BEVERLY BARTON - Nine Months Part 3

36 Hours Serial

As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty-six hours will change the town and its residents forever….

Nine Months Part 3

When Jared sprained his ankle skiing, Paige agreed to spend one week taking care of him. One perfect week of Paige Summers in his house—and bed. If Paige wasn’t so stubborn, he could return the favor and take care of her and their baby forever. Why can’t she see that marrying him is the logical solution?

While her child deserves a father, Paige won’t give up passion for security. She wants a man who will love her unconditionally. Can he show himself to be that man before their baby is born?

Don’t miss the continuing drama of 36 Hours in the next book, The Parent Plan by Paula Detmer Riggs.

Dear Reader,

In the town of Grand Springs, Colorado, a devastating summer storm sets off a string of events that changes the lives of the residents forever….

Welcome to Mills & Boon exciting new digital serial, 36 Hours! In this thirty-six part serial share the stories of the residents of Grand Springs, Colorado, in the wake of a deadly storm.

With the power knocked out and mudslides washing over the roads, the town is plunged into darkness and the residents are forced to face their biggest fears—and find love against all odds.

Each week features a new story written by a variety of bestselling authors like Susan Mallery and Sharon Sala. The stories are published in three segments, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the first segment of every three-part book is free, so you can get caught up in the mystery and drama of Grand Springs. And you can get to know a new set of characters every week. You can read just one, but as the lives and stories of each intertwine in surprising ways, you’ll want to read them all!

Join Mills & Boon E every week as we bring you excitement, mystery, fun and romance in 36 Hours!

Happy reading!

Movies fascinated Beverly Barton from an early age, and by the time she was seven she was rewriting the movies she saw to give them all happy endings. After her marriage and the births of her children, Beverly continued to be a voracious reader and a devoted moviegoer, but she put her writing aspirations on hold. Now, after writing over seventy books, receiving numerous awards and becoming a New York Times bestselling author, Beverly’s career has become her dream come true.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Paige Summers had agreed to live with Jared Montgomery for one week. He’d sprained his ankle and needed someone to help him. He’s her boss, how could she say no? Oh, he’s also the father of her baby. Yeah, she mixed business with pleasure. Oops. They have amazing chemistry—and the sex is so hot! But what’s missing is the biggest problem: love. Paige has this crazy idea that she’ll be able to teach him to love. Jared is stubborn, but so is Paige. It’s coming down to a battle of wills—with the prize being ultimate love or complete heartbreak.

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Paige Summers had never known such happiness as she experienced with Jared that week, and when Sunday afternoon arrived and their time together came to an end, she had never known such sorrow. They had worked side by side every day, slept in each other’s arms every night and shared every moment of their special time alone together. Not once had they marred the beauty of the past week by discussing the future. But it was time for her to return to her apartment in Grand Springs, and they couldn’t delay the inevitable forever.

Standing by the fireplace in his bedroom, Jared Montgomery watched her pack her suitcase. When she glanced his way, he averted his gaze. He didn’t want her to leave.

“What time did you tell Kay to pick you up?” he asked.

“At four,” she said. “I thought that would give us time to drive down the mountain before it gets dark.”

He checked his watch. “We have less than an hour.”

“I’ll see you at the office tomorrow.” Where she’d once again become just his administrative assistant. She zipped her burgundy suitcase.

Using his crutches, Jared took several tentative steps toward her on his sprained ankle. “Don’t leave. Stay with me.”

“Oh, Jared.” Breathing deeply several times, she willed herself not to cry. She’d known she was taking a chance, risking a broken heart, by staying with him. She had placed her hopes and dreams on teaching Jared to love her. She’d failed. Not once had he mentioned the word love, not even in their most passionate moments.

“Please, honey. Stay.”

“Why do you want me to stay?” Dear God, let him tell me that he cares. If only he could say that he thinks he’s falling in love with me, it would be enough.

“Why?” He stared at her, an incredulous look on his face. “Because we’re good together, you and I. We’re damn good together.”

Hell, it could take years to have his fill of her, to reach the point where he didn’t want her day and night with an insatiable hunger. If only she’d marry him…

Closing her eyes, desperately trying not to cry, Paige bit down on her bottom lip. She had to agree with him. They were good together. But didn’t he realize that what they shared was special, that the chemistry between them was experienced by only the luckiest couples in the world?

“This week together has been wonderful,” she admitted. “The most wonderful week of my life. But—”

“No buts, honey. You want to stay. You know you do.” With his gait hampered by the use of the crutches, he made his way slowly across the room. When he reached her side, he sat down on the edge of bed, propped his crutches on the footboard and held out his hand.

She lifted her suitcase, placed it on the floor, then sat down beside Jared and put her hand in his. “It would be so easy to agree to stay here with you, but I can’t. These past few days together have been days out of time, moments we’ve stolen from our real lives. We’ve been pretending that everything is all right, that we don’t have any problems.”

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, then held it against his cheek. “Isn’t what we’ve shared this week enough for you? God, Paige, don’t you realize how good it is between us?”

“Of course I realize how good it is.” She slipped her hand out of his grasp. “But I want more. I want it all. Not just the fantastic sex. Even marriage isn’t enough without the love and happily-ever-after that goes with it.”

“Why can’t what we have be enough for you?” Jared clenched his jaw.

“Is it enough for you?” Paige asked.

“Yes, it’s enough. It’s more than enough. Hell, it’s more than I ever thought I’d have.”

Jared’s brutally honest admission touched her deeply. How little had he expected? Had he really thought he could marry a woman and spend a lifetime with her not only without love, but without passion? Poor, poor Jared. His plans to find a suitable mate, marry and produce an heir had been logical, unemotional, sterile plans.

“Before we met…” She paused, trying to choose the right words, words that wouldn’t frighten him. She wondered if perhaps not only did Jared not believe himself capable of loving someone, but that the very thought of love scared him. “Hasn’t it ever been like this for you before? I mean…haven’t you ever felt about another woman the way you feel about me?”

Grabbing her shoulders, Jared turned her to face him. “Dammit! What do you want me to say? Do you want me to admit that you hold a power over me that no other woman ever has?”