The Marriage Stampede

The Marriage Stampede
Julianna Morris

WRANGLERS& LaceREADY…SET…MARRIAGE!It seemed everyone wanted to marry handsome, wealthy Logan Kincaid. Everyone except Merrie Foster, his make-believe bride-to-be. Well, that was fine by Logan. Playing the enamored groom to Merrie's blushing bride was only a means of avoiding the stampede of would-be wives. Because the last thing Logan wanted was marriage.Or so he thought.Suddenly spending all his days–and his nights–with pretty Merrie on her family's Montana ranch was way too appealing. Heck, if this confirmed bachelor didn't watch out, he would be making a mad dash to the altar himself–with a certain spitfire redhead who'd wound her way around his heart….Hard to tame–impossible to resist–these cowboys meet their perfect match!

“Merrie and I are getting married,” (#u1a6af18f-d9d6-520d-9a0e-25abde990407)Letter to Reader (#ubc438ce3-b333-50c5-a3f5-f633e571a94a)Title Page (#u168cbfff-de7a-5bc3-8658-b0f449581e4b)Dedication (#ua2aec11d-39af-5867-ba70-f0a8d9019951)About the Author (#uf8962f39-74bb-5978-b047-d0784da5f46e)Chapter One (#u44f4203b-727b-5811-82a2-2a1ab64ca410)Chapter Two (#u5fc34ebb-b074-55ff-a815-ee49fc4585d1)Chapter Three (#ua55051e2-62cc-54fc-b554-d99ba67c22c8)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)

“Merrie and I are getting married,”

Logan suddenly announced.

Without dropping a beat, he put his arm around Merrie’s waist, pulled her close and kissed her astonished mouth.

A startled murmur rippled through the crowded yard—whispers of “Did you hear that?” and “How romantic.”

Married?

Furious, Merrie pushed at Logan’s chest without success. The miserable rat—he was just having fun at her expense. Still...she couldn’t keep from moaning at the heat of his kiss.

It wasn’t wise to get near him. She was too vulnerable...her body too responsive to his warmth and strength.

As soon as she was free, she’d throw Logan to the wolves.

Yet when his grip loosened, Merrie couldn’t help clinging to his shirt. Her knees felt funny—sort of as if they belonged to a newborn calf.

“I’ll get you for this,” she whispered.

Dear Reader,

In May 2000 Silhouette Romance will commemorate its twentieth anniversary! This line has always celebrated the essence of true love in a manner that blends classic themés and the challenges of romance in today’s world into a reassuring, fulfilling novel. From the enchantment of first love to the wonder of second chance, a Silhouette Romance novel demonstrates the power of genuine emotion and the breathless connection that develops between a man and a woman as they discover each other. And this month’s stellar selections are quintessential Silhouette Romance stories!

If you’ve been following LOVING THE BOSS, you’ll be amazed when mysterious Rex Barrington III is unmasked in I Married the Boss! by Laura Anthony. In this month’s FABULOUS FATHERS offering by Donna Clayton, a woman discovers His Ten-Year-Old Secret. And opposites attract in The Rancher and the Heiress, the third of Susan Meier’s TEXAS FAMILY TIES miniseries.

WRANGLERS & LACE returns with Julianna Morris’s

The Marriage Stampede. In this appealing story, a cowgirl butts heads—and hearts—with a bachelor bent on staying that way. Sally Carleen unveils the first book in her exciting duo ON THE WAY TO A WEDDING... with the tale of a twin mistaken for an M.D.’s Bride in Waiting! It’s both a blessing and a dilemma for a single mother when she’s confronted with an amnesiac Husband Found, this month’s FAMILY MATTERS title by Martha Shields.

Enjoy the timeless power of Romance this month, and every month—you won’t be disappointed!

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor, Silhouette Romance

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

The Marriage Stampede

Julianna Morris

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

To my friends, Vicki and Carol,

who listened and believed.

JULIANNA MORRIS

has an offbeat sense of humor, which 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

“What now?” Logan Kincaid muttered as he pulled into his driveway.

A group of children were gathered beneath one of the big-leaf maple trees that shaded his property. They stared into the branches with rapt attention.

“Is something wrong?” he called and they jumped.

One of the boys faced him with a wary expression. “Our kite got stuck, sir. Merrie got it for us, but now she can’t get down.”

Logan sighed wearily. “Merrie?”

“You know, Merrie.” The kid rolled his eyes.

Shrugging, Logan joined the group and looked up as well, expecting to see the local tomboy. His eyes widened at the sight of a woman in shorts and a camisole T-shirt, squirming on the steep roof of the old tree house. He had a perfect view of silky legs, a bare midriff exposed by her struggles, and a nicely proportioned bustline... definitely not a tomboy.

His taste normally ran to sleek, long-legged blondes, but “Merrie” was rather attractive. Actually very attractive. She radiated a healthy sexuality that made him think of a hot fire and mulled wine.

Stop that.

Logan stomped on his baser male instincts. This wasn’t the time nor the place to admire a woman’s innate appeal. And it wasn’t as if he didn’t already have enough female trouble—his boss’s daughter had decided it was time he got married... to her. The thought sent a cold shudder down his spine.

“Er, I’ll take care of this,” he told the children. “You go on home.”

They looked at him doubtfully and Logan winced. He had a reputation as the Ogre of Nisqually Drive. It was his own fault; he wasn’t good with kids. He should never have bought a house in such a family oriented neighborhood, but it represented everything he’d never had. There weren’t too many dirt poor kids who could grow up and buy million-dollar acreage overlooking the Puget Sound.

With great reluctance they trudged away, leaving only a sandy-haired boy. The lad had a mutinous look on his face, a wordless determination to face the ogre.

“Hey, Merrie,” the boy called. “Thanks for getting our kite. Are you sure you don’t want us to call 911? It’s great when the fire truck comes. They turn on the lights and everything.”

“No, I’m fine. Go have fun.” She waved her hand.

The child cast another dubious glance at Logan. “I’ll come back later and see if you’re okay,” he assured before following his friends. He obviously didn’t trust an adult’s ability to handle the situation. At least not this adult.