Marrying Money
Maybe every single woman in the tiny town of Wilmore would marry handsome millionaire Tanner McConnell for his money, but not beautician Bailey Stephenson. First of all, she'd heard enough gossip in her own beauty shop about Tanner's past to scare her senseless.Second, she had deep roots in town–and Tanner hated Wilmore! And third, she was crazy about the man….Tanner knew that Bailey needed a hometown husband, but he wasn't going near an altar while in Wilmore. Yet he felt something for sweet, strong Bailey he hadn't felt in years. Something that might just make the richest man in town rethink his reasons for never, ever falling in love!
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Every darned woman in the world was attracted to Tanner.
And Bailey wasn’t any different, except that she had dreams and visions, and they didn’t include settling down with a man.
At least, not yet. She was only twenty-five. Not that Tanner would want anything permanent with her, anyway. Since he and his ex had split up years ago, he hadn’t dated anybody for longer than a month. And those he had dated didn’t come from West Virginia. They were New York socialites or the daughters of influential men or executive directors of charities who donated back their salaries because they didn’t need them.
Bailey was just about certain that Tanner wouldn’t consider dating the town beautician.
In the end she wouldn’t be good enough.
And plus, there were the rumors….
Dear Reader,
Get Caught Reading. It sounds slightly scandalous, romantic and definitely exciting! I love to get lost in a book, and this month we’re joining the campaign to encourage reading everywhere. Share your favorite books with your partner, your child, your friends. And be sure to get caught reading yourself!
The popular ROYALLY WED series continues with Valerie Parv’s Code Name: Prince. King Michael is still missing—but there’s a plan to rescue him! In Quinn’s Complete Seduction Sandra Steffen returns to BACHELOR GULCH, where Crystal finally finds what she’s been searching for—and more….
Chance’s Joy launches Patricia Thayer’s exciting new miniseries, THE TEXAS BROTHERHOOD. In the first story, Chance Randell wants to buy his lovely neighbor’s land, but hadn’t bargained for a wife and baby! In McKinley’s Miracle, talented Mary Kate Holder debuts with the story of a rugged Australian rancher who meets his match.
Susan Meier is sure to please with Marrying Money, in which a small-town beautician makes a rich man rethink his reasons for refusing love. And Myrna Mackenzie gives us The Billionaire Is Back, in which a wealthy playboy fights a strong attraction to his pregnant, single cook!
Be sure to Get Caught Reading!
Mary-Theresa Hussey
Senior Editor
I would like to dedicate this book
to Karen Taylor Richman for all her help over the years.
Books by Susan Meier
Silhouette Romance
Stand-in Mom #1022
Temporarily Hers #1109
Wife in Training #1184
Merry Christmas, Daddy #1192
*In Care of the Sheriff #1283
*Guess What? We’re Married! #1338
Husband from 9 to 5 #1354
*The Rancher and the Heiress #1374
†The Baby Bequest #1420
†Bringing up Babies #1427
†Oh, Babies! #1433
His Expectant Neighbor #1468
Hunter’s Vow #1487
Cinderella and the CEO #1498
Marrying Money #1519
Silhouette Desire
Take the Risk #567
SUSAN MEIER
has written category romances for Silhouette Romance and Silhouette Desire. A full-time writer, Susan has also been an employee of a major defense contractor, a columnist for a small newspaper and a division manager of a charitable organization. But her greatest joy in her life has always been her children, who constantly surprise and amaze her. Married for over twenty years to her wonderful, understanding and gorgeous husband, Michael, Susan cherishes her role as a mother, wife, sister and friend, believing them to be life’s real treasures. She not only cherishes those roles as gifts, she tries to convey the beauty and importance of loving relationships in her books.
Contents
Chapter One
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Tanner McConnell mumbled as he drove his Mercedes into a parking space in the lot of the newly remodeled church hall in Wilmore, West Virginia.
“What was that, dear?”
Recognizing he’d grumbled loud enough for his mother to hear, Tanner cleared his throat, pretending his unintentional comment had been a cough. “Nothing, Mother. Just a little frog in my throat, that’s all.”
He got out of the car and rounded the hood. Because it was a warm June evening, and fifteen minutes remained before dinner would be served, people gathered in small conversation groups around the huge oaks and flower beds that surrounded the gray block building. Most of the men yanked at their collars, uncomfortable in their suit jackets, white shirts and ties, while their wives virtually glowed in semiformal wear and fancy upswept hairdos.
As Tanner walked around the front of the car to the passenger side, his father exited the back seat of the Mercedes and opened the car door for Tanner’s mother.
“Don’t buy that cough story,” Jim McConnell said. “What Tanner mumbled was that he can’t believe we talked him into coming to this celebration dinner.” He offered a hand to his wife to assist her from her seat. “Thinks he’s too good for us now,” he added in a stage whisper, then winked.
Tanner was a replica of his green-eyed, sandy-haired father, who remained as muscled and fit as he had been in his youth when he’d taught Tanner to play football. Jim always claimed Tanner’s mother, Doris, was still as beautiful as the day he met her. Looking at her, dressed in the coral-colored cocktail suit she had purchased on a trip to New York City with Tanner a few months before, her dark auburn hair tucked into a neat chignon and just the right amount of makeup accenting her round brown eyes, Tanner believed it. He had always been proud of his parents and proud of his life. He simply didn’t want to live it in Wilmore.
