The Other Woman. Brenda Novak

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      Praise for Brenda Novak’s Dundee stories:

      “Novak perfectly captures the feel of small-town life, and her powerful story of two lonely, fragile people who find another chance at love is a sweetly satisfying and richly rewarding romance.”

      —Booklist on Stranger in Town

      “Novak is an expert at creating emotionally driven romances full of heat, sensual tension and conflict that not only satisfy her characters but her readers as well.”

      —Writers Unlimited on A Husband of Her Own

      “…a poignant story full of genuine feeling. Anyone hungry for a good story, series or otherwise, should check out this complex and involving tale.”

      —All About Romance on A Home of Her Own

      “Strong, romantic and heart-warming…”

      —Romance Reviews Today on A Home of Her Own

      “Once again, Brenda Novak delivers a stunningly magical performance…. Novak’s fans will easily recognize her unforgettable style and characterization from the first chapter.”

      —WordWeaving on A Family of Her Own

      “[A Home of Her Own] kept me on the edge of my seat, Kleenex in hand, totally enthralled to the last page. This is a forget-about-dinner, just-order-a-pizza kind of read.”

      —Romantic Times BOOKclub

      “A one-sitting read! Kudos to Brenda Novak for an insightful and emotional story that tore at my heartstrings.”

      —The Best Reviews on A Baby of Her Own

      Dear Reader,

      I love writing stories set in the fictional town of Dundee, and this story was no exception. Maybe it was a little more difficult than most, because Liz, the heroine, had such a complicated background, and because the relationships among this particular group of people are a bit complex. But life is complex, so it rang true to me. And I was glad to give Liz her own happy ending—even if it was with a guy who at first surprised me. I hadn’t originally intended Liz to fall in love with the man she chooses (for those of you who have written me about this, notice I’m not giving away his name!), but I think they’re perfect for each other. He needs her as badly as she needs him (even if he’s a little slow to realize it).

      And now it’s back to work on my next romantic suspense novel. I’m in the middle of a brand-new series, which begins with the August release of Dead Silence (from MIRA Books). It’s actually quite a bit like the stories I’ve set in Dundee—there are a lot of interesting relationships, small-town intrigue and drama—only, these new books focus on a man who went missing eighteen years ago and the family who knows exactly where he is (a secret they’re willing to guard with their lives).

      On a completely different note, drop by my Web site at www.brendanovak.com and check out my online auction for juvenile diabetes (my youngest son has this disease). Last year I raised $35,000 for research—this year I’m shooting for $100,000. I should reach it, too. I’ll be auctioning off more than six hundred items (some of which you can’t find anywhere else), so don’t miss out!

      For those without Internet access, please feel free to contact me at P.O. Box 3781, Citrus Heights, CA 95611.

      Here’s to making a difference!

      Brenda Novak

      MILLS & BOON

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      The Other Woman

      Brenda Novak

      To my Aunt Judy

      When I was a child, coming to stay with you was an

       absolutely magical experience—the new houses, the new cars,

       the dinners, the diets, the giant Cokes and candy bars,

       the movies, the hours of playing our homegrown version

       of Pictionary, and especially the sledding. I’ll always

       remember those times with great fondness.

       I still smile when I think of your laugh.

      CONTENTS

      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

      CHAPTER SIXTEEN

      CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

      CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

      CHAPTER NINETEEN

      CHAPTER TWENTY

      CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

      CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

      CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

      EPILOGUE

      CHAPTER ONE

      ELIZABETH O’CONNELL WASN’T sure she could tolerate another minute. This was her fifth blind date in as many weeks, and each of them had been significantly worse than the one before.

      “I heard what happened with your ex-husband.” Carter Hudson, the tall, dark-haired man seated across from her at the new Dundee Inn and Steakhouse reached over to touch her hand. “It must’ve been a terrible ordeal.”

      With light-brown eyes and strong, rugged features, Carter wasn’t unhandsome. But the way his thumb rested against the pulse at her wrist gave the impression he didn’t care so much about what she’d suffered as he did about pretending to commiserate with her—to make sure this night ended in as friendly a way as it could. Besides, his New York accent grated on her nerves. Almost everything about him grated on her nerves.

      Looking for a distraction, she glanced around the dining room to see if she could spot someone she knew. She’d lived in Idaho for less than two years, but Dundee was a town of only fifteen hundred people, and she’d already become acquainted with many of the locals.

      Unfortunately, it was a Thursday in late May, the height of the tourist season. She saw no one familiar. City slickers and yuppies drawn to the area by the Running Y Ranch, which offered visitors an authentic western vacation, filled the steak house.

      Liz, while stubbornly keeping her smile in place, wished the waitress would arrive with their dinners and tried to focus. “It wasn’t easy,” she said. “But it’s over now. Thank God.”

      Carter didn’t take the hint. “And yet you’re on friendly terms with him.