Bachelor Protector

Bachelor Protector
Julianna Morris

Driven to defend a woman who won't let him!Poppy Gold Inns should be the perfect place to relax, except architect Tyler Prentiss doesn’t do slow. He’s juggling his work long distance while looking after his brother, a wounded soldier battling PTSD. And figuring out how to make nice with Sarah Fullerton, his mother’s new boss. Helping the stubborn, sexy baker remodel her kitchens is a step in the right direction, he figures. And when someone begins harassing Sarah, he wants to do more, but the independent woman won't let him. Tyler knows all about needing space. She’s in danger, and so is he… of finally opening his heart.

Driven to defend a woman who won’t let him!

Poppy Gold Inns should be the perfect place to relax, except architect Tyler Prentiss doesn’t do slow. He’s juggling his work long-distance while looking after his brother, a wounded soldier battling PTSD. And he’s figuring out how to make nice with Sarah Fullerton, his mother’s new boss. Helping the stubborn, sexy baker remodel her kitchens is a step in the right direction, he figures. And when someone begins harassing Sarah, he wants to do more, but the independent woman won’t let him. Tyler knows all about needing space. She’s in danger, and so is he...of finally opening his heart.

“Do you still want to go for a drive?” Tyler asked.

“Not tonight.”

“Then how about me coming over tomorrow or the next day and looking at those blueprints?”

“Sure.” Sarah walked him to the door and was almost afraid to look out in case another gift bag had been left, which was absurd because the police had only departed a few minutes earlier. “Good night, Tyler.”

He hesitated, staring at her mouth.

Sarah gave it a brief moment of thought before rising on her toes and planting a thorough kiss on his lips. After all, there was no point in being coy, and it would be a much better ending to the evening than a creepy gift.

His arms went around her and he deepened the kiss. Every inch of her skin burned and the response from his body was unmistakable.

Dear Reader (#u347fd3cf-8318-5e2e-85e4-6fa10251c84c),

It probably isn’t a surprise that I enjoy writing about large families. (Was that a big “duh” I just heard?) Sarah Fullerton enjoys her many relatives in my third Poppy Gold story. She is open and loving, despite a bad marriage, and very busy running her dream business. I’ve paired Sarah with Tyler Prentiss, a man who struggles to be close to anyone, much less his own small family. Tyler has several concerns, including a grieving mother and a brother recovering from serious military-related injuries, but he can’t restrain his protective instincts when Sarah is threatened.

I hope to write more Poppy Gold stories in the future, as well as revisit the Hollister family from my series Those Hollister Boys. Lots of stories, just never enough time to tell them all!

Classic Movie Alert: share a smile with me by watching Bringing Up Baby, starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Cary is a paleontologist whose life is turned upside down by a madcap heiress and a leopard.

Please check out my Facebook page at Facebook.com/julianna.morris.author (https://Facebook.com/julianna.morris.author). Readers can also contact me at c/o Harlequin Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 3K9, Canada.

Julianna Morris

Bachelor Protector

Julianna Morris

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

JULIANNA MORRIS isn’t crazy about housework, but she enjoys home canning because it connects her to the farming and pioneering roots of her ancestors. Of course, this conflicts with everything else she enjoys, including hiking, traveling, reading, painting and photography. But the way Julianna sees it, she’d rather have too much to do than too little. One thing is sure—she’ll never be bored!

In loving memory of Burt and Emily

Contents

Cover (#uea87da2e-2f15-5949-9917-d29b5dbc35b0)

Back Cover Text (#uce8038fc-4cab-5268-b56c-f7d071c74be2)

Introduction (#u5f129b29-c86a-5d25-83d9-c24a06f6acc4)

Dear Reader (#uab753c9e-cdbf-521a-be7b-c3b00efb9763)

Title Page (#u939e095d-be18-50e8-8f0d-014f2ce80bcb)

About the Author (#ube37016c-e0ce-5d7c-84d5-7265d251fc6f)

Dedication (#u6b4beddf-ef5c-5b5b-adcb-d9ac07405976)

PROLOGUE (#ue8b46b0d-10e8-59aa-9938-44d41d45b7d7)

CHAPTER ONE (#u43bca0e7-7b79-5dcb-967d-eb3499ac336c)

CHAPTER TWO (#ue34de6bc-7642-5e87-b82e-953b37335491)

CHAPTER THREE (#u92e2b5be-fbd6-52bc-bf84-d906b7f9249b)

CHAPTER FOUR (#u3374d2d6-1106-539b-8c5b-6432ad3e6f28)

CHAPTER FIVE (#u11352f9a-beda-5fe1-9366-c790125a9fcb)

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)