Marriage Is Just The Beginning. Betty Sanders Jane

      Table of Contents

       Cover Page

       Excerpt

       Dear Reader

       Title Page

       Dedication

       About the Author

Chapter One

Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Copyright

       “You may kiss the bride.”

      The words echoed in the sudden silence. Grant turned to face her and Sharon tilted her head, then grinned and winked.

      

      This was Grant, her best friend, offering nothing more than a friendly kiss to seal a bargain, Sharon told herself as he slowly lowered his head. Her eyes fluttered shut; her breath caught as his lips settled against hers.

      

      The soft, gentle kiss ended far too quickly.

      

      She opened her eyes to meet his gaze—a puzzled gaze that clung to her lips like a touch and had her heart hammering wildly. A shimmering awareness seemed to hang between them.

      

      Then Grant cleared his throat and stepped back.

      

      And the moment died so quickly, Sharon wondered if she had imagined it.

      Dear Reader,

      

      Welcome to another wonderful month at Silhouette Romance. In the midst of these hot summer days, why not treat yourself (come on, you know you deserve it) by relaxing in the shade with these romantically satisfying love stories.

      

      What’s a millionaire bachelor posing as a working-class guy to do after he agrees to baby-sit his cranky infant niece? Run straight into the arms of a very beautiful pediatrician who desperately wants a family of her own, of course! Don’t miss this delightful addition to our BUNDLES OF JOY series with Baby Business by Laura Anthony.

      The ever-enchanting award-winning author Sandra Steffen is back with the second installment of her enthralling BACHELOR GULCH miniseries. This time it’s the local sheriff who’s got to lasso his lady love in Wyatt’s Most Wanted Wife.

      And there are plenty of more great romances to be found this month. Moyra Tarling brings you an emotionally compelling marriage-of-convenience story with Marry In Haste. A gal from the wrong side of the tracks is reunited with the sexy fire fighter she’d once won at a bachelor auction (imagine the interesting stories they’ll have to tell) in Cara Colter’s Husband In Red RITA Award-winning author Elizabeth Sites is back with a terrific Western love story centering around a legendary wedding gown in The Rainbow Bride. And when best friends marry for the sake of a child, they find out that real love can follow, in Marriage Is Just the Beginning by Betty Jane Sanders.

      So curl up with an always-compelling Silhouette Romance novel and a refreshing glass of lemonade, and enjoy the summer!

      

      Melissa Senate

      Senior Editor

      Silhouette Romance

      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

      Marriage Is Just the Beginning

      Betty Jane Sanders

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      To Lee, always.

       BETTY JANE SANDERS

      With the publication of His Secret Son, a 1994 Golden Heart winner, Betty’s dream of becoming a published author had come true.

      Betty has lived in Alaska since 1980, with her husband of twenty-plus years. Her hobbies include spending time with her husband, skiing, snow machining, walking her dog (a springer spaniel named Brittany), hiking, biking, boating, scuba diving, reading, writing, drawing and painting.

       Chapter One

      Six-year-old Cassie’s giggles spilled down the hall, easily reaching the kitchen. Sharon paused, a plate in hand, to savor the sound. Brittany barked—a puppy yelp. It was followed by a sudden splash of bathwater. Cassie squealed, Brittany barked again and Sharon cringed. She quickly put the last of the plates in the dishwasher, then hurried down the hall.

      Fragments of bubbles floated in the bathwater. Cassie had soap in her hair and brows, while foam clung to her chin like a small goatee. Brittany lay in the tub in front of Cassie, a puff of soap perched atop her head. Sharon groaned. The puppy cocked her head and cracked her jaw in a doggie smile.

      Sharon fought a grin and dropped her hands to her hips, trying to scowl fiercely. “Cassie Parker! What am I going to do with the two of you?” She arched a brow at the little girl, and Cassie laughed in answer—a bubble of pure joy that filled the room. Laughing was something the child hadn’t done often enough the past few months. Warmth flooded Sharon’s heart at the sound.

      “I didn’t tell her to, Sharon. Honest. She just jumped in when I wasn’t looking. All by herself.”

      Sharon shot a stern look at the nine-month-old springer spaniel. The dog’s long ears floated on top of the water. With her bright eyes, she appeared