Wed By Necessity. Karen Kirst

      

      Her Inconvenient Husband

      When a riding accident strands socialite Caroline Turner overnight with the new stable manager, she gets the one thing she never wanted—a husband! Marrying the infuriatingly stubborn Duncan McKenna wouldn’t have been her first choice, but with her reputation damaged, it’s her only option. Still, there’s something about the brash, rugged Scotsman that fascinates Caroline.

      If Duncan wanted to wed a society girl, he would have stayed in Boston with his family and his fortune. He expects Caroline to balk at her new modest lifestyle, but instead the strong-willed beauty seems determined to prove him wrong, making her all the more irksome...and irresistible. The marriage of convenience isn’t what Caroline and Duncan planned, but could they be a perfect match?

      “This is your fault,” she spat after getting up from her overturned canoe. “If you hadn’t been spying on me, this wouldn’t have happened.”

      “I wasn’t spying on you.” Water lapped at his thighs and seeped into his boots as Duncan stood near her. Even so, his temperature ratcheted up a notch. Would she run to her father with this, too? “Since you neglected to show me this part of the property, I decided to have a look for myself. I didnae ken you were here.”

      “We had a deal.” She poked his chest. “This isn’t what I’d call abiding by your word.”

      “Do you not know when a man is teasing you? I haven’t the time or the inclination to stand around and watch you sleep.”

      Her features pinched and, with a groan of frustration, she pushed past him. She slogged through the muck. Mud clung to the fine peach fabric. By the time he reached the bank, she was already marching through the meadow, boots squelching with each step, outrage obvious in her rigid posture.

      A smile lifted the corners of his mouth. He knew it was wrong, but he kind of liked seeing Caroline with her hackles up.

      Dear Reader,

      Each book has its own set of challenges. Marriage-of-convenience stories can be especially tricky. In the beginning, I thought Duncan and Caroline were going to give me a lot of problems. They wound up being one of my favorite couples in the Smoky Mountain Matches series. They were both stubborn and prone to making hasty judgments about the other person, as we’re oftentimes apt to do. Putting the brash Scotsman with standoffish Caroline and watching the sparks fly was such fun. I hope you enjoyed their love story!

      Look for reclusive Alexander Copeland’s book next. For more information about this series and other books, please visit my website, www.karenkirst.com. You can also connect with me on Facebook and Twitter, @karenkirst.

      Blessings,

      Karen Kirst

      KAREN KIRST was born and raised in East Tennessee near the Great Smoky Mountains. She’s a lifelong lover of books, but it wasn’t until after college that she had the grand idea to write one herself. Now she divides her time between being a wife, homeschooling mom and romance writer. Her favorite pastimes are reading, visiting tearooms and watching romantic comedies.

      Wed by Necessity

      Karen Kirst

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

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      Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

      —Philippians 4:11

      To my readers. Your letters, emails and messages are a huge source of encouragement. You inspire me to strive to write emotional reads you won’t want to put down. Thank you for supporting my dream job.

       Acknowledgments

      A huge thank you to Stephanie White for her insight into horse wounds and care and for introducing me to her beautiful horses.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Introduction

       Dear Reader

       About the Author

       Title Page

       Bible Verse

       Dedication

       Acknowledgments

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine