“Susan? Is everything okay?”
No response.
Rand knocked on the bedroom door, but still couldn't raise anyone. Returning to the nursery, he tapped again, then opened the door a crack.
“Susan?” He peeked inside and saw her sitting in the rocker. Both Susan and Penny were sound asleep, though even in a deep sleep, Susan held her baby protectively against her.
Relieved, Rand shook his head. Poor girl. She was so exhausted, she probably could have gone to sleep standing up. He couldn’t leave her that way. She hadn’t even taken off her high heels.
He settled the baby into her bassinet, and she didn’t stir at all. Rand watched her sleep. He would never admit it, but there was something about babies that got to him. He’d been in heaven this evening, taking over Penny’s care. The baby girl was creeping under his skin.
And so was her mother.
Dear Reader,
Every month Harlequin American Romance brings you four powerful men, and four admirable women who know what they want—and go all out to get it. Check out this month’s sparkling selection of love stories, which you won’t be able to resist.
First, our AMERICAN BABY promotion continues with Kara Lennox’s Baby by the Book. In this heartwarming story, a sexy bachelor comes to the rescue when a pretty single mother goes into labor. The more time he spends with mother and child, the more he finds himself wanting the role of dad….
Also available this month is Between Honor and Duty by Charlotte Maclay, the latest installment in her MEN OF STATION SIX series. Will a firefighter’s determination to care for his friend’s widow and adorable brood spark a vow to love, honor and cherish? Next, JUST FOR KIDS, Mary Anne Wilson’s miniseries continues with an office romance between The C.E.O. & the Secret Heiress. And in Born of the Bluegrass by Darlene Scalera, a woman is reunited with the man she never stopped loving—the father of her secret child.
Enjoy this month’s offerings, and be sure to return each and every month to Harlequin American Romance!
Wishing you happy reading,
Melissa Jeglinski
Associate Senior Editor
Harlequin American Romance
Baby by the Book
Kara Lennox
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Texas native Kara Lennox has been an art director, typesetter, advertising copy writer, textbook editor and reporter. She’s worked in a boutique, a health club and has conducted telephone surveys. She’s been an antiques dealer and briefly ran a clipping service. But no work has made her happier than writing romance novels.
When Kara isn’t writing, she indulges in an ever-changing array of weird hobbies, from rock climbing to crystal digging. But her mind is never far from her stories. Just about anything can send her running to her computer to jot down a new idea for some future novel.
Books by Kara Lennox
HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE
840—VIRGIN PROMISE
856—TWIN EXPECTATIONS
871—TAME AN OLDER MAN
893—BABY BY THE BOOK
Dear Reader,
I’ve never had the privilege of giving birth to a child myself. Perhaps that is why I find the subjects of pregnancy, birth and babies so endlessly fascinating. So when my editor, Melissa Jeglinski, asked me if I had any “baby books” on the back burner, naturally I just happened to be noodling around with an idea.
I tried to make my heroine, Susan, as clueless as I would be with a first pregnancy—and as scared, excited and overwhelmed, not to mention worried about looking fat. Poor Susan really needed help getting the hang of diapers and bottles, which made it lots of fun to pair her with Rand, a confirmed bachelor who, nonetheless, knew everything about babies.
I can only imagine what it really feels like to bring a new life into the world, but writing it from Susan’s viewpoint gives me a definite vicarious thrill. I hope you’ll share it with me.
Best,
Contents
Chapter One
Rand Barclay wrestled with the baby crib, trying unsuccessfully to reduce it to two dimensions. It had been nice and flat when he’d brought it down from the attic two years ago, when his younger sister, Alicia, had come home from the hospital with Dougy. Now it refused to fold up.
He cursed the baby bed just as Clark Best walked into the room. Clark was his employee—estate manager, majordomo, butler, maid and cook rolled into one. The man was the epitome of efficiency, competence and hard work. He also happened to be Rand’s best friend.
“Missing the little tyke already?” Clark asked, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He was up to something, but Rand had no idea what.
“The only thing I miss is my office,” Rand growled. “And I’m taking it back. Now.”
“Then let me do this.” Clark bent down, flicked some invisible lever, and the crib folded right up. He smiled smugly, his blindingly white teeth flashing in stark contrast to his dark skin. “You want it in the attic?”
“Hell, no. Burn it. There will be no more babies in this house. Maybe I’ll be able to get some work done around here.”
Clark snorted. “We’ll see about that.” He left the room, carrying the crib effortlessly under one arm. At six-foot-three and