

506—KIDNAPPING NICK

521—BABY ON THE DOORSTEP‡

526—DADDY TO THE RESCUE‡

529—TOO MANY MOMS‡

540—JENNY AND THE FORTUNE HUNTER

556—LOVE POTION #5

568—MISS CHARLOTTE SURRENDERS

587—A SHOTGUN WEDDING

607—DADDY CHRISTMAS

613—MATCHMAKING BABY

625—THE COWBOY’S BRIDE††

629—THE RANCH STUD††

633—THE MAVERICK MARRIAGE††

673—ONE HOT COWBOY

697—SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT MARRIAGE††

713—SNOWBOUND BRIDE*

717—HOT CHOCOLATE HONEYMOON*

721—SNOW BABY*

747—MAKE ROOM FOR BABY

754—BABY’S FIRST CHRISTMAS

789—DR. COWBOY**

793—WILDCAT COWBOY**

797—A COWBOY’S WOMAN**

801—A COWBOY KIND OF DADDY**

837—THE BRIDE SAID, “I DID?”†

841—THE BRIDE SAID, “FINALLY!”†

Dear Reader,

The fictional town of Laramie, Texas, exemplifies everything I know and love about the state. The people are warm and friendly and helpful as can be, their desires bold, their dreams big. It’s a place where opportunity is limitless and people are encouraged to live and enjoy life to the fullest.

So much so that I knew when I started writing the books about John and Lilah McCabe and their four sons that I'd also write another series set in Laramie. But this one would be about a family of four sisters who, like the McCabes, find the love that has eluded them in Laramie.

Look for the first two books about the Lockharts in August and September 2000. The third and fourth books will be published in February and March 2001.

In the midst of all this, I am also writing a bigger, more in-depth story about Sam McCabe, John and Lilah McCabe’s nephew. A widower with five lively boys, he returns to Laramie when his life soars out of control. TEXAS VOWS: A MCCABE FAMILY SAGA, will be published in March 2001.

I hope you enjoy them all as much as I enjoyed writing them.

Happy reading!

Cathy Gillen Thacker

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

“I need a favor. And I need it from you,” the low, distinctively male voice drawled.

As the velvety sound surrounded her, tingles of awareness slid down Jenna Lockhart’s spine. She knew that rich, familiar murmur. Unless she was hallucinating…The blood rushed hot through her veins. She turned slowly toward the door, telling herself all the while she had to be imagining it. That the romantic notion was prompted by the equally shocking elopement of her sister, Dani, and Beau Chamberlain several weeks before. Just because Dani had found the man of her dreams and married him, just because wedding fever was sweeping the town of Laramie, Texas, did not mean that the man of Jenna’s dreams would waltz back into her life on a moment’s notice. Did it?

Drawing a deep breath, Jenna lifted her eyes, curious to see who had entered her exclusive boutique just seconds before she closed for the day. And promptly felt her knees turn to jelly. Well over six years had passed since she had seen the man who had broken her heart all to pieces, but Jake Remington hadn’t changed a bit. Except, perhaps, to become even more handsome and self-assured. He was a good six inches taller than her five-foot-nine-inch frame, with a penchant for casual clothes, and an even more casual manner that belied his enormous wealth and good fortune.

“What are you doing here?” Jenna demanded.

Looking completely at ease with himself in the ultrafeminine surroundings, he circled around the one-of-a-kind wedding and evening dresses on display. Once at her side, he tipped back his black Stetson, revealing layers of thick jet-black hair. As he scanned her from head to toe, reluctant pleasure tugged at the corners of his lips. “I wanted to congratulate you on your success.” Jake lifted his glance back to her eyes. “Your clothing designs have been in the news all month. Dani created quite a stir when she wore one of your dresses to the premiere of Beau Chamberlain’s new movie. Reportedly, every starlet in Hollywood now wants one of your originals.”