Just Around The Corner

Just Around The Corner
Tara Taylor Quinn

Phyllis Langford is everybody's friend and nobody's lover. Until she succumbs to the unexpected temptation of Matt Sheffield–and soon after, discovers she's pregnant.Matt's a loner, a man who hides from the possibility of love and family. Just as well, in Phyllis's opinion, since she doesn't want or need anything from him. Not one single thing. But Matt can't quite leave it at that….Matt and Phyllis arrive at an agreement–he'll help her out. That's all. He'll drive her to the doctor, take care of her household chores. But this agreement gradually leads them to a bigger involvement in each other's lives, and by New Year's Eve, they're ready for the biggest involvement of all: marriage. Which is a good thing, because as it turns out there are two babies waiting just around the corner. Happy New Year, Phyllis, Matt and twins-to-be!

“I’m pregnant.”

Matt blinked. He froze inside. “Pardon?”

“I’m pregnant.”

He waited.

“I just thought you should know.” Phyllis Langford looked far too calm sitting there, her honey-colored purse, which matched her honey-colored shoes, still slung over her shoulder.

“I don’t understand why I’m the one you’re telling,” he said carefully. He knew it wasn’t polite to ask a woman who the father of her child was, but what did a guy say when it wasn’t him? He might have lost a good piece of his mind that day, but not so much that he hadn’t protected himself, and her, from any and all consequences.

“Because you’re the only man I’ve had sex with since I divorced my husband four years ago.” As he shook his head, she added softly, “Condoms fail.”

“Not likely.”

“Read the box the next time you pick some up,” she said, still appearing far too calm. “Besides, when I thought about it, I realized the wrapper you took from your wallet didn’t look exactly new.”

Damn, the woman sounded as though they were discussing nothing more earth-shattering than a rained-out game of Little League. Didn’t she get it? They had an untenable situation on their hands.

Matt didn’t even know how to be a friend. There was no way he could be a father.

Dear Reader,

Have you ever found yourself disliked for something, some trait or skill, that’s an integral part of you? Something you can’t change? It’s not an easy position to be in, but a very real one. To be a person deserving of happiness—a good person, a loving person—and yet alone. It was a situation that intrigued me, a situation I couldn’t let go. I needed to know how such a thing could happen. To find the happy ending.

This is Phyllis Langford’s story. If you’ve read any of my previous SHELTER VALLEY books, you’ll remember her. Just Around the Corner is a story about the human spirit, about making the most of what life has given you, about enduring. And about happy endings. I believe there’s a happy ending out there for everyone. It’s just a matter of hanging on. Of not giving up. Eventually it will come knocking.

Each day of my life consists of hanging on, of not giving up—and of answering the door when I hear that knock. It doesn’t come just once. It comes, for me, every day in one form or another. A phone call. A smile. A note. A hug.

I wish you all a lifetime of happy endings—and the ability to hear happiness knocking at your door when it arrives.

Tara Taylor Quinn

P.S. I love to hear from readers. Write me at P.O. Box 15065, Scottsdale, Arizona 85267-5065. Or visit my Web site at http://members.home.net/ttquinn.

Just Around the Corner

Tara Taylor Quinn

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

For Tanya Elizabeth Clayton.

You, like Phyllis, are an amazing young woman.

I truly believe that you will take whatever life gives you and make your own happy endings.

I’m very proud to be part of your life.

MOTHER

by Tanya Clayton

Every time you tell me something

That may help me

I turn the other way.

My pride says I won’t listen

But my heart absorbs every word.

I always tell you I’ll be a better mother

But I know I won’t.

You have taught me lessons

That no one else could.

You have backed me up

When no one else would.

You have been my biggest fan

When everyone had given up.

You are my mother,

The person that I am part of

And the person I am proud of

Being part of every day.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE