What The Cowboy Prescribes.... Mary Starleigh

      Meg didn’t feel like a stranger in Steve’s arms.

      In fact, she felt practiced and confident kissing him. She didn’t care that Steve Hartly was completely and positively wrong for her in every way. She kissed him with all she had, refusing to harbor any negative thoughts.

      Too soon he pulled away, leaving her lips bare and wanting. Meg’s heart thumped against her chest. Steve made her feel womanly and out of control all at the same time.

      Why had she returned his kiss with such fervor? She needed him to help her, not kiss her. If she could get him to practice medicine again, he could save her clinic. She wanted to keep everything aboveboard—shove her physical needs out of the way.

      Hoping to clear her mind, she breathed in the rich, thick morning air. Even in her confusion she knew one thing.

      She wanted to understand Steve Hartly.

      Dear Reader,

      March roars in in grand style at Silhouette Romance, as we continue to celebrate twenty years of publishing the best in contemporary category romance fiction. And the new millennium boasts several new miniseries and promotions…such as ROYALLY WED, a three-book spinoff of the cross-line series that concluded last month in Special Edition Arlene James launches the new limited series with A Royal Masquerade, featuring a romance between would-be enemies, in which appearances are definitely deceiving.…

      Susan Meier’s adorable BREWSTER BABY BOOM series concludes this month with Oh, Babies! The last Brewster bachelor had best beware—but the warning may be too late! Karen Rose Smith graces the lineup with the story of a very pregnant single mom who finds Just the Man She Needed in her lonesome cowboy boarder whose plans had never included staying. The delightful Terry Essig will touch your heart and tickle your funny bone with The Baby Magnet, in which a hunky single dad discovers his toddler is more of an attraction than him—till he meets a woman who proves his ultimate distraction.

      A confirmed bachelor finds himself the solution to the command: Callie, Get Your Groom as Julianna Morris unveils her new miniseries BRIDAL FEVER! And could love be What the Cowboy Prescribes… in Mary Starleigh’s charming debut Romance novel?

      Happy Reading!

      Mary-Theresa Hussey

      Senior Editor

      What The Cowboy Prescribes…

      Mary Starleigh

      

www.millsandboon.co.uk

      To Susan McKeague Karnes, Liz Lounsbury, Tina Oldham and Donna Smith, fellow writers, who challenge, inspire and support.

      Books by Mary Starleigh

      Silhouette Romance

      What the Cowboy Prescribes… #1437

      Silhouette Yours Truly

      The Texan and the Pregnant Cowgirl

      MARY STARLEIGH,

      born in North Carolina, is a ninth-generation Southerner. She claims her Southern background is where she acquired her love of romance. “I adore creating characters who are brave, honorable and find true love.”

      She writes full-time, teaches English and creative writing part-time at a small Texas college and mentors high school students. Her husband, a pilot, reads all her romances. They have one daughter.

      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 One

      “Sunshine needs a doctor.”

      Meg Graham jumped at the desperate words and her heart thumped hard against her ribs. Cal Bradford’s scared face stared back at her. She stood and grabbed her medical bag. “Who is it?”

      “Erin Waldron.”

      Meg pushed past Cal, sprinted out of her office and clinic, and down the sidewalk to the Sunshine Café.

      Out of breath, weary, and fighting a feeling of dread, she pulled the door open and rushed into the restaurant. A stranger was kneeling beside Erin. The man’s dark gaze was filled with concern and he was patting the healthy but frightened child.

      Meg steadied herself by inhaling deeply.

      “Listen, little guy, you choked because you didn’t take your time chewing.”

      The man’s compassionate tone filled Meg with relief.

      Erin nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

      “Thank you.” Sue Waldron was standing close by her son. “Erin and I were on our way to get feed for his horse…and we just stopped…thank you so much.”

      Sue’s voice broke, and Meg slid an arm around her shoulders.

      The stranger stood and gazed down at Meg. He towered over her. “Erin’ll be fine. I’ve checked him.”

      “Come on, Erin, we’d better get home,” Sue said.

      Mother and son collected their belongings and headed for the door. Erin turned around and waved. “Thanks, mister.”

      A smile and deep emotion graced the man’s face for a quick moment, then vanished.

      Meg gripped one of the Sunshine’s red plastic chairs. “I can’t thank you enough. I’m Meg Graham, Jackson’s only doctor.” She stepped forward and extended her hand.

      “No problem.” He nodded, shook her hand quickly, then turned and walked to his table. After placing a few bills by his check, he shrugged into his jacket and headed for the door.

      “Hey, wait a minute. I’d like to know your name,” Meg called as she crossed the room.

      As if not hearing her, he opened the door, stepped outside and pulled it closed behind him. Meg stared at the door for a moment, then grabbed the knob. She yanked it open and walked out into the Texas sunshine.

      The man pivoted back toward her. Furrows gnarled his forehead and a look of pure aggravation darkened his handsome face. Chestnut hair, the color of a wild horse she’d ridden once, was combed