Its going to take a lot more than a contract to make me marry you.
Will took a step toward her, his grin widening. Then tell me what you want, Janie.
This was it. Hed sweep her into his arms and kiss her, ravaging her mouth with his lips. And if he did, Jane might as well start shopping for a white dress. At this rate, there was no way she was going to avoid falling in love with Will McCaffrey again, just as she had all those years ago. But shed be a fool to put her heart at risk again.
L-lets suppose for a moment that this contract is legal, which I dont think it is. It was six years ago. You were drunk and I wasunder the influence. She drew a shaky breath. Why are you doing this, anyway?
I just want you to go out to dinner with me tonight. I want to share a bottle of champagne and get to know you all over again.
Jane shook her head, her instinct for self-preservation finally kicking in. No. Im not going to date you and Im not going to marry you!
Will shrugged and stepped away from her. Then I guess Ill see you in court.
Dear Reader,
Its Harlequin Temptations twentieth birthday and were ready to do some celebrating. After all, were young, were legal (well, almost) and were old enough to get into trouble! Who could resist?
Weve been publishing outstanding novels for the past twenty years, and there are many more where those came from. Dont miss upcoming books by your favorite authors: Vicki Lewis Thompson, Kate Hoffmann, Kristine Rolofson, Jill Shalvis and Leslie Kelly. And Harlequin Temptation has always offered talented new authors to add to your collection. In the next few months look for stories from some of these exciting new finds: Emily McKay, Tanya Michaels, Cami Dalton and Mara Fox.
To celebrate our birthday, were bringing back one of our most popular miniseries, Editors Choice. Whenever we have a book thats new, innovative, extraordinary, look for the Editors Choice flash. And the first ones out this month! In Cover Me, talented Stephanie Bond tells the hilarious tale of a native New Yorker who finds herself out of her element and loving it. Written totally in the first person, Cover Me is a real treat. And dont miss the rest of this months irresistible offeringsa naughty Wrong Bed book by Jill Shalvis, another installment of the True Blue Calhouns by Julie Kistler and a delightful Valentine tale by Kate Hoffmann.
So, come be a part of the next generation of Harlequin Temptation. We might be a little wild, but were having a whole lot of fun. And who knowssome of the thrill might rub off.
Enjoy,
Brenda Chin
Associate Senior Editor
Harlequin Temptation
Legally Mine
Kate Hoffmann
www.millsandboon.co.uk
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A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Sometimes it takes a long time for a story to become a book. And thats certainly been the case with this one! I proposed this idea to my editors about three or four years ago, but the story kept getting pushed aside to make way for other projects, like those Mighty Quinns. But finally the time had come. And during those years, the story that began as a sweet little romance called The Cupid Contract evolved into a sinfully sensual tale entitled Legally Mine.
Whats even more exciting is that I got to write this book for such a special occasionHarlequin Temptations twentieth anniversary. Its been wonderful to be a part of Harlequin Temptations list of authors for ten of those twenty years. From my first book in 1993, Indecent Exposure, to this one, Ive thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this wonderful series. And I plan to continue writing for it for a long, long time.
So happy birthday, Temptation. And this book is dedicated to all of you readers whove made Harlequin Temptation such a success.
Happy reading!
Kate Hoffmann
Books by Kate Hoffmann
HARLEQUIN TEMPTATION
795ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT
821MR. RIGHT NOW
847THE MIGHTY QUINNS: CONNOR
851THE MIGHTY QUINNS: DYLAN
855THE MIGHTY QUINNS: BRENDAN
933THE MIGHTY QUINNS: LIAM
937THE MIGHTY QUINNS: BRIAN
941THE MIGHTY QUINNS: SEAN
To my readers, who make my stories worth telling.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Prologue
THE STRAINS OF A CELINE DION ballad echoed through the tiny apartment while the scent of vanilla candles permeated the air. Jane Singleton stepped out of the bubble bath and wrapped herself in her chenille robe, then strolled out to the living room, singing along with the love song.
Everything was perfect. The lights were down low, the champagne was on ice, shed fluffed up her chintz pillows on the sofa, and the chocolate-covered strawberries were chilling in the refrigerator. It was Valentines Day and while other girls were fretting over dates and dresses, she was spending the most romantic day of the year pampering herself. After a long, relaxing bath, she was ready to settle in for the evening to enjoy an Audrey Hepburn film festival, starting with her favorite videoBreakfast at Tiffanys.
Shed always preferred old-fashioned movie romance to the real thing. In classic movies, love was exciting and overwhelming andperfect. The meager experience shed had in her life with the real thing had only proved disappointing. Real romance was uncomfortable and nerve-racking and sometimes downright boring. Her fantasies were so much better. So a solitary Valentines Day was far preferable to the other optionparalyzing nerves and unfulfilled expectations.
Besides, what more could a girl known as Plain Jane expect? In high school, shed been the brainy girl whod never had a boyfriend, who spent every free minute at her studies. Her social life had revolved around science fairs, academic decathlons and orthodontist appointments. Of course, her hard work had won her a full academic scholarship to Northwesternwhere she chose to major in botany. But nothing much had changed since graduation, except for the loss of her braces. Though shed had a few dates, she still hadnt found the man of her dreams.
Jane picked up her journal and sat down on the sofa, tucking her feet under her. Another Valentines Day without a man, she murmured as she wrote. Im trying to remain optimistic on this bleak occasion. I just havent found the right man. The perfect man. My Prince Charming. Hes out there somewhere. I just have to be patient and wait for him to find melike Paul found Holly Golightly.
