A Gleam In His Eye

A Gleam In His Eye
Terry Essig

SHE'D TRADE A MINIVAN FOR A BACHELORETTE PAD.…At the ripe age of 25, Johanna Durbin had raised six siblings. Now, on the verge of becoming carefree at last, she met Mr. Right. Rugged, sensitive, and available, Hunter Pace was everything she was looking for–except footloose and fancy free.…HE'D SWAPPED HIS BACHELOR PAD FOR A MINIVAN!With a brood of orphaned nieces and nephews under his roof, Hunter was fast becoming an expert on carpooling, first aid, and toothbrushes in the toilet! But some things simply demanded a woman's loving touch. Hunter soon realized he was one of them. Could he convince Johanna that his intentions were strictly honorable…and very personal?

Johanna didn’t kiss on a first date and this could hardly even be called that.

Some guy buying you ice cream out of gratitude for saving his kid’s life wasn’t a date, now was it?

Maybe she was reading too much into this.

Wasn’t it possible that Hunter was simply a toucher? You know, not touchy-feely in a bad kind of way, just…tactile. Who knew? Maybe he kissed everybody goodbye. For all she knew, he might have some French blood in his heritage. Then it wouldn’t be a first date kind of kiss, but just a social kind of thing. The French were always kissing each other.

Johanna angled her head to better meet Hunter’s kiss. She’d never been kissed by a Frenchman….

Dear Reader,

Silhouette’s 20th anniversary celebration continues this month in Romance, with more not-to-be-missed novels that take you on the romantic journey from courtship to commitment.

First we revisit STORKVILLE, USA, where a jaded Native American rancher seems interested in His Expectant Neighbor. Don’t miss this second book in the series by Susan Meier! Next, New York Times bestselling author Kasey Michaels returns to the lineup, launching her new miniseries, THE CHANDLERS REQUEST….One bride, two grooms—who will end up Marrying Maddy? In Daddy in Dress Blues by Cathie Linz, a Marine embarks on his most terrifying mission—fatherhood!—with the help of a pretty preschool teacher.

Then Valerie Parv whisks us to a faraway kingdom as THE CARRAMER CROWN continues. The Princess’s Proposal puts the lovely Adrienne and her American nemesis on a collision course with…love. The ever-delightful Terry Essig tells the tale of a bachelor, his orphaned brood and the woman who sparks A Gleam in His Eye. Shhh….We can’t give anything away, but you must learn The Librarian’s Secret Wish. Carol Grace knows…and she’s anxious to tell you!

Happy Reading!

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor

A Gleam in His Eye

Terry Essig

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

Books by Terry Essig

Silhouette Romance

House Calls #552

The Wedding March #662

Fearless Father #725

Housemates #1015

Hardheaded Woman #1044

Daddy on Board #1114

Mad for the Dad #1198

What the Nursery Needs… #1272

The Baby Magnet #1435

A Gleam in His Eye #1472

Silhouette Special Edition

Father of the Brood #796

TERRY ESSIG

says that writing is her escape valve from a life that leaves very little time for recreation or hobbies. With a husband and six young children, Terry works on her stories a little at a time, between seeing to her children’s piano, sax and trombone lessons, their gymnastics, ice skating and swim team practices, and her own activities of leading a Brownie troop, participating in a car pool and attending organic chemistry classes. Her ideas, she says, come from her imagination and her life—neither one of which is lacking!

Contents

Chapter One (#u2ba8231e-253b-5714-8cc0-8bd2e4357114)

Chapter Two (#u6c1a8aba-4f59-536c-83e9-5894c2034e5c)

Chapter Three (#u7e8a1554-078b-5c00-bc85-0affbaaac873)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

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 One

“All right, you guys,” swim coach Johanna Durbin yelled at her bedraggled, dripping group of eight-year-olds and unders. “Now you pay for that last horrendous set of freestyle. Everybody get your sticks. It’s time to beat a few bottoms.”

What? Hunter Pace soared to his feet. The transition from uncle to parent had been recent for him, and times had certainly changed since he was a kid, but he was fairly certain physical contact was illegal. Even if it wasn’t, nobody, nowhere, no how and no matter how good-looking was touching a member of his new family with a stick. Suddenly he was very glad he’d decided to stick around and watch his niece and nephew’s swim practice.

Hunter started moving but paused at the end of his bench in the bleacher stand. None of the kids looked upset. Sure, they were groaning and complaining, but they all headed for their swim bags with next to no foot-dragging, and returned to the pool’s side, foot-long chunks of dowel rod in hand.

“You beat Matt last week, Coach Jo. Can it be my turn today?” one little darling dared to tease.

“Beat Billy, Coach Jo. He cutted in front of me again.”