His E-Mail Order Wife

His E-Mail Order Wife
KRISTI GOLD

Workaholic exec Drew Connelly returned from his business trip–dog tired, happy to see his daughter and…engaged? Before he could question how, his "fiancée" moved in for their "trial marriage"!What kind of woman could his six-year-old daughter–and her octogenarian grandma–have found on the Internet? Kristina Simmons seemed…enchanting. The virgin bride-to-be was looking for a fresh start–any start, actually. But marriage was not on Drew's To Do list. He'd let Kristina down gently, make her see he was not husband material. But then he made a tactical error: he kissed her….

AROUND CHI-TOWN

Summer may be coming to a close, but things are still hot enough in the corporate offices on the 17th floor of Connelly Towers, where Drew Connelly has apparently been spending his coffee breaks surfing the Net for a new wife and mother to his young daughter. Inside sources report a “lightning-quick” engagement to a fresh-faced young teacher from Oshkosh whose vital statistics were posted on the Net. And you thought nothing respectable could come from a Web site named “Singlemania.”

Chicago plays host once again to Connelly matriarch Miss Lilly, who’s visiting from Palm Springs with hubby Tobias—no doubt orchestrating the upcoming nuptials. Instead of matchmaking, the feisty-tempered, eagle-eyed grande dame ought to set her sights on detecting. Seems the troubles at Connelly Corporation continue, and now other family members report further incidents. Scion Grant Connelly’s two hired guns have been seen burning the midnight oil and scouring the town for leads into the strange goings-on at the giant corporation. But to date there’s been no solution to the mysteries plaguing the venerable family.

Dear Reader,

Dog days of summer got you down? Chill out and relax with six brand-new love stories from Silhouette Desire!

August’s MAN OF THE MONTH is the first book in the exciting family-based saga BECKETT’S FORTUNE by Dixie Browning. Beckett’s Cinderella features a hero honor-bound to repay a generations-old debt and a poor-but-proud heroine leery of love and money she can’t believe is offered unconditionally. His E-Mail Order Wife by Kristi Gold, in which matchmaking relatives use the Internet to find a high-powered exec a bride, is the latest title in the powerful DYNASTIES: THE CONNELLYS series.

A daughter seeking revenge discovers love instead in Falling for the Enemy by Shawna Delacorte. Then, in Millionaire Cop & Mom-To-Be by Charlotte Hughes, a jilted, pregnant bride is rescued by her childhood sweetheart.

Passion flares between a family-minded rancher and a marriage-shy divorcée in Kathie DeNosky’s Cowboy Boss. And a pretend marriage leads to undeniable passion in Desperado Dad by Linda Conrad.

So find some shade, grab a cold one…and read all six passionate, powerful and provocative new love stories from Silhouette Desire this month.

Enjoy!

Joan Marlow Golan

Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire

His E-Mail Order Wife

Kristi Gold

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

Acknowledgments and Dedication

Many thanks to the other Connelly authors for their assistance with this story. And special acknowledgment to all the Drew Connellys of the world who realize that it’s the size of a woman’s heart that counts.

KRISTI GOLD

began her romance-writing career at the tender age of twelve, when she and her sister spun romantic yarns involving a childhood friend and a popular talk-show host. Since that time, she’s given up celebrity heroes for her favorite types of men, doctors and cowboys, as her husband is both. An avid sports fan, she attends football and baseball games in her spare time. She resides on a small ranch in central Texas with her three children and retired neurosurgeon husband, along with various livestock ranging from Texas longhorn cattle to spoiled yet talented equine. At one time she competed in regional and national Appaloosa horse shows as a nonpro, but gave up riding for writing and turned the reins over to her youngest daughter. She attributes much of her success to her sister, Kim, who encouraged her in her writing, even during the tough times. When she’s not in her office writing her current book, she’s dreaming about it. Readers may contact Kristi at P.O. Box 11292, Robinson, TX 76716.

MEET THE CONNELLYS

Meet the Connellys of Chicago—wealthy, powerful and rocked by scandal, betrayal…and passion!

Who’s Who in

HIS E-MAIL ORDER WIFE

Drew Connelly—He thinks of himself as a widowed single dad/corporate VP who’s too harried to arrange even dinner and a movie. To the rest of the world, he’s sexy, successful and so available….

Kristina Simmons—She thinks of herself as full-figured, the kind of woman with a “nice personality.” Desirable has never been a term to describe her…until she sees herself reflected in Drew’s eyes….

Lilly Connelly—Don’t let the cane and the old birth certificate fool you. Nothing gets past the Connelly matriarch. But does she see everything?

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

Prologue

“Is she really coming, Nana Lilly?”

Lilly hugged her cherished great-granddaughter securely against her chest as they sat before the computer.

“Yes, Amanda, she’s really coming.”

Lilly Connelly was an old dog short on new tricks, at one time believing the almighty Internet was the spawn of the devil. But she’d recently found that surfing the Net was pretty darned nifty at that, especially when she discovered Chicago’s latest matchmaking website, a place to scan prospective young women looking for male companionship. Much like a high-tech coming-out party minus the caterer.

As far as Lilly was concerned, one young woman definitely fit the bill for the perfect wife for her grandson, Drew, and a suitable mother for his little Amanda. This particular candidate loved children, logical since she was a Montessori teacher—and also wanted a steady relationship and marriage. She was a far cry from the succession of women who had marched through Drew’s life for the past five years since his wife’s death, women who only had designs on his fortune and all the status that came with the Connelly name.

Darn that Drew, Lilly thought. He didn’t know what was good for him. Fortunately, she did. Still, he was a considerate man and an excellent father. Oh, he might be a trifle mad when he learned what she had done. But if luck prevailed, he’d come to realize that grandmother always knows best.

Lilly pressed the send button on the final e-mail, setting in motion a plan that had been weeks in the making. This should probably be the moment Lilly felt a little nip of guilt, but she didn’t. The Connellys were a stubborn lot; Drew was no exception. He needed a little push, something Lilly was more than happy to provide, with or without the benefit of her cane.

She brushed a kiss across Amanda’s cheek and gave her a gentle nudge. “Hop down, dear heart. I have to go now. Grandpa Toby’s expecting me home soon.”