That Touch of Pink

That Touch of Pink
Teresa Southwick

Now Playing: A tale of a woman in need of a man–but only for the weekend….Starring as Single Mom: Abby Walsh–She'd bid on an ex-army ranger with "survival" skills at the charity auction to help her daughter earn a hiking badge. So why are her survival skills being tested when a camping trip with Riley awakens too many long-buried feelings?Starring as Military Man: Riley Dixon–Hazardous missions were nothing compared to Abby. Beautiful and all too feminine, she was a heartbreak-in-waiting. But how can he sidestep this land mine, when she looks irresistibly pretty in pink?

She turned and looked up into the bluest pair of eyes she’d ever seen.

“I kept you waiting.” Riley’s tone was cool. “I’m sorry.”

He didn’t look sorry. He looked like a man of action. He was also a walking, talking, warm-to-the-touch ad for ruggedly handsome. If one liked the type.

Abby didn’t.

“My daughter and I will both be going on the camping outing—”

He stiffened suddenly, interrupting her. “No way.”

“What?” He was dangerously close to looming and she would not be loomed over.

“I won’t be nursemaid to a kid.”

“Her name is Kimmie, and if the necessity for nursemaiding arises, I’ll be the one doing it.”

He shook his head. “You don’t need me for this. It’s overkill. I’ll reimburse you.”

“I don’t want your money. I want my weekend…with you.”

That Touch of Pink

Teresa Southwick

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

TERESA SOUTHWICK

lives in Southern California with her hero husband who is more than happy to share with her the male point of view. An avid fan of romance novels, she is delighted to be living out her dream of writing for Silhouette Books.

Do you need a man? The 75

semiannual Charity City Auction

Is your chance to find the right one for that “honey do” list.

Could you use a weekend warrior? Ex-army ranger Riley Dixon is the guy for you. He’s donating a survival weekend guaranteed to get your heart rate up.

What about that home repair you’ve been putting off? Dashing Des O’Donnell, former Charity City High football hero, now owner and president of his own construction company, is offering a repair of your choice.

Personal security issues? Defend your honor? Savvy Sam Brimstone, recently of the LAPD and a hotshot detective, is your man.

These are just a sampling of the jaw-dropping guys available to the highest bidder. Ladies, don’t miss the chance to buy a guy—no strings attached.

Cash, Check, Credit and Debit cards gratefully accepted by the Charity City Philanthropic Foundation.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Prologue

Buy-a-Guy: Semiannual Charity City Auction

Abby Walsh needed a man and she was here to buy the one she wanted.

Many towns held bachelor auctions to raise money. Not hers. Charity City was more creative with its semiannual events. The women’s—Sell-A-Belle—was held in the spring. Tonight was the men’s turn and bachelorhood wasn’t a prerequisite, which was just peachy with Abby. Most of the guys were donating their time and skills to be auctioned because they’d received grants from the town for their businesses or projects. Payback in volunteer form was expected.

The specifics of the sale had been listed ahead of time on the town’s Web site and Abby was waiting for the guy who’d donated a survival weekend. Her daughter had recently become involved with a group promoting girls’ outdoor activities. Badges were involved and apparently came under the heading “life and death” for her six-year-old. Abby knew if she were in charge of camping, it would be life and death for real. So the auction was the answer to her problem. She could give back to the town and get the perfect guy—for the weekend. She had no illusions about a perfect guy for herself.

She’d rather be alone than need a man for anything. Once had been more than enough.

Normally she attended the annual auctions with her two best girlfriends. Molly Preston was on her right, but Jamie Gibson couldn’t make it tonight. Her parents, Louise and Roy Gibson, had come instead.

The Charity City Community Center was the only place in town large enough to house the event, and rows of folding chairs filled the expanse of floor space. On the stage, Mayor Baxter Wentworth was playing auctioneer. Tall, distinguished and gray-haired, he was a descendant of the town’s founding family who had initiated the first auction. He took the responsibility of carrying on this charitable tradition very seriously.

“This is Charity City, folks,” he said. “We put our money where our mouth is. I don’t have to tell you this is the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Buy-A-Guy auction.”

“No, you’ve been reminding us of that for weeks,” someone called out.