Patricia Thayer - Her Surprise Family

“Looks like we’re in for a wicked night.” “Looks like we’re in for a wicked night.” Startled, Shelby spun around to see Rafe standing in her doorway. Lightning flashed. Without warning, Rafe lifted her into his arms. “Put me down!” “Hush, green eyes,” he murmured. “I’m taking you to safety.” Shelby was pulled against his solid chest, her hands gripping his muscular arms. His strength and the sound of his voice soothed her. But she knew she couldn’t continue leaning on him. She wanted a home, a husband, children...but experience had taught her that the only person she could depend on was herself. She pushed against his massive chest, trying to break his hold, but his grip tightened. She melted against him. Maybe she could linger in Rafe’s arms, for just a little longer.... WITH THESE RINGS The Secret Millionaire (SE #1252) Her Surprise Family (SR #1394) The Man, The Ring, the Wedding (SR #1412) Letter to Reader Dear Reader, September’s stellar selections beautifully exemplify Silhouette Romance’s commitment to publish strong, emotional love stories that touch every woman’s heart. In The Baby Bond, Lilian Darcy pens the poignant tale of a surrogate mom who discovers the father knew nothing of his impending daddyhood! His demand: a marriage of convenience to protect their BUNDLES OF JOY.... Carol Grace pairs a sheik with his plain-Jane secretary in a marriage meant to satisfy family requirements. But the oil tycoon’s shocked to learn that being Married to the Sheik is his VIRGIN BRIDE’s secret desire.... FOR THE CHILDREN, Diana Whitney’s miniseries that launched in Special Edition in August 1999—and returns to that series in October 1999—crosses into Silhouette Romance with A Dad of His Own, the touching story of a man, mistaken for a boy’s father, who ultimately realizes that mother and child are exactly what he needs. Laura Anthony explores the lighter side of love in The Twenty-Four-Hour Groom, in which a pretend marriage between a lawman and his neighbor kindles some very real feelings. WITH THESE RINGS, Patricia Thayer’s Special Edition/Romance cross-line miniseries, moves into Romance with Her Surprise Family, with a woman who longs for a husband and home and unexpectedly finds both. And in A Man Worth Marrying, beloved author Phyllis Halldorson shows the touching Romance between a virginal schoolteacher and a much older single dad. Treasure this month’s offerings—and keep coming back to Romance for more compelling love stories! Enjoy, Mary-Theresa Hussey Senior Editor Please address questions and book requests to: Silhouette Reader Service U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3 Title Page Her Surprise Family Patricia Thayer www.millsandboon.co.uk Dedication To the special guys in my life, Jeff, Brett and Tom. You all have turned into wonderful young men, definitely hero material. And to my rescuer, Steve, who set the example for our boys. I love you. About the Author PATRICIA THAYER has been writing for fourteen years and has published ten books with Silhouette. Her books have been nominated for the National Readers’ Choice Award, Virginia Romance Writers of America’s Holt Medallion and a prestigious RITA Award. In 1997, Nothing Short of a Miracle won the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Special Edition. Thanks to the understanding men in her life—her husband of twenty-eight years, Steve, and her three sons—Pat has been able to fulfill her dream of writing romance. Another dream is to own a cabin in Colorado, where she can spend her days writing and her evenings with her favorite hero, Steve. She loves to hear from readers. You can write her at P.O. Box 6251, Anaheim, CA 92816-0251. Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Epilogue: THE HAVEN SPRINGS WEEKLY NEWS Copyright

“Looks like we’re in for a wicked night.”

Startled, Shelby spun around to see Rafe standing in her doorway.

Lightning flashed. Without warning, Rafe lifted her into his arms.

“Put me down!”

“Hush, green eyes,” he murmured. “I’m taking you to safety.”

Shelby was pulled against his solid chest, her hands gripping his muscular arms. His strength and the sound of his voice soothed her.

But she knew she couldn’t continue leaning on him. She wanted a home, a husband, children...but experience had taught her that the only person she could depend on was herself. She pushed against his massive chest, trying to break his hold, but his grip tightened.

She melted against him. Maybe she could linger in Rafe’s arms, for just a little longer....

WITH THESE RINGS

The Secret Millionaire (SE #1252)

Her Surprise Family (SR #1394)

The Man, The Ring, the Wedding (SR #1412)

Dear Reader,

September’s stellar selections beautifully exemplify Silhouette Romance’s commitment to publish strong, emotional love stories that touch every woman’s heart. In The Baby Bond, Lilian Darcy pens the poignant tale of a surrogate mom who discovers the father knew nothing of his impending daddyhood! His demand: a marriage of convenience to protect their BUNDLES OF JOY.... Carol Grace pairs a sheik with his plain-Jane secretary in a marriage meant to satisfy family requirements. But the oil tycoon’s shocked to learn that being Married to the Sheik is his VIRGIN BRIDE’s secret desire.... FOR THE CHILDREN, Diana Whitney’s miniseries that launched in Special Edition in August 1999—and returns to that series in October 1999—crosses into Silhouette Romance with A Dad of His Own, the touching story of a man, mistaken for a boy’s father, who ultimately realizes that mother and child are exactly what he needs.

