The Baby Arrangement

The Baby Arrangement
Moyra Tarling

Bundles of JoyHER SISTER'S FAMILY…Gentlehearted Faith Nelson had willingly agreed to care for her identical twin's newborn as her own. But now she was living a lie. Because when a frantic Jared McAndrew had arrived to claim his son, Faith had stuck by her promise. Now she was sleeping under Jared's roof, masquerading as his brand-new, temporary wife!And living the ultimate domestic fantasy. Not only did Jared's touch awaken Faith's long-slumbering desire, but he was also the most honorable, loving man she'd ever met. And if she could be granted one wish, Faith didn't want this dream life to end when the baby arrangement did….Sometimes small packages lead to big surprises!

“Your timing is perfect,” Jared said, reaching for the baby bottle she’d brought. (#u30c88860-5fdb-5452-9873-853ec9df0db5)Letter to Reader (#u487d95b3-a696-5263-84ed-12ff0d261d7f)Title Page (#ub80fdcbb-6145-54e7-a225-a661fce8673f)Dedication (#ufefaebb3-8622-5c66-b314-a598e6d8da53)About the Author (#u970e7ce6-3c16-5609-865c-d6df91c1c660)Letter to Reader (#u4f80afcb-bbbd-5808-b14b-2614866ea24e)Chapter One (#u329b7d52-5b86-5db6-aae1-98ea0d0b8ea2)Chapter Two (#uc2b0c02d-ce41-5178-9d0a-f4f9352b3162)Chapter Three (#u9cbeb1dd-ed18-5523-99be-3679651cec74)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)Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

“Your timing is perfect,” Jared said, reaching for the baby bottle she’d brought.

When her fingers brushed his, it was all Faith could do to ignore the faint tremor of awareness that shimmied up her arm.

“He slept longer than I thought he would,” Faith commented as Jared walked to the rocking chair and sat down.

Mesmerized, Faith lingered near the door, watching Jared settle Nicky into a comfortable position against his chest.

“You don’t have to stay and supervise,” Jared told her in a low voice. “I assure you I’m quite capable of feeding and burping my son.”

Faith met his gaze. “I wasn’t—”

“Or are you hanging around for another reason?” he asked, his gaze drifting over her scanty attire.

Her breath caught in her throat at the blatant sexual undertone in his voice. He thought she was her identical twin—the mother of his child!

Dear Reader,

As spring turns to summer, make Silhouette Romance the perfect companion for those lazy days and sultry nights! Fans of our LOVING THE BOSS series won’t want to miss The Marriage Merger by exciting author Vivian Leiber. A pretend engagement between friends goes awry when their white lies lead to a real white wedding!

Take one biological-clock-ticking twin posing as a new mom and one daddy determined to gain custody of his newborn son, and you’ve got the unsuspecting partners in The Baby Arrangement, Moyra Tarling’s tender BUNDLES OF JOY title. You’ve asked for more TWINS ON THE DOORSTEP, Stella Bagwell’s charming author-led ministries, so this month we give you Millionaire on Her Doorstep, an emotional story of two wounded souls who find love in the most unexpected way...and in the most unexpected place.

Can a bachelor bent on never marrying and a single mom with a bustling brood of four become a Fairy-Tale Family? Find out in Pat Montana’s delightful new novel. Next, a handsome doctor’s case of mistaken identity leads to The Triplet’s Wedding Wish in this heartwarming tale by DeAnna Talcott. And a young widow finds the home—and family—she’s always wanted when she strikes a deal with a Nevada Cowboy Dad, this month’s FAMILY MATTERS offering from Dorsey Kelley.

Enjoy this month’s fantastic selections, and make sure to return each and every month to Silhouette Romance!

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor, Silhouette Romance

Please address questions and book requests to:

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The Baby Arrangement

Moyra Tarling

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

For new mothers and fathers everywhere.

Enjoy every minute, because they’ll be all grown before you know it!

MOYRA TARLING

was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It was there that she was first introduced to, and became hooked on, romance novels. In 1968, she immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, where she met and married her husband. They have two grown children. Empty nesters now, they enjoy taking trips in their getaway van and browsing in antique shops for corkscrews and buttonhooks. But Moyra’s favorite pastime is curling up with a great book—a romance, of course! Moyra loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 161, Blaine, WA 98231-D161.

Dear Reader,

Babies are indeed BUNDLES OF JOY, precious gifts to be loved, cherished and protected. In The Baby Arrangement Nicky is just such a baby. I knew when Faith saw her tiny, innocent and beautiful nephew, she would feel the same overwhelming love and need to protect that I felt when my newborn son was first placed in my arms.

It is heartwarming to know that most fathers, upon seeing their child for the first time, feel the exact same sense of wonder, the same deep love as well as a fierce need to protect.

Jared is that kind of man, that kind of hero. By bringing him and Faith together, I knew these two caring, loving people, committed to doing what was best for Nicky, deserved to fall in love. Deserved to become the family they both longed for.

I hope you enjoy reading The Baby Arrangement as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Much love,

Chapter One

He was too late. He’d been knocking on the door of the house for at least ten minutes, to no avail. He’d missed her. She’d vanished for a second time, taking his infant son with her.

Jared McAndrew cursed as he climbed into his car. He slammed his hands against the steering wheel as the familiar feelings of frustration and anger churned to life within him.

He’d come close...so close. Silently he vowed not to quit until he’d tracked down his newborn son, a son he’d never seen.

Muttering under his breath, Jared reached for the key to restart the engine.

It was at that precise moment he spotted the baby stroller as it turned into the leaf-covered driveway. His heart shuddered to a halt, and he felt his breath back up in his throat as he focused his gaze on the mother of his child.

He blinked several times, fearful his eyes were playing tricks on him. But there was no mistake. Reaching for the door handle, Jared was out of the car in a flash.

Faith Nelson slowed the baby stroller to a halt the minute she saw the sleek black car parked in her driveway. She watched as a tall, dark-haired man dressed in crumpled gray slacks and a navy sweater emerged from the front seat.

Her heart slammed against her ribs and a ripple of apprehension chased down her spine at the look of fury she could see etched on the stranger’s handsome features. Instinctively she tightened her fingers on the handle of the baby stroller as his long strides ate up the driveway.

“Hello, Paula,” the man said, coming to a halt a few feet in front of the stroller. “You look surprised to see me.” His voice was deep and resonant, but with an edge that could easily have cut glass.

Faith moistened lips that were suddenly dry. “I’m sorry. I’m not—”

“You’re sorry!” the man interrupted, his voice quavering with barely suppressed rage.

“You don’t understand,” Faith said, but before she could even begin to explain, his eyes flashed with a look of contempt that effectively silenced her.

“Oh...you’ve got that right,” he drawled. “But then I doubt I’ll ever understand how you could disappear without a word,” he said. “We had an agreement, remember? Did you really think I wouldn’t come looking for you?”

At his challenging tone an icy rivulet slithered down Faith’s back, and she cast a quick glance toward the house.