Susan Crosby - Baby Fever

Cover Page

Excerpt He Wasn’t Wearing A Wedding Ring. And, Jasmine noted, a spark of interest had flared in his dark green eyes that not only hadn’t undressed her with lascivious speculation, but hadn’t even looked below her chin, except to determine her name, which put him on a pedestal as far as she was concerned. She considered the other candidates she’d met over the past six months, each of them flawed in some way. Potential Donor 1, who she’d decided wasn’t tall enough; Donor 2, whose ears were too large; Donor 3, whose eyes were too brooding; Donor 4, who wore turtlenecks all the time—what had he been hiding? Jasmine recognized the alleged flaws for the excuse they were—to avoid making her plan a reality. But now there was Patrick, who was tall enough, had great ears, smiling eyes and a strong, suntanned neck. He was perfect. Perhaps too perfect?

Dear Reader Dear Reader, Welcome to Silhouette Desire, where you can discover the answers to all your romantic questions. Such as… Q. What would you think if you discovered the man you love has a secret identity—as a movie star? A. That’s what happens to the heroine of August’s MAN OF THE MONTH, Don’t Fence Me In by award-winning writer Kathleen Korbel. Q. What would you do if you were pregnant, in labor and snowbound with a sexy — but panicked — stranger? A. Discover the answer in Father on the Brink, the conclusion to Elizabeth Bevarly’s FROM HERE TO PATERNITY series. Q. Suppose you had to have a marriage of convenience? A. Maybe you’d behave like the heroine in Barbara McMahon’s Bride of a Thousand Days. Q. How could you talk a man into fathering your child…no strings attached? A. Learn how in Susan Crosby’s Baby Fever! Q. Would you ever marry a stranger? A. You might, if he was the hero of Sara Orwig’s The Bride’s Choice. Q. What does it take to lasso a sexy cowboy? A. Find out in Shawna Delacorte’s Cowboy Dreaming. Silhouette Desire.. .where all your questions are answered and your romantic dreams can come true. Until next month, happy reading! 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.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

Title Page Baby Fever Susan Crosby www.millsandboon.co.uk

About The Author SUSAN CROSBY is fascinated by the special and complex communication of courtship, and so she burrows in her office to dream up warm, strong heroes and good-hearted, self-reliant heroines to satisfy her own love of happy endings. She and her husband have two grown sons and live in the Central Valley of California. She spent a mere seven and a half years getting through college, and finally earned a B.A. in English a few years ago. She has worked as a synchronized swimming instructor, a personnel interviewer at a toy factory, and a trucking company manager. Involved for many years behind the scenes in a local community theater, she has made only one stage appearance—as the rear end of a camel! Variety, she says, makes for more interesting novels. Readers are welcome to write to her at P.O. Box 1836, Lodi, CA 95241.

Dedication For Christine Rimmer, who is everything I admire— talented, generous, kind, intelligent and humble. Thanks for making the journey so much fun. And for my wonderful editor, Melissa Jeglinski, who wanted Patrick to have his own story. He thanks you and so do I.

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Epilogue

Copyright

And, Jasmine noted, a spark of interest had flared in his dark green eyes that not only hadn’t undressed her with lascivious speculation, but hadn’t even looked below her chin, except to determine her name, which put him on a pedestal as far as she was concerned.

She considered the other candidates she’d met over the past six months, each of them flawed in some way. Potential Donor 1, who she’d decided wasn’t tall enough; Donor 2, whose ears were too large; Donor 3, whose eyes were too brooding; Donor 4, who wore turtlenecks all the time—what had he been hiding?

Jasmine recognized the alleged flaws for the excuse they were—to avoid making her plan a reality. But now there was Patrick, who was tall enough, had great ears, smiling eyes and a strong, suntanned neck.

He was perfect. Perhaps too perfect?

Dear Reader,

Welcome to Silhouette Desire, where you can discover the answers to all your romantic questions. Such as…

Q. What would you think if you discovered the man you love has a secret identity—as a movie star?

A. That’s what happens to the heroine of August’s MAN OF THE MONTH, Don’t Fence Me In by award-winning writer Kathleen Korbel.

Q. What would you do if you were pregnant, in labor and snowbound with a sexy — but panicked — stranger?

A. Discover the answer in Father on the Brink, the conclusion to Elizabeth Bevarly’s FROM HERE TO PATERNITY series.

Q. Suppose you had to have a marriage of convenience?

A. Maybe you’d behave like the heroine in Barbara McMahon’s Bride of a Thousand Days.

Q. How could you talk a man into fathering your child…no strings attached?

A. Learn how in Susan Crosby’s Baby Fever!

Q. Would you ever marry a stranger?

A. You might, if he was the hero of Sara Orwig’s The Bride’s Choice.

Q. What does it take to lasso a sexy cowboy?

A. Find out in Shawna Delacorte’s Cowboy Dreaming. Silhouette Desire.. .where all your questions are answered and your romantic dreams can come true. Until next month, happy reading!

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.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

www.millsandboon.co.uk

is fascinated by the special and complex communication of courtship, and so she burrows in her office to dream up warm, strong heroes and good-hearted, self-reliant heroines to satisfy her own love of happy endings.

She and her husband have two grown sons and live in the Central Valley of California. She spent a mere seven and a half years getting through college, and finally earned a B.A. in English a few years ago. She has worked as a synchronized swimming instructor, a personnel interviewer at a toy factory, and a trucking company manager. Involved for many years behind the scenes in a local community theater, she has made only one stage appearance—as the rear end of a camel! Variety, she says, makes for more interesting novels.

Readers are welcome to write to her at P.O. Box 1836, Lodi, CA 95241.

For Christine Rimmer, who is everything I admire—

talented, generous, kind, intelligent and humble. Thanks

for making the journey so much fun.

And for my wonderful editor, Melissa Jeglinski,

who wanted Patrick to have his own story.

He thanks you and so do I.

Six thousand dollars.

The words echoed in Jasmine LeClerc’s head as she pushed open the door and exited the quiet, sterile building. She descended a short flight of stairs, her legs trembling so much she had to prop herself against the discreet sign at the bottom step—Bay City Clinic, Specializing In Reproductive And Fertility Disorders.