Marrying Money. SUSAN MEIER

      Every darned woman in the world was attracted to Tanner.

      And Bailey wasn’t any different, except that she had dreams and visions, and they didn’t include settling down with a man.

      At least, not yet. She was only twenty-five. Not that Tanner would want anything permanent with her, anyway. Since he and his ex had split up years ago, he hadn’t dated anybody for longer than a month. And those he had dated didn’t come from West Virginia. They were New York socialites or the daughters of influential men or executive directors of charities who donated back their salaries because they didn’t need them.

      Bailey was just about certain that Tanner wouldn’t consider dating the town beautician.

      In the end she wouldn’t be good enough.

      And plus, there were the rumors….

      Dear Reader,

      Get Caught Reading. It sounds slightly scandalous, romantic and definitely exciting! I love to get lost in a book, and this month we’re joining the campaign to encourage reading everywhere. Share your favorite books with your partner, your child, your friends. And be sure to get caught reading yourself!

      The popular ROYALLY WED series continues with Valerie Parv’s Code Name: Prince. King Michael is still missing—but there’s a plan to rescue him! In Quinn’s Complete Seduction Sandra Steffen returns to BACHELOR GULCH, where Crystal finally finds what she’s been searching for—and more….

      Chance’s Joy launches Patricia Thayer’s exciting new miniseries, THE TEXAS BROTHERHOOD. In the first story, Chance Randell wants to buy his lovely neighbor’s land, but hadn’t bargained for a wife and baby! In McKinley’s Miracle, talented Mary Kate Holder debuts with the story of a rugged Australian rancher who meets his match.

      Susan Meier is sure to please with Marrying Money, in which a small-town beautician makes a rich man rethink his reasons for refusing love. And Myrna Mackenzie gives us The Billionaire Is Back, in which a wealthy playboy fights a strong attraction to his pregnant, single cook!

      Be sure to Get Caught Reading!

      Mary-Theresa Hussey

      Senior Editor

      Marrying Money

      Susan Meier

      

www.millsandboon.co.uk

      I would like to dedicate this book

      to Karen Taylor Richman for all her help over the years.

      Books by Susan Meier

      Silhouette Romance

      Stand-in Mom #1022

      Temporarily Hers #1109

      Wife in Training #1184

      Merry Christmas, Daddy #1192

      *In Care of the Sheriff #1283

      *Guess What? We’re Married! #1338

      Husband from 9 to 5 #1354

      *The Rancher and the Heiress #1374

      †The Baby Bequest #1420

      †Bringing up Babies #1427

      †Oh, Babies! #1433

      His Expectant Neighbor #1468

      Hunter’s Vow #1487

      Cinderella and the CEO #1498

      Marrying Money #1519

      Silhouette Desire

      Take the Risk #567

      SUSAN MEIER

      has written category romances for Silhouette Romance and Silhouette Desire. A full-time writer, Susan has also been an employee of a major defense contractor, a columnist for a small newspaper and a division manager of a charitable organization. But her greatest joy in her life has always been her children, who constantly surprise and amaze her. Married for over twenty years to her wonderful, understanding and gorgeous husband, Michael, Susan cherishes her role as a mother, wife, sister and friend, believing them to be life’s real treasures. She not only cherishes those roles as gifts, she tries to convey the beauty and importance of loving relationships in her books.

      Contents

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

      Chapter One

      “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Tanner McConnell mumbled as he drove his Mercedes into a parking space in the lot of the newly remodeled church hall in Wilmore, West Virginia.

      “What was that, dear?”

      Recognizing he’d grumbled loud enough for his mother to hear, Tanner cleared his throat, pretending his unintentional comment had been a cough. “Nothing, Mother. Just a little frog in my throat, that’s all.”

      He got out of the car and rounded the hood. Because it was a warm June evening, and fifteen minutes remained before dinner would be served, people gathered in small conversation groups around the huge oaks and flower beds that surrounded the gray block building. Most of the men yanked at their collars, uncomfortable in their suit jackets, white shirts and ties, while their wives virtually glowed in semiformal wear and fancy upswept hairdos.

      As Tanner walked around the front of the car to the passenger side, his father exited the back seat of the Mercedes and opened the car door for Tanner’s mother.

      “Don’t buy that cough story,” Jim McConnell said. “What Tanner mumbled was that he can’t believe we talked him into coming to this celebration dinner.” He offered a hand to his wife to assist her from her seat. “Thinks he’s too good for us now,” he added in a stage whisper, then winked.

      Tanner was a replica of his green-eyed, sandy-haired father, who remained as muscled and fit as he had been in his youth when he’d