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Have Husband, Need Honeymoon
Rita Herron
When Alison Hartwell's boyfriend proposes marriage, tradition finds the youngest Hartwell sister the proud owner of a hand-carved hope chest from her beloved Grammy Rose. But amongst the lace and satin is some disturbing news: Alison is already married to someone else!After Alison and her high school sweetheart, Brady Broussard, eloped, her father quickly annulled it, or so they thought. When Brady returns to town for his sister's wedding, Alison has the chance to make things right between them. But she has never stopped loving the handsome air force pilot. Can she convince Brady their love was meant to last a lifetime?
“There’s something I have to show you.”
Alison handed Brady the envelope and said, “This might come as a shock.”
Brady frowned and opened the envelope, his hands shaking as he pulled out the marriage certificate—their marriage certificate. Then he removed the next set of papers and his eyes met hers.
“They’re our annulment papers,” Alison said in a low voice. “My grandmother sent them to me in my hope chest.”
“But they haven’t been processed. What’s going on?”
“Apparently Dad asked Grammy Rose to file them and she…forgot.”
It took just a second for him to realize the implications. “Then…we’re…”
“That’s right, Brady. We’re still married.”
Dear Reader,
Heartwarming, emotional, compelling…these are all words that describe Harlequin American Romance. Check out this month’s stellar selection of love stories, which are sure to delight you.
First, Debbi Rawlins delivers the exciting conclusion of Harlequin American Romance’s continuity series, TEXAS SHEIKHS. In His Royal Prize, sparks fly immediately between dashing sheikh Sharif and Desert Rose ranch hand Olivia Smith. However, Sharif never expected their romantic tryst to be plastered all over the tabloids—or that the only way to salvage their reputations would be to make Olivia his royal bride.
Bestselling author Muriel Jensen pens another spectacular story in her WHO’S THE DADDY? miniseries with Daddy To Be Determined, in which a single gal’s ticking biological clock leads her to convince a single dad that he’s the perfect man to father her baby. In Have Husband, Need Honeymoon, the third book in Rita Herron’s THE HARTWELL HOPE CHESTS miniseries, Alison Hartwell thought her youthful marriage to an air force pilot had been annulled, but surprise! Now a forced reunion with her “husband” has her wondering if a second honeymoon couldn’t give them a second chance at forever. And Harlequin American Romance’s promotion THE WAY WE MET…AND MARRIED continues with The Best Blind Date in Texas. Don’t miss this wonderful romance from Victoria Chancellor.
It’s a great lineup, and we hope you enjoy them all!
Wishing you happy reading,
Melissa Jeglinski
Associate Senior Editor
Harlequin American Romance
Have Husband, Need Honeymoon
Rita Herron
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
To Melissa Endlich—
Thanks for helping me give life to this one.
I hope it’s the first of many more books we do together!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rita Herron is a teacher, workshop leader and storyteller who loves reading, writing and sharing stories with people of all ages. She has published two nonfiction books for adults on working and playing with children, and has won the Golden Heart award for a young adult story. Rita believes that books taught her to dream, and she loves nothing better than sharing that magic with others. She lives with her “dream” husband and three children, two cats and a dog in Norcross, Georgia.
LETTER FROM GRANDMOTHER
My sweet, darling Alison,
You’ve always been a special granddaughter to me because you are the last link to our past, the last link to our future. Endings are usually sad, but you taught us that endings can also be a joy.
You readily accepted the broken toys, the hand-me-down clothes, the hectic life and schedule of a single father. You were always sensitive to others, the peacemaker between your sisters during their turbulent years, always the one to hold the family together. You have the rare gift of knowing when to listen as well as talk, and you touch everything in life with wisdom and kindness. When we tried to baby you, you fought for independence and won. But even when your hair turns gray like mine and your children grow taller than you, you will still be my baby.
I hope you learn to speak your mind, to sometimes rock the boat without worrying about what others might think. I wish for you happiness, true love and a man that will be your equal and bring you all the joy a partner can.
Love you always,
Grammy Rose
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Epilogue
Chapter One
“Thomas asked me to marry him.”
Still glowing from their own recent weddings, Mimi and Hannah, Alison Hartwell’s two older sisters, exchanged odd looks.
Alison had expected them to jump up and down and start making plans right away, so their lack of exuberance surprised her, especially since they were sitting in the middle of her bridal shop, Weddings to Remember. Every time they gathered here, they talked about weddings. Hannah’s wedding to Jake Tippins, a sexy cop who’d almost arrested their father. Mimi’s wedding to Hannah’s ex-fiancé, Seth Broadhurst. The fact that Hannah had fixed Alison up with the handsome obstetrician gynecologist the minute he’d driven into town. The fact that Alison had caught the bouquet at Mimi’s wedding. The hope chests their grandmother Rose had sent them that had seemingly been a catalyst for choosing their mates—and for the craziness in their lives.
“That’s great,” levelheaded Hannah finally said. “Thomas is a wonderful doctor.”
Mimi, folded hands across the bulging mound of her pregnant belly, kicked off her shoes to reveal swollen ankles. “Yeah, he has a good sense of humor.”
Hannah straightened the stack of bridal magazines on the round table between them. “And all his women patients love him.” She frowned. “I don’t mean they’re in love with him, I—”
“I know what you mean,” Alison said.
“He is an OB-GYN.” Mimi wrinkled her nose. “Let’s hope his women patients love him. After all, he doesn’t have men patients.”
Mimi laughed at her own joke, and Alison and Hannah both shook their heads.
“Come to think of it,” Mimi continued, “marrying a gynecologist would be kind of weird. Do you think he ever gets tired of—”
“I’m sure he gets tired of that question,” Hannah said, cutting her off.
Mimi giggled mischievously and grabbed Alison’s hand, checking her third finger. “No ring, huh? What is he, cheap or something?”
Hannah frowned at Mimi. “So what did you tell him, Ali?”
Alison picked up a piece of baby’s breath and brought it to her nose, inhaling the sweet scent. She loved all the smells in her shop—the lilac-scented spray she used to lighten the air, the fresh flowers in the entryway, the potpourri in the crystal dish beside the display of bridal books. “I haven’t given him an answer yet.”
Hannah’s blond eyebrows rose. “But you’re considering his proposal?”
“I told him I needed time to think about it.”
Mimi nodded, her rosy lips pursed. “Not sure he’s the one?”
“Mimi!” Hannah chided.
“Well, he’s rushing it, isn’t he? You two have only been dating a couple of months,” Mimi said.
“This coming from you?” Alison asked dryly. “The woman who went from thinking Seth was boring to a torrid affair in a matter of hours?”
They both glanced at Mimi’s belly. Mimi grinned, a wicked glint in her eyes. “Okay, well, sometimes being in a hurry isn’t so bad.”
Hannah stood, shaking her head at Mimi. “Sorry, girls, I have to get back to the clinic.”
“And I have to meet Seth at the coffee shop. He’s bringing a group over for role playing in the Book Nook section.” Mimi struggled to pull her bulky weight up from the chair, accepting Hannah’s outstretched hand with a sigh. “I guess I could play a whale or an elephant if they need one.”
Alison chuckled. “Don’t be silly, you look great.”
“Yeah, you’re the prettiest whale we know,” Hannah said, patting Mimi’s back.
Mimi rolled her eyes and smiled. “Just wait, payback will be fun, sis.”
“Hannah, are you—”
“No,” Hannah said softly, a sheepish look on her face. “But someday. We’re having too much fun together right now.”
They all laughed, and Alison pointed to a large box in the corner. “I’d better get busy, too. I need to unpack that shipment before Vivica drops by to discuss her wedding.”
“Oh, by the way, how’s her brother, Brady?” Hannah asked. “He was in the Air Force, right?”
“Yeah.”
“You used to have a thing for him, didn’t you?” Mimi asked.
“That was a long time ago,” Alison said.
“Is he coming for Vivica’s wedding?” Hannah asked.
Alison shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Hannah’s beeper zinged and she checked the number. “Now I really have to go.” She tucked a strand of Alison’s hair behind her ear, her big sister role firmly in place. “Take your time thinking about the proposal, sis. I like Thomas a lot, but don’t let him push you into something you’re not ready for.”
“Yeah, he’s got to be the one that lights your fire and keeps it burning all night long,” Mimi added.
Would Thomas do that? Alison wondered. So far, she hadn’t felt that animal magnetism. When Hannah had first described him, she’d expected him to knock her socks off with sex appeal, but instead he’d sort of tickled her socked toes with his nice friendly smile. Still, their friendship would make for a good stable marriage, she rationalized. And she was ready to settle down.
Instantly Brady Broussard’s face rose in her mind. Her body automatically tingled, bittersweet memories assaulting her. The dates in high school. The prom. The night they’d secretly gotten married. Brady had certainly made her burn all night, like dancing the mambo instead of a waltz. And in spite of the immediate annulment her father had insisted upon, Brady had kept the embers hot for three years with his romantic letters and promises to return. But the fourth year he’d suddenly stopped writing, and it had been like cold water dousing the fire. He’d broken her heart so badly she’d thought she’d never recover.
Hannah smiled slyly. “This is one time I agree with Mimi. Friendship’s nice, but the sparks are important, too.”
“You two are so mushy about those husbands of yours it’s unbelievable.”
Alison hugged them both and tried to banish thoughts of Brady from her mind. Maybe Thomas would help her forget him. So what if fireworks didn’t explode when he kissed her? The pain wouldn’t be so bad if things didn’t work out. She’d only been thinking about Brady because she was coordinating his sister’s wedding. Not because she was still in love with the man.
