Katherine Garbera - The Bachelor Next Door

“I Just Wanted To Repay You For Rescuing Me This Morning,” “I Just Wanted To Repay You For Rescuing Me This Morning,” Cass said, trying to retain her composure in the face of this sexy, rugged man. He raised one eyebrow at her, studying her with intensity. “Well, now that you mention it, there is one thing I’d like.” His eyes narrowed and his gaze swept slowly down her body, sending signals to parts that had lain dormant for a long time. Cass fidgeted and stepped away from Rafe’s warmth. “What do you want?” “You,” he said. “A wonderful new voice is added to the Desire line. Katherine Garbera blends humor, warmth and sizzling sexual tension in The Bachelor Next Door. I’m looking forward to her next book...and the next....” —Bestselling author Pamela Macaluso Letter to Reader Dear Reader, LET’S CELEBRATE FIFTEEN YEARS OF SILHOUETTE DESIRE... with some of your favorite authors and new stars of tomorrow. For the next three months, we present a spectacular lineup of unforgettably romantic love stones—led by three MAN OF THE MONTH titles. In October, Diana Palmer returns to Desire with The Patient Nurse, which features an unforgettable hero. Next month, Ann Major continues her bestselling CHILDREN OF DESTINY series with Nobody’s Child. And in December, Dixie Browning brings us her special brand of romantic charm in Look What the Stork Brought. But Desire is not only MAN OF THE MONTH! It’s new love stories from talented authors Christine Rimmer, Helen R. Myers, Raye Morgan, Metsy Hingle and new star Katherine Garbera in October. In November, don’t miss sensuous surprises from BJ James, Lass Small, Susan Crosby, Eileen Wilks and Shawna Delacorte And December will be filled with Christmas cheer from Maureen Child, Kathryn Jensen, Christine Pacheco, Anne Eames and Barbara McMahon. Remember, here at Desire we’ve been committed to bringing you the very best in unforgettable romance and sizzling sensuality. And to add to the excitement of fifteen wonderful years, we offer the chance for you to win some wonderful prizes. Look in the pages at the end of the book for details. And may we have many more years of happy reading together! Senior Editor Please address questions and book requests to: Silhouette Reader Service US · 3010 Walden Ave., P.O Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3 Title Page The Bachelor Next Door Katherine Garbera www.millsandboon.co.uk Dedication For Matt, best friend, lover and husband—without your support and belief in me, I couldn’t have done it. And for my children, Courtney and Lucas, who make me remember why we’re here. About the Author KATHERINE GARBERA has always enjoyed creating stories. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and has served on her local chapter’s board as president and treasurer. She’s had a varied career path, including: lifeguard, production page, VIP tour guide and secretary. Reading, shopping, playing the flute and counted cross-stitch are just some of her hobbies. She’s always believed that everything she dreams she can do. With the support of her husband, daughter and family, she wrote her first novel and found she had to write another one. In 1995 she won the Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for excellence in unpublished short contemporary writing. In a world that is so technologically advanced, Katherine believes we need more romance in our daily lives and hopes to create that with her novels. The Silhouette Spotlight - “Where Passion Lives” The Silhouette Spotlight “Where Passion Lives” MEET WOMAN TO WATCH What was your inspiration for THE BACHELOR NEXT DOOR? KG: “My family. In developing my hero and heroine, that importance of family came across. I especially needed a key to who Rafe Santinu was. Rafe had a strong sense of family...so I took his family away from hun and left him with the guilt of their deaths. The want of a family is still strong within Rafe, but he believes he will destroy anyone he cares for.” What about the Desire line appeals to you as a reader and as a writer? KG: “It’s fast paced, sometimes serious and sometimes funny, but always sensual.” Why is this book special to you? KG: “Because of Rafe Santini. I fell in love with the lonely playboy who lives across the street from the heroine and her son. While I was writing this book, for the first time I was able to deal honestly with the emotions my characters were feeling. I learned a lot about myself as a writer from It. I set the story in Florida where I was born and raised, because I love this state.” Any additional information about yourself or your book? KG: “After I won the Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for this book, I was serenaded by an entire Marine Corps unit in the bar. It was very exciting and fun.” 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 Copyright

“I Just Wanted To Repay You For Rescuing Me This Morning,”

Cass said, trying to retain her composure in the face of this sexy, rugged man.

He raised one eyebrow at her, studying her with intensity.

“Well, now that you mention it, there is one thing I’d like.”

His eyes narrowed and his gaze swept slowly down her body, sending signals to parts that had lain dormant for a long time. Cass fidgeted and stepped away from Rafe’s warmth.

“What do you want?”

