Her Better Half

Her Better Half
C.J. Carmichael

BOTH SIDES NOW…LAUREN HOLLOWAY: The mother of twin daughters, this cashmere-and-pearls housewife has always been careful to do the "right" things in life.ERIN KARMELI: Clad in tight jeans and low-cut tops, she's a vodka-swilling, straight-shooting single mother who openly admits to making all the "wrong" choices.When her husband leaves her for his "hot" yoga instructor and her so-called perfect life does a 180, Lauren is fairly certain she's hit rock bottom. But then she develops an unlikely friendship with Erin (her new wise-talking neighbor) and Murphy Jones (whose neighborhood diner serves both friendship and fries). With their help, Lauren slowly realizes the only thing she's lost is the barrier to discovering her better half….

Praise for the writing of author C.J. Carmichael

“A Little Secret Between Friends is a must read, full of romance, mystery and surprising revelations. Talented C.J. Carmichael has penned a wonderful book for you and all your friends. I am sure you will find a special place for it on your keeper shelf.”

—CataRomance

“From its roller-coaster beginning to its calm, smooth ending, C.J. Carmichael’s moving story highlights redefining life’s priorities and rediscovering love.”

—Romantic Times BOOKclub on Small-Town Girl

“Ms. Carmichael carefully stitches together the viewpoints of her richly drawn characters until a full-bodied patchwork quilt of their lives and love is created.”

—Romantic Times BOOKclub on The Fourth Child

“Ms. Carmichael writes powerful storylines that touch every reader’s heart, thanks to the emotional depth, rich characterizations, complex plots and appealing characters…. You really can’t go wrong when you read a book by C.J. Carmichael.”

—Diana Tidlund, Writers Unlimited, on

“Deal of a Lifetime”

C.J. Carmichael

A former chartered accountant turned fiction author, C.J. Carmichael has published twenty novels with Harlequin. Highlights include a RITA® Award nomination for her Harlequin Superromance novel, The Fourth Child (which was also a Romantic Times BOOKclub Top Pick); a romantic-suspense career achievement nomination from Romantic Times BOOKclub; and a nomination for her Harlequin Intrigue novel, Same Place, Same Time, as Romantic Times BOOKclub’s Reviewers’ Choice Best Harlequin Intrigue of 2000.

C.J. lives in Calgary, Alberta, with two teenage daughters, and a dog and a cat. Please visit her at www.cjcarmichael.com. Or send mail to the following Canadian address: #1754-246 Stewart Green S.W., Calgary, Alberta, T3H 3C8, Canada.

Her Better Half

C.J. Carmichael

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Dear Reader,

While reading this book I’d like to ask you to think kindly of the semidetached, World War I-vintage, run-down, insulbrick-covered home that the heroine of this book, Lauren, shares with her next-door neighbor Erin.

Think kindly of this house, because it is modeled exactly on the first house my husband and I bought after we were married. We were living in Toronto (as are the characters in this book) and our house was on Thelma Avenue. It was the worst house in a good neighborhood. It was the worst house by quite a large margin. I still have nightmares about the basement.

But I have only good memories about the porch, where our daughter Lorelle practiced walking and climbing steps. I have good memories of the claw-footed tub we painted peach (it was the rage at the time). And I have good memories of the dining room where we enjoyed many happy meals with family and friends.

I hope you enjoy this story. I’ve been living with these characters for years…it’s hard to believe their story is finally on paper.

Sincerely,

C.J. Carmichael

This book is dedicated to my daughter Lorelle, as she takes her next big step in life to leave home and go to university.

To paraphrase Lyle Lovett, follow your heart, Lorelle—follow it with both your feet.

Big thanks to my former agent Linda Kruger, who thought this book would make a good fit with NEXT.

More big thanks for help with various research questions to Linda Prenioslo, Phil Daum and fellow Calgary RWA members Julie Rowe and Florence Cardinal.

Contents

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19