Have Bouquet, Need Boyfriend

Have Bouquet, Need Boyfriend
Rita Herron

Shy, mousy Rebecca Hartwell had a shocking secret–she was in love with the town's hottest bachelor, Dr. Thomas Emerson! Her feelings seemed hopeless, but when the latest Hartwell bridal bouquet landed smack on her head and Rebecca received an heirloom hope chest full of seductive surprises, she suddenly had an outrageous idea.Dare a shy virgin ask her secret crush to father the baby she yearned for?He'd been burned by a Hartwell before, but Thomas couldn't get Rebecca off his mind. The quietly lovely woman blushed fiery red every time they met. She was hiding something…and uncovering it might just be the cure for this doc's jaded heart and soul!

Rebecca’s fingers trembled as she opened the hope chest

She brushed her hands over the soft velvet lining, the scent of cedar and rose potpourri clinging to the inside of the chest. Rebecca then picked up the lacy bride’s book. With a wistful sigh she flipped the pages, imagining them filled with signatures of guests.

Guests at her own wedding.

Rebecca then picked up a small children’s book. The Ugly Duckling. Memories of Grammy’s voice reading the story to her night after night echoed in her mind. Hugging the book to her chest, she imagined reading it to her own child one day. Did Grammy foresee a baby in Rebecca’s future?

A little boy or girl with dark black hair and green eyes? A little boy who had an amazing similarity to Thomas Emerson?

What in heaven’s name was she thinking?

Dear Reader,

What a spectacular lineup of love stories Harlequin American Romance has for you this month as we continue to celebrate our 20th anniversary. Start off with another wonderful title in Cathy Gillen Thacker’s DEVERAUX LEGACY series, Taking Over the Tycoon. Sexy millionaire Connor Templeton is used to getting whatever—whomever—he wants! But has he finally met his match in one beguiling single mother?

Next, Fortune’s Twins by Kara Lennox is the latest installment in the MILLIONAIRE, MONTANA continuity series. In this book, a night of passion leaves a “Main Street Millionaire” expecting twins—and has the whole town wondering “Who’s the daddy?” After catching a bridal bouquet and opening an heirloom hope chest, a shy virgin dreams about asking her secret crush to father the baby she yearns for, in Have Bouquet, Need Boyfriend, part of Rita Herron’s HARTWELL HOPE CHESTS series. And don’t miss Inherited: One Baby! by Laura Marie Altom, in which a handsome bachelor must convince his ex-wife to remarry him in order to keep custody of the adorable orphaned baby left in his care.

Enjoy this month’s offerings, and be sure to return each and every month to Harlequin American Romance!

Melissa Jeglinski

Associate Senior Editor

Harlequin American Romance

Have Bouquet, Need Boyfriend

Rita Herron

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

To all my fans who wrote me wanting more of the Hartwells.

Hope you enjoy!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Rita Herron wrote her first book when she was twelve, but didn’t think real people grew up to be writers. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job. A former kindergarten teacher and workshop leader, she traded her storytelling for kids for romance and writes romantic comedies and romance suspense. She lives in Georgia with her own romance hero and three kids. She loves to hear from readers so please write her at P.O. Box 921225, Norcross, GA 30092-1225 or visit her Web site at www.ritaherron.com.

My dearest Rebecca,

You are a very special granddaughter because you remind me so much of myself when I was your age. You were the first of Bert’s daughters, the one who brought a deep love into his marriage that cemented the bond between him and your mother.

But you were the one who suffered the most when your mother died. Although your own heart was aching, you pushed your feelings aside to comfort your father and your little sister in their sorrow.

You showed such strength that the rest of us gained courage from you. But when you retreated to that silent place where you grieved, you never quite came back.

Always steady and strong, dependable and caring, you are loyal and trusting to a fault. Believe in yourself now, Rebecca. Take time to nurture your own dreams and talents, and love yourself the way you love others.

I wish for you happiness, true love and a man who will give you all the joy a partner can.

Love you always,

Grammy Rose

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen