Carolyn Greene - An Eligible Bachelor

“So tell me what you believe my type is,” Wade persisted.

“I’ve heard what people say about you, and in this case I believe they’re right.”

The left corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “You listen to rumors?”

“Sometimes. When it might affect my son.”

He nodded, almost as if he approved her decision. “And rumor says…?”

“You have two criteria.” Geneva held up one finger. “Female…” Then a second. “And breathing.”

Taking her hand in his he unfolded her third finger. “Don’t forget ‘beautiful.’”

He gripped her with a gaze so intense that Geneva became lost in the forest-green depths of his eyes.

He cleared his throat and cast her a wolfish grin. “Guess that makes you my type after all.”

Dear Reader,

As senior editor for the Silhouette Romance line, I’m lucky enough to get first peek at the stories we offer you each month. Each editor searches for stories with an emotional impact, that make us laugh or cry or feel tenderness and hope for a loving future. And we do this with you, the reader, in mind. We hope you continue to enjoy the variety each month as we take you from first love to forever.…

Susan Meier’s wonderful story of a hardworking single mom and the man who sweeps her off her feet is Cinderella and the CEO. In The Boss’s Baby Mistake, Raye Morgan tells of a heroine who accidentally gets inseminated with her new boss’s child! The fantasy stays alive with Carol Grace’s Fit for a Sheik as a wedding planner’s new client is more than she bargained for.…

Valerie Parv always creates a strong alpha hero. In Booties and the Beast, Sam’s the strong yet tender man. Julianna Morris’s lighthearted yet emotional story Meeting Megan Again reunites two people who only seem mismatched. And finally Carolyn Greene’s An Eligible Bachelor has a very special secondary character—along with a delightful hero and heroine!

Next month, look for our newest ROYALLY WED series with Stella Bagwell’s The Expectant Princess. Marie Ferrarella astounds readers with Rough Around the Edges—her 100th title for Silhouette Books! And, of course, there will be more stories throughout the year chosen just for you.

Happy reading!

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor

Carolyn Greene

www.millsandboon.co.uk

This book is dedicated to Sean Eastwood, who has taught a lot of people about the power of love.

And to Charles and William Hine who inspire me.

Also, many thanks to Byron Foutch for sharing his knowledge of birds and their nesting habits.

CAROLYN GREENE

has been married to a fire chief for more than twenty years. She laughingly introduces herself as the one who lights the fires and her husband as the one who puts them out. They are a true opposites-attract type of couple and, because of this, they and their two teenagers have learned a lot about the art of compromise.

Coming together…mentally, physically and spiritually. That’s what romance is all about, and that’s what Carolyn strives to portray in her highly entertaining novels. Says Carolyn, “I like to think that after someone has read one of my books, I’ve made her or his day a little brighter. You just can’t put a price tag on that kind of job satisfaction.”

Dear Reader,

Fifteen years ago, a baby boy with a big personality came into my next-door neighbors’ lives. Doctors diagnosed him with a rare genetic disorder, Joubert Syndrome, and predicted that little Sean would never sit up, talk or even smile.

Although it’s known that Joubert Syndrome is genetically transmitted by both parents, testing is not currently available to determine whether they are carriers. Typical features of Joubert Syndrome, caused by a malformed or missing part of the brain (cerebellar vermis), include alternating episodes of panting and non-breathing in babies, poor balance and coordination, abnormal eye and tongue movements and decreased muscle tone. In addition, there are developmental delays and some degree of mental retardation is common. Since this is such a rare condition, it often goes undiagnosed or is misdiagnosed as Dandy Walker Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy.

Fortunately, Sean was too young to understand the doctor’s grim prognosis. Today, he sits in his wheelchair, communicates through sign language and wears an ever-present smile. His mother served on the first Board of Directors for the Joubert Foundation, and the family has met others from all over the world with children like Sean and subsequently shared their experiences and struggles with me.

For more information about Joubert Syndrome, go to the Web site at http://www.joubertfoundation.com, or send a self-addressed stamped envelope care of Mary Van Damme, Joubert Syndrome Foundation, 12348 Summer Meadow Road, Rock, MI 49880.

All the best,

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

The first thing Wade noticed was a red shoe, sitting like a misplaced rhododendron blossom among the clusters of blue hydrangea balls. And beside it a denim skirt and two shapely female legs protruding from the window. One foot sported a shoe that matched the one in the bush.

Not bothering to suppress a grin, Wade grabbed the shoe from the stalky branches and closed the distance between them. The woman’s little boy threw him a shy smile and moved back to watch.

Geneva wriggled, trying to squeeze her way inside with sheer willpower, but the bottom edge of the pull-down window bit into the small of her back, forcing her to give up the battle she’d been fighting for several minutes. This was all because of a couple of birds who were more successful in their life plans than she had been.

A light May breeze swept past, teasing the hem of her denim skirt and grazing her bare calves. If she pulled her knees close to the house and pointed her toes, she could touch an espadrille to the wooden planks of the small patio deck flanking her apartment at the back of her landlord’s old Victorian house.

Her toddler son poked her rump with his tiny finger. “Funny mama.”

Funny, indeed!

The embarrassment of being found like this—after only one day in her new place—was of less concern than the humiliation she would feel at having failed to live up to the agreement she’d struck with her landlord. Sean, her landlord’s nineteen-year-old disabled brother who occupied the apartment adjacent to hers, might be able to give her a hand. But one of the terms of her lease was that she’d be available to help Sean when needed. If she had to seek help from the young man she was supposed to watch out for, Wade Matteo would be justified in doubting her ability to perform the simple job. Worse, he might revoke the lease she’d recently signed.

And if she lost this apartment—with its reasonable rent and beautiful surroundings—she’d be forced to move back to the city. Then her chance of saving for a down payment on a house would disappear. And along with it, her dream of giving her son the roots she’d always longed for would vanish.

Jacob fidgeted behind her and proceeded to dance an awkward jig. “Gotta go potty.”

Of course. When it rained, it poured…so to speak.

His agenda for the afternoon—go through his black book, call some of the women who met his criteria and try to sweet-talk them into giving him what he wanted—would have to wait.