Laura Anthony explores the lighter side of love in The Twenty-Four-Hour Groom, in which a pretend marriage between a lawman and his neighbor kindles some very real feelings. WITH THESE RINGS, Patricia Thayer’s Special Edition/Romance cross-line miniseries, moves into Romance with Her Surprise Family, with a woman who longs for a husband and home and unexpectedly finds both. And in A Man Worth Marrying, beloved author Phyllis Halldorson shows the touching Romance between a virginal schoolteacher and a much older single dad.

Treasure this month’s offerings—and keep coming back to Romance for more compelling love stories!

Enjoy,

Mary-Theresa Hussey

Senior Editor

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To the special guys in my life, Jeff, Brett and Tom.

You all have turned into wonderful young men, definitely

hero material.

And to my rescuer, Steve, who set the example

for our boys.

I love you.

PATRICIA THAYER

has been writing for fourteen years and has published ten books with Silhouette. Her books have been nominated for the National Readers’ Choice Award, Virginia Romance Writers of America’s Holt Medallion and a prestigious RITA Award. In 1997, Nothing Short of a Miracle won the Romantic Times Magazine Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Special Edition.

Thanks to the understanding men in her life—her husband of twenty-eight years, Steve, and her three sons—Pat has been able to fulfill her dream of writing romance. Another dream is to own a cabin in Colorado, where she can spend her days writing and her evenings with her favorite hero, Steve. She loves to hear from readers. You can write her at P.O. Box 6251, Anaheim, CA 92816-0251.

Prologue

“Rafaele Mario Covelli, you come out of the water adesso, now,” Vittoria called to her ten-year-old grandson from the back porch.

“You just ate your lunch.”

The thin, lanky boy climbed out of the large swimming pool his father had assembled in the backyard for the long, hot summer months.

“But I feel fine, Nonna. I want to swim with my friends.”

“You can swim a little later. You must let your food digest first.”

“But I’m bored,” he protested as he slumped down on the step.

“Then play with your baby sister.” Nonna looked over at the precious black-haired three-year-old digging happily in her sandbox.

“No way,” Rafe said. “I’m not playing with any girl.”

Vittoria folded her arms and looked sternly at the boy. She knew for a fact that both Rafe and his younger brother, Rick, loved their baby sister and played with her often. “Then come here and I’ll tell you a story.”

Rafe’s dark eyes lit up as he sat cross-legged on his towel. “About Nonno Enrico and how he was a hero?”

Nodding, Vittoria spread out a blanket and sat on it Little Angelina toddled over to see what was going on. She climbed on to her grandmother’s lap. “You want to hear the story, too, bambina?”

Angelina pushed her sunbonnet back from her eyes and nodded eagerly. “Please,” she said.

Before Vittoria knew it, her other grandson, Rick, and two of his school friends were seated on the blanket, too.

“Many years ago in Italy, my famiglia, the Perrones, lived in a small village. When I was a young girl, it was a bad time. War ravaged the countryside, but my village in Tuscany fortunately seemed to be safe. Until an airplane crashed not far from our home.”

“It was Grandpa’s plane. A B-24,” Rafe announced. “He was a nose gunner.”

Vittoria nodded. “Yes. It was an American plane. It had been hit and the pilot was trying to make it back to his base over the border, but was forced to crash-land in a field not far from our farmhouse. The next day, I found Army Sergeant Enrico Covelli hiding in our barn. He was wounded in the leg and had lost a lot of blood.”

Vittoria remembered it as if it were yesterday. His face was bruised from the rough landing and he was grimacing from the pain of his wounds. He’d still been the handsomest man she’d ever seen. He was also the enemy. But she was afraid he might die, and she couldn’t let that happen in her barn—or a prison camp.

“And you saved him.”

Immersed in the memory now, Vittoria hardly heard her grandson’s voice urge her on. “I knew I should turn him in, but I ended up caring for his wounds and sneaking out to stay with him while he fought his fever. Then after a few days, he began to get his strength back. He was American, but he spoke to me in Italiano. I was shocked when he told me his name was Enrico Covelli. His parents had come from Rome. I could not turn him over to the soldiers.”

“No, Nonna,” Rafe said, shaking his head, “you had to hide him.”

Vittoria looked around at the other three boys as they nodded in agreement.

“But I was afraid he’d be discovered.” And Vittoria had known that she was also falling in love with the American. Then came the night Enrico confessed his love for her. He didn’t want to leave her, but he had to find his way back to the Allied lines. They’d both be in danger if he was caught.

She continued the story. “I’d heard about the underground—a group who helped get people to safety. The next night, before Nonno Enrico left, he promised that he would return after the war. He said he wanted to marry me and take me to America. I told him I loved him, too. Then he kissed me goodbye and disappeared into the night.”