Man of Fortune

Man of Fortune
Rochelle Alers

Close friends since childhood, Kyle, Duncan and Ivan have become rich, successful co-owners of a beautiful Harlem brownstone. The one thing each of them lacks is a special woman to share his life with–until true love steps in to transform three sexy single guys into grooms-to-be….Once bitten, twice shy–it's a lesson that Tamara Wolcott took to heart after her first marriage. But the handsome, witty financial whiz she ends up trapped in an elevator with could make her change her mind.Duncan Gilmore doesn't hide his attraction to voluptuous E.R. doctor Tamara, but he has his own reasons for hesitating to commit. Even though each encounter draws them deeper into an intensely passionate affair, Tamara begins to wonder whether her luck–and her lover–are about to run out again. Their future together depends on whether Duncan is willing to take a chance, and truly let her into his life….

ManOFFortune

Man of Fortune

Rochelle Alers

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

The BEST MEN series

You met Tessa, Faith and Simone—the Whitfields of New York and owners of Signature Bridals—in the WHITFIELD BRIDES series. Now meet three lifelong friends who fulfill their boyhood dream and purchase a Harlem brownstone for their business ventures.

Kyle Chatham, Duncan Gilmore and Ivan Campbell have worked tirelessly to overcome obstacles and achieve professional success, oftentimes at the expense of their personal lives. However, each will meet an extraordinary woman who just might make him reconsider what it means to be the best man.

In Man of Fate, high-profile attorney Kyle Chatham’s classic sports car is rear-ended by Ava Warrick, a social worker who doesn’t think much of lawyers and deeply mistrusts men. Ava expects the handsome attorney to sue her, not come to her rescue after she sustains a head injury in the accident. But Kyle knows he has to prove to Ava that he is nothing like the men in her past—a challenge he is prepared to take on and win.

Financial planner Duncan Gilmore’s life is as predictable as the numbers on his spreadsheets. After losing his fiancée in the World Trade Center tragedy, he has finally begun dating again. In Man of Fortune, Duncan meets Tamara Wolcott—a beautiful and brilliant E.R. doctor with a bad attitude. As their relationship grows, Tamara begins to feel that she is just a replacement for his late fiancée. But Duncan knows that he has to put aside his pride if he’s going to convince Tamara to be part of his life.

After the death of his identical twin years ago, psychotherapist Ivan Campbell is a “love ’em and leave ’em” guy who is afraid of commitment. But all of that changes in Man of Fantasy when he meets Nayo Goddard at an art gallery, where she is showing her collection of black-and-white photographs. Not only has she gotten Ivan to open up his heart to love again, she is also seeing another man. Ivan knows that he must prove that he is the best man for her, or risk losing her forever.

Yours in romance,

Rochelle Alers

She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

—Proverbs 3:15

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 1

Duncan Gilmore’s head popped up when he heard the two quick taps on the door. A slow smile crinkled around his eyes when he saw a head appear from around the partially opened door.

“Good morning, Kyle. Come on in.”

Kyle Chatham opened the door fully and walked into a sun-filled office with a desk, tables, credenza and bookcases made from rosewood and Jamaican mahogany. Everything in the space, from the furnishings to the occupant’s attire, conveyed good breeding and elegance. He took a chair beside the desk, which was covered with investment portfolios and a batch of tax returns.

“I heard you were looking for me yesterday. What’s up, DG?”

“Are you feeling all right?” Duncan asked.

“Yes. Why?”

“I’ve never known you to take off on a Monday.”

Kyle looped a leg over the opposite knee. “Things have changed now that Jordan Wainwright has joined the firm.”

Duncan smiled, exhibiting perfectly aligned white teeth. “I like your new partner, Kyle. At first I thought he wouldn’t fit in, but after that TV segment where he called his grandfather a slumlord I have a newfound respect for the poor little rich boy.”

Kyle, angling his head, returned his friend’s smile. “I felt the same way before Jordan came on board. Representing clients with deep pockets is very different from fighting for the little guy, but Jordan has proven that he is a man for the people. Even though the plaque out front reads Chatham and Wainwright, P.C., Attorneys at Law, and he’s accepted a partnership, I’m going to wait until after Labor Day to make it official. It’ll give me time to place ads in the local papers and host a reception for a few elected officials and neighborhood residents.”

“That sounds good. Jordan’s elevation to partner and the added staff should level the playing field when you guys compete with other Harlem law firms.”

Kyle ran a hand over his neatly cropped hair. “I don’t want to compete, DG. I had enough of that when I worked eighty-hour weeks for Trilling, Carlyle and Browne. Jordan’s contribution to the firm has allowed me to pay off half of my share of this building’s mortgage and hire additional staff. Taking on a partner has also afforded me a life outside of the office.”

“With Ava?”

“Yes, with Ava,” Kyle confirmed. “She has a lot of comp time coming, so we’ve decided to take long weekends together.”

“I was looking for you yesterday because one of my clients has season tickets to the Yankee home games. I didn’t want to tell him that I’m a Mets fan, so I took them anyway. I know you like the Yankees, and with them playing Boston this weekend it should be quite a series.”

“Talk about bad timing. I’m planning to meet Ava’s folks.”

“Going to meet her parents sounds serious,” Duncan said.