There was one man, a guy who was just about perfect in every way, and even dreamier than George Peppard. When she fantasized about her Prince Charming, it was his face she saw in her dreams. And he lived downstairs, just like Paul had in Breakfast at Tiffanys. Actually Paul had lived upstairs, but that was an insignificant pointconsidering this guy had never looked at her the way Paul looked at Holly. Or the way Prince Charming looked at Cinderella. Or the way a man was supposed to look at a woman he wantedwith lust in his eyes.
Jane shook her head and closed her journal, tossing it onto the coffee table and refusing to surrender to melancholy. Moping around would make this Valentines Day go from moderately lonely to completely pathetic. Still, it was hard to put him out of her mind. Right now, Will McCaffrey, her Prince Charming, was downstairs getting ready for a romantic night on the town with one of his many girlfriends.
Jane knew he had a big night planned. Hed asked her advice on flowers and shed sent him to her favorite floral shop with a list of choices for an elegant bouquet. Shed ripped a few restaurant reviews out of the Chicago Sun Times and urged him to make a reservation early. And when hed needed a button sewn on his dress shirt, shed obliged. Shed even helped him choose the right tie.
Good old Jane, she muttered. She and Will had been friends since hed moved in last year, meeting after her bathtub had overflowed and dripped through his apartment ceiling. Hed helped her sop up the mess, shed offered him freshly baked cookies and a glass of milk in return, and theyd become friends.
It hadnt taken long for her to place him squarely in the middle of her fantasies. And it had taken even less time to realize that hed never fall for a girl like her. Will preferred tall, willowy blondes with stunning smiles and bodies better suited to wear Victorias Secret lingerie than comfy chenille robes. His girlfriends were always confident and worldly, and seemed as though they knew exactly how to please a man and werent afraid to show him. Jane was short and brunette, with a body that looked more boyish than bodacious and a tongue that got tied in knots worthy of any Boy Scout. The only thing about her that had ever pleased a man was her oatmeal-toffee cookies.
With a soft groan, she grabbed the asplenium nidus from the coffee table. What would you do, Lulamae? she murmured, picking at the foliage of the houseplant. There has to be a way to make him see that Im a woman, too. I can be sexy and seductive just like those other girls. But the moment she said it, Jane knew it wasnt true. Shed never be Holly Golightly, shed always be Jane Goslowly or Jane Goclumsily or Jane Go
A knock sounded on the door and she frowned as she set down the plant and crawled off the sofa. When she opened the door, her best friend, Lisa Harper, rushed in, a garment bag dangling from her hand.
You have to help me, she said. I cant decide on the red dress or the black. I think the red makes my butt look like Montana. And the black one shows entirely too much cleavage. And I wanted to borrow that beaded choker that you bought at Navy Pier last month. Oh, and I need a decent coat to wear. A jacket would look really stupid and make my butt look like Asia. She stopped babbling long enough to look around. Are you expecting company?
Jane forced a laugh. No, just a quiet night aloneme, my plants, Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard.
Lisa groaned. Oh, not Breakfast at Tiffanys again! How many times can you watch that movie?
Its timeless, Jane said. Its the most perfectly romantic movie ever.
Why dont you come out with me and Roy? Youll eat a fancy meal and drink too much champagne and youll feel like a new woman.
This is only your third date. I dont think Roy would appreciate me tagging along. Jane unzipped the garment bag and examined the two dresses. Wear the red and dont worry about your butt. You can borrow my black cashmere coat. And the necklace is in my jewelry box.
Lisa gave her a quick hug. Youre a peach! She raced into the bedroom, while Jane settled back on the sofa. Lisa never seemed to be without a date and shed tried to set Jane up any number of times. But Jane had always felt blind dates were for desperate, love-starved girls who couldnt find a man on their ownand she wasnt about to admit defeat so soon. She still had two and a half years of undergrad left and a whole campus full of possibilities.
All right, Lisa said as she rushed back through the living room. Are you sure you wont come? Roys roommate isnt doing anything tonight. We could make it a double date. Hes really cute.
Maybe another time, Jane said, certain that Roys roommatecute or notwould be less than enthusiastic about a last-minute date with her. Besides, Janes mother had brought her up to believe in the old-fashioned conventions of dating and romance, conventions that required a man to make the first move and a woman to wait patiently until he did.
Lisa shrugged. All right. But Ill see you tomorrow at the library. We have to study for our cell biology exam.
As Lisa hurried out of the apartment, Jane sighed softly. Shed just have to make a plan to get out and meet more men. She and Lisa could hit one of the many bars near the campus. Or she could get involved in some extracurricular activities, or take a class that didnt include so many science geeks.
See, things are looking up already, she said as she grabbed the remote. Ive got a plan.
The opening credits had just finished when a sharp rap interrupted her again. Jane rolled her eyes and scrambled off the sofa. What did you forget? she asked as she yanked open the door, expecting to find Lisa with another request. Her breath caught in her throat when she looked up into Will McCaffreys startling blue eyes.
He wore a suit, but his shirt collar was open and his tie askew. His dark hair was mussed, giving him a slightly rumpled look, as if hed just crawled out of bed. With a gallant gesture, he whipped a huge bouquet of English roses out from behind his back. He frowned as he took in the candlelit room, then shook his head. Im sorry. Ive interrupted something.
No, no, its all right. She took the flowers and stepped aside to let him enter, the distinct scent of whiskey following him inside. When he stumbled slightly, she reached out to grab his arm. Areare you all right?
No, Im not all right, he mumbled, throwing himself down on her sofa and covering his eyes with his arm. He held up the nearly empty bottle he carried. Im almost out of whiskey and Im not nearly drunk enough yet. He sat up straight. Do you have any whiskey?