“You,” he said.

“A wonderful new voice is added to the Desire line. Katherine Garbera blends humor, warmth and sizzling sexual tension in The Bachelor Next Door. I’m looking forward to her next book...and the next....”

—Bestselling author Pamela Macaluso

Dear Reader,

LET’S CELEBRATE FIFTEEN YEARS

OF SILHOUETTE DESIRE...

with some of your favorite authors and new stars of tomorrow. For the next three months, we present a spectacular lineup of unforgettably romantic love stones—led by three MAN OF THE MONTH titles.

In October, Diana Palmer returns to Desire with The Patient Nurse, which features an unforgettable hero. Next month, Ann Major continues her bestselling CHILDREN OF DESTINY series with Nobody’s Child. And in December, Dixie Browning brings us her special brand of romantic charm in Look What the Stork Brought.

But Desire is not only MAN OF THE MONTH! It’s new love stories from talented authors Christine Rimmer, Helen R. Myers, Raye Morgan, Metsy Hingle and new star Katherine Garbera in October.

In November, don’t miss sensuous surprises from BJ James, Lass Small, Susan Crosby, Eileen Wilks and Shawna Delacorte

And December will be filled with Christmas cheer from Maureen Child, Kathryn Jensen, Christine Pacheco, Anne Eames and Barbara McMahon.

Remember, here at Desire we’ve been committed to bringing you the very best in unforgettable romance and sizzling sensuality. And to add to the excitement of fifteen wonderful years, we offer the chance for you to win some wonderful prizes. Look in the pages at the end of the book for details.

And may we have many more years of happy reading together!

Senior Editor

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

US · 3010 Walden Ave., P.O Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

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

The Bachelor Next Door

Katherine Garbera

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For Matt, best friend, lover and husband—without your

support and belief in me, I couldn’t have done it. And

for my children, Courtney and Lucas, who make me

remember why we’re here.

KATHERINE GARBERA

has always enjoyed creating stories. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and has served on her local chapter’s board as president and treasurer. She’s had a varied career path, including: lifeguard, production page, VIP tour guide and secretary. Reading, shopping, playing the flute and counted cross-stitch are just some of her hobbies. She’s always believed that everything she dreams she can do. With the support of her husband, daughter and family, she wrote her first novel and found she had to write another one. In 1995 she won the Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for excellence in unpublished short contemporary writing. In a world that is so technologically advanced, Katherine believes we need more romance in our daily lives and hopes to create that with her novels.

The Silhouette Spotlight

“Where Passion Lives”

MEET WOMAN TO WATCH

What was your inspiration for

THE BACHELOR NEXT DOOR?

KG: “My family. In developing my hero and heroine, that importance of family came across. I especially needed a key to who Rafe Santinu was. Rafe had a strong sense of family...so I took his family away from hun and left him with the guilt of their deaths. The want of a family is still strong within Rafe, but he believes he will destroy anyone he cares for.”

What about the Desire line appeals

to you as a reader and as a writer?

KG: “It’s fast paced, sometimes serious and sometimes funny, but always sensual.”

Why is this book special to you?

KG: “Because of Rafe Santini. I fell in love with the lonely playboy who lives across the street from the heroine and her son. While I was writing this book, for the first time I was able to deal honestly with the emotions my characters were feeling. I learned a lot about myself as a writer from It. I set the story in Florida where I was born and raised, because I love this state.”

Any additional information about

yourself or your book?

KG: “After I won the Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for this book, I was serenaded by an entire Marine Corps unit in the bar. It was very exciting and fun.”

One

“Mommy’s trapped in the bathroom and I’ve got to get to school.”

Rafe Santini ran a hand over his bleary eyes, willing the tiny apparition standing in his doorway to disappear. A quick glance at his battered watch confirmed that it was 7:00 a.m. He scratched the stubble on his chin and stretched his arms above his head before looking down again.

The boy was still there. Rafe knew nothing about children and liked it that way. This child had invaded his private retreat, and though Rafe knew he should regret the intrusion, part of him was intrigued by the situation.

“Come on, mister. Will you help me?” The boy’s eyes were teary, and Rafe feared the child would start crying.

Rafe leaned against the front door frame and sighed. Ah, hell, he couldn’t leave the child in the lurch. “Okay, okay. Give me a minute.”

Rafe slid his feet into the buffalo sandals he’d left on the porch for late-night walks with his dog. He scratched his bare chest, debating whether he had time to grab a shirt before leaving, then decided the kid looked too desperate for even a minute’s delay. The boy lived directly across the street from Rafe. He’d seen the kid on the front porch studying, when he went for his daily jog.