Legally Mine

Legally Mine
Kate Hoffmann

How To Lose a Fiance in Three MonthsWhen gorgeous Will McCaffrey put together a marriage contract between him and "Plain Jane" Singleton, Jane assumed he was just joking. But she isn't laughing when he shows up on her doorstep six years later with a proposal! So what's a girl to do?Step 1: Move in with Him Jane makes herself at home and demands an engagement ring, to boot. But Will just welcomes her with open arms–into his house and his bed–and buys her a three-carat rock, too!Step 2: Make Liver for Dinner The dog won't eat the dinners Jane prepares, yet Will chokes them back, and still wants Jane for dessert!Step 3: Redecorate in Pink Even pink towels, throw pillows and curtains don't faze Will. So how can Jane prove marriage is all wrong, when everything Will does is so right? Especially what he does to her…

“It’s going to take a lot more than a contract to make me marry you.”

Will took a step toward her, his grin widening. “Then tell me what you want, Janie.”

This was it. He’d sweep her into his arms and kiss her, ravaging her mouth with his lips. And if he did, Jane might as well start shopping for a white dress. At this rate, there was no way she was going to avoid falling in love with Will McCaffrey again, just as she had all those years ago. But she’d be a fool to put her heart at risk again.

“L-let’s suppose for a moment that this contract is legal, which I don’t think it is. It was six years ago. You were drunk and I was…under the influence….” She drew a shaky breath. “Why are you doing this, anyway?”

“I just want you to go out to dinner with me tonight. I want to share a bottle of champagne and get to know you all over again.”

Jane shook her head, her instinct for self-preservation finally kicking in. “No. I’m not going to date you and I’m not going to marry you!”

Will shrugged and stepped away from her. “Then I guess I’ll see you in court.”

Dear Reader,

It’s Harlequin Temptation’s twentieth birthday and we’re ready to do some celebrating. After all, we’re young, we’re legal (well, almost) and we’re old enough to get into trouble! Who could resist?

We’ve been publishing outstanding novels for the past twenty years, and there are many more where those came from. Don’t miss upcoming books by your favorite authors: Vicki Lewis Thompson, Kate Hoffmann, Kristine Rolofson, Jill Shalvis and Leslie Kelly. And Harlequin Temptation has always offered talented new authors to add to your collection. In the next few months look for stories from some of these exciting new finds: Emily McKay, Tanya Michaels, Cami Dalton and Mara Fox.

To celebrate our birthday, we’re bringing back one of our most popular miniseries, Editor’s Choice. Whenever we have a book that’s new, innovative, extraordinary, look for the Editor’s Choice flash. And the first one’s out this month! In Cover Me, talented Stephanie Bond tells the hilarious tale of a native New Yorker who finds herself out of her element and loving it. Written totally in the first person, Cover Me is a real treat. And don’t miss the rest of this month’s irresistible offerings—a naughty Wrong Bed book by Jill Shalvis, another installment of the True Blue Calhouns by Julie Kistler and a delightful Valentine tale by Kate Hoffmann.

So, come be a part of the next generation of Harlequin Temptation. We might be a little wild, but we’re having a whole lot of fun. And who knows—some of the thrill might rub off….

Enjoy,

Brenda Chin

Associate Senior Editor

Harlequin Temptation

Legally Mine

Kate Hoffmann

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

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR…

Sometimes it takes a long time for a story to become a book. And that’s certainly been the case with this one! I proposed this idea to my editors about three or four years ago, but the story kept getting pushed aside to make way for other projects, like those Mighty Quinns. But finally the time had come. And during those years, the story that began as a sweet little romance called The Cupid Contract evolved into a sinfully sensual tale entitled Legally Mine.

What’s even more exciting is that I got to write this book for such a special occasion—Harlequin Temptation’s twentieth anniversary. It’s been wonderful to be a part of Harlequin Temptation’s list of authors for ten of those twenty years. From my first book in 1993, Indecent Exposure, to this one, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this wonderful series. And I plan to continue writing for it for a long, long time.

So happy birthday, Temptation. And this book is dedicated to all of you readers who’ve made Harlequin Temptation such a success.

Happy reading!

Kate Hoffmann

Books by Kate Hoffmann

HARLEQUIN TEMPTATION

795—ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT

821—MR. RIGHT NOW

847—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: CONNOR

851—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: DYLAN

855—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: BRENDAN

933—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: LIAM

937—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: BRIAN

941—THE MIGHTY QUINNS: SEAN

To my readers, who make my stories worth telling.

Contents

Prologue (#uc89cc63e-4f59-58fd-974d-074444e27335)

Chapter 1 (#u429a0d13-91d1-58fe-8a10-d2eb731f140f)

Chapter 2 (#ucabb318c-e336-57e9-8cc9-7c3eef9a7ded)

Chapter 3 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 4 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)

Prologue