Marriage In Six Easy Lessons. Mollie Molay

      How could any twenty-first-century man believe this stuff?

      As April continued to read the manuscript, making notations in the margin, she had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

      “So, you’re working on ‘The Mating Game’ article,” a familiar voice broke in.

      She looked up at Thomas Eldridge, the magazine’s publisher and editor in chief. To her chagrin, he wasn’t alone.

      “Sorry,” she said. “I’m afraid I was busy reading this unbelievable submission. To tell you the truth, I was trying not to laugh.”

      “Laugh?” Tom said with a warning frown. “Well, if you think you can contain yourself, I’d like to introduce you to Lucas Sullivan—the author of this piece.”

      Before she could apologize, Tom went on. “Sullivan here is a noted sociologist. The article you have is one I asked him to write.”

      April turned to smile at Lucas Sullivan. At first glance he looked like the stereotypical absentminded professor—a thatch of unruly brown hair, clothes a little rumpled, smelling ever so slightly of musty old books.

      But on second glance…Under that staid exterior was one very sexy male.

      Dear Reader,

      You might be interested to know that when I was plotting my trilogy SULLIVAN’S RULES I discovered I was actually incorporating my own life into the three stories.

      As in this book, April Morgan’s story, my own young dream was to marry a man who would treat me as an equal.

      The second book, coming in December of this year, is about April’s friend Rita Rosales. There—as in my own life—the hero turns out to be the boy next door. We had two children and twenty-three wonderful years together before I lost him.

      As in the third book, Lili Soule’s story, I was given a second chance at finding the strong yet gentle man who became my husband.

      Like the three women in my stories, I believe in love and a happy-ever-after. That’s why I love writing stories of home, heart and happiness for Harlequin American Romance.

      I hope you enjoy reading about April, Rita and Lili as much as I enjoyed writing about them!

      Mollie Molay

      Books by Mollie Molay

      HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

      938—THE DUCHESS & HER BODYGUARD*

      947—SECRET SERVICE DAD*

      954—COMMANDER’S LITTLE SURPRISE*

      987—MY BIG FAKE GREEN-CARD WEDDING

      Marriage in Six Easy Lessons

      Mollie Molay

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      To newcomers Joseph Murray Fox and Luke Joseph Molé.

      Welcome to the world.

      Sullivan’s Rules

      1 A happy relationship requires that a woman make her man feel masculine.

      2 While a man is not monogamous by nature, he is more likely to see a woman as a potential girlfriend or mate if sexual intimacy doesn’t occur too soon.

      3 A woman must rein in her own desires to promote the health of a relationship.

      4 A woman must strive for compatibility, rather than try to be sexy.

      5 A woman must show her man how much she likes and appreciates him. She must shower him with affection and sublimate her own daily frustrations.

      6 A woman must be supportive, fun-loving, easygoing and generous in her praise of a man’s achievements.

      Contents

       Prologue

       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

      Prologue

      A few last-minute guests at the Morgan-Blair wedding hurried to take their seats in the flower-decorated nave of St. James Church-by-the-Lake. The church organist launched into the romantic and emotional “Lara’s Theme” from Dr. Zhivago, a prearranged signal that the wedding ceremony would begin in twenty minutes.

      In the bride’s dressing room, the bride, April Morgan, frowned and regarded her bridal bouquet of white roses and gardenias with a growing sense of unease.

      Rita Rosales, her maid of honor, tucked something borrowed, a tiny good-luck charm, in April’s shoe. “There, that should take care of the wedding ceremony.” She laughed as she adjusted the shoulder straps of her pale green dress. “The honeymoon is up to you.”

      April’s face whitened.

      “Now, Rita,” Lili Soulé, the matron of honor, scolded, “April doesn’t need any of your teasing. Can’t you see she’s already nervous?” She checked the basket of flowers that the little maid of honor, her daughter Paulette, was carrying to make sure the rose petals were still inside. Paul, the ring bearer and Paulette’s twin brother, clutched the satin cushion holding the wedding rings to his chest.

      “I’m okay,” April murmured, although she was becoming more nervous by the minute. “Rita, why don’t you see if any of the bridesmaids need help before the ceremony?”

      Rita glanced over to where the bridesmaids were busy checking their gowns in floor-length mirrors. “There doesn’t seem to be a problem. All five of them are looking good.”

      April’s frown deepened. “Five? There’s supposed to be six!” She scanned the group uneasily. “Where’s Claire Dunn?” she called to them.

      “Claire just stepped