Welcome To My Family

Welcome To My Family
Roz Denny Fox

FLINTRIDGE, MICHIGAN.It's Kathleen O'Halloran's hometown. It's also Slater Kowalski's. And it's a town divided.Kat and her exuberant family live in the part of Flintridge known as the Hill; Slater is from the Ridge.Slater is the president of Flintridge Motors; Kat's family works for his rival. Ridge and Hill have always functioned as almost separate communities, but the boundaries start to blur when Kat goes to work for Slater's company–and even more when she falls in love with him.Still, the course of love is far from smooth. Slater's exciting new project is being sabotaged. From within or without? He needs to know, and so does Kat. Then there's the strange behavior of Kat's father and Slater's dad, who have unexpectedly become allies. And what about Kat's brothers, who are determined not to welcome Slater to the family?Sabotage and secrets, old rivalries and new hopes. Can two people in love create one town…and one family?

“Heard you were out on the street making a spectacle of yourself.”

That was Matt’s opinion. But Kat’s other two brothers, Josh and Mark, were nodding in agreement.

“‘Spectacle’ is a pretty strong word,” Kat said. Or maybe not… She remembered Slater’s kiss. Oh, boy, did she remember it! While she debated whether or not to defend her right to kiss whomever she chose, Matt got into the act again.

“Slater Kowalski’s after more than kisses, and we all know that. He wants to pilfer Pop’s engineering secrets, so he’s hitting on Kathleen. I say it’s time we teach that Ridge jerk to keep his hands off Hill women.”

The noise level rose as all three brothers and their wives entered into the argument. Kat finally declared enough. Pulling an umpire’s whistle from her pocket, she blew as hard as she could.

Having gained their notice, Kat crossed her arms. “As you’re all so free with your opinions, listen to mine. Little Kathleen is all grown up, in case you hadn’t noticed. And Slater Kowalski is not a jerk.” Kat glared around at the stunned faces. “I’m going out with him on Saturday night. A real date, unconnected to work. And it’s none of your business. So kindly butt out.”

Dear Reader,

I don’t come from a large boisterous family. But I always wanted one. I love the dynamics and the interaction, the warmth and the caring. So I’ve given my heroine such a family. If you’ve read my previous books, you know I like ordinary people who live in close-knit communities and work at everyday jobs. Therefore I was delighted when my editor asked me to write a story for the new HOMETOWN U.S.A. promotion in Superromance.

Slater Kowalski and Kathleen O’Halloran could live next door to you or me. Because those of us who come from small towns and work at ordinary jobs sometimes think our lives are boring, I’ve allowed this couple quite an adventure…filled with kites and clouds, kayaks and automobiles. But also romance and mystery! I hope you steal away with Kat and Slater for a while to share their exploits, meet their families and experience their love.

Roz Denny Fox

P.S. I love hearing from readers. Write me at P.O. Box 17480-101, Tucson, Arizona 85731

Books by Roz Denny Fox

SUPERROMANCE

649—MAJOR ATTRACTION

672—CHRISTMAS STAR

686—THE WATER BABY

716—TROUBLE AT LONE SPUR

746—SWEET TIBBY MACK

776—ANYTHING YOU CAN DO…

800—HAVING IT ALL

821—MAD ABOUT THE MAJOR

847— “Silver Anniversary” in THE LYON LEGACY

859—FAMILY FORTUNE

Welcome to My Family

Roz Denny Fox

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

To Bernie Sadowski and his lovely wife, Rita.

For their wonderfully positive outlook on life.

For Bernie’s stories about his old hometown, and about his dad and the men who made automobiles. They inspired me.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE (#u65bdaca9-ea44-5304-b28c-afff31c2c9af)

CHAPTER TWO (#u40285c87-acfd-54e1-93b9-fb0ab09bb887)

CHAPTER THREE (#uf939a160-ebb3-5784-89a0-ce5f16cc7a5b)

CHAPTER FOUR (#u9680f4eb-23be-5299-9f28-692466b9f985)

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)

CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE

THUNDER RUMBLED OVERHEAD. In the distance, lightning cut a jagged swath across the Michigan night sky. Kathleen O’Halloran smoothed a hand over the soft coat of the dog beside her—a young black Labrador retriever who’d just begun to whine. The continual downpour made it difficult to see the road, especially through the waterfall cascading from the tips of two kayaks she had lashed to the top of her aging Isuzu Trooper.