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Christmastime Courtship
Marie Ferrarella
Stop…in the name of love!What kind of motorcycle cop gives a speeding ticket around Christmas? One as by the book as Colin Kirby. But when he stops pediatric oncology nurse Miranda Steele, little does he know that she's about to zoom straight into his heart. Or that the Matchmaking Mamas have the unlucky-in-love pair straight in their sights…After a childhood tragedy, bright-as-sunshine Miranda's used to making the best of any situation. So she knows the handsome policeman represents an opportunity: he needs to visit her sick kids at the hospital. But Miranda quickly realizes the closed-off Colin is in need of her help just as much as any of those she volunteers for. And she's determined to work her way into his heart this holiday season.
Stop...in the name of love
What kind of motorcycle cop gives a speeding ticket around Christmas? One as by the book as Colin Kirby. But when he stops pediatric oncology nurse Miranda Steele, little does he know that she’s about to zoom straight into his heart. Or that the Matchmaking Mamas have the unlucky-in-love pair straight in their sights...
After a childhood tragedy, bright-as-sunshine Miranda’s used to making the best of any situation. So she knows the handsome policeman represents an opportunity: he needs to visit her sick kids at the hospital. But Miranda quickly realizes the closed-off Colin is in need of her help just as much as any of those she volunteers for. And she’s determined to work her way into his heart this holiday season.
Colin turned sharply on his heel and glared at this woman who wouldn’t take a hint.
“Lady—”
“Miranda,” she prompted.
“Miranda,” Colin echoed between gritted teeth. “You are a royal pain, you know that?”
Miranda always tried to glean something positive out of every situation, no matter how bleak it might appear. “Does that mean you’ll look for her?” she asked him hopefully.
He blew out an angry breath. “That means you’re a royal pain,” he repeated.
With nothing to lose, Miranda went out on a limb. “Please? I can give you a description of Lily’s mother.” And then she thought of something even better. “And if you come with me, I can get you a picture of her that’ll be useful.”
He had a feeling that the woman just wasn’t going to give up unless he agreed to help her. Although it irritated him beyond description, there was a very small part of him that did admire her tenacity.
* * *
Matchmaking Mamas:
Playing Cupid. Arranging dates.
What are mothers for?
Dear Reader (#uda029983-d22c-565e-86fb-751b9ed4baff),
You know how sometimes you get a song stuck in your head that you just can’t get rid of? Well, in my case that doesn’t just happen with songs. Sometimes it’s a phrase, but more often, it’s a title. Case in point, years ago my first Romantic Suspense was entitled Holding Out for a Hero. That song was part of the score for a movie my kids loved enough that I took them to it several times. It was a cute movie, but I couldn’t get that song out of my head for weeks. I carried that title around for a number of years until I came up with a story that warranted it.
I had the same thing happen a number of years after that with a title that popped into my head and refused to “unpop.” The title this time was Good Deeds and Miranda. This time, sadly, my choice for a title was vetoed, but that doesn’t change the fact that this book was born to tell that title’s story.
Miranda Steele is a perpetual do-gooder. The die was cast when Miranda’s sister, Emily, died of leukemia at the age of five. Miranda loved her and saw herself as her sister’s protector. She refocused all her energy to helping others, be they children, adults or animals. She has so many outlets for her good deeds that she doesn’t have any time for herself—until loner Colin Kirby crosses her path. The police officer has witnessed too much death for his young age, and the only way he’s found to survive is to withdraw into himself. When their paths cross (by arrangement, thanks to the Matchmaking Mamas), Miranda sees a broken soul who needs comfort and a way to get back among the living. Colin sees an attractive whirling dervish who just won’t leave him alone—until he doesn’t want to be left alone.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read my book, and from the bottom of my heart, I wish you someone to love who loves you back.
All the best,
Marie
Christmastime Courtship
Marie Ferrarella
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
USA TODAY bestselling and RITA® Award–winning author MARIE FERRARELLA has written more than two hundred and seventy-five books for Mills & Boon, some under the name Marie Nicole. Her romances are beloved by fans worldwide. Visit her website, www.marieferrarella.com (http://www.marieferrarella.com).
To
Melany,
The Best Daughter-in-Law
Anyone Could Ask For.
Welcome To The Family.
Contents
Cover (#ud387cab4-d7be-5fe3-9a19-d183487d82c3)
Back Cover Text (#u8cf3f81d-39fd-5400-a33e-d789bd6c2fe0)
Introduction (#u858b247f-2da0-5d1f-a5c8-094dc9c56860)
Dear Reader (#ubb38a360-56c8-5dd4-ba74-68ae14033c87)
Title Page (#u5a7d22d7-ae89-5163-a44d-73d3ffd12583)
About the Author (#uaf7e7cf5-f63d-5df9-b698-c5345c6c4115)
Dedication (#u9d4d8441-cff8-5219-be3a-12f5f6385ebf)
Prologue (#u7600e907-be50-547d-adf5-a16a5e769f88)
Chapter One (#u282c7d1b-4ec9-5ec0-8b7a-674549c14f85)
Chapter Two (#u64feb1ec-0fe5-5279-97be-091c5d1a74ed)
Chapter Three (#u58f777a3-cb56-5855-bfb0-2771f3beaaac)
Chapter Four (#ud4917030-e376-5dbf-8c23-52ed6aed8372)
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)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue (#uda029983-d22c-565e-86fb-751b9ed4baff)
“Is it true?”
