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Two Little Secrets
Linda Randall Wisdom
Love Is The Greatest AdventureIt was the trip of a lifetime and hairstylist Ginna Walker was going to take full advantage. She'd forget all her worries back home and concentrate only on the sun, the sand…and her whirlwind romance with Zachary Stone, a man so gorgeous, Ginna had to keep pinching herself to be sure she wasn't dreaming. And yet, even after two whole weeks spent in each other's arms, Ginna sensed Zach had secrets he was not yet ready to share. Secrets that could seriously change the nature of their relationship. Well, Ginna was sure that whatever they were, she could handle them.Famous last words…
Zach couldn’t believe he was thinking about marriage
It wasn’t something he’d ever thought about a second time. He was a pretty well-rounded dad, willing to do whatever was necessary for his kids.
But lately, he wasn’t thinking of marrying just for the children. He wanted to do it for himself, as well.
He’d liked those nights he spent with Ginna. Not just the sex, but the cuddling, the conversation.
He never considered himself someone who thought in terms of hearts and flowers, but it was easy to think that way where she was concerned.
Personality of sunshine. Smile that made a guy just feel damn good. And a pair of legs that had him thinking some even better thoughts.
Yes, it was way past time for him to tell Ginna about Emma and Trey. Especially since he also had to tell her he was falling in love with her.
Dear Reader,
Once again, Harlequin American Romance has got an irresistible month of reading coming your way.
Our in-line continuity series THE CARRADIGNES: AMERICAN ROYALTY continues with Kara Lennox’s The Unlawfully Wedded Princess. Media chaos erupted when Princess Amelia Carradigne’s secret in-name-only marriage was revealed. Now her handsome husband has returned to claim his virgin bride. Talk about a scandal of royal proportions! Watch for more royals next month.
For fans of Judy Christenberry’s BRIDES FOR BROTHERS series, we bring you Randall Riches, in which champion bull rider Rich Randall meets a sassy diner waitress whose resistance to his charms has him eager to change her mind. Next, Karen Toller Whittenburg checks in with The Blacksheep’s Arranged Marriage, part of her BILLION-DOLLAR BRADDOCKS series. This is a sexy marriage-of-convenience story you won’t want to miss. Finish the month with Two Little Secrets by Linda Randall Wisdom, a delightful story featuring a single-dad hero with twin surprises.
Best,
Melissa Jeglinski
Associate Senior Editor
Harlequin American Romance
Two Little Secrets
Linda Randall Wisdom
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Linda Randall Wisdom is a California author who loves movies, books and animals of all kinds. She also has a great sense of humor, which is reflected in her books.
Books by Linda Randall Wisdom
HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE
250—WE GIVE THANKS
284—LADY’S CHOICE
293—APPEARANCES ARE DECEIVING
310—CODE OF SILENCE
325—SINS OF THE PAST
350—A MAN FOR MAGGIE
372—O’MALLEY’S QUEST
382—VOICES IN THE NIGHT
401—FREE SPIRITS
422—SOMETIMES A LADY
443—THIS OLD HOUSE
457—UNDER HIS SPELL
470—A MAN FOR MOM
487—THE COUNTESS AND THE COWBOY
515—NO ROOM AT THE INN
541—VEGAS VOWS
561—HE’S A REBEL
596—COUNTERFEIT HUSBAND
608—MOMMY HEIRESS
627—TWIST OF FATE
641—DO YOU TAKE THIS MAN…
671—NAUGHTY ’N NICE
681—MR. & MRS….& MRS.?
707—BELLS, RINGS & ANGELS’ WINGS
751—SHE’S HAVING HIS BABY
774—THE LAST TWO BACHELORS
831—MY LITTLE ONE
865—BRIDE OF DREAMS
920—TWO LITTLE SECRETS
Dear Reader,
When I came up with the idea of the Blind Date Bulletin Board, I wondered where the best place for it would be. Since there’s nothing else more relaxing than spending time in a day spa, and women tend to talk there, I thought, why not have single women talk about the lack of single men and bring up that, while so and so may not be right for them, he might be right for someone else. Hence, the bulletin board where a single woman could do a little browsing and just maybe find an available man, and after that who knows.
Naturally, this kind of book meant a great deal of research into day spas and all the amenities that go with it.
