Lee McClain - Engaged to the Single Mom

The Millionaire and the Mechanic

Single mom Angelica Camden’s determined to fulfill her sick son’s every wish. At the top of the list is moving back to her hometown to be near family. His second request? Lots of dogs! Gathering her courage, Angelica asks her former fiancé, a veterinarian with a dog rescue farm, for a job. Though they’re growing close again, Angelica can’t bear to tell handsome, honorable Troy Hinton the painful truth about why she fled town and broke his heart. Yet when he discovers her son’s biggest wish is for a father, Troy’s shocking suggestion of marriage may just make all their dreams come true.

“You still haven’t answered my question—about marrying me,” Troy said quietly.

Angelica glanced away.

“Have you thought about it?”

She shut her eyes for a moment. “I’ve hardly thought of anything else.”

“And?”

“And…I don’t know.”

“Fair enough,” he said. “But is there anything I could do to help you decide?”

She gave him a narrow-eyed look, and for a moment, he thought she was going to scold him. “Yes,” she said finally. “You could tell me why you want to do it.”

Should he tell her how much he’d started caring for her, or would that make her shy away?

Knowing her, it would. “That’s easy. I want to do it because your son wants a dad. And because I like helping you.”

Her mouth got a pinched look. If he hadn’t known better, he’d have thought she felt hurt. “Those aren’t…those aren’t the reasons people get married.”

“Are they bad reasons, though?”

She shook her head, staring at the ground. “They’re not bad, no. They’re fine. Kind. Good.”

“Then what’s standing in the way?”

She shrugged, looked away.

But he saw that there was a fine film of tears over her eyes.

LEE TOBIN McCLAIN read Gone with the Wind in the third grade and has been a hopeless romantic ever since. When she’s not writing angst-filled love stories with happy endings, she’s getting inspiration from her church singles group, her gymnastics-obsessed teenage daughter and her rescue dog and cat. In her day job, Lee gets to encourage aspiring romance writers in Seton Hill University’s low-residency MFA program. Visit her at leetobinmcclain.com.

Engaged to the Single Mom

Lee Tobin McClain

www.millsandboon.co.uk

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

—Romans 8:28

I owe much appreciation to my Wednesday-morning critique group—Sally Alexander, Jonathan Auxier, Kathy Ayres, Colleen McKenna and Jackie Robb—for being patient through genre shifts while gently insisting on excellence. Thanks also to my colleagues at Seton Hill University, especially Michael Arnzen, Nicole Peeler and Albert Wendland, whose support and encouragement keep me happily writing. Ben Wernsman helped me brainstorm story ideas, and Carrie Turansky read an early draft of the proposal and critiqued it most helpfully. I’m grateful to be working with my agent, Karen Solem, and my editor, Shana Asaro—dog lovers both—who saw the potential of the story and helped me make it better. Most of all, thanks belong to my daughter, Grace, for being patient with her creative mom’s absentmindedness and for offering inspiration, recreation and eye-rolling, teenage-style love every step of the way.

Table of Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text The Millionaire and the Mechanic Single mom Angelica Camden’s determined to fulfill her sick son’s every wish. At the top of the list is moving back to her hometown to be near family. His second request? Lots of dogs! Gathering her courage, Angelica asks her former fiancé, a veterinarian with a dog rescue farm, for a job. Though they’re growing close again, Angelica can’t bear to tell handsome, honorable Troy Hinton the painful truth about why she fled town and broke his heart. Yet when he discovers her son’s biggest wish is for a father, Troy’s shocking suggestion of marriage may just make all their dreams come true.

Introduction “You still haven’t answered my question—about marrying me,” Troy said quietly. Angelica glanced away. “Have you thought about it?” She shut her eyes for a moment. “I’ve hardly thought of anything else.” “And?” “And…I don’t know.” “Fair enough,” he said. “But is there anything I could do to help you decide?” She gave him a narrow-eyed look, and for a moment, he thought she was going to scold him. “Yes,” she said finally. “You could tell me why you want to do it.” Should he tell her how much he’d started caring for her, or would that make her shy away? Knowing her, it would. “That’s easy. I want to do it because your son wants a dad. And because I like helping you.” Her mouth got a pinched look. If he hadn’t known better, he’d have thought she felt hurt. “Those aren’t…those aren’t the reasons people get married.” “Are they bad reasons, though?” She shook her head, staring at the ground. “They’re not bad, no. They’re fine. Kind. Good.” “Then what’s standing in the way?” She shrugged, looked away. But he saw that there was a fine film of tears over her eyes.

Dear Reader Конец ознакомительного фрагмента. Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес». Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес. Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

About the Author LEE TOBIN McCLAIN read Gone with the Wind in the third grade and has been a hopeless romantic ever since. When she’s not writing angst-filled love stories with happy endings, she’s getting inspiration from her church singles group, her gymnastics-obsessed teenage daughter and her rescue dog and cat. In her day job, Lee gets to encourage aspiring romance writers in Seton Hill University’s low-residency MFA program. Visit her at leetobinmcclain.com .

Title Page Engaged to the Single Mom Lee Tobin McClain www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. —Romans 8:28

Dedication I owe much appreciation to my Wednesday-morning critique group—Sally Alexander, Jonathan Auxier, Kathy Ayres, Colleen McKenna and Jackie Robb—for being patient through genre shifts while gently insisting on excellence. Thanks also to my colleagues at Seton Hill University, especially Michael Arnzen, Nicole Peeler and Albert Wendland, whose support and encouragement keep me happily writing. Ben Wernsman helped me brainstorm story ideas, and Carrie Turansky read an early draft of the proposal and critiqued it most helpfully. I’m grateful to be working with my agent, Karen Solem, and my editor, Shana Asaro—dog lovers both—who saw the potential of the story and helped me make it better. Most of all, thanks belong to my daughter, Grace, for being patient with her creative mom’s absentmindedness and for offering inspiration, recreation and eye-rolling, teenage-style love every step of the way.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five