From enemy to lover to...father of her children? Only from New York Times bestselling author Barbara Dunlop!
Juliet Parker must save her grandfathers restaurant from ruin. Unfortunately, her main obstacle, wealthy restaurateur Caleb Watford, not only has a competing business, but he also sets her pulse racing! What better way to negotiate than with red-hot seduction?
Soon, Juliets bedroom truce ends in pregnancywith twins! The stakes have never been higher, and Caleb is used to winningin business and in pleasure...
From Temptation to Twins is part of the Whiskey Bay Brides series.
Do you want me to kiss you?
His voice was husky to his own ears.
Yes. Then she seemed to realize what shed revealed.
Their kiss was better than he remembered, even better than his imagination. Her lips were tender and hot. She tasted sweet. And when he probed with his tongue, she answered in kind, tipping her head and leaning against him.
Her body was soft and warm, her curves smooth against his angles. He wrapped his arms around her, enveloping her while the kiss went on. Arousal throbbed deep and hard within him, and his mind galloped ahead to an image of a large bed, with her naked body wrapped around his.
Why couldnt it always be like this? Why did they have to fight? She was smart and sassy, and probably the most interesting woman hed ever met. She was certainly the most exciting.
And then reality slammed into him.
They did have to fight. And no amount of wishing would change that.
His interests were diametrically opposed to hers. He absolutely couldnt sleep with hernot with the secret he was keeping right now.
* * *
From Temptation to Twins is part of the Whiskey Bay Brides series: Three sisters find love on the shores of Whiskey Bay.
From Temptation to Twins
Barbara Dunlop
www.millsandboon.co.uk
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author BARBARA DUNLOP has written more than forty novels for Mills & Boon, including the acclaimed Chicago Sons series for Mills & Boon Desire. Her sexy, lighthearted stories regularly hit bestseller lists. Barbara is a threetime finalist for the Romance Writers of Americas RITA® Award.
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For Mom
Contents
Cover
Back Cover Text
Introduction
Title Page
About the Author
Dedication
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Extract
Copyright
One
Here Comes Trouble
The man all but filled the open doorway of the dilapidated Whiskey Bay Crab Shack. His feet were planted apart, his broad shoulders squared and his no-nonsense chin was tipped up in a challenge.
Is this supposed to be a joke? he asked, his deep voice booming through the old brick building.
Jules Parker recognized him right away. Shed expected their paths would cross, but she hadnt expected open hostilityinteresting. She hopped down from where she was kneeling on the dusty old bar and stripped off her leather work gloves.
I dont know, Caleb, she answered as she sauntered toward him, tucking the gloves into the back pocket of her faded jeans. Is there something funny about dismantling shelves?
He squinted at her. Youre Juliet Parker?
You dont recognize me?
He held out a level hand, moving it up and down, judging the distance to the ground. Last time I saw you, you were
Fifteen years old.
Shorter. And you had freckles.
She couldnt help but smile at that. Okay.
That was nine years ago. Did he think she wouldnt have changed?
His gray eyes hardened. What are you doing?
She pointed over her shoulder with her thumb. Like I said, dismantling the bar shelves.
I mean, what are you doing here?
In Whiskey Bay? She and her younger sister, Melissa, had arrived yesterday, having planned their return for over a year.
In the Crab Shack.
I own the Crab Shack. At least, she owned half of the Crab Shack. Melissa was her partner.
He pulled a piece of paper from his back pocket, brandishing it in his fist. You extended the business license.
Uh-huh. The fact clearly upset him, though she wasnt sure why.
And you extended the noncompete clause.
Uh-huh, she said again. The noncompete was part of the original license. Everything had been extended.
He took a step forward, all but looming over her, and she was reminded of why shed had a schoolgirl crush on him. He was all male then, and he was all male nowhot, sexy and incredibly good-looking.
What is it you want? he asked in that low, gravelly voice.
She didnt understand the question, but she wasnt about to back down. She squared her shoulders. How do you mean?
Are you playing stupid?
Im not playing at anything. Whats your game, Caleb? Because Ive got work to do here.
He glared at her for a couple of beats. Do you want money? Is that it? Are you looking for a payout?
She took a stab at answering. The Crab Shacks not for sale. Were reopening.
The Whiskey Bay Crab Shack was her grandfathers legacy. It was hers and Melissas dream, and also her deathbed promise to the grandpa she adored. Her father hated the idea of the family returning to Whiskey Bay, but Jules wasnt thinking about that today.
Calebs gaze covered the room, seeming to dismiss it. We both know thats not happening.
We do?
Youre starting to annoy me, Juliet.
Its Jules. And youre starting to annoy me, too. His voice rose in obvious frustration. Are you telling me its not about this?
She looked to where he was pointing out the window.
What? she asked, confused.
This. He headed out the door.
