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The Doctor Wore Spurs
Leanne Banks
Pediatric cardiologist Tyler Logan always rounded up what he wanted–such as Jill Hershey's fund-raising expertise to build a children's hospital wing. When she refused, he lassoed the sultry businesswoman with his stethoscope, daring her to help.But now something was daring him–to take a chance and break the curse that said Logans never won at love….Jill had tried to bury herself in her high-powered job–but it couldn't substitute for love and family. And now Tyler was touching her heart–and other Places–dangling what she yearned for most. Jill couldn't give her body and keep her heart. So maybe it was time to give both….
Tyler Looked Into Jill’s Eyes And
Felt An Odd Tug Inside Him.
“I like the way your eyes shine in the moonlight.”
Her lids slid downward, hiding her eyes from him. “Tyler,” she said in a husky, sexy voice that felt like a stroke over key erogenous zones.
Glancing down, he noticed her sandal strap was twisted. He knelt down and untwisted it. He wrapped his hand around her ankle and rubbed his thumb over her smooth skin.
“You have small ankles, too,” he said, skimming his hand up her calf, behind her knee to the inside of her thigh.
She stopped his wandering hand.
He met her gaze. “Does it bother you for me to touch you?”
“It’s distracting,” she said, her gaze smoky. “I know you’re a flirt. You’ve succeeded in arousing—” she urged him upward and rested her hand on his chest “—my curiosity. But I want to know what’s behind the flirt….”
Dear Reader,
Spring is in the air…and so is romance. Especially at Silhouette, where we’re celebrating our 20th anniversary throughout 2000! And Silhouette Desire promises you six powerful, passionate, provocative love stories every month.
Fabulous Anne McAllister offers an irresistible MAN OF THE MONTH with A Cowboy’s Secret. A rugged cowboy fears his darkest secret will separate him from the beauty he loves.
Bestselling author Leanne Banks continues her exciting miniseries LONE STAR FAMILIES: THE LOGANS with a sexy bachelor doctor in The Doctor Wore Spurs. In A Whole Lot of Love, Justine Davis tells the emotional story of a full-figured woman feeling worthy of love for the first time.
Kathryn Jensen returns to Desire with another wonderful fairy-tale romance, The Earl Takes a Bride. THE BABY BANK, a brand-new theme promotion in Desire in which love is found through sperm bank babies, debuts with The Pregnant Virgin by Anne Eames. And be sure to enjoy another BRIDAL BID story, which continues with Carol Devine’s Marriage for Sale, in which the hero “buys” the heroine at auction.
We hope you plan to usher in the spring season with all six of these supersensual romances, only from Silhouette Desire!
Enjoy!
Joan Marlow Golan
Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire
The Doctor Wore Spurs
Leanne Banks
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
LEANNE BANKS
is a national number-one bestselling author of romance. She lives in her native Virginia with her husband and son and daughter. Recognized for both her sensual and humorous writing with two Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times Magazine, Leanne likes creating a story with a few grins, a generous kick of sensuality and characters that hang around after the book is finished. Leanne believes romance readers are the best readers in the world because they understand that love is the greatest miracle of all. You can write to her at P.O. Box 1442, Midlothian, VA 23113. A SASE for a reply would be greatly appreciated.
Four generations ago, the Logan family moved
west from Virginia and took a scrap of Texas land.
Despite droughts and floods, broken hearts and death,
the Logans now own one of the most successful
cattle ranches in Texas.
The Logans have power, brains and strength. Some
call their ongoing success a legacy. The Logans would
instead point to hard work, persistence and plain old
American ingenuity. When it comes to matters of the
heart, however, they refer to their inheritance as a curse.
The Logans face their greatest challenge in breaking
that curse, and finding a love that lasts forever….
This book is dedicated to all who have had the courage
to face their personal waterloo.
My gratitude to Millie Criswell
for the title and ten years of friendship.
Contents
Prologue (#ue47e8f15-df4f-56e7-82fe-d83f2fe1baf2)
Chapter One (#u5b82c4ba-59af-570a-8035-c11da89af4ff)
Chapter Two (#uc8540bf4-c06e-5e44-81d5-f65427597c97)
Chapter Three (#ua4f82738-228b-5868-b770-3a32a3cedb72)
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 Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue
“She has a reputation,” Clarence Gilmore said, his gaze on the same woman Tyler Logan was watching.
Idly aware of the intense schmooze factor of the Hospital Association’s convention, Tyler watched Jill Hershey the same way he’d been known to watch a buck during hunting season. The outer package was enough to merit a second glance: silky, warm-brown hair, intelligent green eyes and a compact but curvy body that was almost concealed by her conservative clothing. Another man might not notice the subtle swell of her breasts against the double-breasted black suit jacket or the enticing curve of her waist and hips, but Tyler always looked beneath the surface.
