Millionaire in Command
by Catherine Mann
He read through the birth certificatewith his name in the father box.
If the little girl was his, he would move forward and take responsibility. Landises didnt shirk their responsibilities. But for the childs safety as well, he needed to investigate this claim and this woman further.
I cant just take home a child because you say
She laughed, her breath gusting a straggled strand of blonde hair. No, you completely misunderstand. I dont want you to take her. I want to be her mother. I want to adopt her, if at all possible.
He should be relievedbut something was still off. His instincts from battling overseas bellowed loud and clear that there were more landmines ahead. Then why are you here?
Im here to keep her out of the foster care system, she said, her words tumbling together as she blurted, Im here to ask you to marry me.
The Bride Hunter by Ann Major
I cant be with you. You lied. And Im through with liars. You have to understand that. Well get a divorce. Go our separate ways.
Its not that simple. Other people are involved.
You cant make me come back to you, Connor.
Oh, yes I can, sweetheartMoney buys a lot of what passes for justice in this country. Ive got money lots of it. You dont. I can afford topnotch legal talent. You cant.
I hate you. Ill hate you forever.
But youre a survivor, so that wont stop you from coming home with me and living with me as my wife now that you see how its to your advantage, now will it? He pushed back his stetson. Because if you do that, sweetheart and only if you do that Ill keep all your dirty little secrets.
Available in May 2010 from Mills & Boon® Desire
Millionaire in Command by Catherine Mann
&
The Bride Hunter by Ann Major
Mini-series Irresistible
Tall, DarkWestmoreland! by Brenda Jackson
&
The Moretti Seduction by Katherine Garbera
The Prodigal Princes Seduction by Olivia Gates
&
The Heirs Scandalous Affair by Jennifer Lewis
Millionaire In Command
by
Catherine Mann
The Bride Hunter
by
Ann Major
www.millsandboon.co.uk
Millionaire In Command
by
Catherine MannDear Reader,
Im thrilled to bring you the next in my THE LANDIS BROTHERS series, Millionaire in Command.
Writing about a military man is a special treat for me since Im married to my very own air force hero. We have certainly commemorated many homecomings over the years. Although I have to say my husband has never experienced quite the shock thats in store for Kyle Landis when he returns from overseas to find a baby girl waiting for him. While Kyle quickly takes command of the situation to claim his daughter, he has his work cut out for him when it comes to conquering the heart of Phoebe Slater.
Thanks again for checking out the latest Landis brother. Happy reading!
Cheers,
Catherine Mann
www.CatherineMann.com
RITA® Award winner Catherine Mann resides on a sunny Florida beach with her military flyboy husband and their four children. Although after nine moves in twenty years, she hasnt given away her winter gear! With over a million books in print in fifteen countries, she has also celebrated five RITA® Award finals, three Maggie Award of Excellence finals and a Booksellers Best win. A former theatre school director and university teacher, she graduated with a masters degree in theatre from UNC-Greensboro and a bachelors degree in fine arts from the College of Charleston. Catherine enjoys hearing from readers and chatting on her message board thanks to the wonders of the wireless internet that allows her to cyber-network with her lap-top by the water! To learn more about her work, visit her website, www.CatherineMann.com, or reach her by snail mail at PO Box 6065, Navarre, FL 32566, USA.
All my love to my flyboy husband, Rob.
Even after many years and four children,
you still make my heart flutter!
One
Phoebe Slater brought a baby to the millionaire military heros seaside welcome-home gala.
Undoubtedly most of the guests plucking canapés and champagne from silver trays at this high-profile affair could afford nannies. Of course the Hilton Head Island wealthy could also afford tailored tuxedos and sequined high-end dresses as they mingled the evening away in the country club gardens by the shore. Her basic little black dress had been bought at a consignment store to wear to the few mandatory cocktail parties related to her position as a history professor at the University of South Carolina.
Of course she usually didnt accessorize with baby drool dotting her shoulder.
Phoebe jostled the fractious five-month-old infant on her hip, smoothing down the pink smocked dress. Hang on, sweetie. Just a few more minutes and I can feed you before bedtime.
As waves crashed in the distance, a live band played oldies rock, enticing guests to the dance floor with a Billy Joel classic. Even South Carolinas governor was dancing under the silver silk canopy with his wife. Darn near gawking, Phoebe stumbled on the edge of the flagstone walkway.
Definitely this was a party for the movers and shakers in the political worldas well as on the polished wood dance floor planked over the sandy lawn. She untangled her low heel from between two decorative rocks. She wasnt here to socialize tonight. Shed come to find little Ninas father.
If only she had a better idea of what he looked like.
Her longtime friend and old sorority sisterNinas biological motherhad told Phoebe that Kyle Landis was the babys daddy a couple of months ago when shed asked for just a little help with Nina while she went on an audition for a dinner-theater production in Florida. Bianca had been so excited to get her prebaby body back, insisting this was her chance to provide a better life for her daughter.
Who could have known Bianca wouldnt return?
Phoebe hugged Nina closer, all the more determined to make sure this precious baby had a stable life. Which meant finding Kyle Landis, a man shed never met in the flesh. Shed hoped to ID him by his Air Force uniform, but the place was packed with tall, dark-haired guys decked out in formal military gear. Medals gleamed in the moonlight.
Cupping the back of Ninas bonnet-covered head as the little one finally dozed off, Phoebe scanned the sea of faces, their profiles shadowy with only the illumination of moon, stars and pewter tiki torches. She only had an older photo to go by, a picture tucked deep in the bottom of the flowered diaper bag slung over her clean shoulder. No way was she going to disturb Nina by looking, not now that the baby was nearly out for the count.
