From make-believe to matrimony? Only from USA TODAY bestselling author Katherine Garbera!
Dr. Derek Caruthers is up for the promotion of his lifeâif he can deflect his bossâs romantic designs. His solution? Single mom Bianca Velasquezâlongtime buddy turned fake fiancée. Unfortunately, heâs feeling more passionate than platonic about beautiful Bianca...
She knows the engagement is only pretend, but seeing Derek with her son and having Derekâs strong body next to hers at night feels way too real. Can she convince the stubborn bachelor that heâs ready for a spouse?
The Tycoonâs Fiancée Deal is part of the Wild Caruthers Bachelors series.
All she could think about was that big bed and Derek pleasing her.
She flushed and cleared her throat, which was suddenly very dry.
She tried to push the images out of her mindâof his naked body moving over hers. But she couldnât. She had seen him at the pool and knew his chest was solid and muscled. Now she wondered what it would feel like under her fingers.
He arched one eyebrow at her.
âWhat?â
âI think you just realized the most thrilling thing in this room is me.â
She shook her head. âThatâs a lot of talk, Caruthers.â
âAgain with you thinking itâs all ego. I promise you, itâs fact,â he said.
âAnother promise?â she asked.
âThis one Iâm happy to demonstrate,â he said. Derek stood up and drew her to her feet next to him. âDonât think. No more second-guessing. Letâs just see where it leads.â
* * *
The Tycoonâs Fiancée Deal is part of the Wild Caruthers Bachelors series: These Lone Star heartbreakersâ single days are numberedâ¦
USA TODAY bestselling author KATHERINE GARBERA writes heartwarming and sensual novels that deal with romance, family and friendship. Sheâs written more than seventy-five novels and is a featured speaker at events all over the world.
She lives in the UK with her husband and Godiva (a very spoiled miniature dachshund), and sheâs frequently visited by her university-age children, who need homecooked meals and laundry service. Visit her online at www.katherinegarbera.com.
Sometimes we get lucky enough to meet people who will be more than acquaintances, more than friends⦠Iâve always thought of these people as kindred spirits, soul sisters. Iâve been very blessed to have these women in my life and on my journey, so this book is dedicated to them. Charlotte Smith, Courtney Garbera, Linda Harris, Donna Scamehorn, Eve Gaddy, Nancy Thompson, Mary Louise Wells and Tina Crosby.
One
Derek Caruthers was a badass. He knew it and so did everyone else he passed in the halls of Coleâs Hill Regional Medical Center. He was one of the youngest surgeons in the country to have his stellar record and, aside from a few bumps along the way, he deserved his reputation as the best. Today he felt especially pleased with himself as he had been invited to meet with the overall hospital board. He was pretty sure he was going to be named the chief of cardiology as the hospital prepared to open its new cardiac surgery wing.
Mentally high-fiving himself, he entered the boardroom. Most of the members were already there but the new board member wasnât. The first item of business in todayâs meeting was to reveal who had been chosen to oversee the new cardiac wing. Derek had no idea who it would be, but given that Coleâs Hill was a small town, and heâd heard that the new board member had a local connection to Coleâs Hill, Derek was confident it would be someone he knew.
âDerek, good to see you,â Dr. Adam Brickell said, coming over to shake his hand. Dr. Brickell had been Derekâs mentor when he first started and the two men still enjoyed a close bond. The older doctor had retired two years ago and now sat on the board at the medical center. He had been the one to put Derekâs name forward for chief.
âDr. Brickell, always a pleasure,â Derek said. âIâm really looking forward to this meeting. Something I usually donât say.â
âKeep that enthusiasm, but there might be a wrinkle. What if the new board member has her own ideas about the cardiology department?â Dr. Brickell said.
âHer? Iâve yet to meet a woman I couldnât bring around to my way of thinking,â Derek said. He didnât want Dr. Brickell to see any signs of nerves or doubt in Derek. Whoever this new board member was, Derek would win them over.
Dr. Brickell laughed and clapped him on the back. âGlad to hear it.â
Derekâs phone rang and Dr. Brickell stepped away to allow him to check his call. Given that he was a surgeon he never ignored his calls.
He noticed that it was from his friend Bianca. She and he had been besties for most of their lives. It had gotten a bit awkward on his side when heâd developed the hots for her in high school but all of that had ended when sheâd moved to Paris to model, fallen in love with a champion racecar driver and married him.