Mercury Rising

Mercury Rising
Christine Rimmer

Mills & Boon Silhouette
When it came to choosing the wrong man, Jane Elliott had written the book. So from now on, Jane had decided that when it came to untamable men, her policy was "hands-off." Only problem was, she hadn't counted on how irresistible Cade Bravo's hands would be–not to mention the rest of him….As for Cade, gambler and bad boy extraordinaire, he always went after what he wanted–and he wanted Jane. And she wanted him, regardless of whether she thought it was sensible or not. Oh, he figured her head was saying no–but weren't her heart and body screaming yes?

“Jane,” Cade whispered. “You gonna let her stop us, let her keep us from each other?”

She was looking at his mouth. So dangerous. So exactly what she longed for. She realized she was biting the inside of her lower lip. She made herself stop. “It’s not only my mother.”

“What else?”

“You know what,” Jane answered. “We don’t want the same things.”

“That’s right.” The very sound of Cade’s voice was like a tender hand, stroking. “We do want different things. I want you. You want me.”

“Very funny.” She wasn’t laughing. “I mean we want different things in life. So this can’t go anywhere.”

“Is it so necessary for a love affair to go somewhere?” Cade asked.

“Not as long as you’re having that love affair with someone who isn’t me.”

“But, Jane,” he answered, “I thought you understood. I don’t want to have a love affair with someone who isn’t you.”

Mercury Rising

Christine Rimmer

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

For my nieces, Lily and Tessa and Morgan, with all my love.

CHRISTINE RIMMER

came to her profession the long way around. Before settling down to write about the magic of romance, she’d been an actress, a salesclerk, a janitor, a model, a phone sales representative, a teacher, a waitress, a playwright and an office manager. She insists she never had a problem keeping a job—she was merely gaining “life experience” for her future as a novelist. Christine is grateful not only for the joy she finds in writing, but for what waits when the day’s work is through: a man she loves, who loves her right back, and the privilege of watching their children grow and change day to day. She lives with her family in Oklahoma.

THE BRAVOS: HEROES, HEROINES AND THEIR STORIES

THE NINE-MONTH MARRIAGE (SSE#1148)

—Cash Bravo and Abby Heller

MARRIAGE BY NECESSITY (SSE #1161)

—Nate Bravo and Megan Kane

PRACTICALLY MARRIED (SSE #1174)

—Zach Bravo and Tess DeMarley

MARRIED BY ACCIDENT (SSE #1250)

—Melinda Bravo and Cole Yuma

THE MILLIONAIRE SHE MARRIED (SSE #1322)

—Jenna Bravo and Mack McGarrity

THE M.D. SHE HAD TO MARRY (SSE #1345)

—Lacey Bravo and Logan Severance

THE MARRIAGE AGREEMENT (SSE #1412)

—Marsh Bravo and Tory Winningham

THE BRAVO BILLIONAIRE (single title)

—Jonas Bravo and Emma Hewitt

MARRIAGE: OVERBOARD

—Gwen Bravo McMillan and Rafe McMillan

(Weekly Serial at www.eHarlequin.com)

THE MARRIAGE CONSPIRACY (SSE #1423)

—Dekker (Smith) Bravo and Joleen Tilly

HIS EXECUTIVE SWEETHEART (SSE #1485)

—Aaron Bravo and Celia Tuttle

MERCURY RISING (SSE #1496)

—Cade Bravo and Jane Elliott

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five