He just didn’t always let everyone else know he did. What held his attention about Jill Hershey, however, was the way she kept her gaze focused on whomever she was talking to. Even from twenty feet away he could sense the power of her focus.
“What do you know about her?” he asked Clarence.
“She’s a public relations miracle worker. That’s why she’s in demand. You wouldn’t believe what she did for the cancer treatment center in Minneapolis,” Clarence, the hospital administrator, said wistfully.
“Then get her,” Tyler said simply.
Clarence threw him a long-suffering glance. “You surgeons don’t understand anything about the business of health care.”
“Good thing, too,” Tyler said with a grin. “We’d have a lot more dead people, if surgeons were thinking about business instead of surgery.” He looked at Jill again. “If she’s the one we need to beef up our children’s treatment center, then get her.”
“There might be a few obstacles to that. One, she probably costs too much. Two, she’s probably already booked. Three, we might be too small.”
“Sounds like a bunch of mights and maybes. What’s the harm in asking?”
“I’ve requested information about her before,” Clarence said a shade defensively. “I was told she doesn’t do children’s projects.”
That stopped Tyler. He glanced at Clarence. “Really?”
“Yes,” Clarence said, pulling slightly on his collar.
“Well, maybe she needs a new challenge,” Tyler said.
“You’re not going to approach her,” Clarence said.
“Sure I am. Isn’t that why we’re at this convention? To gain some visibility for the new children’s cardiac wing.”
“Yes, but—”
Tyler shrugged. “You said she’s the one we need. So, I’ll go get her.”
The man with the cowboy hat waited patiently behind her former client, Mr. Waldron. Jill tried not to look at him, but it was difficult. He was taller than most men in the room, unabashedly Western, and, she concluded after a few moments passed, determined. He was a little too handsome for his own good, she thought. Just the way he stood, he exuded a gut-level kind of confidence most people never experienced. His searching gaze generated an odd ripple inside her.
Her former client must have felt the man’s presence because he glanced around quizzically.
The man immediately stepped forward. “Hello, I’m Dr. Tyler Logan from Fort Worth General Hospital. Pleased to meet you.”
“Bill Waldron of Cincinnati University Hospital. This is—”
“Jill Hershey, public relations sorceress,” Dr. Logan finished with enigmatic charm. He extended his hand and met her gaze with the direct impact of a two-by-four. “We need you.”
Jill blinked. Although her career success had grown quickly over the past three years, she wasn’t accustomed to this approach. Noticing the strength and size of his hand, she managed a smile. “I’m flattered,” she said. “I think.”
Mr. Waldron excused himself, and Jill retrieved her hand. “I wouldn’t call myself a sorceress.”
“You don’t have to. You have others who do it for you.”
She felt a surge of curiosity. She wondered what was behind his cowboy charm. “Dr. Logan,” she began.
“Call me Tyler,” he said.
Surprise seeped through her. Many of the doctors she’d met were very attached to their titles. “Tyler, what is your specialty?”
“Pediatric cardiology. Surgery.”
Jill’s stomach clenched. It took a moment to catch her breath, but with effort she produced a smile. “That’s an important field, but I must tell you I haven’t done much work with children’s projects.”
“Why not?”
His question took her off guard. “I always felt I was more effective with other specialties.”
“You don’t like kids?”
“No!” she immediately denied, and shook her head. “I… I do like children.” She shrugged, wanting to get away from this impertinent man who had unknowingly stabbed her in her most vulnerable area. “I told you I have always felt I was more effective with other specialties. Not only that,” she said, wishing her voice didn’t sound so tight with tension, “my latest projects have been with larger hospitals.”
“You wouldn’t want to get in a rut,” Tyler said.
Jill’s head began to pound. “A rut?” she repeated.
He nodded. “You look like a woman who needs a new challenge to keep you happy.”
She didn’t know what irritated her more, the fact that he was making a huge assumption or the fact that it was right. “Dr. Logan—”
“Tyler,” he corrected, his blue eyes glinting with masculine humor.
She stifled a sigh. “Tyler, I have to be honest. I usually accept assignments recommended by the president of my company. If you’re interested in our services, you can contact Jordan Grant. Our telephone and fax numbers are in the conference kit. It was nice meeting you.”
He nodded slowly, thoughtfully, as if he saw more than she wanted him to see. Jill turned away, both disturbed and relieved.
“I dare you,” she heard from behind her. His words brought her back around.
“Pardon?”
