Annette Broadrick - The Groom, I Presume?

Cover Page

Excerpt “I’m Suggesting That You Go Ahead With The Wedding.” “What in the world are you talking about? I can’t have a wedding without a groom.” “I know. So I’m volunteering.” With a disbelieving shake of her head, Maribeth said, “You can’t be serious!” Chris met her bewildered gaze with a level one of his own. He let her see what was in his eyes, what he was feeling, before he replied, “I’m very serious, Maribeth.” Marriage with Chris? Why, she’d never thought of him in that way. At least…not exactly. He made her nervous in a way she couldn’t quite describe. What would it be like to be married to him? To live with him? To make love— “I can’t take advantage of you,” she said slowly. Chris couldn’t help but be amused. “Sure you can. You have my permission to take advantage of me any time, starting right now….” Daughters of Texas: The hardest-working women in the land, the O’Brien sisters—Megan, Mollie and Maribeth—are three brides waiting to lasso the hearts of their very own cowboys!

Dear Reader Dear Reader, Can you believe that for the next three months we’ll be celebrating the publication of the 1000th Silhouette Desire? That’s quite a milestone! The festivities begin this month with six books by some of your longtime favorites and exciting new names in romance. We’ll continue into next month, May, with the actual publication of Book #1000—by Diana Palmer—and then we’ll keep the fun going into June. There’s just so much going on that I can’t put it all into one letter. You’ll just have to keep reading! This month we have an absolutely terrific lineup, beginning with Saddle Up, a MAN OF THE MONTH by Mary Lynn Baxter. There’s also The Groom, I Presume? — the latest in Annette Broadrick’s DAUGHTERS OF TEXAS miniseries. Father of the Brat launches the new FROM HERE TO PATERNITY miniseries by Elizabeth Bevarly, and Forgotten Vows by Modean Moon is the first of three books about what happens on THE WEDDING NIGHT. Lass Small brings us her very own delightful sense of humor in A Stranger in Texas. And our DEBUT AUTHOR this month is Anne Eames with Two Weddings and a Bride. And next month, as promised, Book #1000, a MAN OF THE MONTH, Man of Ice by Diana Palmer! Lucia Macro, Senior Editor Please address questions and book requests to: Silhouette Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.P. Box 609, Fort Erie, Out. L2A 5X3

Title Page The Groom, I Presume? Annette Broadrick www.millsandboon.co.uk

About The Author ANNETTE BROADRICK believes in romance and the magic of life. Since 1984, when her first book was published. Annette has shared her view of life and love with readers all over the world. In addition to being nominated by Romantic Times as one of the Best New Authors of that year, she has also won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best in its Series for Heat of the Night, Mystery Lover and Irresistible; the Romantic Times WISH award for her heroes in Strange Enchantment, Marriage Texas Style! and Impromptu Bride; and the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Awards for Series Romance and Series Romantic Fantasy.

Dear Reader Dear Reader, What an exciting time to be writing for the Silhouette Desire line. I’m pleased to be a part of the Celebration 1000. My first Desire was number 185, so I feel that I’ve been a part of the line for a long time. Many things have changed in the world over the years since I began writing, but one thing has stayed the same—the need for warm, uplifting stories to remind us of the strength of the human spirit to overcome all obstacles and seek its fulfillment. As long as we continue to want to share our hopes and dreams with others, Silhouette Books will be there with our stories. Let the celebration continue.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

Copyright

“What in the world are you talking about? I can’t have a wedding without a groom.”

“I know. So I’m volunteering.”

With a disbelieving shake of her head, Maribeth said, “You can’t be serious!”

Chris met her bewildered gaze with a level one of his own. He let her see what was in his eyes, what he was feeling, before he replied, “I’m very serious, Maribeth.”

Marriage with Chris? Why, she’d never thought of him in that way. At least…not exactly. He made her nervous in a way she couldn’t quite describe. What would it be like to be married to him? To live with him? To make love—

“I can’t take advantage of you,” she said slowly.

Chris couldn’t help but be amused. “Sure you can. You have my permission to take advantage of me any time, starting right now….”

Daughters of Texas: The hardest-working women in the land, the O’Brien sisters—Megan, Mollie and Maribeth—are three brides waiting to lasso the hearts of their very own cowboys!

Can you believe that for the next three months we’ll be celebrating the publication of the 1000th Silhouette Desire? That’s quite a milestone! The festivities begin this month with six books by some of your longtime favorites and exciting new names in romance.

We’ll continue into next month, May, with the actual publication of Book #1000—by Diana Palmer—and then we’ll keep the fun going into June. There’s just so much going on that I can’t put it all into one letter. You’ll just have to keep reading!

This month we have an absolutely terrific lineup, beginning with Saddle Up, a MAN OF THE MONTH by Mary Lynn Baxter. There’s also The Groom, I Presume? — the latest in Annette Broadrick’s DAUGHTERS OF TEXAS miniseries. Father of the Brat launches the new FROM HERE TO PATERNITY miniseries by Elizabeth Bevarly, and Forgotten Vows by Modean Moon is the first of three books about what happens on THE WEDDING NIGHT. Lass Small brings us her very own delightful sense of humor in A Stranger in Texas. And our DEBUT AUTHOR this month is Anne Eames with Two Weddings and a Bride.

And next month, as promised, Book #1000, a MAN OF THE MONTH, Man of Ice by Diana Palmer!

Lucia Macro,

Senior Editor

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

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

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

www.millsandboon.co.uk

believes in romance and the magic of life. Since 1984, when her first book was published. Annette has shared her view of life and love with readers all over the world. In addition to being nominated by Romantic Times as one of the Best New Authors of that year, she has also won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best in its Series for Heat of the Night, Mystery Lover and Irresistible; the Romantic Times WISH award for her heroes in Strange Enchantment, Marriage Texas Style! and Impromptu Bride; and the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Awards for Series Romance and Series Romantic Fantasy.

What an exciting time to be writing for the Silhouette Desire line. I’m pleased to be a part of the Celebration 1000. My first Desire was number 185, so I feel that I’ve been a part of the line for a long time.