Cathy Thacker - Their Instant Baby

Dear Amy,

Thank you again for baby-sitting baby Dexter while I am away. I can’t tell you what a comfort it is to me to know that little Dexter will be in good hands. Plus just think, this will be great practice for you when you have your own family….

Also, I know that sharing such intimate quarters with my brother might prove difficult, but it is important to me that baby Dexter remain in familiar surroundings. By the way, while you are playing house with Nick—make sure you don’t fall for him. He isn’t the marrying kind. On second thought, maybe you are the one woman who can convince the confirmed bachelor to finally take the marriage plunge…!

XOXO Lola

Dear Reader,

Things get off to a great start this month with another wonderful installment in Cathy Gillen Thacker’s series THE DEVERAUX LEGACY. In Their Instant Baby, a couple comes together to take care of an adorable infant—and must fight their instant attraction. Be sure to look for a brand-new Deveraux story from Cathy when The Heiress, a Harlequin single title, is released next March.

Judy Christenberry is also up this month with a story readers have been anxiously awaiting. Yes, Russ Randall does finally get his happy ending in Randall Wedding, part of the BRIDES FOR BROTHERS series. We also have Sassy Cinderella from Kara Lennox, the concluding story in her memorable series HOW TO MARRY A HARDISON. And rounding out things is Montana Miracle, a stranded story with a twist from perennial favorite Mary Anne Wilson.

Next month begins a yearlong celebration as Harlequin American Romance commemorates its twentieth anniversary! We’ll have tons of your favorite authors with more of their dynamic stories. And we’re also launching a brand-new continuity called MILLIONAIRE, MONTANA that is guaranteed to please. Plus, be on the lookout for details of our fabulous and exciting contest!

Enjoy all we have to offer and come back next month to help us celebrate twenty years of home, heart and happiness!

Sincerely,

Melissa Jeglinski

Associate Senior Editor

Harlequin American Romance

Cathy Gillen Thacker married her high school sweetheart and hasn’t had a dull moment since. Why, you ask? Well, there were three kids, various pets, any number of automobiles, several moves across the country, his and her careers, and sundry other experiences. But mostly, there was love and friendship and laughter, and lots of experiences she wouldn’t trade for the world.

You can find out more about Cathy and her books at www.cathygillenthacker.com, and you can write her c/o Harlequin Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017.

Tom Deveraux—The head of the family and CEO of the Deveraux shipping empire that has been handed down through the generations.

Grace Deveraux—Estranged from Tom for years, but back in town—after a personal tragedy—for some much-needed family support.

Chase Deveraux—The eldest son, and the biggest playboy in the greater Charleston area.

Mitch Deveraux—A chip off the old block and about to double the size of the family business via a business/marriage arrangement.

Dr. Gabe Deveraux—The “Goodest” Samaritan around. Any damsels in distress in need of the good doctor’s assistance…?

Amy Deveraux—The baby sister. She’s determined to reunite her parents.

Winnifred Deveraux Smith—Tom’s widowed sister. The social doyenne of Charleston, she’s determined never to marry. That’s not what she has in mind for her niece and nephews, though.

Herry Bowles—The butler. Distinguished, indispensable and devoted to his boss, Winnifred.

Eleanor—The Deveraux ancestor with whom the legacy of ill-fated love began.

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

“Look, I don’t want to upset your sister—obviously she has enough on her plate right now—but I’ve got to be honest with you. I don’t think this is going to work,” Amy Deveraux told Nick Everton the moment she came face-to-face with him on his sister Lola’s doorstep. “Not on any twenty-four-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week basis, anyway.”

For once in her life, Amy was going to be practical—instead of emotional. She was going to let her actions be ruled by her head, not her heart. And there was simply no way Amy could share such intimate quarters with this man and the adorable three month old baby Nick cradled awkwardly in his arms.

Forget that Nick Everton was the most drop-dead gorgeous, thirty-six-year-old guy Amy had ever seen. Forget that he was successful, smart, funny—according to Lola, anyway—and genuinely dependable and chivalrous. Or that he was kin to one of her best friends. Nick Everton was just too darn big and physically imposing. Amy guessed he was at least two-hundred and twenty pounds of solid muscle on a six-foot-five frame. His shoulders were broad, his waist trim. And he looked great in his dark-blue suit and slate-blue shirt and tie.

“I thought I was supposed to be the one heading for the hills,” Nick said, as he propped a hiccuping Dexter against his shoulder and patted his nephew clumsily on the back. Nick’s light-gray eyes gleamed as he took Amy in with the same steady-but-curious appraisal Amy was giving him. “Me, being a guy and all…”

Amy forced her glance away from the wind-tossed strands of Nick’s ash-blond hair and ruggedly handsome face. “So maybe we could just split the baby-sitting duties, fifty-fifty,” Amy continued, determined to work this out rationally, in a way that was acceptable to all three of the adults involved.

Nick shrugged. “Sounds good to me,” he said, the corners of his masculine lips lifting in an enticing smile.

“There’s only one problem with that,” Lola interrupted as she came out to join them on the raised porch of her South Carolina low-country cottage. She shot an affectionate look at her brother before taking Dexter from him and ushering Nick and Amy inside. “Nick’s never baby-sat for Dexter, Amy. You have.”

Only once, Amy thought, when Lola’d had a doctor’s appointment. Dexter had been asleep the entire time. Amy hadn’t had to do a thing except watch over the little angel. “Nick and Dexter seem to be getting along now,” Amy pointed out as she tried to avoid the tantalizing sandalwood cologne clinging to his skin. Nick might not know much about how to hold a baby, as had been evidenced by his awkwardness with his nephew, but Dexter had cuddled against Nick’s powerful shoulders and chest willingly and instinctively.

“Nick also knows nothing about taking care of babies. In fact, it’s my guess my brother has never so much as changed a diaper,” Lola continued, stating her case matter-of-factly.

Nick shrugged and shoved both hands into the pockets of his trousers. A devilish look on his face, he braced a shoulder against the wall and smiled confidently at both Amy and his younger sister. “How hard can it be?”

Lola merely rolled her eyes. “And Dexter can get really fussy sometimes,” Lola continued firmly to Amy. “Nick would definitely have a hard time dealing with that.”

Nick grinned at Amy, not about to dispute the veracity of that particular observation. “So maybe it could be your turn then,” Nick said to Amy with a wink.

“I’m not kidding around here, Nick,” Lola told him sternly, commanding his attention once again. “It’s going to be traumatic enough for Dexter to be separated from me indefinitely. He needs both a ‘mother’ and a ‘father’ here with him while I’m gone.”