Christmastime Courtship

Christmastime Courtship
Marie Ferrarella

Stop…in the name of love!What kind of motorcycle cop gives a speeding ticket around Christmas? One as by the book as Colin Kirby. But when he stops pediatric oncology nurse Miranda Steele, little does he know that she's about to zoom straight into his heart. Or that the Matchmaking Mamas have the unlucky-in-love pair straight in their sights…After a childhood tragedy, bright-as-sunshine Miranda's used to making the best of any situation. So she knows the handsome policeman represents an opportunity: he needs to visit her sick kids at the hospital. But Miranda quickly realizes the closed-off Colin is in need of her help just as much as any of those she volunteers for. And she's determined to work her way into his heart this holiday season.

Stop...in the name of love

What kind of motorcycle cop gives a speeding ticket around Christmas? One as by the book as Colin Kirby. But when he stops pediatric oncology nurse Miranda Steele, little does he know that she’s about to zoom straight into his heart. Or that the Matchmaking Mamas have the unlucky-in-love pair straight in their sights...

After a childhood tragedy, bright-as-sunshine Miranda’s used to making the best of any situation. So she knows the handsome policeman represents an opportunity: he needs to visit her sick kids at the hospital. But Miranda quickly realizes the closed-off Colin is in need of her help just as much as any of those she volunteers for. And she’s determined to work her way into his heart this holiday season.

Colin turned sharply on his heel and glared at this woman who wouldn’t take a hint.

“Lady—”

“Miranda,” she prompted.

“Miranda,” Colin echoed between gritted teeth. “You are a royal pain, you know that?”

Miranda always tried to glean something positive out of every situation, no matter how bleak it might appear. “Does that mean you’ll look for her?” she asked him hopefully.

He blew out an angry breath. “That means you’re a royal pain,” he repeated.

With nothing to lose, Miranda went out on a limb. “Please? I can give you a description of Lily’s mother.” And then she thought of something even better. “And if you come with me, I can get you a picture of her that’ll be useful.”

He had a feeling that the woman just wasn’t going to give up unless he agreed to help her. Although it irritated him beyond description, there was a very small part of him that did admire her tenacity.

* * *

Matchmaking Mamas:

Playing Cupid. Arranging dates.

What are mothers for?

Dear Reader (#uda029983-d22c-565e-86fb-751b9ed4baff),

You know how sometimes you get a song stuck in your head that you just can’t get rid of? Well, in my case that doesn’t just happen with songs. Sometimes it’s a phrase, but more often, it’s a title. Case in point, years ago my first Romantic Suspense was entitled Holding Out for a Hero. That song was part of the score for a movie my kids loved enough that I took them to it several times. It was a cute movie, but I couldn’t get that song out of my head for weeks. I carried that title around for a number of years until I came up with a story that warranted it.

I had the same thing happen a number of years after that with a title that popped into my head and refused to “unpop.” The title this time was Good Deeds and Miranda. This time, sadly, my choice for a title was vetoed, but that doesn’t change the fact that this book was born to tell that title’s story.

Miranda Steele is a perpetual do-gooder. The die was cast when Miranda’s sister, Emily, died of leukemia at the age of five. Miranda loved her and saw herself as her sister’s protector. She refocused all her energy to helping others, be they children, adults or animals. She has so many outlets for her good deeds that she doesn’t have any time for herself—until loner Colin Kirby crosses her path. The police officer has witnessed too much death for his young age, and the only way he’s found to survive is to withdraw into himself. When their paths cross (by arrangement, thanks to the Matchmaking Mamas), Miranda sees a broken soul who needs comfort and a way to get back among the living. Colin sees an attractive whirling dervish who just won’t leave him alone—until he doesn’t want to be left alone.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my book, and from the bottom of my heart, I wish you someone to love who loves you back.

All the best,

Marie

Christmastime Courtship

Marie Ferrarella

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

USA TODAY bestselling and RITA® Award–winning author MARIE FERRARELLA has written more than two hundred and seventy-five books for Mills & Boon, some under the name Marie Nicole. Her romances are beloved by fans worldwide. Visit her website, www.marieferrarella.com (http://www.marieferrarella.com).

To

Melany,

The Best Daughter-in-Law

Anyone Could Ask For.

Welcome To The Family.

Contents

Cover (#ud387cab4-d7be-5fe3-9a19-d183487d82c3)

Back Cover Text (#u8cf3f81d-39fd-5400-a33e-d789bd6c2fe0)

Introduction (#u858b247f-2da0-5d1f-a5c8-094dc9c56860)

Dear Reader (#ubb38a360-56c8-5dd4-ba74-68ae14033c87)

Title Page (#u5a7d22d7-ae89-5163-a44d-73d3ffd12583)

About the Author (#uaf7e7cf5-f63d-5df9-b698-c5345c6c4115)

Dedication (#u9d4d8441-cff8-5219-be3a-12f5f6385ebf)

Prologue (#u7600e907-be50-547d-adf5-a16a5e769f88)

Chapter One (#u282c7d1b-4ec9-5ec0-8b7a-674549c14f85)

Chapter Two (#u64feb1ec-0fe5-5279-97be-091c5d1a74ed)

Chapter Three (#u58f777a3-cb56-5855-bfb0-2771f3beaaac)

Chapter Four (#ud4917030-e376-5dbf-8c23-52ed6aed8372)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)