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The Marriage Mishap
Judith Stacy
WAKING UP WITH A STRANGER WAS THE LEAST OF HALEY CAUFIELD'S PROBLEMSA very official-looking license said she was married to one. And staring at the very male, very naked Adam Harrington, she knew the scandal she'd come to Sacramento to escape from was nothing compared to the one in store for her… !The very practical Adam Harrington would have liked at least to have been introduced to his blushing bride before bedding her. Instead, he found himself wedded to Haley Caufield, an enticing surprise of a woman who just might beat him at his own game… !
Table of Contents
Cover Page (#u6c033b05-1ae5-5287-8fec-8777c3be44d7)
Excerpt (#u65eeacb2-95e3-5ad6-94b9-9c0b9f528212)
Dear Reader (#u16095a93-3569-5025-998a-1b922ab221a4)
Title Page (#u5df27a69-41a3-5505-b851-5ea36256f815)
About The Author (#u497a6257-219f-5ca6-a80a-599d39469f86)
Dedication (#uc1d07a49-3748-5d4f-9280-f68ec188a441)
Chapter One (#u1a104440-66ea-5a00-b119-61cc7153d903)
Chapter Two (#u7d079188-fb9f-5976-b43d-3f40b2b45b03)
Chapter Three (#u2acb45b2-eaaa-542d-ab9a-97acfac6582e)
Chapter Four (#u77d08b92-6573-5518-9b84-59fa11567e2d)
Chapter Five (#uc5103230-7091-5ad5-ac12-da4f0f193c81)
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)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
“I thought you were a nightmare,
but you’re real, aren’t you?”
Haley questioned.
“Not every woman considers an evening with me a nightmare,” Adam countered.
Haley flopped her hand onto her forehead. “I’m happy for you, truly I am, Mr.—” She looked up at him. “I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?”
Annoyed, Adam sat up straighter. “Don’t you remember anything that happened?”
“On the contrary, the point where you announced our marriage is forever etched in my mind.” Haley shook her head slowly. “As if I’d been run through with a sword—a rusty sword—a dull, rusty sword with ragged edges.”
“You must remember…” Adam frowned and waved his hand across the bed.
Haley shrugged helplessly. “No.”
“Not even when you and I…”
She shook her head.
“Or when you—”
“I did something?” Haley’s eyes bulged. “What did I do?”
“You did it three times—I’d think you’d remember!”
Dear Reader,
Multitalented author Judith Stacy is back this month with a delightful new story called The Marriage Mishap. When virtual strangers Adam Harrington and Haley Caufield wake up in bed together and discover they have gotten married, Adam quickly realizes that it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Haley is not so sure, and her new husband has to figure out how to keep them married long enough to convince her that their wedding blunder can lead to wedding bliss. Don’t miss the fun.
In Lord Sin by Catherine Archer, a rakish nobleman and a vicar’s daughter, whose lack of fortune and social position make her completely unsuitable, agree to a marriage of convenience, and discover love. And in Elizabeth Mayne’s Lady of the Lake, a pagan princess surrenders her heritage and her heart to the Christian warrior who has been sent to marry her and unite their kingdoms.
Our fourth title for the month is Cally and the Sheriff by Cassandra Austin, a lively Western about a Kansas sheriff who falls head over heels for the feisty young woman he’s sworn to protect, even though she wants nothing to do with him.
Whatever your tastes in reading, we hope you enjoy all of our books, available wherever Harlequin Historicals are sold.
Sincerely,
Tracy Farrell
Senior Editor
Please address questions and book requests to:
Harlequin Reader Service
U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3
The Marriage Mishap
Judith Stacy
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
JUDITH STACY
began writing as a personal challenge and found it a perfect outlet for all those thoughts and ideas bouncing around in her head. She chose romance because of the emotional involvement with the characters, and historicals for her love of bygone days.
Judith has been married to her high school sweetheart for over two decades and has two daughters. When not writing, she haunts museums, historical homes and antique stores, gathering ideas for new adventures in the past.
To Judy and Stacy—
the most supportive, understanding daughters
on the planet.
To David—
I couldn’t have written a romance without you.
Chapter One (#ulink_952a350f-8e2a-5667-894e-459ef9d2d1ab)
Sacramento, California1894
Whose shirt was she wearing?
