Kristan Higgins - Somebody to Love

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Kristan Higgins is back with a hilarious and heartwarming new story about a rich girl who discovers that a little hard work may be just the thing she needs….

After her father loses the family fortune in an insider-trading scheme, single mom Parker Welles is faced with some hard decisions. First order of business: go to Gideon’s Cove, Maine, to sell the only thing she now owns—a decrepit house in need of some serious flipping. When her father’s wingman, James Cahill, asks to go with her, she’s not thrilled…even if he is fairly gorgeous and knows his way around a toolbox.

Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist’s assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn’t the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn’t the only thing that needs a little TLC....

Praise for the novels of New York Times

bestselling author Kristan Higgins

UNTIL THERE WAS YOU

“Higgins…employs her usual breezy, intimate style,

which is sure to engage her fans.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Higgins has a knack for sweet

but not syrupy romances peppered with humor

and populated with colorful characters.”

—Booklist

MY ONE AND ONLY

“A funny, poignant romance.”

—Publishers Weekly, starred review

ALL I EVER WANTED

“Higgins has a special talent for

creating characters readers love.”

—RT Book Reviews, 4½ stars

THE NEXT BEST THING

“A heartwarming, multi-generational tale of lost love,

broken hearts and second chances.”

—BookPage

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

Winner—2010 Romance Writers of America RITA® Award

“Cheeky, cute, and satisfying, Higgins’s romance

is perfect entertainment for a girl’s night in.”

—Booklist

JUST ONE OF THE GUYS

“Higgins provides an amiable romp

that ends with a satisfying lump in the throat.”

—Publishers Weekly

CATCH OF THE DAY

Winner—2008 Romance Writers of America RITA® Award

“A novel with depth and a great deal of heart.”

—RT Book Reviews, top pick, 4½ stars

Dear Reader,

I never wanted to write about a millionaire heroine. And I haven’t. But there are some characters who’ve really stuck with me…characters who feel like they have more to say, more to do. Parker Welles was one such character. You might remember her from The Next Best Thing, Lucy’s blunt and good-natured best friend. For some reason, I just wasn’t able to forget Parker, who seemed so content to be on her own, raising her son, writing those sappy children’s books.

I also couldn’t seem to get over Gideon’s Cove, Maine, the setting for Catch of the Day. So many of you wrote to me, wondering what happens to Maggie and Malone, and I’m very flattered that you loved them enough to want to see them again! I wondered, what if I took away Parker’s money and career and sent her up to the coast of Maine, to a little town where she doesn’t know a soul? What would she do? How would she handle things? Could she spend the summer reinventing herself and create a happy life for her son? And what if the man sent to help her out is the last guy whose help she’d want…James Cahill, her father’s attorney.

James has watched the Princess, as he calls her, from afar for some time now. Perfect Parker has never needed anything from him…until now…and James is determined to make her see him in a new light.

Somebody to Love is a story about discovering your true worth, and finding out what you can do when your back is against the wall. And it’s also about who we truly are, despite outward appearances, and what we really want. Home. Love. A future. What more could there be?

I hope you’ll love Parker and James, and if you’ve read Catch of the Day, I hope you’ll have fun seeing Gideon’s Cove again.

Enjoy the book!

Kristan

Somebody to Love

Kristan Higgins

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Acknowledgments

As always, I am so grateful for the lovely friendship and tremendous dedication of my agent, Maria Carvainis, for her unwavering efforts on my behalf. Many, many thanks to my wonderful team at Harlequin: Keyren Gerlach, Tara Parsons, Margaret O’Neill Marbury and Michelle Renaud, the incredible gang in Marketing and Digital, all the lovely sales reps and especially Donna Hayes, who makes running a

huge corporation look easy and does so while wearing incredible shoes.

Much love and thanks to the endlessly capable Kim Castillo of Author’s Best Friend and to the brilliant Sarah Burningham at Little Bird Publicity, ever cheerful, ever helpful, ever lovely, both of you!

For their input, thanks to Huntley Fitzpatrick, Shaunee Cole, Kelly Morse and Karen Pinco. You guys are fun, smart and gorgeous, all of you. To the merry band of writers better known as CTRWA, thank you for the love and support. Love and thanks to Jackie Decker, my BFF and sister-in-law (the Holy Rollers and Ark Angels were her ideas, so blame her). Thanks to my mom for telling us the story of Mickey the Fire Engine so many times when we were small…the thrill has yet to fade! Huge thanks to my brother-in-law, Brian Keenan, Esq., for his input

on legal issues (any mistakes are mine, all mine). Claire Shanahan Bacon named Beauty, Parker’s dog, and the dog’s personality grew from there. Maura Fehon was my lovely and hardworking summer intern—thank you, honey!

I am very blessed to be able to claim so many writers as dear friends, but this time around, thanks especially to Robyn Carr, Susan Andersen, Jill Shalvis, Cindy Gerard, Joan Kayse and Elizabeth Hoyt. And thanks especially to Robyn for letting me steal a certain salty expression Lavinia uses. You’ll know it when you see it.

Thank you to my two wonderful kids who only grow more delightful, and to my sainted husband, who is the love of my life, even after all these years…especially after all these years.

And you, dear readers, for the letters and notes which bring me such joy…thank you from the bottom of my heart.

This book is dedicated to my daughter Flannery,

who is my treasure, my joy and my heart.

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

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT