Suzanne McMinn - The Bride, The Trucker And The Great Escape

“I need some time to think.” “I need some time to think.” Andie sighed. “I need to get away, that’s all.” “There has to be somewhere else you could think besides my truck,” Troy said. “Let me take you somewhere—” “No!” Andie knew good and well there wasn’t one single place she could go where her parents wouldn’t find her and turn on the pressure. “Look, if you won’t take me with you—” “What? What are you going to do if I don’t take you with me?” “I’ll get someone else to help me. I’m sure somebody else will pick me up.” Troy’s gut tightened. He imagined pretty Andie standing on the side of the road in her wedding dress with her thumb out. And some stranger stopping and taking her in. She could end up attacked, or worse. He pulled the truck back into gear and headed for the highway, cursing under his breath all the way. He was behind schedule already. He was irritated. And he was stuck with a sexpot in a bridal gown who wouldn’t even tell him her last name, for Pete’s sake. It was going to be a long trip. Letter to Reader Dear Reader, To ring in 1998—Romance-styte!—we’ve got some new voices and some exciting new love stories from the authors you love. Valerie Parv is best known for her Harlequin Romance and Presents novels, but The Billionaire’s Baby Chase, this month’s compelling FABULOUS FATHERS title, marks her commanding return to Silhouette! This billionaire daddy is pure alpha male...and no one—not even the heroine!—will keep him from his long-lost daughter.... Doreen Roberts’s sparkling new title, In Love with the Boss, features the classic boss/secretary theme. Discover how a no-nonsense temp catches the eye—and heart—of her wealthy brooding boss. If you want to laugh out loud, don’t miss Terry Essig’s What the Nursery Needs... In this charming story, what the heroine needs is the right man to make a baby! Hmm... A disillusioned rancher finds himself thinking, Say You’ll Stay and Marry Me, when he falls for the beautiful wanderer who is stranded on his ranch in this emotional tale by Patti Standard. And, believe me, if you think The Bride, the Trucker and the Great Escape sounds fun, just wait till you read this engaging romantic adventure by Suzanne McMinn. And in The Sheriff with the Wyoming-Size Heart by Kathy Jacobson, emotions run high as a small-town lawman and a woman with secrets try to give romance a chance.... And there’s much more to come in 1998! I hope you enjoy our selections this month—and every month. Happy New Year! Joan Marlow Golan Senior Editor Silhouette Books 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 The Bride, The Trucker And The Great Escape Suzanne McMinn www.millsandboon.co.uk Dedication To my parents, Ross and Norma Dye, who passed on to me their creativity and their love of books. I love you. About the Author SUZANNE McMINN lives in a small town in Texas. She always dreamed of being a writer, so she feels like she’s living in a fantasy these days. And with a real life including a husband, three young children and a scary mountain of laundry that seems to grow all by itself, she needs an active fantasy life to keep her going! She hopes her readers enjoy coming along for the ride. Between loads of laundry, Suzanne loves to hear from readers and can be reached at: P.O. Box 12, Granbury, TX 76048. Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Copyright

“I need some time to think.”

Andie sighed. “I need to get away, that’s all.”

“There has to be somewhere else you could think besides my truck,” Troy said. “Let me take you somewhere—”

“No!” Andie knew good and well there wasn’t one single place she could go where her parents wouldn’t find her and turn on the pressure. “Look, if you won’t take me with you—”

“What? What are you going to do if I don’t take you with me?”

“I’ll get someone else to help me. I’m sure somebody else will pick me up.”

Troy’s gut tightened. He imagined pretty Andie standing on the side of the road in her wedding dress with her thumb out.

And some stranger stopping and taking her in. She could end up attacked, or worse.

He pulled the truck back into gear and headed for the highway, cursing under his breath all the way. He was behind schedule already. He was irritated. And he was stuck with a sexpot in a bridal gown who wouldn’t even tell him her last name, for Pete’s sake.

It was going to be a long trip.

Dear Reader,

To ring in 1998—Romance-styte!—we’ve got some new voices and some exciting new love stories from the authors you love.

Valerie Parv is best known for her Harlequin Romance and Presents novels, but The Billionaire’s Baby Chase, this month’s compelling FABULOUS FATHERS title, marks her commanding return to Silhouette! This billionaire daddy is pure alpha male...and no one—not even the heroine!—will keep him from his long-lost daughter....

Doreen Roberts’s sparkling new title, In Love with the Boss, features the classic boss/secretary theme. Discover how a no-nonsense temp catches the eye—and heart—of her wealthy brooding boss. If you want to laugh out loud, don’t miss Terry Essig’s What the Nursery Needs... In this charming story, what the heroine needs is the right man to make a baby! Hmm...

A disillusioned rancher finds himself thinking, Say You’ll Stay and Marry Me, when he falls for the beautiful wanderer who is stranded on his ranch in this emotional tale by Patti Standard. And, believe me, if you think The Bride, the Trucker and the Great Escape sounds fun, just wait till you read this engaging romantic adventure by Suzanne McMinn. And in The Sheriff with the Wyoming-Size Heart by Kathy Jacobson, emotions run high as a small-town lawman and a woman with secrets try to give romance a chance....

And there’s much more to come in 1998! I hope you enjoy our selections this month—and every month.

Happy New Year!

Joan Marlow Golan

Senior Editor

Silhouette Books

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

To my parents,

Ross and Norma Dye,

who passed on to me their creativity

and their love of books.

I love you.

SUZANNE McMINN lives in a small town in Texas. She always dreamed of being a writer, so she feels like she’s living in a fantasy these days. And with a real life including a husband, three young children and a scary mountain of laundry that seems to grow all by itself, she needs an active fantasy life to keep her going! She hopes her readers enjoy coming along for the ride.

Between loads of laundry, Suzanne loves to hear from readers and can be reached at: P.O. Box 12, Granbury, TX 76048.

Chapter One

She had to escape!

Andrea Conroy hitched up the cathedral-length train of her satin wedding gown to her hips and peered out through the narrowly opened dressing room door. The hallway outside stood blessedly empty.

Ears straining, Andie caught the sound of hushed voices from the church vestibule. She had to hurry.

They’d be back—soon—to check on her again. To make sure nothing went wrong with what had been called, by at least one Washington, D.C., society columnist, the wedding of the year.