Praise forNew York TimesandUSA TODAYbestselling author Brenda Jackson
âBrenda Jackson writes romance that sizzles and characters you fall in love with.â
âNew York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Lori Foster
âJacksonâs trademark ability to weave multiple characters and side stories together makes shocking truths all the more exciting.â
âPublishers Weekly
âThere is no getting away from the sex appeal and charm of Jacksonâs Westmoreland family.â
âRT Book Reviews on Feeling the Heat
âJacksonâs characters are wonderful, strong, colorful and hot enough to burn the pages.â
âRT Book Reviews on Westmorelandâs Way
âThe kind of sizzling, heart-tugging story Brenda Jackson is famous for.â
âRT Book Reviews on Spencerâs ForbiddenPassion
âThis is entertainment at its best.â
âRT Book Reviews on Star of His Heart
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The Real Thing is part of The Westmorelands series: A family bound by loyalty ⦠and love! Only from New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson and Mills & Boon>® Desireâ¢!
BRENDA JACKSON is a die âheartâ romantic who married her childhood sweetheart and still proudly wears the âgoing steadyâ ring he gave her when she was fifteen. Because she believes in the power of love, Brendaâs stories always have happy endings. In her real-life love story, Brenda and her husband of more than forty years live in Jacksonville, Florida, and have two sons.
A New York Times bestselling author of more than seventy-five romance titles, Brenda is a recent retiree who now divides her time between family, writing and traveling with Gerald. You may write Brenda at PO Box 28267, Jacksonville, Florida 32226, USA, by e-mail at [email protected] or visit her website at www.brendajackson.net.
To the love of my life, Gerald Jackson, Sr.
To my readers
who continue to inspire me to reach higher heights.
To my familyâ
the Hawks, Streaters and Randolphs who continue to support me in all my endeavors. I couldnât ask to be a part of a better family.
For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
âActs 4:20 NKJV
One
âI understand youâre in a jam and might need my help.â
In a jam was putting it mildly, Trinity Matthews thought, looking across the table at Adrian Westmoreland.
If only what heâd said wasnât true. And...if only Adrian wasnât so good-looking. Then thinking about what she needed him to do wouldnât be so hard.
When she and Adrian had first met, last year at his cousin Rileyâs wedding, he had been standing in a group of Westmoreland men. She had sized up his brothers and cousins, but had definitely noticed Adrian standing beside his identical twin brother, Aidan.
Trinity had found out years ago, when her sister Tara had married Thorn Westmoreland, that all Westmoreland men were eye candy of the most delectable kind. Therefore, she hadnât really been surprised to discover that Thornâs cousins from Denver had a lot of the same traitsâhandsome facial features, tall height, a hard-muscled body and an aura of primal masculinity.
But sheâd never thought sheâd be in a position to date one of those menâeven if it was only a temporary ruse.
Trinity knew Tara had already given Adrian some details about the situation and now it was up to her to fill him in on the rest.
âYes, Iâm in a jam,â Trinity said, releasing a frustrated breath. âI want to tell you about it, but first I want to thank you for agreeing to meet with me tonight.â
He had suggested Laredoâs Steak House. She had eaten here a few times, and the food was always excellent.
âNo problem.â
She paused, trying to ignore how the deep, husky sound of his voice stirred her already nervous stomach. âMy goal,â she began, âis to complete my residency at Denver Memorial and return to Bunnell, Florida, and work beside my father and brothers in their medical practice. That goal is being threatened by another physician, Dr. Casey Belvedere. Heâs a respected surgeon here in Denver. Heââ
âWants you.â
Trinityâs heart skipped a beat. Another Westmoreland trait sheâd discovered: they didnât believe in mincing words.
âYes. He wants an affair. Iâve done nothing to encourage his advances or to give him the impression Iâm interested. I even lied and told him I was already involved with someone, but he wonât let up. Now itâs more than annoying. Heâs hinted that if I donât go along with it, heâll make my life at the hospital difficult.â
She pushed her plate aside and took a sip of her wine. âI brought his unwanted advances to the attention of the top hospital administrator, and heâs more or less dismissed my claim. Dr. Belvedereâs family is well known in the city. Big philanthropists, I understand. Presently, the Belvederes are building a childrenâs wing at the hospital that will bear their name. Itâs my guess that the hospital administrator feels that now is not the time to make waves with any of the Belvederes. He said I need to pick my battles carefully, and this is one I might not want to take on.â