Winner Takes All

Winner Takes All
Cheryl Harper

Winning the lottery means finally living her dreams… Stephanie Yates isn't really sure she's ready to leave her hometown and see the world, but there's not much she can do about it now: her friends have sent her on her way! And her first stop is a village in the breathtaking mountains of Peru, where Daniel Lincoln, her lifelong crush, is setting up medical clinics.Stephanie thought she could hide her feelings for the hotshot doctor no problem, but Daniel has changed. And spending time with this strong, caring man helps her imagine a new life for herself, and for Daniel. That is, if he can start seeing her as more than just a friend…

Winning the lottery means finally living her dreams...

Stephanie Yates isn’t really sure she’s ready to leave her hometown and see the world, but there’s not much she can do about it now: her friends have sent her on her way! And her first stop is a village in the breathtaking mountains of Peru, where Daniel Lincoln, her lifelong crush, is setting up medical clinics.

Stephanie thought she could hide her feelings for the hotshot doctor no problem, but Daniel has changed. And spending time with this strong, caring man helps her imagine a new life for herself, and for Daniel. That is, if he can start seeing her as more than just a friend...

He needed her friendship.

Anything else was dangerous. Besides, she was like a sister. They’d survived acne, cafeteria pizza and countless fights over the remote.

“Listen, I’m happy to see you, but coming to Alto is a bad plan. The conditions aren’t what you’re used to and—”

“And you’re afraid I’ll tumble right on into love with you again. It’s okay. I’m smarter now than I was then. I realize you were right. We are good friends, and that doesn’t mean we should be anything more. Don’t worry.”

She squeezed his hand.

“Friends. That’s all. Now help me show your sister and Jen that they don’t know everything they think they do. Take me to Alto. I’ll stay until you’re coming back to Lima. I might even be able to help.”

Dear Reader (#ulink_67b21393-8c83-5267-b1b1-2c92eea40ebe),

Traveling the world from my couch has been a hobby of mine for a long time. As a young girl, I would check out the coffee-table photography books of Ireland and Scotland and dream of castles. In junior high, a project on Barcelona led me to the travel-guide shelves. Since then, I’ve carefully planned every vacation I’ve taken and dreamed big dreams about the ones I’ve yet to manage. What I didn’t know then, when I was studying big pictures of places large and small, was how travel could change the way I see the world and myself.

In Winner Takes All, Stephanie Yates learns this lesson after she takes a trip to Peru on a dare. Her best friend’s older brother is making a difference and making a life in the Andes Mountains. Once Stephanie has a chance to show what she can do, she understands that she’s limited only by her own fear. The conditions are nothing like home. And neither is the satisfaction she feels with each new adventure. I hope you enjoy seeing some of Peru and meeting Stephanie and Daniel.

If you’d like to know more about my books and what’s coming next, enter fun giveaways, or meet my dog, Jack, please visit me at cherylharperbooks.com (http://www.cherylharperbooks.com). You can sign up for my newsletter, too. I’m also on Facebook (CherylHarperRomance (https://www.facebook.com/CherylHarperRomance)) and Twitter (@CherylHarperBks (https://twitter.com/cherylharperbks)). I’d love to chat!

Cheryl Harper

Winner Takes All

Cheryl Harper

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

CHERYL HARPER discovered her love for books and words as a little girl, thanks to a mother who made countless library trips and an introduction to Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House stories. Whether it’s the prairie, the American West, Regency England or Earth a hundred years in the future, Cheryl enjoys strong characters who make her laugh. Now Cheryl spends her days searching for the right words while she stares out the window and her dog, Jack, snoozes beside her. And she considers herself very lucky to do so.

For more information about Cheryl’s books, visit her online at cherylharperbooks.com (http://www.cherylharperbooks.com) or follow her on Twitter, @cherylharperbks (https://twitter.com/cherylharperbks).

Many thanks to my editor, Dana Grimaldi, for the questions, suggestions and encouragement that make my books so much better.

Contents

Cover (#uba61cc18-9968-50fd-bb03-a74a18fd3833)

Back Cover Text (#u505a052c-a8f6-524c-9f57-a6cda01d66a7)

Introduction (#uc87ebe6c-8fb9-5e92-a9f3-d3433b872211)

Dear Reader (#ulink_a9de5eaf-5b70-5642-9c43-60f77f92b7c1)

Title Page (#u73d7fa8b-4117-5dfe-a1a3-7f164933f67e)

About the Author (#u1f10a524-9d14-5166-b63b-740fb47a373e)

Dedication (#u1d20d9b4-dcc5-56a9-b27b-8b77e6d833cf)

CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_b58ffc84-0dd0-54a2-9514-e44e8fb9db34)

CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_cdcd8b9d-39f0-5703-9e0e-1ea0f1818ab8)

CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_cd6ee9ed-1a8f-5513-8b32-0f2de197bbd5)

CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_6cc75436-68b9-5c5a-8369-c7a97d0b69bf)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

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)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_86fb7cec-8661-58eb-82a8-22ee25988258)

“SO HE REACHED across the table and took my hand—” Stephanie dropped into her normal spot on the couch with a huff “—and told me how much he appreciated my help with Stacy. He never would’ve patched things up with her without my friendship.”

“That’s Brian’s loss,” Rebecca said. She eased down beside Stephanie and fluffed her ruffled apron over the sundress she’d worn to celebrate the last day of school. Rebecca offered Stephanie a plate of chocolate chip cookies. “You did the right thing. It’s not bad to be such a good friend.”