Cathryn Parry - The Good Mum

It’s all for Brandon

Single mom Ashley LaValley will do anything to help her twelve-year-old son, a cancer survivor, achieve his dream of becoming a doctor. Even uproot their lives and relocate to Boston when Brandon gets a scholarship to an exclusive prep school. Even accept help when Brandon risks flunking out...

Even when that help comes from Dr. Aidan Lowe, an arrogant, abrasive man recently returned from a stint in Afghanistan. But the guy’s also charismatic and wickedly sexy. Ashley’s spent years putting her son’s needs first. Now Aidan’s reminding her that she has needs of her own...

A haircut was the last thing on Aidan’s mind.

He stood abruptly. “No,” he said in a clipped tone. “Thanks.” He took a step to make his getaway, but Ashley jumped in front of him.

He blinked, shocked. He was even more shocked when she placed her palm on his chest. His top two buttons were undone, and her palm landed partially on his bare skin.

Her eyes widened as if she was shocked at herself, too. At her own audacity.

He stared directly into her eyes. She was shorter than him by a few inches. Her skin was almost translucent and looked as smooth as porcelain, like a doll’s. She had long auburn hair pulled back from her forehead. Every emotion played clearly across her dainty features, and at the moment she appeared terrified of him. Her hazel eyes were round, the pupils slightly dilated.

Something about that made him pause. She seemed so vulnerable. He’d thought he was a mess these past months, but she didn’t seem as if all was well with her, either.

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 CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN EPILOGUE Extract Copyright ,

Some of you asked if Ashley LaValley, the heroine’s sister from Out of His League, would be receiving her own story. Here it is.

When we last left Ashley, she was a single mom returning from alcohol rehab. Her precocious son, Brandon, a cancer survivor and baseball fanatic, was Ashley’s whole world.

Now it’s four years later. Brandon is twelve and starting a new school year at an elite Boston boarding school in hopes of someday becoming a children’s oncologist. Ashley has uprooted her whole life—new hairstylist job in the city, new apartment—so that she can support his dream.

But she’s surprised to realize her son is growing up and becoming more independent. She doesn’t need to revolve her life around him as much anymore. For the first time in a long time, she can—and indeed must—ask herself what she wants out of her own life.

Especially when intriguing, attractive Dr. Aidan Lowe turns up in her salon chair, bringing a new set of love and challenges into her world.

I hope you enjoy their romance.

All the best,

Cathryn Parry

The Good Mom

Cathryn Parry

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CATHRYN PARRY is the author of eight Harlequin Superromances. Her books have received such honors as a Booksellers’ Best Award, a CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award and several Reviewers’ Choice Award nominations. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Lou, and her neighbor’s cat, Otis. Please see her website at www.cathrynparry.comfor information about upcoming releases or to sign up for her reader newsletter.

To Dee. Thanks for the friendship, fun and trips to Salem.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text It’s all for Brandon Single mom Ashley LaValley will do anything to help her twelve-year-old son, a cancer survivor, achieve his dream of becoming a doctor. Even uproot their lives and relocate to Boston when Brandon gets a scholarship to an exclusive prep school. Even accept help when Brandon risks flunking out... Even when that help comes from Dr. Aidan Lowe, an arrogant, abrasive man recently returned from a stint in Afghanistan. But the guy’s also charismatic and wickedly sexy. Ashley’s spent years putting her son’s needs first. Now Aidan’s reminding her that she has needs of her own...

Introduction A haircut was the last thing on Aidan’s mind. He stood abruptly. “No,” he said in a clipped tone. “Thanks.” He took a step to make his getaway, but Ashley jumped in front of him. He blinked, shocked. He was even more shocked when she placed her palm on his chest. His top two buttons were undone, and her palm landed partially on his bare skin. Her eyes widened as if she was shocked at herself, too. At her own audacity. He stared directly into her eyes. She was shorter than him by a few inches. Her skin was almost translucent and looked as smooth as porcelain, like a doll’s. She had long auburn hair pulled back from her forehead. Every emotion played clearly across her dainty features, and at the moment she appeared terrified of him. Her hazel eyes were round, the pupils slightly dilated. Something about that made him pause. She seemed so vulnerable. He’d thought he was a mess these past months, but she didn’t seem as if all was well with her, either.

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 CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN EPILOGUE Extract Copyright , Some of you asked if Ashley LaValley, the heroine’s sister from Out of His League, would be receiving her own story. Here it is. When we last left Ashley, she was a single mom returning from alcohol rehab. Her precocious son, Brandon, a cancer survivor and baseball fanatic, was Ashley’s whole world. Now it’s four years later. Brandon is twelve and starting a new school year at an elite Boston boarding school in hopes of someday becoming a children’s oncologist. Ashley has uprooted her whole life—new hairstylist job in the city, new apartment—so that she can support his dream. But she’s surprised to realize her son is growing up and becoming more independent. She doesn’t need to revolve her life around him as much anymore. For the first time in a long time, she can—and indeed must—ask herself what she wants out of her own life. Especially when intriguing, attractive Dr. Aidan Lowe turns up in her salon chair, bringing a new set of love and challenges into her world. I hope you enjoy their romance. All the best, Cathryn Parry

Title Page The Good Mom Cathryn Parry www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author CATHRYN PARRY is the author of eight Harlequin Superromances. Her books have received such honors as a Booksellers’ Best Award, a CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award and several Reviewers’ Choice Award nominations. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Lou, and her neighbor’s cat, Otis. Please see her website at www.cathrynparry.com for information about upcoming releases or to sign up for her reader newsletter.

Dedication To Dee. Thanks for the friendship, fun and trips to Salem.

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