And The Winner Gets...Married!. Metsy Hingle

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      AROUND CHI-TOWN

      Anyone wondering where last night’s unexpected June heat wave came from need look no farther than the posh downtown hotel where a couple dozen of the hottest men in Chicago were auctioned off for charity. (For charity—or for the hundred or so hungry females in the audience?)

      And the star of the show was our own Justin Connelly. Though this member of the famous Connelly clan hides inside the hallowed halls of his family’s corporation, he is definitely not all work and no play! Looking positively studly in his black tux, Justin attracted the highest price tag of the night.

      Society debs from the renowned Novak, Powers and Barlow families upped the ante, but it was an unknown bidder who snared the baffled bachelor. Reliable sources identify Kim Lindgren as Justin’s very own secretary. Can’t you see it now? “Miss Lindgren, take a memo…. Check on the status of the research data, follow up with the advertising figures, and…while we’re at it, come give your boss a kiss.”

      After all the Connellys have been through of late—with son Daniel’s assumption of the throne of Altaria, his attempted murder, the corporation’s near computer disaster—yours truly guesses even this blue-blooded family could use a bit of fun and folly!

      And the Winner Gets…Married!

      Metsy Hingle

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      For Missy & Molly Brown,

       My Four-Legged Babies Who Provide Continuous Joy

      METSY HINGLE

      is an award-winning, bestselling author of romance who resides across the lake from her native New Orleans. Married for more than twenty years to her own hero, she is the busy mother of four children. She recently traded in her business suits and a fast-paced life in the hotel and public-relations arena to pursue writing full-time. Metsy has a strong belief in the power of love and romance. She also believes in happy endings, which she continues to demonstrate with each new story she writes. The Wager (MIRA Books, August 2001) was Metsy’s first single-title release. Behind the Mask (December 2002) will be her second MIRA Books title. She loves hearing from readers. For a free doorknob hanger or bookmark, write to Metsy at P.O. Box 3224, Covington, LA 70433.

      MEET THE CONNELLYS

      Meet the Connellys of Chicago—wealthy, powerful and rocked by scandal, betrayal…and passion!

      Who’s Who in AND THE WINNER GETS…MARRIED!

      Justin Connelly—His head is always buried inside a column of figures at Connelly Corporation. But this budding bachelor is about to become intrigued by “figures” of a different kind…the female kind!

      Kimberly Lindgren—In business suits and upswept do’s, she’s toiled side by side with her boss, Justin. Until one night when she lets her hair down and allows him to see she has more to offer than good typing skills!

      Robert Marsh—A loyal Connelly employee and fiancé to a Connelly woman. What lies beneath his million-dollar smile and prep-school education?

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      One

      “Where is he?”

      Kimberly Lindgren jerked her gaze up from the computer screen as Tara Connelly Paige stormed into the office suite. “Mrs. Paige,” she said, quickly coming to her feet to intercept the other woman, who, given the high color in her cheeks and the snap in her voice, was obviously furious. “I don’t think your brother is expecting you.”

      “Oh, I’m sure he’s not. But he is going to see me.”

      After working as an executive assistant for more than two years at Connelly Corporation, Kim had become a master at smoothing ruffled Connelly feathers. Yet something about the fire in this particular Connelly’s violet eyes told her this was not going to be one of those times. Still, she had to at least try. “I believe Justin is on the phone at the moment,” she said, positioning herself in front of her boss’s office door. “If you’ll have a seat, I’ll let him know that you’re here.”

      “Thanks. But I’ll just tell him myself.”

      Kim didn’t move. “That might not be a good idea, Mrs. Paige. Your brother’s had a rather difficult morning.” Which was an understatement if there ever was one, Kim admitted silently. The day had turned into a disaster—one for which she felt partly responsible since it had been she who had discovered the cost overruns in the firm’s new advertising campaign that was set to kick off next month.

      “If that’s your way of telling me that Justin’s in a rotten mood,” Tara went on, “I appreciate the warning. Really, I do. But it just so happens that I’m in a rather foul mood myself, and Justin is the reason. I am going to see him, Kim. Now the only question is whether you’re going to move away from that door and let me pass or am I going to have to go through you?”

      Stunned, Kim remained speechless. For several long seconds she simply stared at the petite dark-haired woman dressed in the chic red suit, dashing hat and gloves and killer high heels. At five foot seven, Kim estimated she had at least five inches and twenty pounds on Tara Paige. Yet Kim didn’t doubt for a moment that the other woman meant every word she’d said.

      “It’s your call, Kim. What’s it going to be?”

      “Why don’t we go in together?” she suggested, seeing no alternative. Since Justin really was on the telephone, she tapped on his door and entered without waiting for a response. The sight of Justin at his desk with the magnificent view of the Chicago skyline behind him was something that never failed to make her heart race. But the scowl on his handsome face now made her tense. Glancing past him, Kim noted the storm clouds threatening outside the windows. While she didn’t like to think of herself as superstitious, she got a sudden sinking sensation in her stomach. Of course, having an obviously upset Tara on her heels didn’t help.

      “Listen, Marsh, I don’t care how busy you are with the wedding plans. I want the revised budget and copies of all your correspondence with Schaeffer on my desk by the end of the day. Is that clear?”

      Kim nearly winced at the edge in Justin’s voice, but it was the way he was rubbing the back of his neck that concerned her. He’d been working too hard again, she thought. Since taking over as vice president of marketing six months ago when his brother Daniel had assumed the throne of Altaria, he’d handled the work of two men. He’d also had to deal with more than his share of problems—beginning with the attempted assassination of his brother, followed by the corporation’s computer crash a few weeks ago, and now this latest fiasco with the firm’s advertising campaign. The fact that the error started with Robert Marsh, who was about to become Justin’s brother-in-law, surely added to Justin’s stress.

      “I mean it, Marsh. I want everything before the close of business today or you can clear out your desk,” he said, and slammed down the phone. Only then did he look up at her. “Kim, I—” He looked past her, and upon spying his sister, his scowl deepened. “I said I didn’t want to be disturbed.”

      “I know, and I’m sorry for the interruption,”