Michelle Celmer - Texan’s Wedding-Night Wager / The Oilman’s Baby Bargain - Texan’s Wedding-Night Wager

BY

BY

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Texan’s Wedding-Night Wager by Charlene Sands

THE TEXAS TATTLER

All The News You Need To Know…And More!

Who remembers four years back, when Texas mogul Kevin Novak was happily married? Didn’t think there were many of us. But one has to recall the fervour of the rumour mills when his wife decided to leave her billionaire breadwinner. Everyone was taking bets to see who’d become the next Mrs Novak.

Except that was not an option – for anyone. The Novaks never divorced. Did the powerful Kevin refuse to finalise their estrangement? Or did he always have something else in mind? (He is brilliant, after all.) Because the little woman has finally returned!

The Oilman’s Baby Bargain by Michelle Celmer

THE TEXAS TATTLER

All The News You Need To Know…And More!

We all heard rumours that Mitch Brody had been plotting to help his brother marry the Texas senior senator’s daughter. He’d even gone so far as to “visit” Alexis Cavanaugh multiple times – wining and dining her in elaborate establishments. But when Lance Brody upped and married his mousy secretary, it seemed that the Brody/Cavanaugh merger was off.

Now , rumours abound that the still-eligible Brody brother is back romancing Miss Cavanaugh. Could there have been more to their meetings than one might have imagined? Perhaps the Cavanaughs are so desperate to marry into the Brody family it doesn’t matter which brother the groom is! Though we can certainly attest to Mitch Brody’s appeal – the man is quite the charmer. Or…could there be something to that noticeable “bump” beginning to appear at Alexis’s middle? Perhaps a Brody heir is on the way?

BY

Dear Reader,

I’m so glad to have been invited to write Texan’s Wedding-Night Wager as part of the MILLIONAIRE’S CLUB series along with five other fabulous authors.

Set in the fictional town of Somerset, just outside of Houston, my story features dynamic, handsome Kevin Novak (think David Beckham) and his beautiful, feisty, soon-to-be-ex-wife, Cara. It’s a story of true love and second chances. The two have been separated by distance and regret for four years, and when Cara returns to her home town to get a divorce, Kevin turns the tables on her.

That’s when the fun begins in Maverick County! While Kevin snares Cara in his trap, he becomes a victim of intense attraction and admiration for the wife who abandoned him early in their marriage.

I hope you enjoy the story from beginning to end. In fact, I’ll wager that you do.

Happy reading!

Charlene

CHARLENE SANDSresides in Southern California with her husband, school sweetheart and best friend, Don. Proudly, they boast that their children, Jason and Nikki, have earned their college degrees. The “empty nesters” now enjoy spending time together on Pacific beaches, playing tennis and going to movies, when they are not busy at work, of course!

A proud member of Romance Writers of America, Charlene has written twenty-five romance novels and is the recipient of the 2006 National Readers’ Choice Award, the 2007 Cataromance Reviewer’s Choice Award and the 2008 Booksellers Best Award. Romantic Times BOOKreviews magazine nominated her book Do Not Disturb Until Christmas as the Best Desire of 2008.

Charlene invites you to visit her websites www. charlenesands.com, www.petticoatsandpistols.com and www.myspace.com/charlenesands, to enter her contests, check out her new releases and see what’s up.

This book is dedicated to all of my friends and fellow authors on Petticoats and Pistols. I’ve never met a smarter, more wonderful, more gregarious group of authors. Thanks to Pam Crooks, Stacey Kayne, Cheryl St John, Kate Bridges, Linda Broday, Mary Connealy, Pat Potter, Karen Kay and Elizabeth Lane for being great Western blog pardners. Y’all make it fun!

The Millionaire’s Club

August 2010

Taming the Texas Tycoon Katherine Garbera & One Night with the Wealthy Rancher Brenda Jackson

September 2010

Texan’s Wedding-Night Wager Charlene Sands & The Oilman’s Baby Bargain Michelle Celmer

October 2010

The Maverick’s Virgin Mistress Jennifer Lewis & Lone Star Seduction Day Leclaire

Cara shut down the ballroom lights and stood in the middle of the floor of Dancing Lights, flanked by a wall of mirrors and elegant surroundings that she’d insisted upon when designing her studios. A smile emerged just as Elton John’s voice carried over the speakers. The song stirred up vivid memories and Cara slowly closed her eyes. She moved her hips, swaying to the rhythm and the poetic lyrics.

There’s a calm surrender to the rush of day When the heat of the rolling world can be turned away

An enchanted moment, and it sees me through It’s enough for this restless warrior just to be with you

And can you feel the love tonight

It is where we are

It’s enough for this wide-eyed wanderer

That we got this far

And can you feel the love tonight

“Can you feel the love, Cara?” Kevin had said to her the day they’d married.

Kevin had brought her hand to his mouth and nibbled, his dark blue eyes piercing hers. She’d tingled with excitement from that single gesture. Cara had felt his love, with every heart-stopping glance, every tender touch and each tantalizing kiss.

“Yes, I feel it, honey,” she’d replied.

He’d kissed her lips, whispering, “This is our song, babe.”

They’d hung on to each other and sung the lyrics along with Elton’s smooth tones, moving to the music as their family and friends looked on. She thought she’d married her Prince Charming, her college sweetheart who could make her laugh one moment and sizzle the next.

Cara’s heart swelled thinking back on her wedding day, thinking of being in Kevin’s arms, of loving him for all she was worth and hoping for the same kind of happy life she’d wished for so many of her dance students through the years.

She’d had such big dreams.

“Why, Kevin?” she whispered in the silence of the Dallas ballroom.

Gorgeous Kevin Novak, with the penetrating blue eyes and short blond hair, had often been mistaken for David Beckham. She and Kevin had their own private joke about it since, with her curly blond hair and sky-blue eyes, she hardly looked like Posh Spice. Cara smiled briefly at the memory.

They’d had such good times in the beginning, until Kevin had decided building his real estate empire was more important than building their marriage. He’d become a die-hard workaholic, neglecting her needs in favor of the next big deal. He’d broken her heart—hearing their song again brought it all back. The happiness she’d hoped for with Kevin had eluded them. Cara still felt the ache in the pit of her stomach.

She’d moved on with her life, leaving Somerset to start a new life in Dallas, but she hadn’t escaped the deep hurt and anguish Kevin had caused.

Cara snapped her eyes open and stared at the fading shadows in the mirror. Her silhouette reflected back the new, confident woman she’d become. She was a businesswoman now, owner of a chain of dance studios, and a choreographer and dance instructor as well.