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Kiss A Handsome Stranger
Jacqueline Diamond
One kiss led to another and…!Lying blissfully in her dream lover's arms, Daisy Redford had the shock of her life. Her one-night-man was the Chance Foster–King of the Conquest! So she darted out of bed and into hiding. But Daisy found out she was pregnant, just as Chance found her. Though Daisy's most heartfelt wish was to be a wife and mother, she rebuffed his marriage proposal–she would never enter a union rooted in responsibility. But her "no" only multiplied Chance's attentions. Could it be their secret desires actually dovetailed…and kissing this handsome stranger meant she would never again be a stranger to love?2001 Ways to Wed: This little book on finding Mr. Right is guaranteed to help three friends make it to the altar!
Daisy Redford’s Shopping List
Paper towels
Candles (for romance; loved the ones Chance had last night)
Lightbulbs
Panty hose (mine were accidentally left at a certain bachelor’s house)
Milk
Orange juice
Eggs (starved—didn’t get a chance to eat breakfast; too busy sneaking out of Chance Foster’s bedroom)
Shampoo
Toothpaste
Home pregnancy kit (oh, my, something tells me I might be needing this….)
Nail polish remover
Hand lotion
Wedding gown (in case the stick turns blue, a gal’s gotta be ready!)
Dear Reader,
May is “Get Caught Reading” month, and there’s no better way for Harlequin American Romance to show our support of literacy than by offering you an exhilarating month of must-read romances.
Tina Leonard delivers the next installment of the exciting Harlequin American Romance in-line continuity series TEXAS SHEIKHS with His Arranged Marriage. A handsome playboy poses as his identical twin and mistakenly exchanges “I do’s” with a bewitching princess bride.
A beautiful rancher’s search for a hired hand leads to more than she bargained for when she finds a baby on her doorstep and a Cowboy with a Secret, the newest title from Pamela Browning. 2001 WAYS TO WED concludes with Kiss a Handsome Stranger by Jacqueline Diamond. Daisy Redford’s biological clock had been ticking…until a night of passion with her best friend’s brother left her with a baby on the way! And in Uncle Sarge, a military man does diaper duty…and learns about fatherhood, family and forever-after love. Don’t miss this heartwarming romance by Bonnie Gardner.
It’s a terrific month for Harlequin American Romance, and we hope you’ll “get caught reading” one of our great books.
Wishing you happy reading,
Melissa Jeglinski
Associate Senior Editor
Harlequin American Romance
Kiss a Handsome Stranger
Jacqueline Diamond
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
For Sylvia Hyman, ceramic artist and terrific mother
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jacqueline Diamond is the daughter of a ceramic artist who inspired Daisy’s talents in this book. Jackie lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons and two formerly stray cats.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Anyone interested in helping save feral (born-wild) cats, as Frannie and Bill do in this story, can get more information from Alley Cat Allies at 1801 Belmont Road NW, Suite 201, Washington, D.C. 20009. Any mistakes made in describing Frannie and Bill’s approach are strictly the author’s own.
Books by Jacqueline Diamond
HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE
79—THE DREAM NEVER DIES
196—AN UNEXPECTED MAN
218—UNLIKELY PARTNERS
239—THE CINDERELLA DARE
270—CAPERS AND RAINBOWS
279—GHOST OF A CHANCE
315—FLIGHT OF MAGIC
351—BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS
406—OLD DREAMS, NEW DREAMS
446—THE TROUBLE WITH TERRY
491—A DANGEROUS GUY
583—THE RUNAWAY BRIDE
615—YOURS, MINE AND OURS
631—THE COWBOY AND THE HEIRESS
642—ONE HUSBAND TOO MANY
645—DEAR LONELY IN L.A….
674—MILLION-DOLLAR MOMMY
687—DADDY WARLOCK
716—A REAL-LIVE SHEIKH
734—THE COWBOY & THE SHOTGUN BRIDE
763—LET’S MAKE A BABY!
791—ASSIGNMENT: GROOM!
804—MISTLETOE DADDY
833—I DO! I DO!
855—DADDY, M.D.
875—KISS A HANDSOME STRANGER
HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE
435—AND THE BRIDE VANISHES
512—HIS SECRET SON
550—CAPTURED BY A SHEIKH
When three best friends need advice on finding that
perfect love match, they turn to the wisest
relationship book around, 2001 Ways to Wed.
Chapter 8
When Smooching Leads to Sleeping Over
And Other First Date Debacles
He was gorgeous. The stars were twinkling. He bought you dinner, a movie and flowers. You were wearing that little black number that makes you feel sexy. You’d shaved your legs. He asked you up for coffee—and you ended up staying for breakfast.
Heaven knows you’re not that kind of girl! But does he?
It’s understandable that you’re embarrassed, but what if you can’t avoid seeing him again—you work with the guy, he’s your neighbor or your best friend’s notorious playboy brother. So what do you do?
It all depends on how you feel about him. When the lust and the Long Island iced tea wore off, was he just another pretty face? If so, chalk it up to a lesson learned. But if there’s potential for a lasting relationship, don’t let the rapid pace of your first date kill any chance for a second. If he wants to see you again, go. And don’t feel like you have to be intimate again. But beware, some men are just so delicious you can’t resist going back for seconds….
Contents
Chapter One (#u47c6cba4-6120-5e28-b124-66cc24288049)
Chapter Two (#u96e7982e-4633-50ed-ad84-ce8f86f3c719)
Chapter Three (#uae51a6a4-951e-57e6-b7c4-fdbb5444a0b5)
Chapter Four (#u30b7beeb-5828-51e1-90d3-c709c642e21e)
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)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One
Daisy Redford smacked Chance Foster a couple of times. Then she pushed him so hard he compressed into a lump of submissive clay.
“Take that!” she told the clay as it spun around on the potter’s wheel, perfectly centered.
Some internal demon had goaded her earlier into making a little bust of the man. She couldn’t capture the teasing light in his eyes, but, for a quarter-hour’s effort, it had been a creditable likeness of his strong face, full mouth and straight nose.
She’d felt a flash of satisfaction when she pounded him into oblivion. Now, though, the only evidence of her triumph was the neatly spinning lump, ready to be made into a pot, and spatters of wet clay that she could feel drying across her cheeks.
Another woman might have washed a man out of her hair. Daisy Redford had smashed him onto the potter’s wheel. If her actions stopped the images of their stolen night together from tormenting her dreams, she would be happy. More than happy. Ecstatic.
“Now all I have to do is find Mr. Right before my girlfriends match me up with yet another loser,” she announced to her empty studio. “Or before I find another loser on my own.”
