Risking it all for love
She doesnât believe in love at first sight. But Rory MacPherson could change Peggyâs mind. The instant spark between them is undeniable. Heâs funny, charming and a single touch from him makes her weak in the knees. But Roryâs humanitarian aid work in Haiti has taught him to live life to the fullest, and his impulsive nature is at odds with the stability Peggy loves in Eden Harbor. When Peggyâs confronted with her past, having an outlook like Roryâs seems impossible. But so does letting go of the perfect man...
Rory blinked.
When he opened his eyes again, the woman was watching him with the brownest eyes heâd ever seen. Her face was alight with interest and awareness.
In that instant he felt a connection heâd never ever experienced. Did he know her? Did she know him? It was as if theyâd met before, but he was pretty sure they hadnât. He would have remembered this woman. She was unforgettable.
He stood there feeling like an idiot. Yet he couldnât seem to move, to break the connection. He wanted to go to her, take her hands and simply be with her.
How nuts was that?
Dear Reader,
My first goal in writing this book was to start the story in the point of view of a young man who had, without intention or expectation, fallen in love with a woman heâd never met before in his life.
His story mirrors my own love story. That is, the story of meeting someone and knowing in that instant that the person standing so close to me was the one.
We all go through our lives waiting and hoping that the one person who completes us, who makes us feel special and who makes us laugh, will appear. Sometimes that person is a complete stranger. Other times that person has been part of our lives for a very long time. Whether itâs love at first sight or a love that grows over time, Sweet on Peggy is about fulfilling the dream of finding that one special person.
This story is my gift to all of you who donât believe in love at first sight, who canât imagine simply meeting someone and knowing in that instant the possibilities offered by love. Please enjoy Peggy and Roryâs journey to happiness.
One of the great delights in my life is hearing from my readers. Please email me at [email protected], or visit my website, stellamaclean.com.
Happy reading,
Stella
STELLA MacLEAN is a multipublished Harlequin author whose passion is writing. She takes great delight in creating characters with warmth and understanding and who are open to finding love. The Life in Eden Harbor series has been one of the most rewarding writing experiences of Stellaâs life, as it gave her the opportunity to develop and expand the characters as they move through each of the three books in the series. Contact her at [email protected], and check out her website, stellamaclean.com.
This book is dedicated to the friends in our lives who are there for us, who never lose sight of the fact that we are human beings firstâmothers, wives, grandmothers or spouses second. Our lives are richer and more complete because of them.
CHAPTER ONE
RORY MACPHERSON WANTED to yell out in pain...if he didnât faint first. Dr. Brandon had been meticulously putting stitches into his forearm and was now cleaning up the blood from around the wound. Rory didnât want to admit how much it hurt. Wimping out would hardly endear him to the people of Eden Harbor, a small, tight-knit community on the coast of Maine.
âThere.â The doctor stripped off his gloves and dropped them on the table next to the stretcher where Rory sat. âAll you need is a dressing and a tetanus shot, and then Iâd like you to have some routine blood work done. The nurse will give you instructions on where to go for that.â
âA what?â Rory asked. Feeling anxious, he glanced from Dr. Brandon to the nurse.
âThe nurse will explain everything,â Dr. Brandon said, his glance swerving to the digital clock on the wall. âI have to go. The nurse will give you an appointment to see me back here in two days. Iâll check your arm, see how itâs doing. Using an electric saw can be dangerous. You were lucky.â
Rory didnât want to know any more than he had to. Medical things werenât his strong suit. Heâd discovered that about himself when he was ten and fell out of a tree, breaking his leg, requiring surgery, bandages and, of course, needles. He figured he wouldnât have to deal with that stuff anymore until he went to volunteer in Haiti for two years as a carpenter. There, he saw men working with him experience serious injuries. âThanks, doc,â Rory said, alarmed at how weak his voice sounded.
The nurse applied a dressing then picked up a syringe from the tray.