I only hope you, my readers, appreciate my hard work in this area. <G>
Contents
Prologue (#u6b18e358-e2bf-53af-8688-849b55e046c1)
Chapter One (#u77c1b55b-a0f2-5d70-a7d6-4f3836b77462)
Chapter Two (#u1fb51643-d93d-50bc-bca2-2dc9dbd707b1)
Chapter Three (#uc7cb408e-7657-5a9a-ae24-931605168e85)
Chapter Four (#uf325b10a-fa8e-57bf-a382-5b60da0b483d)
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)
Prologue
“Judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of five thousand dollars.” The striking of the gavel backed up the judge’s ruling. “Next time, madam, don’t choose a man who lies even when truth hits him in the face. And, sir, you are lucky you’re not in jail for the stunt you pulled.”
“Yay, Ginna!” The cheers echoed in the room.
Ginna Walker strolled to the center of the hair salon and dropped into a deep curtsy. No easy feat, considering her narrow short skirt.
Now her voice echoed out of the speakers. “Naturally I am very happy with the judge’s decision. The judge could tell he was lying about the money being his. The account was in my name only. He lied to bank personnel and cost that teller her job as a result. I just wish he’d been punished, too.”
A man’s surly voice was next. “I can’t believe the judge believed that bleep! lies. That money was supposed to be in a joint account. The only reason that bleep! did this was because I have a new life and she’s jealous.”
Ginna laughed out loud.
“The man never stops. A so-called joint account that only carried my name on it. I still can’t figure out how Denny duped that teller into letting him clean it out,” she told her friends and co-workers. “Could anyone remind me why I married such an idiot?”
“Because he had a cute smile and he reminded you of a puppy,” Cheryl, one of the nail techs, said.
“Because you said he actually listened to you,” Nora, one of the other hairdressers, put in.
“Because he sent you three dozen red roses on Valentine’s Day,” was added.
“Yes, but he used my credit card to pay for them,” Ginna said ruefully.
“That was your first clue he was a total jerk,” Sonia, one of the masseurs, piped up.
“I should have divorced him right there and then.” Ginna picked up the television remote control and switched it off. “It would have saved me a lot of trouble.”
Her friends kept pity from their gazes as they looked at her. They all knew exactly why there had been a divorce, but those sorrowful facts were neatly tucked away. It had taken a while before her smiles were spontaneous again.
CeCe, the elegant owner of the Steppin’ Out Salon and Day Spa, rose from her chair and walked over to Ginna. She rested her hands on the younger woman’s shoulders.
“Do not worry, my little Ginna. You will find a man who will see you as the treasure you are,” she told her.
Ginna looked at her boss, who everyone considered ageless. She could be thirty. She could be sixty. The woman’s beauty, Ginna thought, was the type that began from within. Anyone who worked for CeCe was considered a part of her family.
“Then if you say so, it will come true,” she said lightly. “But you don’t mind if I wait awhile before the perfect man comes my way?”
CeCe’s laughter was light and musical to the ear. “My dear, love doesn’t come at your beck and call. You answer its call.” She hugged her and stepped back. “Ladies, we have all this lovely champagne to finish,” she announced.
Ginna walked over to the table laden with rich pastries, bottles of champagne and a lazy Susan holding various fresh vegetables with a dip nearby. She picked up a custard-filled éclair and bit into it.
The lounge for the Steppin’ Out spa clients was a restful area with love seats and chairs that were designed for comfort, as well as looks. Exquisite paintings of European pastoral scenes hung on the walls. Many a woman enjoyed the plush feel of the mint-green carpet underfoot. The wide-screen television in one corner was encased in elegant walnut, used to play specially created videos showing the spa’s amenities.
Since the spa was closed this evening, the employees took over the room to watch Ginna’s television debut on one of the popular courtroom programs.
“Yes, but then you wouldn’t have had your twenty minutes of fame on television,” Phoebe, one of the spa’s estheticians said, and busied herself with a nail file. Cheryl clucked her tongue, muttering about proper shaping as she took the file out of Phoebe’s hand and finished the job herself. “Or gotten more than he owed you.”
“If he hadn’t out and out lied in court, she probably would only have awarded me the money he took,” Ginna admitted. She dropped into one of the chairs in the salon and spun around. “He did it to himself.”
“And what are we doing with the money?” Nora asked in a singsong voice.