Curious, she followed and saw the Whiskey Bay Marina. It looked much as it always had, although the caliber of vessel berthed there had gone up. The pier was lined with sleek, modern yachts. Beyond the marina, in what had always been raw land, there were two semitrailers with a front-end loader and a bulldozer, plus a couple of pickup trucks.
Whatever was being built there likely wouldnt be as attractive as the natural shoreline, but it was far enough away that it shouldnt bother their patrons after they reopened. To the south of the Crab Shack, it was all natural vistas. The signature, soaring cliffs of Whiskey Bay were covered in west coast cedars and wax-leafed salal shrubs. Nobody could build on the south side. It was all cliffs and boulders.
Jules made a mental note to focus the views on the south side.
I dont think thats going to bother us too much, she said.
Calebs stunned expression was interrupted by Melissas arrival in their mini pickup truck.
Hello, Melissa sang out as she exited from the drivers side, a couple of hardware store bags in her arms and a bright smile on her face.
Do you remember Caleb Watford? Jules asked.
Not really. Melissa set the bags down on the deck and held out her hand. I remember the Parkers hate the Watfords.
Jules knew she shouldnt smile at her sisters blunt statement. But the revelation couldnt come as any surprise to Caleb. The feud between their grandfathers and fathers was well-known. It was the likely reason Caleb was being so obnoxious. He didnt want the Parkers back in Whiskey Bay. Well, that was too bad.
Caleb accepted Melissas hand. Either you two are the best actors in the world...
Melissa gave Jules a confused glance.
Dont look at me, Jules said. I havent the slightest idea what hes talking about. But hes ticked off about something.
You see that? Caleb pointed again.
Melissa shaded her eyes. Looks like a bulldozer.
Its my bulldozer.
Congratulations...? Melissa offered hesitantly, her confusion obvious.
Do you two have any idea what I do? he asked.
No, Jules answered.
She knew the Watfords were rich. They owned one of three mansions set along the cliffs of Whiskey Bay. Besides the mansion, the only other house on the bay was the Parkers. It was just a regular little old house. Her grandfather had lived there for nearly seventy years before hed passed away.
Do you drive a bulldozer? Melissa asked.
Seriously? Jules asked her sister, finding it impossible to imagine Caleb as a heavy equipment operator. The Watfords are mega wealthy.
He could still drive a bulldozer, Melissa said. Maybe he likes driving a bulldozer.
Rich guys dont drive bulldozers.
Jules pictured Caleb behind a big desk in an opulent office. No, that wasnt quite right. Presiding over a construction site, maybe? He could be an architect.
Have you ever seen Construction Vacation? Melissa asked.
The TV show?
Yeah. All kinds of guys, rich, poor, whatever. They come on the show and play with heavy equipment. They like it. Its a thing.
Well, maybe on a lark
Stop! Caleb all but shouted.
Melissa drew back, clearly shocked.
Hes been like this ever since he showed up, Jules said.
Like a bear with a hangnail, Melissa muttered.
I dont think thats a metaphor, Jules said. Bears have claws.
Caleb was glancing back and forth between them. His skin tone seemed to have gone a little darker. Jules decided it might be good to let him speak.
I own and manage the Neo chain of seafood restaurants. That he stabbed his finger in the direction of the bulldozer will be the newest location.
Both women looked along the shore, and Jules realized why Caleb was so annoyed.
Oh, Melissa said, pausing for a short beat. Except you cant build it now because of the noncompete clause in our business license.
It was supposed to expire on Wednesday, he said.
I saw that when we renewed.
Now I get it, Jules said to him. I can see why youd be disappointed.
* * *
Disappointed? Caleb caught the beer Matt Emerson tossed him from the wet bar at opposite side of the marinas sundeck. Im a million dollars into the project, and she thinks Im disappointed?
Youre not? TJ Bauer asked evenly as he popped the top of his own beer.
The three men were on the deck that sat atop the Whiskey Bay Marina office building. A quarter moon rose in the starlit sky, while the lights of the pier reflected off the foamy water eddying between the white yachts.
Caleb shot TJ a glower.
Do you think this is about your dad? Matt asked.
Or your grandfather, TJ added, bracing his butt against the rail. This could be your chickens coming home to roost.
Theyre not my chickens, Caleb said.
Does she know that? Matt asked.
Caleb couldnt believe Jules was capable of executing such a nefarious revenge plan.
Are you suggesting she figured out that I was planning to build a Neo location at Whiskey Bay, waited until the last possible moment, the fortieth anniversary of their grandfathers business license, to extend the noncompete clause and shut down my project so Id lose a fortune, in retaliation for the actions of my father and grandfather?
It would earn her a significant score on the evil-genius meter, TJ said.
Your ancestors were pretty evil to her ancestors, Matt said.
Caleb didnt disagree with that. His grandfather had stolen away the woman Felix Parker loved, while his father had ruined Roland Parkers best chance at a college education.