The Prodigal Groom

The Prodigal Groom
Karen Leabo

CELEBRATION 1000 The Wedding Night JILTED! Even though the entire town thought Jake Mercer had stood up Laurie Branson, Laurie knew Jake wouldn't be a no-show at their wedding without good reason. And then she was told he was dead. Now it's four years later, and in he strolls - handsomer than ever, with a chip on his rugged shoulders.Upon seeing this sexy apparition disguised as ranch manager, Laurie went from shocked to angry to intrigued. Now maybe she could get some answers about the past. And maybe her daughter could have a chance to know her real daddy. That is, once Laurie could find a way to tell Jake that's who he was… .THE WEDDING NIGHT: The excitement started when they said "I do!"CELEBRATION 1000: Come celebrate the publication of the 1000th Silhouette Desire, with scintillating love stories by some of your favorite writers!

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#u59bcc6fd-eb46-5ed4-90df-6342bbf1de1f)

Excerpt (#u735f1951-5350-5122-adae-6a675952f758)

Dear Reader (#u1fd6a37d-a6b4-5ab8-b268-6dda924a80a8)

Title Page (#ua1e38b6e-0ef5-5e5e-9713-c05b476af728)

Abot the Author (#ucf4538df-0600-588e-a08d-901f72536dc5)

Dear Reader (#u7935f1f4-228e-5ed8-b68e-e6f239f3eb0c)

Prologue (#u2edb9e4f-0053-508f-96fc-00cd2b6aadf7)

One (#u56738426-5ef0-5faf-8b19-b653654147ca)

Two (#u3e903deb-3a35-52d8-9e98-cafeeb63407d)

Three (#ue61344f7-d5c7-5c52-91c7-5ef7b7e141f0)

Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Laurie Saw The Man’s Legs First—Long And Lean, Encased In Faded Blue Jeans.

As his feet hit the ground, her gaze traveled upward to take in the slim hips, flat stomach and broad shoulders, challenging the seams of a white Western-cut shirt. He was looking down as he hit the ground, and his face and hair were obscured by a pearl gray Stetson. So it was only when he focused directly on her that she saw the lean, weather-whipped face, the sensual lips, the steel blue eyes—features once as familiar to her as her own reflection in the mirror.

“Oh…my…God,” she murmured. Then every cubic inch of oxygen deserted her lungs.

“Hi, Laurie.”

“’Hi, Laurie’?” she repeated. “Is that all you have to say? You’re supposed to be dead!”

Dear Reader,

It’s hard to believe that this is the grand finale of CELEBRATION 10001 But all good things must come to an end. Not that there aren’t more wonderful things in store for you next month, too…

But as for June, first we have an absolutely sizzling MAN OF THE MONTH from Ann Major called The Accidental Bodyguard.

Are you a fan of HAWK’S WAY? If so, don’t miss the latest “Hawk’s” story, The Temporary Groom by Joan Johnston. Check out the family tree on page six and see if you recognize all the members of the Whitelaw family.

And with The Cowboy and the Cradle Cait London has begun a fabulous new western series—THE TALLCHIEFS. (P.S. The next Tallchief is all set for September!)

Many of you have written to say how much you love Elizabeth Bevarly’s books. Her latest. Father of the Brood, book #2 in the FROM HERE TO PATERNITY series, simply shouldn’t be missed

This month is completed with Karen Leabo’s The Prodigal Groom, the latest in our WEDDING NIGHT series, and don’t miss a wonderful star of tomorrow— DEBUT AUTHOR Eileen Wilks, who’s written The Loner and the Lady.

As for next month…we have a not-to-be-missed MAN OF THE MONTH by Anne McAllister, and Dixie Browning launches DADDY KNOWS LAST, a new Silhouette continuity series beginning in Desire.

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

The Prodigal Groom

Karen Leabo

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

KAREN LEABO

credits her fourth-grade teacher with initially sparking her interest in creative writing. She was determined at an early age to have her work published. When she was in the eighth grade she wrote a children’s book and convinced her school yearbook publisher to put it in print

Karen was born and raised in Dallas. She has worked as a magazine art director, a free-lance writer and a textbook editor, but now she keeps herself busy fulltime writing about romance.

Dear Reader,

They don’t put red covers on Silhouette Desires for nothing! The first time I read one—had to be a dozen years ago—I was pleasantly surprised to find that the hero and heroine didn’t close the bedroom door. Beautifully detailed love scenes were an essential part of the story, providing something I’d felt was missing from those “tamer” romances.

Desires quickly became my favorite reads, not only because I liked the love scenes, but because I could relate to the modem, fast-paced tone of these books. The blend of fantasy and real-life people appealed to me as a reader. I could cast myself as the heroine and feel right at home.

When I decided to try my hand at writing romance. Silhouette Desire was where I wanted to be. I was proud as a new mother when my first Desire, Close Quarters, was published in 1991, and even happier that Desire has been my publishing “home” for many years now.