Faith stared at him, apparently sure she hadnât heard him correctly. He couldnât blame her. As soon as the words were out, heâd decided he was crazy.
âYou need what?â
âA wife.â Stone could hear the impatience in his tone, and he forced himself to take deep, slow breaths. Calming breaths.
She spread her hands in confusion, and her smooth brow wrinkled in bewilderment. âBut how can I help you with that? I doubt I know anyone whoââ
âFaith.â His deep voice stopped her tumbling words. âIâd like you to be my wife.â
Her eyes widened. Her mouth formed a perfect âOâ of surprise. She put a hand up and pointed at herself as if she needed confirmation that she hadnât lost her mind, and her lips soundlessly formed the word âMe?â
He nodded. âYes. You.â
Dear Reader,
Celebrate the rites of spring with six new passionate, powerful and provocative love stories from Silhouette Desire!
Reader favorite Anne Marie Winstonâs Billionaire Bachelors: Stone, our March MAN OF THE MONTH, is a classic marriage-of-convenience story, in which an overpowering attraction threatens a platonic arrangement. And donât miss the third title in Desireâs glamorous in-line continuity DYNASTIES: THE CONNELLYS, The Sheikh Takes a Bride by Caroline Cross, as sparks fly between a sexy-as-sin sheikh and a feisty princess.
In Wild About a Texan by Jan Hudson, the heroine falls for a playboy millionaire with a dark secret. Her Lone Star Protector by Peggy Moreland continues the TEXAS CATTLEMANâS CLUB: THE LAST BACHELOR series, as an unlikely love blossoms between a florist and a jaded private eye.
A night of passion produces major complications for a doctor and the social worker now carrying his child in Dr. Destiny, the final title in Kristi Goldâs miniseries MARRYING AN M.D. And an ex-marine who discovers heâs heir to a royal throne must choose between his kingdom and the woman he loves in Kathryn Jensenâs The Secret Prince.
Kick back, relax and treat yourself to all six of these sexy new Desire romances!
Enjoy!
Joan Marlow Golan
Senior Editor, Silhouette Desire
Billionaire Bachelors: Stone
Anne Marie Winston
RITA Award finalist and bestselling author Anne Marie Winston loves babies she can give back when they cry, animals in all shapes and sizes and just about anything that blooms. When sheâs not writing, sheâs chauffeuring children to various activities, trying not to eat chocolate or reading anything she can find. She will dance at the slightest provocation and weeds her gardens when she canât see the sun for the weeds anymore. You can learn more about Anne Marieâs novels by visiting her Web site at www.annemariewinston.com.
To all the nurses at the Waynesboro Hospital who have shared my midnight vigils. My thanks do not begin to express my appreciation for your kindnesses.
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
âSmythe Corp. will be yoursâ¦on one condition.â Eliza Smytheâs eyes narrowed as she studied her only son.
Stone Lachlan stood with one arm negligently braced on the mantel above the marble fireplace in his motherâs Park Avenue apartment in New York City. Not even the flicker of an eyelash betrayed any emotion. He wasnât about to let his mother know what her offer meant to him. Not until it was his and she couldnât take it away.
âAnd what might that condition be?â He lifted the crystal highball glass to his lips and drank, keeping the movement slow and lazy. Disinterested.
âYou get marriedââ
âMarried!â Stone nearly choked on the fine Scotch malt whiskey.
âAnd settle down,â his mother added. âI want grandchildren one of these days while Iâm still young enough to enjoy them.â
He set his glass on a nearby marble-topped table with a snap. It took him a moment to push away the hurtful memories of a small boy whose mother had been too busy to bother with him. His mouth twisted cynically. âIf you plan to devote yourself to grandchildren as totally as you did me, why are you planning to retire? It doesnât take much time to give a nanny instructions once a week or so.â
His mother flinched. âIf itâs any consolation to you, I regret the way you were raised,â she said, and he could hear pain in her voice. âIf I had it to do overâ¦â
âIf you had it to do over, youâd do exactly the same thing,â Stone interrupted her. The last thing he needed was to have his mother pretending she cared. âYouâd immerse yourself in your familyâs company until youâd dragged it back from the brink of bankruptcy. And youâd keep on running it because you were the only one left.â
His mother bowed her head, acknowledging the truth of his words. âPerhaps.â Then she squared her shoulders and he could see her shaking off the moment of emotion. Just as sheâd shaken him off so many times. âSo whatâs your decision? Do you accept my offer?â
âIâm thinking,â he said coolly. âYou drive a hard bargain. Why the wife?â