Anne McAllister - Finn's Twins!

“I’m leaving!” “I’m leaving!” “You leave, and the twins go with you,” Finn said implacably. “But I can’t stay! I have a life.” “What life? What brought you to New York?” “I’m going to get married,” Izzy said. Finn looked her up and down with such obvious disbelief that Izzy wanted to smack him. He smiled. “Have you picked a groom yet?” “Yes, I’ve picked a groom. And I intend on seeing him this evening.” “You can’t. Not yet. At least help me get the twins settled. Read them a story. Get them to bed.” He was looking just a bit desperate! We know you’re going to love FINN’S TWINS! so much that we hope you’ll look out for the sequel, FLETCHER’S BABY!, in January 1998. It’s fun, emotional and will keep you hooked till the very last page! About the Author ANNE MCALLISTER was born in California. She spent long lazy summers daydreaming on local beaches and studying surfers, swimmers and volleyball players in an effort to find the perfect hero. She finally did, not on the beach, but in a university library where she was working. She, her husband and their four children have since moved to the Midwest. She taught, copyedited, capped deodorant bottles and ghostwrote sermons before turning to her first love—writing romance fiction. Books by Anne McAllister Books by Anne McAllister HARLEQUIN PRESENTS 1060—TO TAME A WOLF 1099—THE MARRIAGE TRAP 1257—ONCE A HERO 1371—OUT OF BOUNDS 1459—ISLAND INTERLUDE 1620—CALL UP THE WIND 1680—CATCH ME IF YOU CAN 1769—THE ALEXAKIS BRIDE Don’t miss any of our special offers. Write to us at the following address for information on our newest releases. Harlequin 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 Finn’s Twins! Anne McAllister www.millsandboon.co.uk PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN Copyright

“I’m leaving!”

“You leave, and the twins go with you,” Finn said implacably.

“But I can’t stay! I have a life.”

“What life? What brought you to New York?”

“I’m going to get married,” Izzy said.

Finn looked her up and down with such obvious disbelief that Izzy wanted to smack him. He smiled. “Have you picked a groom yet?”

“Yes, I’ve picked a groom. And I intend on seeing him this evening.”

“You can’t. Not yet. At least help me get the twins settled. Read them a story. Get them to bed.” He was looking just a bit desperate!

We know you’re going to love

FINN’S TWINS!

so much that we hope

you’ll look out for the sequel,

FLETCHER’S BABY!,

in January 1998.

It’s fun, emotional and will keep you hooked

till the very last page!

FROM HERE TO PATERNITY—romances that feature fantastic men who eventually make fabulous fathers. Some seek paternity, some have it thrust upon them; all will make it—whether they like it or not!

ANNE MCALLISTER was born in California. She spent long lazy summers daydreaming on local beaches and studying surfers, swimmers and volleyball players in an effort to find the perfect hero. She finally did, not on the beach, but in a university library where she was working. She, her husband and their four children have since moved to the Midwest. She taught, copyedited, capped deodorant bottles and ghostwrote sermons before turning to her first love—writing romance fiction.

Books by Anne McAllister

HARLEQUIN PRESENTS

1060—TO TAME A WOLF

1099—THE MARRIAGE TRAP

1257—ONCE A HERO

1371—OUT OF BOUNDS

1459—ISLAND INTERLUDE

1620—CALL UP THE WIND

1680—CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

1769—THE ALEXAKIS BRIDE

Don’t miss any of our special offers. Write to us at the following address for information on our newest releases.

Harlequin Reader Service

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

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

Finn’s Twins!

Anne McAllister

www.millsandboon.co.uk

PROLOGUE

THE phone was ringing—had been for longer than he wanted to think.

Finn ignored it.

He stood motionless, his entire concentration focused. on the developing tray where Angelina Fiorelli’s lips were beginning to emerge.

He’d been waiting all day to do these enlargements, to see if he could find the perfect come-hither look in the best of the shots he’d taken the day before. He wasn’t one of the world’s most creative and eagerly sought-after commercial photographers for nothing. When he had an idea, he pursued it. And all the ringing phones in the world weren’t going to interrupt him now.

He leaned closer and permitted himself a small smile as, in the dim red light of the darkroom, he made out the faintest hint of the luscious Fiorelli outline beginning to develop. Yes!

Another ring.

Finn gritted his teeth. Were the hell was Strong?

His matronly taskmaster of a studio manager shouldn’t have any of his high-strung, ruffled-feathered clients left in the office to appease by this time. It was already after five o’clock. Why wasn’t she answering it?

Angelina’s famous pouting lips were now fully developed. Perhaps just a shade too sulky. Carefully Finn lifted the enlargement out of the solution and placed it in the stop bath, then submerged another.

The phone rang again—a half ring—then stopped. At last. Finn concentrated as the next set of lips materialized. There was a sharp rap on the darkroom door.

“Go away.”

“Your sister’s on the line.”

He should have known. Meg had been calling him at inopportune moments since she was old enough to talk. “Tell her I’ll call her back.”

“I did. She needs to talk to you now.”

“I’m busy. Tell her I’m busy.”

There was a pause. “She’s crying.”

“Oh, hell.” It took no imagination at all for his mind’s eye to conjure up the vision of his younger sister Meg crying. He’d seen her—and heard her—often enough. Her sweet soft voice would quiver. Her freckled face would grow blotchy and her big blue eyes would swim with tears. Then she would hiccup as she tried to explain what latest crisis in her life had prompted her to call for help.

Finn knew the routine all too well. And Strong, alternately mother hen and Marine drill sergeant as the occasion demanded, was no better at turning Meg into a self-reliant human being than he was.

Finn sucked in a deep breath and snatched up the receiver. “Now what?”

“Oh, Finn!” came the breathless, teary quaver he’d expected. “It’s Roger!” And the end of the world from the sound of it.

“Who’s Roger?”

“Roger de Fontaine. You know! Roger!”

He didn’t have a clue. “Some guy you’ve been seeing?” Always a good bet.

“The man I love, Finn.” The teary voice wavered with an emotional vibrato. “Truly.”

“Uh-huh.” They’d been down this trail before. Plenty of times. Finn tucked the receiver between his ear and . his shoulder and went back to contemplating Angelina Fiorelli’s lips. This shot had possibilities, if only—

“If only I could convince him,” Meg said mournfully.

“Huh?” Finn was distracted. He dragged his attention back to his sister, away from Angelina’s mouth. “Convince him of what?”

“That I love him.”

“Tell him.” It seemed simple enough to him. He’d never fallen in love with anyone, so he’d never said the words. If he had, he would, not that he ever expected to. Why the hell did Meg have to complicate everything? Especially his life!