Haley Caufield lifted her head off the pillow and squinted down at the strange white linen shirtsleeve draped over her hand. Her breath caught. It was a man’s shirt.
Curled on her side, she craned her neck and peered over the satin coverlet. Bright morning sunlight streamed through the lace curtains across the room, piercing her eyes and sending a dull ache reverberating through her head. The room came into focus: marble-topped table, green velvet settee, beveled mirror.
Ribbons of fear threaded through her. Nothing looked familiar.
The bed behind her suddenly shifted of its own volition, and an arm snaked beneath the covers and around her waist. Fingers brushed her bare belly and settled between her breasts.
Haley froze. She pressed her lips together to hold in the scream that burned her throat. Someone was in bed with her!
The arm tightened and pulled her across the bed, molding her against a hard chest; muscular thighs eased against the backs of her legs. Haley’s heart slammed into her ribs, pounding with an intensity that escalated the dull ache in her head to a pulsating throb.
Slowly she pushed her thick brown hair aside and looked back over her shoulder. A man!
A little whimper slipped from her throat. Panic overwhelmed her. A strange shirt, a strange bed, a strange room—and a man. What had she done?
Haley turned her head away, her mind spinning. How could this have happened? She’d never been on an unchaperoned outing before, never allowed a man to so much as kiss her—not even Reginald Farnsworth.
The image of her mother flashed before her eyes, and Haley nearly groaned aloud at the memory of her dire warning about coming to Sacramento alone. The entire twenty-three years of Haley’s life had been spent safeguarding her reputation. How could she face her mother again? The woman still brooded over the Farnsworth episode. What would she say if she found out about this?
Haley cringed. If her mother ever discovered the real reason she’d come to Sacramento, she’d probably never speak to her again.
The hand between her breasts shifted, and Haley tensed. A wave of nausea swept over her. When word of this scandal got out, she’d be ruined.
Haley pressed her fingers to her lips, afraid she’d be physically ill. The deep, even breathing of the man behind her echoed in her aching head. As if nothing were amiss, as if the world hadn’t just come crashing down, he lay sleeping, oblivious of everything.
A glimmer of hope blossomed in Haley’s mind. Maybe, just maybe, she could slip away without waking him, and no one would ever know of this debacle.
Holding her breath, Haley reached beneath the covers and closed her hand around the man’s forearm. The coarse hair covering his thick, heavy muscles felt foreign against her fingers. Carefully she lifted his arm and dislodged his hand from between her breasts. Hope flickered. This just might work.
“Not so fast.”
Haley gasped as the man quickly captured her waist and rolled her onto her back. He pushed himself above her on one elbow. Dark stubble covered his firm chin and square jaw. Tousled black hair hung over his forehead. Deep green eyes assessed her lazily, playfully. Haley swallowed hard.
“You’re not trying to get away from me, are you?” He dipped his head and nuzzled her neck.
Haley’s mind reeled as strange sensations assailed her. His lips, soft yet demanding. His body, powerful against hers. She wanted to push away, but was afraid to touch him. He exuded an animal strength.
Haley licked her dry lips. “Well, yes, I have to go now.”
He lifted his head and frowned down at her. “All night includes the following morning.”
What was he talking about? Haley shifted away, but he tightened his grip on her. She forced a smile. “Actually, I don’t think it’s morning any longer.”
He shrugged indifferently. “I don’t give a damn what time of day it is. I’ll pay you extra.”
“Pay? What are you—?”
He lowered his head to her neck again. “After last night, you’re worth any price.”
Haley gasped, and her body went rigid, blocking out the feel of his mouth on her skin. “You think I’m a…a…”
He lifted his head again. “Look, honey, I’m not paying to hear you talk.”
Haley swatted at him. “Get off of me! Get your vile, disgusting self off of me this instant!”
He pushed himself higher on his elbow. “What the hell’s wrong with you?”
She thrashed wildly, kicked back the covers and sat up. “How dare you say such a thing to me! I’ve never been so insulted in my entire life! Where did you ever get the idea that I am one of those…those…soiled doves?”
A wry grin tugged at his lips, and he gestured with his hand. “Well…”
