The Honeymoon House

The Honeymoon House
Patty Salier

“Paul, Let’s Pretend This Is Our Honeymoon House,” (#uf3cb4a7d-3499-598e-bea9-104ca6c1cfe8)Letter to Reader (#u25ae7e72-2848-5366-8d21-da320235dbb4)Title Page (#ue44f613a-ef46-5abb-874c-1164dd5da590)About the Author (#u93c6dfa7-2c5a-5b34-917a-bce60132b0c9)Dedication (#udce2d7d1-72fc-5231-990c-bb56f94819ab)Chapter One (#u319f8b65-d195-5c16-a9ec-fe56f723f2b0)Chapter Two (#u292cce65-4366-5da1-a84e-223df62958e6)Chapter Three (#u02440fa4-9f39-5330-a138-4dd45aee7313)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)

“Paul, Let’s Pretend This Is Our Honeymoon House,”

Danielle said. “Just for tonight.”

Paul swooped her up in his arms. “Like this?” He brought her back outside into the darkness. Then he carried her over the threshold, like a groom with his bride.

Danielle felt a burst of joy. “I feel like we’re marr—” She stopped herself. She couldn’t spoil the beautiful moment between them. She didn’t want to scare him off. Not when he was feeling so close to her.

“Let’s do it the right way,” Paul whispered as he carried her up the winding staircase to the master bedroom....

Dear Reader,

This month we have some special treats in store for you, beginning with Nobody’s Princess, another terrific MAN OF THE MONTH from award-winning writer Jennifer Greene. Our heroine believes she’s just another run-of-the-mill kind of gal...but naturally our hero knows better. And he sets out to prove to her that he is her handsome prince...and she is his princess!

Joan Elliott Pickart’s irresistible Bishop brothers are back in Texas Glory, the next installment of her FAMILY MEN series. And Amy Fetzer brings us her first contemporary romance, a romantic romp concerning parenthood—with a twist—in Anybody’s Dad.

Peggy Moreland’s heroes are always something special, as you’ll see in A Little Texas Two-Step, the latest in her TROUBLE IN TEXAS series.

And if you’re looking for fun and frolic—and a high dose of sensuality—don’t miss Patty Salier’s latest, The Honeymoon House. If emotional and dramatic is more your cup of tea, then you’ll love Kelly Jamison’s Unexpected Father.

As always, there is something for everyone here at Silhouette Desire, where you’ll find the very best contemporary romance.

Enjoy!

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

Patty Salier

The Honeymoon House

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

PATTY SALIER

Born and raised in Gravesend, Brooklyn, in New York, Patty credits her mother for her keen logic and her father for her curious, creative mind. She has been a published writer for many years. To Patty, her wonderful husband and two great children are everything she could want in life. “I’ve got so much to be thankful for.”

For my wonderful husband, lover and best friend,

Edward, and for my extraordinarily gifted children,

Diana and Jeff.

One

Danielle Ford swallowed the nervous lump in her throat as she sat on the black leather sofa in Mr. Harrington’s Century City office in Los Angeles.

Danielle was so anxious about the job interview that her panty hose stuck to her legs like seaweed. She yearned to remove the moist nylon and set her bare legs free.

“Danielle, the original architect I hired to design the honeymoon house I plan to build for my wife has fallen ill,” began Harwood Harrington, a graying businessman in his early fifties. “Your sister, Lisa, who as you know is my real estate broker, told me that you’re the perfect architect to take his place.”

Danielle’s stomach fluttered with excitement. “Mr. Harrington, I’ve got great ideas for your honeymoon house.”

Did she ever! Her sister and roommate, Lisa, had told her that Mr. Harrington wanted a cozy, romantic home for his young bride, with a cute nursery for the baby he dreamed of having with her.

“May I see your portfolio, Danielle?” Mr. Harrington requested in a warm but professional tone.

Her hands were trembling. “Sure, Mr. Harrington.” She anxiously handed him her portfolio, praying he’d hire her.

Mr. Harrington studied her work and frowned. “Lisa didn’t tell me that you only have two houses under your architectural belt.”

Danielle nervously clasped and unclasped her hands. “Yes, only two, but the owners were extremely pleased with my work. I can give you their phone numbers for references.”

She suddenly felt ill. She didn’t dare tell Mr. Harrington that there was a third house she had designed in her budding career as a junior architect.

The Tilden house had been her very first project, and a total disaster. But it wasn’t all her fault. The building contractor, Paul Richards, whom she’d never met, had ruined the project for her.

She shifted nervously on the chair, feeling her panty hose bonding like glue to her skin. If Mr. Harrington found out about the catastrophe, she’d never get the job. Nobody knew except Paul Richards.

Danielle yanked at her panty hose when he wasn’t looking.

Mr. Harrington leaned forward on his oak desk. “Danielle, your sister, Lisa, has gotten me terrific deals on real estate for the past few years. I owe her many favors. But I must be honest with you. I’d prefer working with an architect with denser experience.”

Danielle’s throat went dry. “Mr. Harrington, I’ve made a computer sketch of the most romantic honeymoon house you could ever dream of,” she quickly said, giving her last push. “Please let me show it to you. I’ve got the disk right here.”

As she frantically searched her black leather briefcase for the disk, the telephone rang. It was Saturday and his secretary wasn’t in, so Mr. Harrington answered the phone himself.

Just as she found the disk, he hung up.

“Danielle, I’ve got to drive to West L.A. to resolve a business problem.” He rose from his desk. “I should be back in forty-five minutes or so. Feel free to set up your architectural program on my computer. I look forward to seeing your vision of my house.”

Danielle’s spirits rose as he left the office. She still had a chance. She ran to his computer and inserted her disk. What he didn’t know was that it wasn’t just the honeymoon house job she wanted.

Her sister, Lisa, told her that Harrington was planning to build a new children’s library in Santa Monica.

Danielle sucked in her breath. A children’s library. She’d promised her parents, dedicated elementary-school teachers, that someday she’d design a children’s library in their honor. When her mother and father were killed in an automobile accident a few years later, she’d vowed to keep her heartfelt promise to them.

That’s why she had to get this job. If Mr. Harrington hired her, he’d see what a great architect she was. Then he wouldn’t be able to resist hiring her as the architect for his new children’s library.

Danielle’s heart soared as her design of Mr. Harrington’s contemporary honeymoon house appeared on the screen. As she pulled the chair closer to the computer to get a better view, her panty hose caught on a sharp edge of the desk. A huge, gaping hole appeared in her nylons.

“That’s it!” she called out. “You’re coming off!”

Danielle ran out to the reception area. She searched the secretary’s desk for the ladies’ room key. But the desk was locked.