Driven to defend a woman who wonât let him!
Poppy Gold Inns should be the perfect place to relax, except architect Tyler Prentiss doesnât do slow. Heâs juggling his work long-distance while looking after his brother, a wounded soldier battling PTSD. And heâs figuring out how to make nice with Sarah Fullerton, his motherâs new boss. Helping the stubborn, sexy baker remodel her kitchens is a step in the right direction, he figures. And when someone begins harassing Sarah, he wants to do more, but the independent woman wonât let him. Tyler knows all about needing space. Sheâs in danger, and so is he...of finally opening his heart.
âDo you still want to go for a drive?â Tyler asked.
âNot tonight.â
âThen how about me coming over tomorrow or the next day and looking at those blueprints?â
âSure.â Sarah walked him to the door and was almost afraid to look out in case another gift bag had been left, which was absurd because the police had only departed a few minutes earlier. âGood night, Tyler.â
He hesitated, staring at her mouth.
Sarah gave it a brief moment of thought before rising on her toes and planting a thorough kiss on his lips. After all, there was no point in being coy, and it would be a much better ending to the evening than a creepy gift.
His arms went around her and he deepened the kiss. Every inch of her skin burned and the response from his body was unmistakable.
Dear Reader,
It probably isnât a surprise that I enjoy writing about large families. (Was that a big âduhâ I just heard?) Sarah Fullerton enjoys her many relatives in my third Poppy Gold story. She is open and loving, despite a bad marriage, and very busy running her dream business. Iâve paired Sarah with Tyler Prentiss, a man who struggles to be close to anyone, much less his own small family. Tyler has several concerns, including a grieving mother and a brother recovering from serious military-related injuries, but he canât restrain his protective instincts when Sarah is threatened.
I hope to write more Poppy Gold stories in the future, as well as revisit the Hollister family from my series Those Hollister Boys. Lots of stories, just never enough time to tell them all!
Classic Movie Alert: share a smile with me by watching Bringing Up Baby, starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. Cary is a paleontologist whose life is turned upside down by a madcap heiress and a leopard.
Please check out my Facebook page at Facebook.com/julianna.morris.author. Readers can also contact me at c/o Harlequin Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON M3B 3K9, Canada.
Julianna Morris
JULIANNA MORRIS isnât crazy about housework, but she enjoys home canning because it connects her to the farming and pioneering roots of her ancestors. Of course, this conflicts with everything else she enjoys, including hiking, traveling, reading, painting and photography. But the way Julianna sees it, sheâd rather have too much to do than too little. One thing is sureâsheâll never be bored!
In loving memory of Burt and Emily
PROLOGUE
SARAH FULLERTON PRESSED a finger to her forehead, trying to concentrate.
In the past four years, sheâd gone from running a small sweet shop with two employees to overseeing a bakery and catering business with more than twenty employees. The front of the shop looked the same as before, but the operation behind it had become a monster.
A loud clatter out in the main kitchen made her jump.
âSorry about that,â called Gabby Michaelson, one of the shift supervisors. âJust dropped some pans. No harm done.â
Except to my nerves, Sarah thought, pushing the order forms away. Sheâd hoped to finish her office work during regular hours, but it would have to wait.
Lately sheâd begun to daydream about getting a full nightâs sleep. While the business was booming, it was partly due to nepotism. The nearby Poppy Gold Bed and Breakfast Inns was owned by relatives, and theyâd contracted with her to provide all the food needed at the facility. Now their kitchens were quiet most of the time and hers were insane.
Granted, things were crazier than normal right now because her aunt, whoâd been helping to manage the shop, had recently broken her leg. It would get better when Aunt Babs came back. If she came back. Sheâd asked Sarah to look for a permanent replacement for her, but it wasnât easy finding an experienced office manager in Glimmer Creek.
âSarah, can you help Aurelia?â Gabby called. âWith David out, sheâs swamped. A bunch of customers just came in, and weâre filling éclairs for that special order.â