Patricia Kay - His Best Friend

Philip’s date was the blonde! The one John had met in Austin.

She’d recognized him, too. He could see the surprise in her eyes.

Philip proudly drew the blonde forward. “John, this is Claudia Hathaway, the new prof I was telling you about. Claudia, my cousin John Renzo.”

She tilted her head, studying John. “Actually, I believe we’ve met.”

“You’ve met?” Philip looked from one to the other.

John shrugged. “But I didn’t know her name.” He couldn’t stop staring at her. God, she was even more gorgeous than he’d remembered. Tonight, in that black clingy outfit, she looked fantastic. Although she was lean, her body was sexy, with curves in the right places. And she was the wonderful Claudia that Philip had been talking about for weeks?

How was that possible?

Dear Reader,

Well, we hope your New Year’s resolutions included reading some fabulous new books—because we can provide the reading material! We begin with Stranded with the Groom by Christine Rimmer, part of our new MONTANA MAVERICKS: GOLD RUSH GROOMS miniseries. When a staged wedding reenactment turns into the real thing, can the actual honeymoon be far behind? Tune in next month for the next installment in this exciting new continuity.

Victoria Pade concludes her NORTHBRIDGE NUPTIALS miniseries with Having the Bachelor’s Baby, in which a woman trying to push aside memories of her one night of passion with the town’s former bad boy finds herself left with one little reminder of that encounter—she’s pregnant with his child. Judy Duarte begins her new miniseries, BAYSIDE BACHELORS, with Hailey’s Hero, featuring a cautious woman who finds herself losing her heart to a rugged rebel who might break it…. THE HATHAWAYS OF MORGAN CREEK by Patricia Kay continues with His Best Friend, in which a woman is torn between two men—the one she really wants, and the one to whom he owes his life. Mary J. Forbes’s sophomore Special Edition is A Father, Again, featuring a grown-up reunion between a single mother and her teenaged crush. And a disabled child, an exhausted mother and a down-but-not-out rodeo hero all come together in a big way, in Christine Wenger’s debut novel, The Cowboy Way.

So enjoy, and come back next month for six compelling new novels, from Silhouette Special Edition.

Happy New Year!

Gail Chasan

Senior Editor

Silhouette Special Edition

www.millsandboon.co.uk

This book is dedicated, with thanks, to the

supportive staff at my local CURVES.

You’ve made a big difference in my life!

formerly writing as Trisha Alexander, is the USA TODAY bestselling author of more that thirty contemporary romances. She lives in Houston, Texas. To learn more about her, visit her Web site at www.patriciakay.com.

Stella Morgan Hathaway (91 years old)—Matriarch of the Hathaway family. Morgan Creek is named after her great-grandfather Jeremiah Morgan. A strong, domineering woman, she is used to controlling her family and their lives.

Jonathan Morgan Hathaway (68 years old)—Her only son.

Kathleen Bryce Hathaway (64 years old)—Jonathan’s wife.

Bryce Hathaway (41 years old)—Jonathan and Kathleen’s only son, he heads the family business and recently married Amy Jordan.

Amy Hathaway (33 years old)—Bryce’s wife, she has brought happiness back into his life.

Calista Hathaway (4 years old)—Amy’s daughter from her first marriage, recently adopted by Bryce.

Chloe Hathaway Standish (37 years old)—The oldest Hathaway daughter.

Lorna Morgan Hathaway (33 years old)—The middle Hathaway daughter.

Claudia Elizabeth Hathaway (29 years old)—The youngest Hathaway daughter.

Greg Standish (39 years old)—Chloe’s husband.

Cameron Kathleen Standish (15 years old)—Chloe and Greg’s daughter.

Stella Ann Hathaway (9 years old)—Bryce’s oldest daughter.

Susan Adele Hathaway (8 years old)—Bryce’s youngest daughter.

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

Claudia Hathaway decided to drive to Austin and spend the day with Sally Bennett, her best friend from college days at U.T. They would shop till they dropped, hitting all the trendiest places, have a fab lunch, then catch a chick flick.

“Oh, Claudia, I hate that you’re moving to Houston,” Sally wailed as she hugged Claudia hello. “We’re never gonna see each other anymore.”

Claudia rolled her eyes. “It’s not the end of the world, Sally. Houston’s only three hours away, less if I live near Highway 290.” She squeezed her friend’s shoulder. “It’s not like I live next door now. I mean, it takes me almost an hour to get here.”

“I know, but it just seems so far.”

“We’ll just have to fix firm dates to see each other. One month I’ll come up here and the next you’ll visit me there.” Claudia couldn’t help it. She was so excited about her new job and the move to Houston, it was hard for her to sympathize with Sally. Besides, what she’d said was true. Houston wasn’t that far away. “Now c’mon, cheer up. Let’s hit those sales.”

End-of-summer sales at Austin stores were always terrific, and that day was no exception. Claudia bought several pairs of nice slacks, a couple of summer sweaters and two jackets—one in a nubby black linen, the other a silk weave in a gorgeous shade the salesclerk called claret. Claudia justified her extravagance by telling herself she could wear all the new clothes on the job, and college professors needed to look good, didn’t they?

She and Sally decided on lunch at a trendy new restaurant overlooking the water on Town Lake. The place had been recently written up in Texas Monthly magazine, and supposedly the crab cakes were to die for.

After they’d placed their order and Sally had flirted shamelessly with their handsome waiter, she turned her attention back to Claudia and what was now becoming her favorite point of contention.

“I just don’t see why you didn’t look for a job in Austin. We could have had so much fun together if you lived here.” This was followed by a put-upon sigh.

Claudia smothered her own sigh. She loved Sally like a sister, but sometimes Sally strained her patience. However, Sally was her best friend and had supported her when she needed support, so she didn’t allow her impatience to show in her voice. “I agree it would be fun to live near you. Unfortunately, you live too near Morgan Creek. If I lived in Austin, I’d never have any peace. It’d be just like it was when I was in college. I’d still be expected home for Sunday dinner. My mother would constantly grill me on who I was dating. And my grandmother would never stop bugging me about not working for the company.” The company was Hathaway Baking, one of the largest and most successful baking companies in the Texas/Oklahoma area.

“I know.” But Sally still sounded glum.

“And no matter how many times I told them, especially Gran, that I hate the business world and that my decision had nothing to do with our company and everything to do with the fact I’m just not cut out to work in business, she just will never accept it. So the best thing for me to do is what I’m doing—putting some distance between me and my well-meaning but extremely irritating family.” She grinned to soften her words, because no matter how irritating some of her family members could be, she genuinely loved them and knew she would miss them.