The Mighty Quinns: Ryan

Surrender is the greatest sin

For adventure guide Ryan Quinn, a week in Fiji babysitting a hen party should be a cakewalk. Only, the bride turns out to be sexy movie star Serena Hightower, and the wedding turns out to be very much in question. Ryan wants to help Serena, but he’s not sure he can trust himself with her—not when she is his every temptation personified…

Serena Hightower just needs one week in paradise to figure out what she wants. Unfortunately, what she wants is the one thing she can’t have—the rugged and charming Ryan Quinn. Serena craves Ryan’s touch, the haven of his arms. But to be with him, she’ll have to risk her career and her future, not to mention his. If she throws it all away for the chance at happiness, will he do the same?

Praise for Kate Hoffmann’s Mighty Quinns

“The author continues to do a wonderful job with her

beloved Quinn family saga. A perfectly paced page-turner, this setup novel for the New Zealand Quinns is firmly in place and off to a great start.” —RT Book Reviews on The Mighty Quinns: Malcolm

“The Mighty Quinns: Malcolm is a winning combination

of exciting adventure and romance. The captivating prologue pulled me into this engaging story with characters that are likable, interesting and genuine. This is a sweet and sexy read that kept me entertained from start to finish.” —Harlequin Junkie

“Keep your fan handy! It was impossible for me

to put this steamy, sexy book down until the last page was turned.” —Fresh Fiction on The Mighty Quinns: Jack

“Sexy, heartwarming and romantic, this is a story to

settle down with and enjoy—and then reread.” —RT Book Reviews on The Mighty Quinns: Teague

“This is a fast read that is hard to tear the eyes from.

Once I picked it up I couldn’t put it down.” —Fresh Fiction on The Mighty Quinns: Dermot

Dear Reader,

It’s hard to believe another Quinn trilogy has come to an end. Every time I finish a miniseries, I always wonder where the Quinns will lead me next. This time it was New Zealand, and it was a wonderful place to research and write about. Next time? Who knows?

I expect, if I looked hard enough, I could find Quinns in every corner of the world. Don’t worry, I’ll keep looking for as long as you like to read about the family. And until we meet again…

Happy reading,

Kate Hoffmann

The Mighty Quinns: Ryan

Kate Hoffmann

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KATE HOFFMANN has written over seventy stories for Mills and Boon. Her first book was published in 1993, and last year she celebrated twenty years as a romance writer. In addition to writing, Kate’s interests include theater, music, gardening, costume design and vegetarian cooking. Kate lives in southeastern Wisconsin with her cat, Chloe, and many small dust bunnies.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Praise

Dear Reader

Title Page

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Prologue

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Prologue

THE WIND HOWLED outside the house on Gordon Road, shaking the windows. The dream had Ryan Quinn in its grip, and though he wanted to wake up, he felt as if the darkness had swallowed him whole.

In the dream, a knock sounded at the bedroom door, so loud that it shook the floor. He slowly crossed the room, the floor icy cold against his bare feet. He stopped short as the knob began to turn, the terror welling up inside of him. The door swung open and a huge figure filled the space.

Ryan’s breath came in shallow gasps as the fear overwhelmed him. He looked up from the man’s boots to his cold weather gear. The hood of the man’s jacket was pulled low over his face and Ryan watched as he brushed the hood back.

A scream tore from Ryan’s throat and he bolted up in his bed, his heart slamming against his chest. His twin brother, Rogan, pushed up from his pillow on the bed next to him, rubbing his eyes. “Jaysus, Ryan, wake up. You’re having a nightmare.”

Ryan swallowed hard, pulling the blankets up to his chin. “I’m okay. I’m okay.”

Rogan shook his head. “What was it this time?”

Since their father’s death a year ago, Ryan had had trouble sleeping. He’d been plagued with vague, unsettling dreams, dreams that reflected the grief and fear that existed in the Quinn house. But this was a new one, more vivid and frightening.

Ryan shivered, his body trembling uncontrollably. “It—it was Dad.”

Rogan crawled out of his bed and sat down on the edge of Ryan’s mattress. “Really. You saw him in your dream?”

Ryan nodded, swallowing back the fear. Tears filled his eyes and he brushed one off his cheek. “He was frozen. His face was made of ice and his eyes were black holes. And there was snow in his hair and beard.”

“Did he say anything?”

“No. But he smiled at me.”

“It was just a dream,” Rogan said.

Ryan turned to him. “Some nights, before I go to sleep, I imagine that he’s still alive. I imagine that he walked off the mountain and is living somewhere in Nepal or Tibet. That he’s safe.”

“He isn’t,” Rogan said. “Mum says that he’s dead and we need to accept that. But...sometimes I wish he was alive, too.”