Theresa Manetti looked up from the menu she was putting the final touches on to see who had just walked into her inner office. Most clients who wanted to avail themselves of her catering services either called or were brought in by one of her staff and announced.
As it turned out, this time Theresa found herself looking up at Jeannine Steele, an old friend she hadn’t seen in at least six months. Not since she’d catered Jeannine’s husband’s funeral reception.
“Well, that’s a new kind of greeting,” Theresa commented, amused. “Most people usually say hello. Is what true?” she asked, nodding toward the chair on the other side of her desk, indicating that her friend should sit down.
Looking uncomfortable and nervous, Jeannine lowered herself onto the chair, perching on its edge. “There’s a rumor going around that in addition to your catering business, you’re running some sort of a dating service on the side.”
Theresa had known Jeannine since her own two children had been in elementary school with Jeannine’s daughter, and in all that time, she couldn’t recall the stately woman appearing anything but completely in control.
Always.
But not this time.
“Well, that’s not exactly an accurate description,” Theresa replied. “It’s not really a ‘dating service,’ so much as a matchmaking service.”
Confusion furrowed Jeannie’s otherwise smooth, alabaster brow. “There’s a difference?”
From her vantage point, Theresa could see the other woman twisting her long, slender fingers together. Theresa was experienced enough to know where this was heading, and did what she could to set her friend at ease.
“A big difference,” she answered, pushing back her chair and rising to her feet. “Would you like something to drink, Jeannine?” she asked kindly. “I have everything from tea to soft drinks to something a little more ‘bracing’ if you’d rather have that.”
Jeannine drew in a deep breath before answering. “I’ll take tea,” she replied. “Strong tea.”
Theresa smiled as she went to the counter against the back wall, where she had a pot of hot water steaming. She had a preference for tea herself.
“So, it’s been a while, Jeannine,” she said in her customary easygoing manner. “How are you?”
“Concerned, frankly,” the other woman admitted.
Recrossing the room, Theresa held out the cup of tea. “You’re worried about Miranda, aren’t you?”
Her friend nearly dropped the cup Theresa had handed her. Some hot liquid sloshed over the side. “How did you know?” she asked, surprised.
“To begin with, you asked me about my so-called ‘sideline,’” Theresa answered, employing a whimsical term for the labor that had become near and dear not just to her heart, but to Maizie’s and Celia’s hearts, as well.
Theresa and the two women she had been best friends with since the third grade had weathered all of life’s highs and lows together. The highs included marriage, children and the successful businesses all three had started in the second half of their lives and were currently running.
The lows included all three becoming widows. But she, Maizie and Celia had learned to push on past the pain. After all, they each had children to provide for. They were determined to lead productive, fulfilling lives. And above all else, they were always, always there for one another.
Their matchmaking had begun slowly, by finding matches for their own children. That was to be the end of it, but matching up the right two people brought such satisfaction with it, they’d decided to try their hand at it again.
And again.
With each successful match, their secondary vocation just seemed to take wings. They loved the businesses they had begun and nurtured individually, but there was something exceedingly fulfilling about bringing together two people who otherwise might never have found one another.
Two people who clearly belonged together.
It looked as if the adventure was about to begin again, Theresa thought.
“Tell me about Miranda,” she coaxed, taking her seat once more. “How is she? Is she still as wonderfully generous and bighearted as ever?”
Jeannine thought of her only daughter—her only living child—whose career path had been chosen at the age of ten. “Yes—and that’s the problem. She’s so busy giving of herself, working at the children’s hospital, the women’s shelter and the city’s animal shelter, that she doesn’t have any time to focus on herself. Don’t get me wrong, Theresa. I’m prouder of Miranda than I can possibly say, but, well, I’m really afraid that if she keeps going like this, she’s eventually going to wind up alone.” Jeannine sighed. “I know that sounds like I’m being small-minded and meddling, but—”
Theresa cut her short. “Trust me, I know the feeling,” she assured her. “We’re mothers, Jeannine. It comes with the territory.” With her business going full steam ahead the way it was these days, she could use a little diversion. “Tell me, do you have any idea what Miranda’s dating life is like?”
“I have a very clear idea,” Jeannine replied. “It’s nonexistent these days.”
“Really?”
“Really,” she confirmed sadly. “The problem is that no man can compete with her full-time job, as well as all her volunteer work. Besides, what man wants to come in fourth?”
“Definitely not the kind of man we would want for your daughter,” Theresa said with conviction.
Jeannine looked confused. “What are you saying?”
Theresa smiled as she began making plans. “I’m saying we need to change Miranda’s focus a little.”
“So you do think there’s hope?” A glimmer of optimism entered the other woman’s hazel eyes.
