Alexaâs always played it safe.
Until one wild weekend changed her world!
After a romantic fling left her breathlessâand pregnantâheiress Alexa Mayhew never expects to see Chance McClaren again. But when she bumps into him while on vacation, the truth comes out. Instant daddy Chance wants to do the right thing for his babyâand Alexa. But is the globe-trotting adventure junkie ready to give up his career to be the family man Lexi craves?
STACY CONNELLY has dreamed of publishing books since she was a kid, writing stories about a girl and her horse. Eventually, boys made it onto the pages as she discovered a love of romance and the promise of happily-ever-after. When she is not lost in the land of make-believe, Stacy lives in Arizona with her three spoiled dogs. She loves to hear from readers at [email protected] or stacyconnelly.com.
Also by Stacy Connelly
The Best Man Takes a Bride
His Secret Son Romancing the Rancher Small-Town Cinderella Daddy Says, âI Do!â Darcy and the Single Dad Her Fill-In Fiancé Temporary Bossâ¦Forever Husband
The Wedding She Always Wanted
Once Upon a Wedding
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk
ISBN: 978-1-474-07814-6
HOW TO BE A BLISSFUL BRIDE
© 2018 Stacy Cornell
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk
To Cindyâ
So glad our love of romance
(and especially of Special Edition) has brought us together as friends and fellow writers!
Chapter One
Chance McClaren took a deep breath of cool, ocean-scented air and willed his body to relax. Closing his eyes, he let the sound of the waves rushing against the rocky shoreline wash over him. Faint sunlight barely broke through the November haze, but he focused on the warmth against his skin. Gradually, his muscles started to relax. Neck, shoulders, arms. Not his right leg, but that tightness was due to more than tension.
He could do this. He could smile, he could play along. He could pretend...for as long as it took for his body to heal. For as long as it took to get the hell out of Clearville.
Opening his eyes, he hazarded a glance over his shoulder and scowled. The old lady was still there. Hovering over him. Staring down at him. Watching him.
Turning at the waist until the joints in his back popped, Chance muttered, âYouâre losinâ it, man.â
He rubbed at the back of his neck, the skin there feeling bare without the weight of the familiar camera strap. As a photojournalist, Chance had the gift of capturing a moment for everyone to see. Of making still images come alive for people half a world away.
But bringing life to a photo was one thing. Imagining that his familyâs Victorian hotel, the old lady behind him, was living, breathing, watching him... That was something else.
âPlease come, Chance,â his younger sister, Rory, had pleaded. âYou havenât been to Hillcrest House in years. Being here will be good for you.â
His sister had always loved the old gal. Chanceâs lips twitched in a smile. The hotel