Susan Mallery - Until We Touch

From New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes the story of secret desires finally fulfilled…

After a family tragedy, former football hero Jack McGarry keeps the world at arm’s length—a challenge now that his PR firm has moved to neighborly Fool’s Gold, California.

Larissa Owens knows where she stands—Jack sees her as just another one of the guys. No matter what her heart wishes, Jack’s her boss, not her boyfriend. But then Larissa’s big secret is revealed…by her mother!

When Jack discovers the truth about Larissa’s feelings, her touch suddenly becomes tantalizing, and he’s not sure he wants to resist. But if he gives in to desire, heartache is sure to follow. Friendship or true love—will Jack go for the ultimate play?

Praise for New York Times bestselling author

Susan Mallery

“This book is a dynamite read filled with humor, compassion and sexy sizzle.”

—RT Book Reviews on Three Little Words,

Top Pick!

“Both smile and tear inducing. Mallery is one of a kind.”

—RT Book Reviews on Two of a Kind, Top Pick!

“Mallery delivers another engaging romance in magical Fool’s Gold.”

—Kirkus Reviews on Just One Kiss

“In her second Blackberry Island novel, Mallery has again created an engrossing tale of emotional growth and the healing power of friendship as these three ‘sisters’ meet life’s challenges.”

—Library Journal on Three Sisters

“The wildly popular and prolific Mallery can always be counted on to tell an engaging story of modern romance.”

—Booklist on Summer Nights

“Mallery infuses her story with eccentricity, gentle humor, and small-town shenanigans, and readers...will enjoy the connection between Heidi and Rafe.”

—Publishers Weekly on Summer Days

“Romance novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.”

—Booklist

“Susan Mallery is one of my favorites.”

—#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber

Until We Touch

Susan Mallery

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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To 2013 Fool’s Gold Co-Head Cheerleader Jayme. Meeting you last summer was a highlight of my year. You embody the spirit of Fool’s Gold—you’re sweet, you’re fun, and you have a lot of heart. Thank you for everything! This story is especially for you.

Being the “mom” of an adorable, spoiled little dog, I know the joy that pets can bring to our lives. Animal welfare is a cause I have long supported. For me that means giving to Seattle Humane. At their 2013 Tuxes and Tails fundraiser, I offered “Your pet in a romance novel.”

In this book you will meet a wonderful cat named Dyna. She’s a beautiful Ragdoll with incredible eyes and a loving, gentle disposition. Her family was one of two auction winners, and this is her story.

One of the things that makes writing special is interacting in different ways with people. Some I talk to for research. Some are readers who want to talk characters and story lines, and some are fabulous pet parents. Dyna’s family is devoted to her. I loved hearing all the stories about her life. What a sweetie! She’s such a beautiful cat that she inspired a series of humorous conversations between my heroine and her new cat. Larissa, my human heroine, is a little nervous about measuring up to Dyna’s beauty. :)

My thanks to Dyna’s family, to Dyna herself and to the wonderful people at Seattle Humane ( www.seattlehumane.org). Because every pet deserves a loving family.

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

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

EXTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

“YOU KNOW WHY I’m here.”

Mrs. Nancy Owens made the statement with a firm voice and an unyielding stare. All of which were impressive.

Unfortunately for Jack McGarry, he didn’t have a clue as to what she was talking about.

He knew a lot of things. He knew the L.A. Stallions wouldn’t get to the Super Bowl this year, that his right shoulder ached when it was going to rain, that there was a saucy merlot waiting in his kitchen and that while every part of his being wanted to bolt right now rather than have this conversation, he couldn’t. Because Mrs. Owens was Larissa’s mother and even if she wasn’t, she was old enough to be his mother and he’d been raised better.

“Ma’am?”

Mrs. Owens sighed. “I’m talking about my daughter.”

Right. But the woman had three. “Larissa?”

“Of course Larissa. Who else? You moved your business to this godforsaken town and my daughter moved with you and now she’s here.”

An excellent recap, he thought, struggling to find the point.

“You don’t like Fool’s Gold,” he said, stating what was probably the obvious.

“I neither like nor dislike the town.” Her tone implied he was an idiot. “That’s not the point. Larissa is here.”

He knew that, what with signing her paycheck—figuratively rather than literally—and seeing her every day. But Mrs. Owens already knew that, too.

“She is here...with you.” Mrs. Owens sighed heavily. “She loves her job.”

Okay, fine. He was willing to admit it. He was just an average guy. Maybe a little taller, with a used-to-be-better throwing arm and a strong desire to win, but at his heart, he was pretty much like every other beer-drinking, truck-driving man in America. Ignoring, of course, the merlot in his refrigerator and the Mercedes in his garage.

Nancy Owens, an attractive woman in her early fifties, smacked her hands palm down on the table and groaned. “Do I have to spell it out for you?”

“Apparently so, ma’am.”

“Larissa is twenty-eight years old, you moron. I want her to get married and give me grandchildren. That is never going to happen while she’s working for you. Especially not after moving here. I want you to fire her. That way she’ll move back to Los Angeles, find someone decent to marry and settle down.”

“Why can’t she do that here?”

Mrs. Owens sighed the sigh of those blessed with intelligence and insight most could only aspire to.

“Because, Mr. McGarry, I’m reasonably confident my daughter is in love with you.”

* * *

LARISSA OWENS STARED at the blue-eyed cat standing in the center of her small apartment. Dyna was an eight-year-old Ragdoll, with big, beautiful eyes, a sweet face and a thick coat. She had white fur on her chest and front paws and bits of gray on her face. She was the cat equivalent of a supermodel. It was kind of intimidating.

Larissa’s instinct was always to rescue. Cats, dogs, butterflies, people. It didn’t matter which. She knew her friends would claim she jumped in without thinking, but she wasn’t willing to admit that. At least not without prompting. So when she’d heard about a cat in need of a home, she’d offered to take her in. She just hadn’t thought she would be so gorgeous.