The Boss's Urgent Proposal. SUSAN MEIER

      “Are you afraid of me, Josh?”

      He gasped, seemingly shocked she would think that. “No!”

      “Yes, you are,” she said, stepping closer.

      “Liv, don’t do this,” he said, backing away.

      The nickname cheered her, spurred her on. She wet her lips and asked, “Why?”

      “Because you might not like the result.”

      “The result of what? What are you hinting at, Josh?” She smiled devilishly, sliding her hands on to his shoulders. “Are you planning something?”

      “No.” His voice was a strangled whisper, and Olivia would have declared him a wimp, except his hands suddenly came around her waist…and he hauled her up against him.

      “Actually…” And she noticed that his voice wasn’t strangled, or confused, or wary. Every ounce of his masculinity came through. “I am planning something. I’m planning this….”

      Dear Reader,

      What are your New Year’s resolutions? I hope one is to relax and escape life’s everyday stresses with our fantasy-filled books! Each month, Silhouette Romance presents six soul-stirring stories about falling in love. So even if you haven’t gotten around to your other resolutions (hey, spring cleaning is still months away!), curling up with these dreamy stories should be one that’s a pure pleasure to keep.

      Could you imagine seducing the boss? Well, that’s what the heroine of Julianna Morris’s Last Chance for Baby, the fourth in the madly popular miniseries HAVING THE BOSS’S BABY did. And that’s what starts the fun in Susan Meier’s The Boss’s Urgent Proposal—part of our AN OLDER MAN thematic series—when the boss…finally…shows up on his secretary’s doorstep.

      Looking for a modern-day fairy tale? Then you’ll adore Lilian Darcy’s Finding Her Prince, the third in her CINDERELLA CONSPIRACY series about three sisters finding true love by the stroke of midnight! And delight in DeAnna Talcott’s I-need-a-miracle tale, The Nanny & Her Scrooge.

      With over one hundred books in print, Marie Ferrarella is still whipping up fun, steamy romances, this time with three adorable bambinos on board in A Triple Threat to Bachelorhood. Meanwhile, a single mom’s secret baby could lead to Texas-size trouble in Linda Goodnight’s For Her Child…, a fireworks-filled cowboy romance!

      So, a thought just occurred: Is it cheating if one of your New Year’s resolutions is pure fun? Hmm…I don’t think so. So kick back, relax and enjoy. You deserve it!

      Happy reading!

      Mary-Theresa Hussey

      Senior Editor

      The Boss’s Urgent Proposal

      Susan Meier

      

www.millsandboon.co.uk

      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

      The Boss’s Urgent Proposal #1566

      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 more than 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. You can visit her Web site susanmeier.com.

      Dear Reader,

      A few years ago when I attended my first writer’s conference, I heard the term “woman in jeopardy” used to describe a book, and I have to admit I was confused. Not by the idea that a woman could find love while facing danger, but because there was no category called “man in jeopardy.” I thought that was very sexist.

      Then I realized that there were plenty of “men in jeopardy” books. In fact, most romance novels are about men in jeopardy…men who are in danger of never loving again as a result of the pain of a past experience, or men who are in danger of never being able to love at all. They might not lose their physical lives, but it’s clear they will never know joy. Some will never know peace.

      These heroes intrigue me because they are usually the sweet, sensitive men that most of us long to find, now emotionally closed by a life struggle they couldn’t win. Not because they weren’t strong, but because that loss was part of their destiny. More than that, though, these men call to me because their pain is real or it wouldn’t be debilitating.

      In The Boss’s Urgent Proposal and the two books that will follow, I’ve taken up the challenge of exploring the lives and loves of three broken heroes, wonderful men struggling to survive a life tragedy and love again. All three suffered an enormous loss, all three go at the challenge of finding love differently, but each will work his way into your heart.

      I hope you enjoy their stories.

      Contents

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight