A Bride by Summer

A Bride by Summer
Sandra Steffen

Baby, oh, baby!Talk about being broadsided! When Reed Sullivan is almost run off the road by a reckless driver, it's town newcomer Ruby O'Toole to the rescue. But the last thing Reed needs is a sexy distraction like Ruby, especially with the paternity of the infant left on the Sullivan brothers' doorstep still a mystery. For now, all he can offer Ruby is friendship…and maybe a kiss here or there.Quirky, independent Ruby is making a fresh start. Men are strictly off-limits–so maybe she and Reed should just be friends, despite their instant, combustible chemistry. But when a new wrinkle in the baby drama develops, will their "just friends" status stand? Or is happily-ever-after on the table?

“As tempting as it is to take a little detour here with you, I’m not going to.”

“You’re not?”

“Here’s the thing,” Reed declared, using her exact terminology.

It occurred to Ruby that he was not a man of almosts. He wasn’t almost tall or almost handsome or almost proud. He was all those things and more. He’d drawn a line in the sand, and apparently he intended to make certain she knew exactly how far, how deep and how wide the line ran.

“The baby you saw my brother carrying before lunch?” he said. “You assumed Marsh is his father.”

She stood mute, waiting for him to continue.

“Are you telling me Marsh isn’t Joey’s father?”

“It’s possible he is.” Reed’s voice was deep, reverent almost, and extraordinarily serious. “But it’s also possible I am.”

Surely Ruby’s dismay was written all over her face. But she didn’t have it in her to care how she looked.

The baby she’d seen before lunch was possibly Reed’s? Had she heard him correctly?

* * *

Round-the-Clock Brides:

Minute by minute … hour by hour … they’ll find true love.

Dear Reader (#u961bc55c-b4ff-5af9-9eff-18f9e6b6fe72),

When I was fifteen, my brother said, “There’s a guy I want you to meet.” He was tall and older—sixteen. Three years later I married him, and I’ve loved him, and a good wedding, ever since. It’s not the walk down the aisle or even what happens after that walk is over, because let’s face it, a lot of hard things can happen later. What I love is the moment when two people promise to love one another forever. In that instant forever is possible; all good things are.

When I began writing my first book set in Orchard Hill, I didn’t know it would launch a series called Round-the-Clock Brides. I only knew it would begin with a gift and end with a wedding. Halfway through The Wedding Gift I knew minor character Ruby O’Toole would star in her own book one day.

A Bride by Summer is Ruby’s story. It begins with a chance encounter and ends with a promise: good things are going to happen.

Let’s all believe…

Sandra

A Bride by Summer

Sandra Steffen

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

SANDRA STEFFEN has always been a storyteller. She began nurturing this hidden talent by concocting adventures for her brothers and sisters, even though the boys were more interested in her ability to hit a baseball over the barn—an automatic home run. She didn’t begin her pursuit of publication until she was a young wife and mother of four sons. Since her thrilling debut as a published author in 1992, more than thirty-five of her novels have graced bookshelves across the country.

This winner of a RITA

Award, a Wish Award and a National Readers’ Choice Award enjoys traveling with her husband. Usually their destinations are settings for her upcoming books. They are empty nesters these days. Who knew it could be so much fun? Please visit her at www.sandrasteffen.com (http://www.sandrasteffen.com).

For my beloved brothers, Ron and Dave.

Every girl should have a big brother.

I was lucky enough, and so blessed, to have two.

Contents

Cover (#u4271b8d9-3299-548b-94cd-bbfa74c4dba5)

Introduction (#u8c89c7a7-2b00-5d97-834f-0f4f87095f8c)

Dear Reader (#u73412507-bcd5-5975-899f-15704099f9d0)

Title Page (#ueb83f24e-c3f4-5e75-ab41-25be0f1e3ae0)

About the Author (#u5db1041c-6556-516a-8732-a0dde08ab5f4)

Dedication (#ub540f30b-0fc9-553d-b048-5705eb0758bd)

Chapter One (#ulink_c232b036-1a8e-568a-8556-3c6d42c7c54f)

Chapter Two (#ulink_691b880a-a147-573c-bbb5-9760590e3a16)

Chapter Three (#ulink_6b65bc9e-9d39-5bd8-affb-3605af9caa04)

Chapter Four (#ulink_55e72768-e346-5d6e-bd93-4afe674ef962)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)