Stella MacLean - Sweet On Peggy

Risking it all for love

She doesn’t believe in love at first sight. But Rory MacPherson could change Peggy’s mind. The instant spark between them is undeniable. He’s funny, charming and a single touch from him makes her weak in the knees. But Rory’s humanitarian aid work in Haiti has taught him to live life to the fullest, and his impulsive nature is at odds with the stability Peggy loves in Eden Harbor. When Peggy’s confronted with her past, having an outlook like Rory’s seems impossible. But so does letting go of the perfect man...

Rory blinked.

When he opened his eyes again, the woman was watching him with the brownest eyes he’d ever seen. Her face was alight with interest and awareness.

In that instant he felt a connection he’d never ever experienced. Did he know her? Did she know him? It was as if they’d met before, but he was pretty sure they hadn’t. He would have remembered this woman. She was unforgettable.

He stood there feeling like an idiot. Yet he couldn’t seem to move, to break the connection. He wanted to go to her, take her hands and simply be with her.

How nuts was that?

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 EPILOGUE Extract Copyright ,

My first goal in writing this book was to start the story in the point of view of a young man who had, without intention or expectation, fallen in love with a woman he’d never met before in his life.

His story mirrors my own love story. That is, the story of meeting someone and knowing in that instant that the person standing so close to me was the one.

We all go through our lives waiting and hoping that the one person who completes us, who makes us feel special and who makes us laugh, will appear. Sometimes that person is a complete stranger. Other times that person has been part of our lives for a very long time. Whether it’s love at first sight or a love that grows over time, Sweet on Peggy is about fulfilling the dream of finding that one special person.

This story is my gift to all of you who don’t believe in love at first sight, who can’t imagine simply meeting someone and knowing in that instant the possibilities offered by love. Please enjoy Peggy and Rory’s journey to happiness.

One of the great delights in my life is hearing from my readers. Please email me at stella@stellamaclean.com, or visit my website, stellamaclean.com.

Happy reading,

Stella

Sweet on Peggy

Stella MacLean

www.millsandboon.co.uk

STELLA MacLEAN is a multipublished Harlequin author whose passion is writing. She takes great delight in creating characters with warmth and understanding and who are open to finding love. The Life in Eden Harbor series has been one of the most rewarding writing experiences of Stella’s life, as it gave her the opportunity to develop and expand the characters as they move through each of the three books in the series. Contact her at stella@stellamaclean.com, and check out her website, stellamaclean.com.

This book is dedicated to the friends in our lives who are there for us, who never lose sight of the fact that we are human beings first—mothers, wives, grandmothers or spouses second. Our lives are richer and more complete because of them.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Risking it all for love She doesn’t believe in love at first sight. But Rory MacPherson could change Peggy’s mind. The instant spark between them is undeniable. He’s funny, charming and a single touch from him makes her weak in the knees. But Rory’s humanitarian aid work in Haiti has taught him to live life to the fullest, and his impulsive nature is at odds with the stability Peggy loves in Eden Harbor. When Peggy’s confronted with her past, having an outlook like Rory’s seems impossible. But so does letting go of the perfect man...

Introduction Rory blinked. When he opened his eyes again, the woman was watching him with the brownest eyes he’d ever seen. Her face was alight with interest and awareness. In that instant he felt a connection he’d never ever experienced. Did he know her? Did she know him? It was as if they’d met before, but he was pretty sure they hadn’t. He would have remembered this woman. She was unforgettable. He stood there feeling like an idiot. Yet he couldn’t seem to move, to break the connection. He wanted to go to her, take her hands and simply be with her. How nuts was that?

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 EPILOGUE Extract Copyright , My first goal in writing this book was to start the story in the point of view of a young man who had, without intention or expectation, fallen in love with a woman he’d never met before in his life. His story mirrors my own love story. That is, the story of meeting someone and knowing in that instant that the person standing so close to me was the one. We all go through our lives waiting and hoping that the one person who completes us, who makes us feel special and who makes us laugh, will appear. Sometimes that person is a complete stranger. Other times that person has been part of our lives for a very long time. Whether it’s love at first sight or a love that grows over time, Sweet on Peggy is about fulfilling the dream of finding that one special person. This story is my gift to all of you who don’t believe in love at first sight, who can’t imagine simply meeting someone and knowing in that instant the possibilities offered by love. Please enjoy Peggy and Rory’s journey to happiness. One of the great delights in my life is hearing from my readers. Please email me at stella@stellamaclean.com, or visit my website, stellamaclean.com . Happy reading, Stella

Title Page Sweet on Peggy Stella MacLean www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author STELLA MacLEAN is a multipublished Harlequin author whose passion is writing. She takes great delight in creating characters with warmth and understanding and who are open to finding love. The Life in Eden Harbor series has been one of the most rewarding writing experiences of Stella’s life, as it gave her the opportunity to develop and expand the characters as they move through each of the three books in the series. Contact her at stella@stellamaclean.com, and check out her website, stellamaclean.com .

Dedication This book is dedicated to the friends in our lives who are there for us, who never lose sight of the fact that we are human beings first—mothers, wives, grandmothers or spouses second. Our lives are richer and more complete because of them.

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

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

RORY MACPHERSON WANTED to yell out in pain...if he didn’t faint first. Dr. Brandon had been meticulously putting stitches into his forearm and was now cleaning up the blood from around the wound. Rory didn’t want to admit how much it hurt. Wimping out would hardly endear him to the people of Eden Harbor, a small, tight-knit community on the coast of Maine.

“There.” The doctor stripped off his gloves and dropped them on the table next to the stretcher where Rory sat. “All you need is a dressing and a tetanus shot, and then I’d like you to have some routine blood work done. The nurse will give you instructions on where to go for that.”