Christine Scott - Her Best Man

“Get out of my bedroom!” “Get out of my bedroom!” Like lightning to a rod, his blue-eyed gaze zeroed in on her bare shoulders and silky white negligee. Scowling, Lindsey pulled up the covers around her neck. “Go away, Alex. I think we’ve both said enough for one evening—” “You’re right,” he said, surprising her by agreeing. “We’ve said too much. That’s the problem.” With his shirt unbuttoned and his shirt cuffs rolled up to reveal strong forearms, he looked disheveled and dangerous. Lindsey shivered with trepidation. He stepped closer to her bed. “I said some things that were totally out of line. I don’t know what came over me.” She knew. They were in a romantic paradise, alone for the first time in their lives without a chaperone. “Still friends?” She nodded. He sighed his relief. “Thank goodness.” Then, before she knew what was happening, he enveloped her in a hug.... Liquid heat spilled through her veins. Alex was putting her through hormonal hell. He pulled away, but didn’t release her. For a moment she was afraid he might kiss her. Afraid he wouldn’t. Letter to Reader Dear Reader, In 20 months Silhouette Romance will celebrate its 20th anniversary! To commemorate that momentous occasion, we’d like to ask you to share with us why you’ve chosen to read the Romance series, and which authors you particularly enjoy. We hope to publish some of your thoughtful comments during our anniversary year—2000! And this month’s selections will give you food for thought... In The Guardian’s Bride by Laurie Paige, our VIRGIN BRIDES title, a 20-year-old heiress sets out to marry her older. wealthy—gorgeous—guardian. Problem is, he thinks she’s too young.... The Cowboy, the Baby and the Bride-to-Be is Cara Colter’s newest book, where a shy beauty reunites a lonely cowboy with his baby nephew...and lassoes love in the process! Karen Rose Smith’s new miniseries, DO YOU TAKE THIS STRANGER?, premieres with Wealth, Power and a Proper Wife. An all-work-and-no-play millionaire learns the value of his marriage vows when the wife he’d suspected of betraying him suffers a bout of amnesia. Rounding out the month, we have Her Best Man by Christine Scott, part of the MEN! promotion, featuring a powerful tycoon who heroically offers protection to a struggling single mom. In Honey of a Husband by Laura Anthony, an ex-bull rider returns home to discover his childhood sweetheart is raising his child—by another woman. Finally, rising star Elizabeth Harbison returns to the lineup with True Love Ranch, where a city gal and a single-dad rancher lock horns—and live up to the Colorado spread’s name. Enjoy! Joan Marlow Golan Senior Editor Silhouette Romance Please address questions and book requests to: Silhouette Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo. NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3 Title Page Her Best Man Christine Scott www.millsandboon.co.uk Dedication To Mom— a truly gentle woman About the Author CHRISTINE SCOTT grew up in Illinois but currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri. A former teacher, she now writes full time. When she isn’t writing romances, she spends her time caring for her husband and three children. In between car pools, baseball games and dance lessons, Christine always finds time to pick up a good book and read about...love. She loves to hear from readers. Write to her at P.O. Box 283, Grover, MO 63040-0283. Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Epilogue Copyright

“Get out of my bedroom!”

Like lightning to a rod, his blue-eyed gaze zeroed in on her bare shoulders and silky white negligee.

Scowling, Lindsey pulled up the covers around her neck. “Go away, Alex. I think we’ve both said enough for one evening—”

“You’re right,” he said, surprising her by agreeing.

“We’ve said too much. That’s the problem.”

With his shirt unbuttoned and his shirt cuffs rolled up to reveal strong forearms, he looked disheveled and dangerous.

Lindsey shivered with trepidation.

He stepped closer to her bed. “I said some things that were totally out of line. I don’t know what came over me.”

She knew. They were in a romantic paradise, alone for the first time in their lives without a chaperone.

“Still friends?”

She nodded. He sighed his relief. “Thank goodness.”

Then, before she knew what was happening, he enveloped her in a hug.... Liquid heat spilled through her veins. Alex was putting her through hormonal hell.

He pulled away, but didn’t release her. For a moment she was afraid he might kiss her.

Afraid he wouldn’t.

Dear Reader,

In 20 months Silhouette Romance will celebrate its 20th anniversary! To commemorate that momentous occasion, we’d like to ask you to share with us why you’ve chosen to read the Romance series, and which authors you particularly enjoy. We hope to publish some of your thoughtful comments during our anniversary year—2000! And this month’s selections will give you food for thought...

In The Guardian’s Bride by Laurie Paige, our VIRGIN BRIDES title, a 20-year-old heiress sets out to marry her older. wealthy—gorgeous—guardian. Problem is, he thinks she’s too young.... The Cowboy, the Baby and the Bride-to-Be is Cara Colter’s newest book, where a shy beauty reunites a lonely cowboy with his baby nephew...and lassoes love in the process! Karen Rose Smith’s new miniseries, DO YOU TAKE THIS STRANGER?, premieres with Wealth, Power and a Proper Wife. An all-work-and-no-play millionaire learns the value of his marriage vows when the wife he’d suspected of betraying him suffers a bout of amnesia.

Rounding out the month, we have Her Best Man by Christine Scott, part of the MEN! promotion, featuring a powerful tycoon who heroically offers protection to a struggling single mom. In Honey of a Husband by Laura Anthony, an ex-bull rider returns home to discover his childhood sweetheart is raising his child—by another woman. Finally, rising star Elizabeth Harbison returns to the lineup with True Love Ranch, where a city gal and a single-dad rancher lock horns—and live up to the Colorado spread’s name.

Enjoy!

Joan Marlow Golan

Senior Editor Silhouette Romance

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo. NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Mom—

a truly gentle woman

CHRISTINE SCOTT

grew up in Illinois but currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri. A former teacher, she now writes full time. When she isn’t writing romances, she spends her time caring for her husband and three children. In between car pools, baseball games and dance lessons, Christine always finds time to pick up a good book and read about...love. She loves to hear from readers. Write to her at P.O. Box 283, Grover, MO 63040-0283.

Prologue

“Bartender, another drink for me and my friends,” Alex Trent called.

Happy hour had long gone. The dinner rush was finally winding down for the evening. All that was left in the bar were a few stragglers, stopping off for an after-dinner drink and quiet conversation. Alex and his group of friends were the boisterous exception to the rule.

But, hell, Alex mused, why not?

Tonight was a celebration, wasn’t it?