Dr. Dad

Dr. Dad
Julianna Morris

REMEDY: WIFE?A baby was just not what the doctor ordered. But somehow Dr. Noah Bradley was sharing his home with his precocious orphaned niece and an ever-increasing menagerie of pets. He figured daddyhood was the hardest task he'd ever undertaken. And then beautiful Starr Granger walked into his life.This can't-commit bachelor didn't know what his niece's godmother muddled more–his home or his heart. Playing house with Starr was getting way too personal for this doctor's comfort. Noah thought he was immune to this irrepressibly flamboyant female's intoxicating charm, but she set his head spinning and he felt a painful ache whenever she wasn't around. Was Starr just what the doctor needed?

“What is it about you that keeps me so confused?” Noah asked (#uba8342bd-5155-5241-a2d8-9a9b87e48003)Letter to Reader (#ufcbb0479-435e-5735-837c-158ccd328519)Title Page (#u671e40c4-a69c-5e78-bf2d-cd378f9ea684)Dedication (#u14850a08-6b7b-572e-bef8-650dd123220c)About the Author (#ueaabf64d-62fb-5044-9dd7-063ad01c6a31)Chapter One (#u08c006e2-bccb-5d27-8a6b-cd2c2d0a6923)Chapter Two (#u6386a7e6-7823-5c51-a04d-200be8c1de53)Chapter Three (#uf371ff63-a332-5de3-b5d0-96c7c0b3094d)Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)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)Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

“What is it about you that keeps me so confused?” Noah asked

Starr couldn’t be sure, but she suspected his confusion was caused by his intellect arguing with male instinct. On a purely rational level he obviously didn’t want to get involved with her. But on a physical level...maybe he wasn’t so sure. A small, embarrassed smile tugged at her lips—it was flattering, even though she didn’t want to get involved, either. But what was so wrong with her, anyway?

“For the record...” she said thoughtfully. “What do you dislike about me? I mean, aside from my impulsiveness?”

“You want some kind of list?” he asked, giving her a teasing grin.

“Just hit the high points,” she said with an overdose of sweetness.

“Er...I don’t dislike you. But we’ve got different priorities. I have Becky to think of....”

Starr blinked. She respected Noah’s protectiveness toward his niece. Yet she couldn’t help thinking he was looking for an excuse. Not so much to keep her out of his niece’s life, but out of his.

Dear Reader,

Silhouette Romance is celebrating the month of valentines with six very special love stories—and three brand-new miniseries you don’t want to miss. On Baby Patrol, our BUNDLE OF JOY selection, by bestselling author Sharon De Vita. is book one of her wonderful series, LULLABIES AND LOVE; about a legendary cradle that brings love to three brothers who are officers of the law.

In Granted: Big Sky Groom, Carol Grace begins her sparkling new series, BEST-KEPT WISHES, in which three high school friends’ prom-night wishes are finally about to be granted. Author Julianna Morris tells the delightful story of a handsome doctor whose life is turned topsy-turvy when he becomes the guardian of his orphaned niece in Dr. Dad. And in Cathleen Galitz’s spirited tale, 100% Pure Cowboy, a woman returns home from a mother-daughter bonding trip with the husband of her dreams.

Next is Corporate Groom, which starts Linda Varner’s terrific new miniseries, THREE WEDDINGS AND A FAMILY, about long-lost relatives who find a family. And finally, in With This Child..., Sally Carleen tells the compelling story of a woman whose baby was switched at birth—and the single father who will do anything to keep his child.

I hope you enjoy all six of Silhouette Romance’s love stories this month. And next month, in March, be sure to look for The Princess Bride by bestselling author Diana Palmer, which launches Silhouette Romance’s new monthly promotional miniseries, VIRGIN BRIDES.

Regards,

Joan Marlow Golan

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

Dr. Dad

Julianna Morris

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

In memory of my grandfathers—

Virgil and Daniel—two remarkable men

who passed on a commitment to ideals,

strength of purpose and the joy of laughter.

JULIANNA MORRIS

has an offbeat sense of humor that frequently gets her into trouble. She is often accused of being curious about everything—her interests ranging from oceanography and photography to traveling, antiquing, walking on the beach and reading science fiction. Choosing a college major was extremely difficult, but after many changes she earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science.

Julianna’s writing is supervised by a cat named Gandalf, who sits on the computer monitor and criticizes each keystroke. Ultimately she would like a home overlooking the ocean, where she can write to her heart’s content—and Gandalf’s malcontent. She’d like to share that home with her own romantic hero—someone with a warm, sexy smile, lots of patience and an offbeat sense of humor to match her own. Oh, yes...and he has to like cats.

Chapter One

The wail of fire engine sirens cut through the calm morning and Starr automatically pulled to one side of the road. Several trucks and police vehicles sped around her, headed for a rising plume of smoke on the hillside.

Alarmed, Starr followed the flashing lights and slammed to a stop outside the perimeter established by the emergency personnel. Heart sinking, she grabbed her notebook and confirmed the address; sure enough, this was the house belonging to her goddaughter’s baby-sitter.

“Blast,” she muttered, jumping out of the car.

“Sony, lady, you’ll have to stay back like everyone else,” said an officer controlling the onlooking crowd.

“But—”

“No special privileges.”

Special privileges?

It was then Starr realized she’d instinctively grabbed her camera, with her press credentials attached to the strap. “That’s not why I’m here. I just want to know if Rebecca Bradley is all right. I’m her godmother.”

The officer hesitated, then turned to one side and pointed. A child stood next to an ambulance, tears rolling down her cheeks. She seemed so little and vulnerable that pain twisted inside of Starr.

No.

Becky had already lost her parents. She’d been through enough. It wasn’t fair to have something else happen to her.

The policeman cleared his throat. “You can go over, but keep out of the way,” he warned.

Starr spared him a single glance before threading her way toward the child. Becky’s mother had been her best friend, though in the two years since Becky had been born, Starr had only seen her three times; her career as a photojournalist kept her out of the country for months on end. Horribly, she hadn’t even known Amelia and Sam were dead until well after the funeral. That had been six months ago and this was the first time she’d been able to get home.

“Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry,” begged the woman standing over Becky. “Don’t worry, it’s all right.”

All right? Starr’s honey brown eyebrows lifted. She walked to the ambulance and crouched till she was at the same height as the child. “Hey, kiddo,” she murmured.

“Dr. Bradley will be furious if you take any pictures,” the other woman insisted. “He doesn’t like reporters.”

Starr sighed and tucked her press badge into a pocket. Noah Bradley was Becky’s uncle and guardian. They’d had a couple of uncomfortable telephone conversations since she’d arrived home, but she’d never met him. “You’re Mrs. Dinsdale, aren’t you? I’m Becky’s godmother. We spoke this morning.”