Baby out of the Blue

Baby out of the Blue
Rebecca Winters

Holidaying in Greece, Fran is shocked to discover a tiny orphaned baby who has been swept away in a tornado!The baby’s uncle and guardian, Nik, is relieved when he sees Demi is safe with Fran. But can Fran and Nik dare believe that their dreams of parenthood – and love – might come true at last?

TINY MIRACLES

Two best friends find love, happiness —and little bundles of joy!

Friends Fran and Kellie have been through thick and thin together since childhood, and now both are facing the fact that their dreams of motherhood might never happen.

Follow the two women’s stories as they fall in love with two gorgeous Greeks, and find happiness beyond their wildest dreams, as well as the little longed-for miracles they never thought possible…

This month, read Fran’s story:

BABY OUT OF THE BLUE

In May comes Kellie’s story:

ALONG CAME TWINS…

Dear Reader,

Miracles come in so many assorted ways it would be impossible to name them all. When I thought about writing a set of stories about miracle babies, my mind ran through a list of possibilities.

While I was pondering the exact one I wanted, I remembered seeing a news headline: Miracle Baby. There was a picture of a baby, old enough to sit up, but you’ll never guess where she was—in the middle of a cornfield in the midwest portion of the US! Her parents had been killed in a tornado ten miles away. Instantly an idea for my novel sprang to mind, and I knew I had to write Baby Out of the Blue.

Remember, life is stranger than fiction.

Enjoy!

Rebecca Winters

About the Author

REBECCA WINTERS, whose family of four children has now swelled to include five beautiful grandchildren, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the land of the Rocky Mountains. With canyons and high alpine meadows full of wildflowers, she never runs out of places to explore. As well as her favorite vacation spots in Europe, they often end up as background for her romance novels, because writing is her passion, along with her family and church.

Rebecca loves to hear from readers. If you wish to email her, please visit her website, www.cleanromances.com.

Baby Out of

the Blue

Rebecca Winters

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

CHAPTER ONE

FRAN MYERS’ GAZE fastened on the scenery unfolding at every bend along the coastal road. Against the azure blue of the Aegean, the miles of white beaches with their background of deep green pines didn’t seem real. Dark, fast-moving clouds swirled overhead, adding a dramatic aspect to the landscape. The panorama of colors was quite spectacular.

“I didn’t know the Greek Riviera was this beautiful, Kellie. I’m in awe. It’s so unspoiled here.”

“That’s why my husband had built the resort where we’ll be staying for the next few days. The Persephone is the latest getaway for the very wealthy who can afford to have peace and quiet in total luxury.”

It was such a fabulous area, the news didn’t surprise Fran. “Is that why you’ve brought me all the way from Athens? Because you think I need peace and quiet?”

“Exactly the opposite. Many royals come here to vacation. I’m hoping you’ll meet one who’s unattached and gorgeous. You two will take one look at each other and it’ll be love at first sight.”

“That’ll never happen, not after my bad marriage.”

Fran’s best friend since childhood flashed her a searching glance.

“Don’t look so surprised, Kellie.”

“I’m not surprised. What I see is that a vacation for you is long overdue. Every time I’ve called since your divorce, you’ve been at the hospital doing your patient advocacy work all hours of the day and night, and you couldn’t talk more than a few minutes. You need a passionate romance to bring you back to life!”

“You’re hilarious. It’s true I’ve buried myself in work to keep me from thinking, but it’s been a year. I’m doing a lot better now.”

“Liar. I don’t need your mom to tell me you don’t have a life and need to take a break in completely different surroundings. I intend to see you’re pampered for a change. We’ll laze around, swim, sail, hike, do whatever while we scope out eligible men.”

“You’re incorrigible, but I love you for it. You know very well that when I told you I would come, I didn’t expect you to go to this kind of trouble for me. I thought we’d be staying in Athens to see the rest of the sights I missed when I flew over for your wedding. That was too busy a time to get everything in. Besides, your adoring husband couldn’t be thrilled with this arrangement.”

Kellie waved her hand in the air in a dismissive gesture. “July is Leandros’s busiest time. He’s off doing business in the Peloponnese and looking for new resort sites in other places. This is the perfect time for me to spend with the person who’s been the sister I never had. That’s why I called you to come now and wouldn’t take no for an answer. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Agreed.”

The two women had been friends since they’d attended the same elementary school in Philadelphia. They could read each other’s moods. Having gone through the good and the bad of their lives together, they’d become closer than most sisters.

When they’d been planning this trip, they’d talked about September. But Kellie had changed her mind and was insistent on Fran coming as soon as possible. Something was going on; normally her friend traveled everywhere with her husband. It sounded as though she needed to talk to Fran in person.

Two years ago Kellie had married millionaire Greek business tycoon Leandros Petralia in Athens. Fran had been the matron of honor at her wedding. Though they’d talked on the phone and emailed since then, they’d only seen each other the half a dozen times Kellie had flown home to Pennsylvania to be with her family for a few days. On those short visits Fran could tell her friend was so crazy over her exciting husband, she couldn’t bear to be gone from him longer than a few nights.

But clearly that wasn’t the case today. Kellie seemed wired, and her show of gaiety was somehow artificial. Physically she was thinner than the last time Fran had seen her. On their five-hour drive to the resort south of Thessolonika, Kellie’s glib responses throughout their conversation weren’t at all like her.

Fran decided to hold off until tomorrow to have a heart-to-heart with her golden-blonde friend. Right now she wanted Kellie to concentrate while she drove the fabulous slate-blue luxury saloon—too fast for Fran’s liking. As they whizzed along, Fran’s eyes darted to the stormy sky. “Have you noticed how black those clouds ahead are?”

“Yes. It’s almost spooky and so windy, it’s buffeting the car. That’s very strange. This place is legendary for its sunshine. Wouldn’t you know it would choose today to cloud up for your arrival?”

“Maybe it’s a bad omen and your hubby came back to Athens early only to find you missing.”

“Don’t be absurd—” Kellie answered with uncharacteristic sharpness. “He’s got his secretary with him. Maybe they’re really somewhere in the Dodecanese Islands, a favorite place of his when he wants to relax.”

With Mrs. Kostas? She was in her late forties.

Her friend’s emotional outburst took Fran by surprise. “I was just having some fun with you.” She’d never seen Kellie explode this way before.

“I’d rather talk about you. Has Rob called yet, wanting you two to get back together?”

“No. In fact, I’ve heard he’s involved with someone at his work.”