Montana Christmas. Jackie Merritt

      Table of Contents

       Cover Page

       Excerpt

       Dear Reader

       Title Page

       About the Author

One

Two

Three

       Four

       Five

       Six

       Seven

       Eight

       Nine

       Ten

       Eleven

       Twelve

       Thirteen

       Epilogue

       Copyright

      “You Know What’s Happening Here, Don’t You?”

      Shep asked.

      

      “Yes,” Andrea whispered. He was going to kiss her, and she rose on tiptoes to bring their lips closer together.

      

      That was all Shep could take. His mouth covered hers in a kiss of utter possession. His hands roamed her back and hips.

      

      “Shep…oh, Shep,” she managed to whisper raggedly between the second and third kiss.

      

      Then she lost count. She was barely aware of being backed up against a wall, and only dimly cognizant of him sliding her skirt up and then lifting one of her legs to wind it around his hips.

      

      “Tell me you want this,” he demanded gruffly, hoarsely.

      

      Her lips were parted to take in gasping breaths. “How can you doubt it?”

      

      “Tell me. Say it.”

      

      “I want it. I want you.”

      Dear Reader,

      

      Happy holidays from the staff at Silhouette Desire! As you can see by the special cover treatment this month, these books are our holiday gifts to you. And each and every story is so wonderful that I know you’ll want to buy extras to give to your friends!

      

      We begin with Jackie Merritt’s MAN OF THE MONTH, Montana Christmas, which is the conclusion of her spectacular MADE IN MONTANA series. The fun continues with Instant Dad, the final installment in Raye Morgan’s popular series THE BABY SHOWER. Suzannah Davis’s Gabriel’s Bride is a classic—and sensuous—love story you’re sure to love. And Anne Bames’s delightful writing style is highlighted to perfection in Christmas Elopement. For a story that will make you feel all the warmth and goodwill of the holiday season, don’t miss Kate Little’s Jingle Bell Baby.

      And Susan Connell begins a new miniseries…THE GIRLS MOST LIKELY TO…—about three former high school friends who are now all grown up in Rebel’s Spirit. Look for upcoming books in the series in 1997.

      Happy holidays and happy reading from

      AND THE STAFF OF SILHOUETTE DESIRE

      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

      Montana Christmas

      Jackie Merritt

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

       JACKIE MERRITT

      and her husband live just outside Las Vegas, Nevada. An accountant for many years, Jackie has happily traded numbers for words. Next to family, books are her greatest joy. She started writing in 1987 and her efforts paid off in 1988 with the publication of her first novel. When she’s not writing or enjoying a good book, Jackie dabbles in watercolor painting and likes playing the piano in her spare time.

       One

      The town of Rocky Ford, Montana, was picture-postcard pretty on this wintry December morning. An eight-inch blanket of snow sparkled in the bright morning sun, shining from a sky so blue it made Andrea Dillon’s eyes water to look at it. Wearing dark glasses against the glare, and dressed in warm clothing, she began shoveling out her driveway.

      The air was cold and invigorating, bringing color to her cheeks. Her exhaled breath came out of her mouth in puffy little clouds. She had to smile, if a bit wryly; the long driveway had been one of the features of her rental house that had pleased her so much. This was the first major snowfall since she had moved in last summer, and she was certainly going to rack up her quota, and more, of exercise today by clearing the driveway enough to get her car to the street.

      But being outside on such an incredible day felt wonderful. Other than at ski resorts in California, she had never seen snow like this. Her front lawn looked as smooth as a sheet of paper. The top of each bush and shrub was shaped into a rounded snow-bump. Every branch and twig on the leafless trees seemed artistically layered with a coat of glistening snow. The roof of her house looked as though someone had iced it with white frosting.

      Lucas Wilde’s roof, too, looked decorated with icing, Andrea thought with a fond glance at the one home she could see from her driveway in the sparsely populated neighborhood. Lucas was several years past sixty, Andrea estimated, and her best friend in this