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A Madaris Bride for Christmas
Brenda Jackson
One by one, Madaris men have surrendered to the matchmaking schemes of Felicia Laverne Madaris, matriarch of the family. But Lee Madaris isn’t letting anyone else control his destiny.He’ll bring a bride of his own choosing to the family’s holiday gathering—if his hotel’s gorgeous new chef will agree to a marriage of convenience. It’s not just the chance to work at the Strip’s hottest hotel that brought Carly Briggs to Vegas. Witnessing a crime in Miami may have made her a mob target. Though she’s reluctant to complicate their working relationship, Lee’s tempting offer is so hard to resist. And soon, desire is clouding their no-strings arrangement. The danger that made Carly flee Miami is about to land at their door. So Carly and Lee must decide who to trust, when to let go—and whether a love they never anticipated is strong enough to pass the ultimate test.
In her 100th book, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Brenda Jackson blends heated sensuality and drama into a dazzling new novel featuring one her most unforgettable Madaris heroes yet…
One by one, Madaris men have surrendered to their grandmother’s matchmaking. But Lee Madaris isn’t letting anyone else control his destiny. He’ll bring a bride of his own choosing to the family’s holiday gathering—if his hotel’s gorgeous new chef will agree to a marriage of convenience.
It’s not just the chance to work at the Strip’s hottest hotel that brought Carly Briggs to Vegas. Witnessing a crime in Miami may have made her a mob target. Though she’s reluctant to complicate their working relationship, Lee’s tempting offer is so hard to resist. And soon, desire is clouding their no-strings arrangement.
The danger that made Carly flee Miami is about to land at their door. So, Carly and Lee must decide who to trust, when to let go—and whether a love they never anticipated is strong enough to pass the ultimate test.
Praise for New York Times bestselling author
“Fans of her tender and forbidden love stories will fall head over heels for Jackson’s newest addition to the saga…sure to tantalize readers with this unforgettable tale of secret love and the unrelenting power of friendship.”
—BookPage on Inseparable
“This deliciously sensual romance ramps up the emotional stakes and the action with a bit of deception and corporate espionage. Short, sexy, and sizzling.”
—Library Journal on Intimate Seduction
“Jackson does not disappoint…first-class page-turner.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4½ stars Top Pick, on A Silken Thread
“Superb storytelling, an original plot and combustible chemistry between the leads will have readers flying through the chapters, desperate to see how Jackson’s tale ends.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4½ stars Top Pick, on Bachelor Unclaimed
“Jackson does a masterful job of drawing readers into the characters’ lives and minds as she unfolds the story of their meeting, romance and happily ever after. A page-turner from start to finish.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4½ stars Top Pick, on Hidden Pleasures
“Brenda Jackson has reached a new pinnacle of literary and commercial excellence.”
—RT Book Reviews, 4½ stars Top Pick, on One Special Moment
A Madaris Bride for Christmas
New York Times Bestselling Author
Brenda Jackson
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It gives me great pleasure to present my 100th book to you.
I would be amiss if I didn’t take this time to thank a number of people who not only made this journey with me, but who inspired me, motivated me, supported me, and made writing each and every book such a memorable experience.
I thank God for giving me the gift to write and who makes all things possible.
To the man who is the love of my life, Gerald Jackson, Sr.
My one and only. Always.
To my sons, Gerald Jr. and Brandon Jackson, who constantly make their mother proud.
To my faithful and loyal readers who motivate me to write love stories that help them escape into a world of love and romance.
I thank you and I appreciate you.
To all my editors—the late Monica Harris, Karen Thomas, Glenda Howard, Monique Patterson, Mavis Allen, Evette Porter, Kelli Martin, Brenda Chin, Stacy Boyd, Valerie Gray, Krista Stroever, Melissa Jeglinski, Joan Marlow Golan and others. Your editorial expertise helped me to present the best stories to my readers.
To my agent, Pattie Steele-Perkins.
Your unwavering support has always been appreciated.
To all the publishers who ever released a Brenda Jackson book.
I thank you for the opportunity you gave me.
To my present publisher, Harlequin. Thank you for your undying support and for always making me feel special.
To my family and friends, whose support I will always appreciate.
To my classmates from Northwestern High School and William M. Raines, Class of 1971, who were my first readers.
Special thanks to Keisha Mennefee for your assistance in my research on chefs.
Special thanks to Angie Lee, Resident Chef and Instructor, for all your information on chefs and culinary schools.
Dear Reader,
I never imagined when I penned my first book, Tonight and Forever—the love story of Justin Madaris and Lorren Jacobs—that eighteen years later I would still be writing about the Madaris family. I am proud that I began my writing career with a Madaris book and that my 100th book is based on that same family.
