The Millionaireâs Mission
Millionaire Hudson Conrick is used to being liked for his family name and fortune. So when Melody Hammond cuts short their blind date, Hudson canât help but be curious about the pretty ministry director. And when Conrick Construction wins the bid to expand the womenâs shelter at the Village of Hope ministry where she works, heâll get the chance to know her better. He soon learns that because of her painful past, Melody leads a cautious life. But as a former solider, Hudson craves adventure. Can he convince Melody that while he likes to have fun, his reckless days are behind himâand that heâs her perfect match?
âYou come from a rich family,â Melody began.
âIâm from a small town in Georgia and grew up poor. What do I know about the life of a multimillionaire?â
âMaybe you should find out,â he said. âPeople are people. How can you make a judgment without getting to know me?â
âTonight was wonderful, but this has to be it.â Melody wished he would listen to reason, but his mentioning her judgment went right to her guilt. Was she too critical? But this wasnât all about his money. She couldnât forget his love of skydiving and car racesâdangerous activities that took lives. She couldnât be with a man who took such risks.
âI wonât take no for an answer.â
âPlease donât make this difficult. Itâs not just because you come from wealth and I donât. You like to live on the edge, and I like to play it safe. How can that be a good combination?â
He smiled. âIt might be fun to find out.â
âYou donât give up, do you?â
âNot when I want something.â Hudsonâs look could cut steel. âYou havenât heard the last of me, Ms. Hammond.â
MERRILLEE WHREN is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart® Award presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewersâ Choice Best Book Award and the Maggie® Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty-five-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Please visit her website at merrilleewhren.com or connect with her on Facebook at facebook.com/merrilleewhren.author.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
â1 John 4:18
I would like to dedicate this book to my agent,
Pattie Steele Perkins, who helped in so many ways to make this book a reality.
Chapter One
Blind dates mimicked test-driving cars. Tonight Melody Hammond had another one to deal with. What would it bring? Her friends kept sending her fancy sports cars when all she wanted was a nice simple sedan.
The doorbell rang. She peered through the peephole in the front door of her small brick ranch house in her suburban Atlanta neighborhood. She couldnât tell much from the distorted image except that the man was tall and had dark hair.
This was one date that carried some consequences. Tonightâs fund-raiser for The Village of Hope Ministries was an event intended to raise money for Melodyâs pet projectâbuilding more housing for abused and troubled women. Too often the ministry had difficulty finding space for all the women who needed help and had to turn many away. She planned to do everything within her power to see this project funded.
People had paid a lot of money to attend this formal dinner dance, including her date. She hoped it would go well, so she could represent The Village properly. She wanted to believe anyone who had an interest in helping a charity was a decent person. Unfortunately, sheâd learned over the years that not all donors to good causes were good people. Some had ulterior motives.
Melody took a deep breath, then tried to produce a genuine smile as she opened the door. That breath caught in her throat as she stared up at Hudson Paine Conrick, the Fourth. In his black tuxedo he was handsome beyond description. His dark hair curled and waved in a rumpled kind of way. The five-oâclock shadow he sported gave him a dangerous lookâat least where a womanâs heart was concerned.
A Ferrari.
No doubt.
He gave her a lazy grin. âMs. Hammond, Hudson Conrick. Nice to meet you.â
Melody nodded, hoping her brain would engage her tongue. âPlease come in while I get my wrap, Mr. Conrick.â
âCertainly. You look lovely, though itâs a shame you have to cover that stunning red evening gown with anything.â He stepped across the threshold.
âThank you, but a pashmina doesnât cover much. Thankfully, itâs not too cold tonight.â Smiling, Melody tried not to assign any connotation to his compliment as she grabbed her purse and wrap from the nearby hall table.