Honeymoon Mountain Bride

The Second Time’s the Charm…

Well, it would have to be. Because Vivian Jackson’s first honeymoon—to her creepy now-ex—was a disaster. So while the last place she would like to be at the moment is Honeymoon Mountain, she, along with her sisters, has to get her late father’s lodge ready to sell. Until she has a change of plans—and she swears that her unrequited teenage crush on former star quarterback Benjamin Hunter, Honeymoon Mountain resident, has nothing to do with it.

But old sparks burst into flames once again. And this time, Benjamin has made his intentions all too clear. The result is a night of passion—and Vivian saying those three little words: I am pregnant. Will this lead to Benjamin saying the three little words Vivian wants to hear? And a wedding…and honeymoon…on the mountain?

“I remember the time your father told me he would skin me alive if he ever caught me with one of his daughters. Scared the living daylights out of me.”

A slice of surprise caught at her. “I didn’t know he’d warned you off. So that’s why you didn’t give any of us a second look.”

“Oh, I took more than a second look. I just made sure you didn’t know it. There were plenty of times I thought about you long after my polite, Jedediah-approved chats with you.”

Vivian saw the dark hunger in his eyes she’d been sure she’d imagined all those years ago and her heart started to hammer in her chest while her stomach took a big dip. It was as if she was fifteen again and all she wanted was for Benjamin to look at her. And maybe want her a little so she didn’t feel like such a fool.

Benjamin lowered his mouth, inch by excruciating inch. She could hardly breathe and thinking was out of the question. When his lips touched hers, she couldn’t stop a soft sigh. He must have taken that as an affirmation because then he slid his hand behind her neck and deepened the pressure, exploring her mouth as if he’d been waiting a long time.

Vivian felt herself sinking into the taste and sensation of his hunger. Her body reacted like lightning, taking her completely off guard.

* * *

Honeymoon Mountain: Love on a hilltop!

Honeymoon Mountain Bride

Leanne Banks

www.millsandboon.co.uk

LEANNE BANKS is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author with over sixty-eight books to her credit. Leanne loves her family, the beach and chocolate. You can reach her at www.leannebanks.com.

This book is dedicated to all of you who encouraged me to write it and finish it! You know who you are!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“To Dad,” Vivian Jackson said, lifting her glass of cheap wine as she looked beyond the dock to the blue waters of the North Carolina lake. “Peaceful sailing.”

“Catch the big one,” her sister Temple said, lifting her glass.

“To Dad,” her youngest sister, Jillian, said. “Drop that eight-point buck with one shot right between the eyes.”

Vivian winced at the image but knew her father, Jedediah Jackson, the son of a son of a sailor, retired navy himself and hunter/fisher extraordinaire, would approve.

Although Vivian had never quite thought she’d measured up to her father’s expectations, she felt a painful sense of loss. “I almost can’t believe he’s really gone. I expect him to come down that hill from the lodge with a bait box and two fishing poles, telling me not to be afraid of worms and insects and not to throw the pole in the water when I get a little bite on the line.”

“He didn’t always know what to do with girls. I think he was hoping for a son,” Temple said.

“I’m as close as he got,” Jillian said.

Vivian couldn’t help but chuckle at her sister’s statement. With a bombshell body, bad-girl-red lips, smoky eyes and wild ways with men, platinum blonde Jilly had caused more than her share of their dear dad’s indigestion.

“Not close at all,” Temple muttered and moved her glass of wine from one hand to the other. She cleared her throat. “I hate to be a mood-killer, but I think we all know what we need to do with the lodge.”

Vivian felt a twinge of pain at giving up the lodge, even though it was the practical thing to do. “I didn’t think it would bother me,” she said, feeling a flood of memories rush through her. Staying with her father in the summers had meant she could get dirty without her mother becoming upset. Vivian had experienced her first crush here at Honeymoon Mountain Lake. The memory was more humiliating than sweet, but she didn’t want to give it all away. “Or maybe I just hoped it wouldn’t bother me.”

Temple gave her a considering glance from behind her glasses. “But you do agree we should sell it. As it is, it’s a money pit. The cabins and main house are in disrepair, and I don’t think any of us wants to sink our life’s savings into it. Plus, Dad canceled all reservations once he got truly sick. I’m not sure we’ll get our regulars back since they had to find another resort for their vacations.”