Marrying O'malley. Elizabeth August

      “If Sarita were to marry, I’d give the land as a dowry.” Letter to Reader Title Page About the Author Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Copyright

      “If Sarita were to marry, I’d give the land as a dowry.”

      Anger coursed through Wolf at Santa’s grandfather’s statement. Wolf stood on one side of the old man, and his competition for the land—a smooth-talking lawyer—stood on the other. “Sarita’s not going to take kindly to you ‘buying’ her a husband,” Wolf said.

      

      “Then I suggest we don’t tell her,” the old man said. “If either of you breathes a word of this to Sarita, I’ll sell the land to whoever didn’t.”

      

      “I’ll keep the secret,” the lawyer said. “I’d best be on my way, since I have some courting to do. Your granddaughter is a fine-looking woman,” he added on his way out.

      

      “If you want that land, Wolf, I suggest you go do some courting yourself,” the old man said. “You have serious competition.”

      

      “I would never consider marrying a woman for a piece of land,” Wolf said. “Besides, Sarita and I are natural-born antagonists.”

      

      The old man simply smiled.

      Dear Reader,

      

      Silhouette Romance novels aren’t just for other women—the wonder of a Silhouette Romance is that it can touch your heart. And this month’s selections are guaranteed to leave you smiling!

      

      In Suzanne McMinn’s engaging BUNDLES OF JOY title, The Billionaire and the Bassinet, a blue blood finds his hardened heart irrevocably tamed. This month’s FABULOUS FATHERS offering by Jodi O‘Donnell features an emotional, heartwarming twist you won’t soon forget; in Dr. Dad to the Rescue, a man discovers strength and the healing power of love from one very special lady. Marrying O’Malley. the renegade who’d been her childhood nemesis, seemed the perfect way for a bride-to-be to thwart an unwanted betrothal—until their unlikely alliance stirred an even more incredible passion; don’t miss this latest winner by Elizabeth August!

      

      The Cowboy Proposes...Marriage? Get the charming lowdown as WRANGLERS & LACE continues with this sizzling story by Cathay Forsythe. Cara Colter will make you laugh and cry with A Bride Worth Waiting For, the story of the boy next door who didn’t get the girl, but who’ll stop at nothing to have her now. For readers who love powerful, dramatic stories, you won’t want to miss Paternity Lessons, Maris Soule’s uplifting FAMILY MATTERS tale.

      

      Enjoy this month’s titles—and please drop me a line about why you keep coming back to Romance. I want to make sure we continue fulfilling your dreams!

      

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      Mary-Theresa Hussey Senior Editor Silhouette Romance

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      Marrying O’Malley

      Elizabeth August

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      ELIZABETH AUGUST

      lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her husband, Doug, a chemist. They have three grown sons. Their oldest is pursuing a career in medicine, their middle son is a chemical engineer and their youngest is now in college.

      

      Having survived a bout with cancer, Elizabeth has now joined the ranks of cancer survivors. Writing will always be her primary pursuit and will remain at the top of her list of loves just below her husband, sons and daughter-in-law.

      Chapter One

      Returning to Lost River had not been in Wolf O‘Malley’s plans. But a couple of days ago he’d learned of his father’s death nearly two months earlier. The news had come as a shock, but he hadn’t returned to pay his last respects to his father. He’d come out of respect to his mother’s memory and to claim what should rightfully be his. He wanted nothing that had belonged to the O’Malleys; it was the dowry that his mother had taken into her marriage, land that had belonged to her family for generations, that he’d come for. Willow O‘Malley had died when he was ten, but time had not dulled his memories of her. Her spirit, he knew, would not rest easy with her land in the hands of Katherine O’Malley, Frank’s second wife.

      He had sent no word of his arrival ahead. Surprise was always an advantage, and where Katherine was concerned, a man would be a fool not to use any advantage in his favor. Last night he’d stayed in Phoenix, intending to make his presence first known when he walked into Bradford Dillion’s law office at nine this morning. But a mixture of emotions had refused to allow him to rest. He’d risen before dawn, and now, as the first rays of light were barely peeking over the horizon, he sought out his father’s grave.

      The O’Malley plot, the burial site of four generations of his father’s family, loomed ahead of him, enclosed by a low iron fence. Standing in front of one of the graves was a woman. Her thick black hair was plaited into a single braid that hung nearly to her waist, and she was clothed in faded jeans, a blue blouse and sneakers.

      Changing direction slightly, he used a nearby tree to mask his approach until he could get a look at her face. Pretty, of Mexican descent, he noted. His gaze narrowed as recognition dawned. She’d matured, lost that girlish, impish look, but he knew without a doubt that the woman was Sarita Lopez. So what was she doing at his family plot? The last he recalled, she had no connection to anyone in his family. While he watched, she bowed her head and clasped her hands together, presumably saying a prayer.

      Leaving the shadow of the tree, he continued to the plot, stepping over the low fence instead of entering through the break left for visitors.

      Sarita straightened abruptly as a flash of boot caught her eye. No one ever came