All He Needs
She’s all he ever wantedWedding consultant Renee Hart is finally ready to take the plunge…as creator of an innovative bridal magazine. Her own dreams of happily-ever-after were shattered when Carter Hampshire broke off their relationship without warning. Newly relocated to the Big Apple, Renee discovers that her former lover—more charismatic than ever—is now also her greatest rival.Carter came home to New York to oversee his family’s publishing empire. Finding out the woman who got away is working for the competition—in his own building, no less—doesn’t deter him from his new mission. Three years ago, he thought he was doing the right thing by letting her go. Now all he wants is a second chance. But when the media-frenzied launch of Designed for Brides leads to accusations of industrial espionage, could Carter lose Renee again—this time forever?
Читать All He Needs онлайн беплатно
Sheâs all he ever wanted
Wedding consultant Renee Hart is finally ready to take the plunge...as creator of an innovative bridal magazine. Her own dreams of happily-ever-after were shattered when Carter Hampshire broke off their relationship without warning. Newly relocated to the Big Apple, Renee discovers that her former loverâmore charismatic than everâis now also her greatest rival.
Carter came home to New York to oversee his familyâs publishing empire. Finding out the woman who got away is working for the competitionâin his own building, no lessâdoesnât deter him from his new mission. Three years ago, he thought he was doing the right thing by letting her go. Now all he wants is a second chance. But when the media-frenzied launch of Designed for Brides leads to accusations of industrial espionage, could Carter lose Renee againâthis time forever?
âCarter, I enjoyed dinner. Thank you for asking me.â She sounded like some high school student.
âI did, too.â
Renee made the mistake of looking up at him. She wanted to know if he was being sincere. His eyes connected with hers in the low light of the outside bulb. She couldnât look away. She couldnât stop herself from watching his head come down toward her, and then his lips settled on hers. She pulled away almost immediately.
âWhatâs wrong?â
âWe are. Weâve done this before, and we know it doesnât work.â
âWe donât know that.â
âShould I refresh your memory?â Renee asked. âI can recite the words for you. You told me point-blank and to my face, âI donât love you.â Then you disappeared, and I didnât hear from you again.â
Putting her hand on the doorknob, she stared at him. The indication was that he should leave. Carter stood his ground, and a staring war began between them.
Renee didnât move when Carter finally took a step. She was ready to push the door open and go inside. Before she could twist the knob, his hands imprisoned her and his mouth seared hers once again.
I love wedding stories. I think Iâve said that before. In writing the Weddings by Diana series, Iâve been able to experience a wedding with each book. All He Needs is the last book in the series. I hope you enjoy it.
The idea for this story came directly out of the previous Weddings by Diana book, Someone Like You. The heroine from Someone Like You, Theresa Granville, designed wedding gowns. Creating a place to showcase those gowns was a natural extension. What better place than on the bride?
As you read this story, youâll see how Renee Hart accomplished that feat.
As always, keep reading.
Shirley
SHIRLEY HAILSTOCK began her writing life as a lover of reading. She likes nothing better than to find a quiet corner where she can get lost in a book, explore new worlds and visit places she never expected to see. As an author, she can not only visit those places, but she can be the heroine of her own stories. The author of forty novels and novellas, Shirley has received numerous awards, including a National Readersâ Choice Award, a Romance Writers of America Emma Merritt Award and an RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award. Shirleyâs books have appeared on several bestseller lists, including the Glamour and Essence Magazine lists and the Library Journal bestseller list. She is a past president of Romance Writers of America.
To my niece Tanesha for being there for me.
Contents
Renee Hart stepped out of the conference room. She was going to burst. Without a word, she rushed past the secretaries and headed outside. The glass entry doors were the air pressure variety, yet she slammed them both open. Sunlight and humidity hit her like a hot oven. Renee welcomed it as she would a dive into a tropical pool. She needed a place to conceal the echo that was roaring inside her. She walked fast toward her car, but she knew she wasnât going to make it.
She got as far as the tree-lined divider that separated the upper parking lot from the lower one. Then she howled. She let the sound inside her go. All of it. Elation erupted like a volcano. Every emotion sheâd ever had thundered and rolled with psychedelic pleasure. She was happy, so happy. Tears broke from her eyes and ran over her cheeks.
Renee hadnât known when sheâd accepted the bridal consultant position at Weddings by Diana that it would be the key to her heartâs desire.
Two weeks ago sheâd presented her idea to the two partners, and after jumping every time one of them opened her door, theyâd finally given her the go-ahead today.
Standing under the trees, Renee smiled at the sky through the water in her eyes. The universe had finally favored her. She stood for several minutes, taking it all in. She didnât know how much time passed before she felt the press of heat and humidity on her skin again. Back on solid ground, she returned to the office.
