The Wrong Wife

The Wrong Wife
Carolyn McSparren

Old money. Old scandels. A new chance at love…Annabelle Langley is all wrong for Ben Jackson. Ben's an ambitious district attorney with plans to move up in the political arena. Annabelle's messy past–or at least the past she believes is hers–will not be helpful to him.But Ben loves Annabelle–it's the first time he's felt this way since his fiancée's death many years ago. And he's determined to prove Annabelle's innocence, even though he knows opening this old case will almost certainly destroy his career. But when it seems that the deeper he delves into her secrets, the more damning the evidence against her appears, Ben has second thoughts.Should he stop? Let her go? Or keep fighting for the happiness they both want?

He dared not see Annabelle Langley again

That was for sure, Ben Jackson thought to himself. Cupid must be laughing his head off, the sadistic little bastard. How could Ben, the conservative, left-brain, goal-oriented young law-and-order district attorney fall head over heels in love at first sight?

He was still thinking of her when the back door burst open, and Annabelle, her face as cheerful as an executioner’s, stalked down the back steps and stood staring out at the yard and carriage house.

The effect she had on him hadn’t changed.

He leaned back against the trunk of the tree and tried to study her critically in hopes that his rational mind would kick in before it was too late. This could not be happening. His mother must have slipped a love potion into his tea. She’d accused him of being a robot. But robots didn’t fall in love.

This wasn’t love. It was lust. Lust he could handle.…After all, a district attorney with a brilliant career ahead of him wouldn’t fall for a woman like Annabelle.

A woman with a scandal in her past from which she’d never escape.

Dear Reader,

Do you believe in love at first sight? I do. I knew the first moment I looked at my husband that he was the one.

Ben Jackson, law-and-order district attorney on the rise, doesn’t believe in love at all. He’s looking for the right wife—a partner to share his vision, to help build his career.

But he falls passionately for Annabelle Langley the moment he sees her, even though she couldn’t be a less suitable choice.

Fortunately, Annabelle would never dream of marrying Ben Jackson. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t intend to marry at all. She wants to go back to New York where nobody cares about her past.

Ben wants to uncover the truth so she’ll be free to love him. Yet the deeper he delves, the more damning the evidence against her seems. He’s not helping her—he’s hurting her!

Should he stop? Let her go? Or keep fighting for the love he knows they can have together?

I hope you’ll enjoy discovering the answer.

Carolyn McSparren

The Wrong Wife

Carolyn McSparren

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

For Vonda Milnor, who taught me about heirloom lace.

For Pat Potter, Phyllis Appleby and Beverly Williams, the greatest brainstormers in the world.

For Emma DeSaussure Jett, who taught me to sew a fine seam—or as fine as I could manage.

Finally, in memory of Ann Lee, who brought this plot a good deal too close to home.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE (#u6f55292a-8b28-542d-bf8e-d3f9f10ffc46)

CHAPTER TWO (#uccd98c05-b2c4-513e-9180-6eee734265f4)

CHAPTER THREE (#u1a0ccac6-a1a8-53b1-93fd-ef4e02c0339c)

CHAPTER FOUR (#ude83f02c-1a7d-5ac3-8493-72b205dfbd3c)

CHAPTER FIVE (#u3263a2af-d4f4-5d8e-b689-ad609a93ad6b)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINETEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE

“YOU’VE SUCCESSFULLY avoided falling in love for years,” Elizabeth Jackson said to her son. “That’s not a good thing.”

“For me, it is.” Ben Jackson leaned back on the turquoise corduroy Victorian love seat and smiled sardonically at his mother. “Even Cupid couldn’t shoot an arrow through all the scar tissue on this particular heart.” Ben poked a finger at his chest. “I’ve had one love, remember. I neither need nor want another. Too painful.”

“Ben, you loved Judy, but that was in high school. And her death wasn’t your fault.”

“It was partly my fault. Although some of the blame must go to dear old Dad.”