Cathryn Parry - Secret Garden

Hidden from the world...

A reclusive artist in the Scottish Highlands, Rhiannon MacDowall is an enigma. Few people know about her carefully structured life, or why she hides within the protection of her family’s estate. Until an errant golf ball changes everything...

Colin Walker was once Rhiannon’s best friend. Now he’s a pro golfer on the verge of ruin who’s returned to Scotland on family business. But as much as Rhiannon tries to keep Colin out, their connection remains—and turns into something both exhilarating and terrifying. Something that threatens the foundations of Rhiannon’s safe little world.

“You showed up on the estate, and now everything is changing...”

“Rhiannon,” Colin said, his voice husky, as he touched the back of his knuckles to her cheek.

She closed her eyes, not moving, letting his hand rest there.

“I’m glad I came back,” he said.

“I am, too,” she whispered.

Sighing deeply, he drew her to him.

She hadn’t had such physical contact with another human—ever. The intimacy of it made her freeze. But then, gradually, she let herself relax her body against his. His hands rested lightly on her back, as if letting her know that she was safe and free and not constrained by his touch.

She pressed her cheek against his, warm and scratchy...and male.

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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Extract Copyright ,

This is Rhiannon MacDowall’s story. She was first introduced as the hero’s sister in The Sweetest Hours and also played a supporting role in Isabel Sage’s story, Scotland for Christmas.

Rhiannon is a reclusive landscape painter, her life shaped by a traumatic kidnapping when she was a child. Now considering herself “the perfect agoraphobic,” she is resigned to the fact she will never leave her family’s estate in Scotland because of her fear, and so has set up her life to accommodate her limitations.

When Texan pro golfer Colin Walker, her best friend from childhood, returns to visit his grandparent’s cottage on the MacDowall estate, Rhiannon hopes that her life may change, and she can picture herself having a “normal” life with a man she loves. Colin has personal and professional battles of his own to overcome, and Rhiannon’s love helps him become the man he desires to be.

I hope you enjoy reading about Rhiannon’s journey as she emerges from self-imposed isolation and discovers new possibilities of love, career and family with Colin.

All the best,

Cathryn Parry

Secret Garden

Cathryn Parry

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CATHRYN PARRY loves to travel—especially to Scotland!—at any time of year that she can manage. At all other times she lives in New England with her husband and her neighbor’s cat, Otis. Cathryn is an active member of Romance Writers of America and enjoys presenting inspirational workshops to writers. Her Mills & Boon Superromance novels have received such honors as a Booksellers’ Best Award, HOLT Medallion Awards of Merit and several readers’ contest nominations. Please see her website at CathrynParry.comfor information about upcoming releases or to sign up for her author newsletter.

To my mom, Mary Parry.

Your support for my writing has meant

a lot to me, and I am forever grateful.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Hidden from the world... A reclusive artist in the Scottish Highlands, Rhiannon MacDowall is an enigma. Few people know about her carefully structured life, or why she hides within the protection of her family’s estate. Until an errant golf ball changes everything... Colin Walker was once Rhiannon’s best friend. Now he’s a pro golfer on the verge of ruin who’s returned to Scotland on family business. But as much as Rhiannon tries to keep Colin out, their connection remains—and turns into something both exhilarating and terrifying. Something that threatens the foundations of Rhiannon’s safe little world.

Introduction “You showed up on the estate, and now everything is changing...” “Rhiannon,” Colin said, his voice husky, as he touched the back of his knuckles to her cheek. She closed her eyes, not moving, letting his hand rest there. “I’m glad I came back,” he said. “I am, too,” she whispered. Sighing deeply, he drew her to him. She hadn’t had such physical contact with another human—ever. The intimacy of it made her freeze. But then, gradually, she let herself relax her body against his. His hands rested lightly on her back, as if letting her know that she was safe and free and not constrained by his touch. She pressed her cheek against his, warm and scratchy...and male.

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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Extract Copyright , This is Rhiannon MacDowall’s story. She was first introduced as the hero’s sister in The Sweetest Hours and also played a supporting role in Isabel Sage’s story, Scotland for Christmas. Rhiannon is a reclusive landscape painter, her life shaped by a traumatic kidnapping when she was a child. Now considering herself “the perfect agoraphobic,” she is resigned to the fact she will never leave her family’s estate in Scotland because of her fear, and so has set up her life to accommodate her limitations. When Texan pro golfer Colin Walker, her best friend from childhood, returns to visit his grandparent’s cottage on the MacDowall estate, Rhiannon hopes that her life may change, and she can picture herself having a “normal” life with a man she loves. Colin has personal and professional battles of his own to overcome, and Rhiannon’s love helps him become the man he desires to be. I hope you enjoy reading about Rhiannon’s journey as she emerges from self-imposed isolation and discovers new possibilities of love, career and family with Colin. All the best, Cathryn Parry

Title Page Secret Garden Cathryn Parry www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author CATHRYN PARRY loves to travel—especially to Scotland!—at any time of year that she can manage. At all other times she lives in New England with her husband and her neighbor’s cat, Otis. Cathryn is an active member of Romance Writers of America and enjoys presenting inspirational workshops to writers. Her Mills & Boon Superromance novels have received such honors as a Booksellers’ Best Award, HOLT Medallion Awards of Merit and several readers’ contest nominations. Please see her website at CathrynParry.com for information about upcoming releases or to sign up for her author newsletter.

Dedication To my mom, Mary Parry. Your support for my writing has meant a lot to me, and I am forever grateful.

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

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

Twenty-two Years Ago MacDowall Castle in the Scottish Highlands