He used to appear in the newspapers frequently when his late father had been a senator. Then his mother and brother had stepped into the political spotlight, too. But the family kept Kyle out of the medias scrutiny as much as possible for safetys sake because of his tours of duty in war zones.
The crush of people grew thicker, faces tougher to see. As much as she hated to draw attention to herself, she was going to have to ask for help finding
Can I get you something?
The deep voice rumbled from behind her as if in answer to her very thoughts, jolting her with a clear shot of sexy bass on the salty ocean breeze. Lordy, the waiter must rack up tips with that bedroom voice of his. She glanced over her shoulder to ask for a napkinshed forgotten the burp rag again, damn it. Her smile froze.
Captain Kyle Landisin the flesh, all right.
His dark brown hair was trimmed military short, mellow blue eyes creased at the corners from a deep tan she knew hed earned in a Middle Eastern desert. A broad forehead and strong jawline gave him a masculine appeal just shy of harsh.
She should have realized the guy would be even better looking in person. He was a lucky son of a gun from an established old Southern familyhandsome and rich, with a smoky voice to boot. Hed even reportedly survived a crash unscathed. His muscled chest in a blue uniform jacket sported at least double the medals of most here, perhaps only outdone by his stepfather, a general.
What were the odds of Kyle finding her tonight, instead of the other way around? But then, as the guest of honor, maybe he felt obligated to make sure everyone else was having a good time.
Can I get you something? he repeated, a cut-crystal whiskey glass cradled in his hand.
An older woman angled past, whipping a full, ruffled train against Phoebes leg. The scent of strong perfume made Nina sneeze. She readjusted the baby, wishing they were at home in her bentwood rocker rather than here with this man. I actually dont need help anymore, since I was looking for you.
A dimple dug into his cheek with his one-sided smile. Im sorry, if weve met before, Im not remembering.
That dimple would have been charming if she hadnt already heard from Bianca to be wary of his prep-school-polished sense of humor. She might be out of her financial league here, but she was a smart, determined woman.
Phoebe forged ahead, needing to say something before he turned her over to a bouncer. Im not here for myself.
He glanced behind her quickly, then focused his full, deep-blue-eyed attention on her face again. Which one of my pals are you with? We dont get many chances to meet the wives.
Im not married. But she had been. She shoved away even the thought of Roger before the inevitable stab of pain could steal her focus.
Kyles gaze flicked briefly to Nina, then away. So much for him recognizing his child on sight.
To be fair, he didnt even know about Ninas existence. Bianca had insisted early in the pregnancy that, while she wasnt sure if she wanted to keep the baby, she would inform the babys father. Then later said shed chickened out, then couldnt find him and certainly didnt want to send this kind of news to him overseas through his family.
As if Bianca wouldve even gotten past personal assistants to talk to anyone in his famous family. It had been a major challenge to gate-crash this shindig, but no security could outdo her determination.
That drivealong with channeling some acting tips shed picked up from Biancaand Phoebe had convinced them all she was the caterers assistants wife. Easy enough to do, since she was more the friend-next-door than the flashy-leading-lady.
Nothing could stop her, not now that Kyle had come home. Somebody had to tell him about his new little responsibility and since Bianca was MIA, that left it up to her.
Might as well get this over with. Is there somewhere we can step aside to talk?
Im sorry, but my mother would haul me back in by my ear if I tried to duck out of my own welcome-home party. He angled closer, the fresh scent of his aftershave teasing her nose. Maybe later, though?
Undeniable interest flared in his cobalt-blue eyes, his full attention fixed on her.
Holy crap. Could he actually be hitting on her? Shed prepared herself for any possible reaction from himexcept that.
She jolted back a step, holding up one hand. Wait, thats not what I meant.
And even if he were interested enough to actually contact her, what if it took him a week to call? She didnt have another week to waste waiting for him to phone her back.
Nina didnt have a week.
Phoebe patted between the babys shoulders, praying she would stay asleep. The last thing she needed was a colicky nuclear meltdown. I have to speak with you for five minutes out of earshot of everyone else. I promise I wont keep you long and you can get back to your welcome-home party. Perhaps you could just escort me to the door? Then youll know Im truly on my way out of your hair.
Fair enough. He set his drink on the bar behind him. Do you need some help with the kid?
Instinctively, she backedfartheraway until herbutt bumped a column plant-holder, jostling the fern on top.
Laughing, he held out both hands. Hey, no need to freak out. I wont drop her. Ive never been much of a kid person, but Im getting practice lately with my nephew.
Nina had a cousin. How wild to think about, and imagine them playing together happily. Nina needed a life full of people who loved her. And the sooner Phoebe cleared this up, the sooner Nina would be settled. Were fine, but thanks for asking. Just lead the way and well follow.
Let me know if you change your mind.
He turned his broad shoulders sideways to slide past a pair of tuxedo-clad teens sneaking refills from the champagne fountain. Kyle plucked the glasses from their hands on his way by and passed them to a man from the catering staff.
He led Phoebe around a corner and stopped in a small, empty alcove with a spindly iron bench and two more large potted ferns on Grecian-pillar stands. The party noise muffled down a notch, although the laughter of a nearby couple made her itchy for a room with a door to close. The nook just past an ivy-covered trellis wasnt totally private, but it would have to do.
Stepping away from his towering presence for a bit of breathing room, she eased the diaper bag down onto the iron bench and rolled the kink out of her shoulder. Do you remember someone named Bianca Thompson?
His eyes went from friendly to reserved. Yes, why do you ask?
Nearby laughter swelled as two trophy-wife types ducked into the alcove, one with a silver cigarette case in her hands and the other weaving tipsily behind her. Oh, the woman said, tucking her cigarette case surreptitiously behind her back, excuse me.
Kyles easy smile came back. No problem, ladies. I think theres another bench just past the palmetto tree wrapped in lights.