In this delicious story of untamed hearts and second chances, beloved romance author Patricia Olney reveals the enduring miracle of true love.
Gabe Stewart, a by-the-book businessman, and Rebecca O’Neil, a free-spirited dynamo, met in sultry Palm Springs. Together, they surrendered their hearts in a moment of passion, threw caution to the wind, and got married on an impulsive whim.
Now, two years after the whirlwind wedding, they have decided to part ways. Gabe wants to focus on his career and get himself on the fast track to success. But in order to land an important deal, he must play the part of a “family man.” So days before the divorce, Rebecca agrees to perform a familiar role: that of a loving wife. But when she and her soon-to-be-ex engage in the seductive charade, the flames of desire are reignited as “let’s pretend” threatens to become “let’s fall in love . . . again.”
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: The Notorious Lady Anne, Along Came Trouble, and Strictly Business.
Release date:
March 11, 2013
Publisher:
Loveswept
Print pages:
224
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Gabriel Stewart stiffened, and looked up at his grandmother, Evelyn Peters. He loosened his tie, thinking fast. He’d known it was only a matter of time before she broached the subject.
He’d also known she wouldn’t be pleased.
She peered at him over the rim of her reading glasses. “I’m going to take your silence as a yes,” she said. “You are divorcing Rebecca?”
Gabe let out the breath he’d been holding. “Yes.”
Evelyn rose from behind her Queen Anne desk. She walked toward the window and looked out over the grounds of her Palm Springs estate.
“That’s not good, Gabriel.” She clasped her hands behind her back.
His insides twisted. His divorce would be final in a few weeks, and there wasn’t a thing anyone could do to stop it. Not Evelyn. Not even him. Though he’d give anything if it wasn’t so.
“Gabriel, the problem is that you’ve never known what it is that you want.”
“And you do?” he asked incredulously.
“Certainly.” She laughed. “I’m speaking romantically, of course. Having a couple of greatgrandchildren would be nice too. You’ll be a wonderful father. I don’t see why you wouldn’t even discuss the possibility.”
A bitter taste rose in the back of his throat. “I never said I didn’t want kids, only that we should wait awhile. That wasn’t good enough for Rebecca.”
“Yes, well, business is business,” she added, her voice taking on a bored tone. “But the matters of the heart … ah, now that’s a different subject altogether.”
“And?” He knew there had to be more. With his grandmother, there always was. Something told him she was at it again. Once a matchmaker, always a matchmaker.
“I haven’t made it in this man’s world by being stupid,” Evelyn told him. “When I see some thing worthwhile, I go after it.” She let out a small chuckle.
Over the years, Gabe had naturally accepted his grandmother’s eccentric behavior. It was, well, Evelyn. She had practically raised him after his parents divorced when he was a little boy. Once Ellen, his mother, had left for good, his father had immersed himself in running the family company, not allowing any time for his young son. Evelyn had always been there for him, and he adored her.
Now that she was in her late seventies, Gabe had thought that maybe she’d slow down. But she hadn’t. Not in her personal life, nor in keeping her fingers in running the family business.
“As you know, The Toy Factory,” she went on, “cannot expand into overseas operations without the support of its board members. The company is worth too much.”
Way into the multimillions, Gabriel thought dryly.
“My grandfather started this company, and I intend to see it continue to prosper. Your father ran it until the day he died, and I made a good decision in making you CEO, Gabriel. You’re a good businessman. You’re tough when you have to be, but honest. I admire those traits in a man. But sometimes you can be rather pigheaded.”
Gabe let out a deep breath. It was coming.
“I matched you with Rebecca once, and—”
“Evelyn, get to the point.”
She leveled her steely gaze right at him. “The board of directors is meeting this week in Chicago with our new partners from England, Chapman and Fox.”
“I know.” His mind was still on Reb.
“Remember how Rebecca captivated Jonathan Fox? He’s made it clear he’s eager to see her again once the talks begin. The negotiations are at such a crucial stage. We need this merger to go through.”
“The divorce will be final in three weeks,” he said. He pushed the thoughts away. The memories of when Reb left still hurt too much.
Evelyn laughed as though it was a minor detail that didn’t even deserve another thought. “Well, postpone it.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Maybe you’ll get lucky and win her back and start that family you know you really want. Whatever you do, do it quickly. The board and our guests are arriving in Palm Springs in a week. They want to see our operations, visit the plant. It would be nice if Rebecca was here, by your side, as your wife.”
He tried to toss off the idea as a joke. After all, Evelyn had a sense of humor. Warped as it may seem at times. “You’re kidding?”
“No, I’m not.”
“You’re a sneaky, meddling old woman. You know that?” he said, in a loving tone.
“No, I’m a romantic. I believe in true love.”
“This won’t work. It didn’t before and it won’t now,” he said. “We had our differences.” Plenty of them. They’d married too quickly. It was the only impulsive, out-of-character thing he’d ever done in his life. They’d married before they had a chance to get to know each other. Before they realized they were so damned wrong together.
“Right now you’re still Mr. and Mrs. Put on a front until the negotiations are over. Make Jonathan happy. Afterward, I’m sure you’ll do what you want. It’s your business. But make it work in the time being, or we could lose everything.”
She pointed a long, bony finger at him. “And you’ll lose the best thing you’ve ever had.”
Despite the persistent ache in his stomach, he knew that Evelyn would get her way.
She always did.
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