The Madaris Family is a special family, not just because it was my first family, but because over the years you’ve made them your family. I once said that the Madaris men have become your heroes because they represent those things you desire—men with looks to take your breath away, and who have the ability to make you appreciate the fact that you are a woman.
Over the past few Madaris books, we have seen the matriarch of the family, Mama Laverne, play matchmaker for those single men and women in her family. She feels that it’s now Lee Madaris’s time and she is determined for him to have a Madaris bride for Christmas.
I hope you enjoy reading A Madaris Bride for Christmas, and I hope you add this to your collection of the Madaris Family and Friends series.
All the Best,
Brenda Jackson
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
—Psalms 23:1
Contents
Prologue (#udfd33874-a05c-5604-a069-1278a5eaac34)
Chapter 1 (#ue2781932-1546-5fbd-b68d-30183194ece9)
Chapter 2 (#u166592f0-a2e9-5f72-87a5-01dffb5da302)
Chapter 3 (#u51be1e45-81c5-5ee2-b0a2-d89bcb9aeefb)
Chapter 4 (#u97d7f75b-0c28-5223-8c54-1f23381a4a1c)
Chapter 5 (#ud4ca6aa9-11e0-5459-b51a-5aa117a0bbdd)
Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 21 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 22 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 23 (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Prologue
“Are you sure you saw what you think you saw, Carly?”
Instead of answering her best friend, Carly Briggs took a sip of her drink. The liquid nearly scorched her throat going down. Vodka?
“Where did you get this?” she asked, drawing in a cooling breath. As far as she knew, the only alcohol she and Heather Kramer kept in their apartment was wine.
Heather shrugged. “Lori gave it to me. She cleaned house and said it was left over from the New Year’s Eve party she gave three years ago.”
Carly remembered that party. She and Heather had just moved to Miami and into their apartment near South Beach. Lori Cummins, a neighbor who lived in the apartment across the hall, had thrown a party that weekend and invited them.
“Now, let’s not get sidetracked,” Heather said, reclaiming Carly’s attention. “Are you sure you saw—”
“I didn’t see anything,” Carly said, her agitation not yet helped by the alcohol. “It’s what I heard—coming through a vent in the wine room. Several men were arguing in the alley outside the restaurant. They accused this guy of being a traitor. Then I heard a gunshot that seemed to be muffled with a silencer.”
The conversation was something Carly would never forget. The deep, raspy, intimidating voice of one man and the terrifying sound of another man pleading for his life. It was a wonder she hadn’t screamed and given her location away.
Instead, she’d frozen and then her surroundings went black. The next thing she remembered was being awakened by Chef Renaldo, who didn’t want to hear anything she had to say about men and gunshots. Instead, she had been scolded about going over her break time by ten minutes and not pulling her load on a busy night.
Fearing someone was possibly bleeding to death in the alley, she’d talked one of the staff waiters into going outside with her to look around. She’d made up some excuse about hearing a kitten crying. They had checked all over the place and found nothing.
“Maybe you only thought you heard it,” Heather said, looking at her with concern in her eyes. “You even admit that Chef Renaldo woke you up. Maybe you dreamed you heard it.”
Instead of taking another sip of her drink, Carly placed the glass on the table. “Why would I dream such a thing?”
Heather stood and waved off her question. “How would I know? You’ve been working a lot of crazy hours and Chef Renaldo has been getting on your last nerve. Maybe all the stress is catching up with you.”
“Maybe you’re right,” Carly said, although she knew Heather wasn’t right.
She knew what she’d heard, which was why she’d arrived home tonight needing a strong drink, why she had called the police tip line. The tip-line operators promised to scramble callers’ phone numbers so the call couldn’t be traced. She was glad it was anonymous. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to think she was a loony tune.
Carly stood. “I’m going to take a bath and go to bed. The restaurant is opening early tomorrow for a baby shower and I’ll be one of the chefs on duty to help prepare the desserts.”
“But tomorrow is your off day,” Heather reminded her.
“I know, but I can use the money.”
“Now you’re making me feel bad about moving out.”
Carly reached out and grabbed Heather’s hand. “Please don’t feel bad. It’s not every day a woman meets the man of her dreams. I love you, girl, but had it been me, I would have married Joel months ago. He’s the best.”
And she really meant it. The guy Heather had met and fallen in love with last year, Joel Garcia, was CEO of a marketing firm in Spain, where they would make their home. The wedding was planned for next month. A June wedding. And Carly was the maid of honor.
“Don’t forget that you have that job interview with the hotel in Vegas next week,” Heather reminded her, standing too.
