Kandy Shepherd - The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner

Having Sam around was a distraction.

He didn’t look like the man who had battered her young heart—and a good portion of her soul—eight years ago when she’d been twenty, but he was the same type. That outrageous masculinity, the untamed don’t-give-a-damn look that sang to something wild and feminine and reckless in her. A part of herself she thought she’d long suppressed.

Panic started its heart-stopping, breath-stealing, muscle-tensing attack on her. She took in a deep breath that came out halfway to a sob.

“You okay?” Sam’s deep voice was warm with concern.

She pretended to cough. “F … Fine, thanks,” she said. “Just … just a tickle in my throat.”

She dropped her hand from his shoulder, stepped away so his hand fell from her waist.

And immediately felt bereft of his touch.

Dear Reader Contents Cover Introduction 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 Extract Copyright ,

In this, my second book for MILLS & BOON, I’m thrilled to take you back to the small coastal town of Dolphin Bay on the idyllic south coast of New South Wales, Australia. While the town is fictional, the charming harbor and beautiful unspoiled beaches are inspired by places I have visited and loved.

Kate Parker was a character in my previous book The Summer They Never Forgot. I liked Kate a lot and wanted her to have a book of her own. Kate delights in helping people, and in The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner she’s in her element organizing a very special wedding.

Romance is in the air when Kate meets gorgeous Sam Lancaster. But Kate is hiding secrets from the past that threaten her chance of happiness with Sam—and he has some secrets of his own.

I so enjoyed unravelling the defences Kate and Sam put up against the love they both deserve—I hope you will enjoy reading their story.

Kandy

The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner

Kandy Shepherd

www.millsandboon.co.uk

KANDY SHEPHERDswapped a fast-paced career as a magazine editor for a life writing romance. She lives on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her husband, daughter, and a menagerie of animal friends. Kandy believes in love at first sight and real-life romance—they worked for her!

Kandy loves to hear from her readers. Visit her website at: www.kandyshepherd.com.

To my wonderful husband and daughter for your love and inspiration—thank you!

Contents

Cover

Introduction Having Sam around was a distraction. He didn’t look like the man who had battered her young heart—and a good portion of her soul—eight years ago when she’d been twenty, but he was the same type. That outrageous masculinity, the untamed don’t-give-a-damn look that sang to something wild and feminine and reckless in her. A part of herself she thought she’d long suppressed. Panic started its heart-stopping, breath-stealing, muscle-tensing attack on her. She took in a deep breath that came out halfway to a sob. “You okay?” Sam’s deep voice was warm with concern. She pretended to cough. “F … Fine, thanks,” she said. “Just … just a tickle in my throat.” She dropped her hand from his shoulder, stepped away so his hand fell from her waist. And immediately felt bereft of his touch.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Contents Cover Introduction 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 Extract Copyright , In this, my second book for MILLS & BOON, I’m thrilled to take you back to the small coastal town of Dolphin Bay on the idyllic south coast of New South Wales, Australia. While the town is fictional, the charming harbor and beautiful unspoiled beaches are inspired by places I have visited and loved. Kate Parker was a character in my previous book The Summer They Never Forgot. I liked Kate a lot and wanted her to have a book of her own. Kate delights in helping people, and in The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner she’s in her element organizing a very special wedding. Romance is in the air when Kate meets gorgeous Sam Lancaster. But Kate is hiding secrets from the past that threaten her chance of happiness with Sam—and he has some secrets of his own. I so enjoyed unravelling the defences Kate and Sam put up against the love they both deserve—I hope you will enjoy reading their story. Kandy

Title Page The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner Kandy Shepherd www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author KANDY SHEPHERD swapped a fast-paced career as a magazine editor for a life writing romance. She lives on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her husband, daughter, and a menagerie of animal friends. Kandy believes in love at first sight and real-life romance—they worked for her! Kandy loves to hear from her readers. Visit her website at: www.kandyshepherd.com .

Dedication To my wonderful husband and daughter for your love and inspiration—thank you!

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

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

AS SHE WENT about her lunchtime front-of-house duties at the Hotel Harbourside restaurant, Kate Parker was only too aware of the ill-concealed interest in her. The too-interested glances quickly averted; the undertones; the murmurs.

Poor Kate.

If she heard—or sensed—that phrase one more time, she’d scream.

Her and her big, big mouth.

Why, oh, why had she made such a big deal of her childhood crush on Jesse Morgan? She wished she’d never told a soul, let alone all and sundry in her home town of Dolphin Bay, that the next time Jesse was back she’d finally let him know how she really felt about him.

Because now he was home, now she had kissed him for the first time since they’d been just kids fifteen years ago, and it had turned out a total disaster. She’d felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. Instead of turning her on, his kiss had turned her off. She’d fought the urge to wipe her mouth with the back of her hand.

And Jesse? He’d been as embarrassed and awkward as she’d been. They’d parted, barely able to look each other in the eye.

She cringed at the memory—as she’d cringed a hundred times already—as painfully fresh today as it had been three days ago when it had occurred.

And now everyone in their small community knew she’d made an utter fool of herself by believing there could be anything more between her and Jesse than the affection due to a family friend she’d known since they’d both been in nappies.

Poor Kate.

The air was thick with pity for her. She looked around the restaurant; many of the tables were already full for Sunday lunch.

She wanted to run out the door, down the steps onto the beach below and get home to lock herself in her bedroom with the music turned up loud.

Instead, she girded herself against the gossip. She forced herself to smile. First, because a warm, confident smile was essential to any role in hospitality. And second, because she couldn’t bear for any of those too-interested townsfolk to guess how churned up, anxious and panicky she was feeling inside.