Janice Maynard - A Wolff at Heart

Just when you thought you knew all The Men of Wolff Mountain, USA TODAY bestselling author Janice Maynard has a surprise!

Realizing his entire life is a lie, Pierce Avery hires Nicola Parrish to find answers. Learning his father is not his biological parent is mind-blowing; discovering the desirable woman behind his new lawyer’s professional facade puts him over the edge. But his growing passion for Nicola could be blinding him to her motives for getting him to embrace the truth of his past. His heart may be ready for more, but can he really trust her?

She was smart and driven and damned sexy. His gut told him they would be good together.

Pierce wanted to go upstairs and hover. But suddenly it was important to make her believe that he was in control. That he wasn’t an emotional mess. He didn’t need her pity. Though, in truth, he was pretty sure she knew how close to the edge he was. He’d tried getting up each morning and pretending his life was normal, but that was a huge lie.

Distracting himself by flirting with Nikki might work for a moment. And contemplating the escape of sexual oblivion was tempting. But she deserved better, and until he could make sense of his screwed-up life, he’d do the honorable thing and leave her alone.

Dear Reader,

My husband and I have spent many happy hours in the Blue Ridge, whether hiking or touring by car or photographing the panoramic beauty of these old mountains.

As I wrap up the saga of the Wolff family, I feel a pang of regret in leaving behind Wolff Castle, all of the Wolff clan and the timeless beauty of some of the world’s oldest peaks.

After a Christmas book this December and a Texas Cattleman’s Club book in January 2014, I will begin a new series called the Kavanaughs of Silver Glen. I am already getting excited about the heroes and heroines to come, and I hope you will join me in this new adventure.

Remember to visit my website at www.janicemaynard.comand also to join me at www.facebook.com/JaniceMaynardReaderPage. As always, you can email me at JESM13@aol.com. And I truly appreciate reader reviews on Amazon.

Happy Reading,

Janice Maynard

A Wolff at Heart

Janice Maynard

www.millsandboon.co.uk

JANICE MAYNARDcame to writing early in life. When her short story The Princess and the Robbers won a red ribbon in her third-grade school arts fair, Janice was hooked. She holds a BA from Emory and Henry College and an MA from East Tennessee State University. In 2002 Janice left a fifteen-year career as an elementary teacher to pursue writing full-time. Her first love is creating sexy, character-driven, contemporary romance. She is so very happy to be part of the Mills & Boon ®family—a lifelong dream, by the way!

Janice and her husband live in beautiful east Tennessee in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains. She loves to travel and enjoys using those experiences as settings for books.

Hearing from readers is one of the best perks of the job! Visit her website, www.janicemaynard.com, or email her at JESM13@aol.com. And of course, don’t forget Facebook and Twitter. Visit all the men of Wolff Mountain at www.wolffmountain.com.

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

For little Levi, the newest member of our clan…

We will always surround you with love.

Contents

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

Epilogue

Excerpt

One

Pierce Avery was having a very bad day. Such a bad day, in fact, that all other bad days in his life up until this very moment seemed positively benign in comparison. Stress churned in his stomach and tightened bands of steel around his head. His hands were clammy. He probably shouldn’t even be driving, given his current state of mind.

Ordinarily, his first instinct during such a crisis would be to hit the river in his kayak. On a hot August afternoon, there was nothing like catching a face full of spray to court, paradoxically, both exhilaration and peace. He’d known since he was a preteen that he wasn’t cut out for desk work. Mother Nature called him, seduced him, claimed him.

As a young man, his only option had been to find a career where he could act like a daredevil kid and get paid for it. Such occupations were few and far between, so he’d had to invent his own company. Now he spent his days leading groups of college kids, fish-out-of-water high-level executives or I’m-not-dead-yet senior citizens in exploring the great outdoors.

Biking, hiking, rappelling, caving and his favorite—kayaking. He loved his job. He loved life. But today, the very foundations of who he was had crumbled beneath him like loose soil in a rainstorm.

He parallel parked on a quiet street in downtown Charlottesville. School hadn’t begun yet at the University of Virginia, so the sidewalk cafés were only sporadically populated. Pierce’s alma mater had shaped him despite his best efforts to rebel. He’d graduated with honors and a master’s degree in business administration, but only because his father had pushed and prodded and insisted that Pierce live up to his potential.

Pierce owed his father everything. Now, years later, his father needed him. And Pierce couldn’t help.

Locking the car with shaking hands, he stared at the unobtrusive office doorway in front of him. A pot of cheerful geraniums tucked against the brick building soaked up the sun. An engraved brass placard flanked a modern doorbell. The only odd note was a tiny For Rent sign propped on the inside of the window, backed by antique lace sheers. Anyone or anything could have been inside. A doctor, a CPA, an acupuncturist. Maybe even a massage therapist.

Charlottesville’s thriving downtown community was rich with arts and crafts as well as more conventional businesses. One of Pierce’s ex-girlfriends had a pottery studio just down the street. But today, none of that was on his radar. He barely even noticed the rich aroma of freshly baked bread from the shop next door.

Pierce had an appointment with Nicola Parrish. He rang the doorbell, knocked briefly and stepped across the threshold. In contrast to the blinding sunlight outside, the reception area was cool, dim and fragrant with the herbal scent of more potted plants in the bay window. An older woman looked up from her computer and smiled. “Mr. Avery?”

Pierce nodded jerkily. He was twenty minutes early, but he’d been unable to make himself stay at home another second.

The receptionist smiled. “Have a seat. Ms. Parrish will be with you shortly.”

It was exactly two minutes before his stated appointment time when the summons came. His handler nodded with another gentle smile. “She’s ready for you. Go on in.”

Pierce didn’t know what to expect. His mother had set up this appointment. Pierce didn’t want it. In fact, he’d give almost anything to walk out and never look back. But the memory of his mom’s anguished eyes kept his feet moving forward.