The Forbidden Marriage

The Forbidden Marriage
Rebecca Winters

When Michelle Howard finds herself agreeing to nurse Zak Sadler for the next month, she's not sure what she's let herself in for!Michelle is reluctant to get so close to this sexy new Zak, whom she hasn't seen for two years. Any relationship with Zak is strictly off-limits! But when Zak proposes, Michelle is left wondering if she can risk all to say yes…?

Rebecca Winters has written over forty-five books for Harlequin Romance® and is an internationally bestselling author. Her wonderfully unique, sparkling stories continue to be immensely popular with readers around the world.

Praise for REBECCA WINTERS:

About The Prince’s Choice

“Rebecca Winters…is pure magic.”

—Romantic Times

About Claiming His Baby

“Rebecca Winters creates an extraordinary tale with a majestic setting…and a strong emotional conflict.”

—Romantic Times

Every woman has dreams—deep desires, all-consuming passions, or maybe just little everyday wishes! In this brand-new miniseries from Harlequin Romance® we’re delighted to present a series of fresh, lively and compelling stories by some of our most popular authors—all exploring the truth about what women really want.

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Is she a high-flying executive…but all she wants is a baby?

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This month enjoy The Forbidden Marriage by Rebecca Winters.

And look out for more stories in the WHAT WOMEN WANT! miniseries, coming soon!

The Forbidden Marriage

Rebecca Winters

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

MICHELLE HOWARD had just reached the second floor of her brother’s Spanish-styled home in Riverside, California, when she saw her niece Lynette come out of the guest bedroom at the other end of the hall.

As soon as their eyes met, the eighteen year old brunette jumped. “Aunt Michelle—what are you doing here?”

Michelle had probably frightened her niece who’d thought no one else was in the house besides Zak. Maybe that was the reason she’d sounded faintly accusatory just now.

“I was about to ask you the same question. Your mom said you had classes at college this morning.”

“Only one on Thursdays. It starts at eleven.”

Michelle glanced at her watch. “Considering the heavy traffic, you’d better hurry if you want to get there on time.”

Lynette’s pretty features hardened. “I think I can manage my own life, thank you.”

Both Graham and Sherilyn had been complaining about their only daughter’s change of attitude. It had come on over the summer. According to them she’d turned into someone defensive and difficult.

After this experience Michelle was beginning to understand what they meant. Lynette was behaving like a different girl. Michelle had never known her to be outright rude before.

“Forgive me, honey. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sorry.” With two ice bags and her blood pressure case tucked in one arm, she gave her niece a hug with the other, but Lynette barely reciprocated.

Puzzled, Michelle stepped back. Looping a strand of neck length ash blond hair behind her ear she said, “Your mother asked me to come over and check up on your uncle Zak while she did some grocery shopping.”

Her niece’s expression remained mutinous. “I am capable of waiting on him.”

“I know. It’s just that she’s an anxious sister who wanted my medical assessment of her brother’s condition this morning.”

“He wouldn’t be out of the hospital if he weren’t getting better,” Lynette said on a sarcastic note. “I’m almost nineteen, but everyone around here still thinks of me as an adolescent. You can be damn sure my parents never treated Zak like this!” Her brown eyes flashed in anger.

Michelle winced because she’d never heard Lynette so upset she’d swear in front of her. “I think it has more to do with the fact that your uncle Zak was already nine years old when my brother married your mom.”

Even at nine, Zak had been a law unto himself. Michelle remembered back to those early days when her brother Graham had worked so hard to win Sherilyn’s aloof younger brother around without coming across like a heavy handed stepfather type.