Rules of Engagement. Carla Cassidy
“Tell me the truth, Kat.”
He reached out and took her by the shoulders, his piercing green eyes glittering dangerously. “You didn’t love me five years ago. You played with me. You found me vastly entertaining, but that’s all it ever was for you, right?”
“That’s not true.” The pain of that day when he’d gotten on a plane and flown out of her life radiated through her now.
Nate snorted derisively and dropped his hands from her shoulders, as if he couldn’t stand touching her. “Sure, you loved me so much you weren’t willing to sacrifice anything.”
“You asked me to be someone I’m not. But I did love you. I loved you like I’ve never loved anyone before…or since.”
And she still loved him. But it didn’t matter. He hated her and she loved him and the duration of her stay in Boston promised to be sheer heartbreaking torture.
Dear Reader,
I’ve put together a list of Silhouette Romance New Year’s resolutions to help you get off to a great start in 2004!
Play along with our favorite boss’s daughter’s mischievous, matchmaking high jinks. In Rules of Engagement (#1702) by Carla Cassidy, Emily Winters—aka the love goddess—is hoping to unite a brooding exec and feisty businesswoman. This is the fifth title in Silhouette Romance’s exclusive, six-book MARRYING THE BOSS’S DAUGHTER series.
Enjoy every delightful word of The Bachelor Boss (#1703) by the always-popular Julianna Morris. In this modern romantic fairy tale, a prim plain Jane melts the heart of a sexy playboy.
Join the fun when a cowboy’s life is turned inside out by a softhearted beauty and the tiny charge he finds on his doorstep. Baby, Oh Baby! (#1704) is the first title in Teresa Southwick’s enchanting new three-book miniseries IF WISHES WERE… Stay tuned next month for the next title in this series that features three friends who have their dreams come true in unexpected ways.
Be sure not to miss The Baby Chronicles (#1705) by Lissa Manley. This heartwarming reunion romance is sure to put a satisfied smile on your face.
Have a great New Year!
Mavis C. Allen
Associate Senior Editor
Rules of Engagement
Carla Cassidy
CARLA CASSIDY
is an award-winning author who has written over fifty books for Silhouette. In 1995, she won Best Silhouette Romance from Romantic Times for Anything for Danny. In 1998, she also won a Career Achievement Award for Best Innovative Series from Romantic Times.
FROM THE DESK OF EMILY WINTERS
Two
Six Bachelor Executives To Go
Bachelor #1: Love, Your Secret Admirer
Matthew Burke—Hmm…his sweet assistant clearly has googly eyes for her workaholic boss. Maybe I can make some office magic happen.
Bachelor #2: Her Pregnant Agenda
Grant Lawson—The guy’s a dead ringer for Pierce Brosnan—who wouldn’t want to fall into his strong, protective arms!
Bachelor #3: Fill-in Fiancée
Brett Hamilton—The playboy from England is really a British lord! Can I find him a princess…or has he found her already?
Bachelor #4: Santa Brought a Son
Reed Connors—The ambitious VP seems to have a heavy heart. Only his true love could have broken it. But where is she now?
Bachelor #5: Rules of Engagement
Nate Leeman—Definitely a lone wolf kind of guy. A bit hard around the edges, but I’ll bet there’s a tender, aching heart inside.
Bachelor #6: One Bachelor To Go
Jack Devon—The guy is so frustratingly elusive. Arrogant and implacable, too! He’s going last on my matchmaking list until I can figure out what kind of woman a mystery man like him prefers….
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter One
Nate Leeman stood at his office window and watched as big, fat snowflakes drifted lazily down from an overcast sky. It always surprised him when somebody mentioned how beautiful Boston could be in January.
As far as Nate was concerned, snow meant only one thing…longer commutes to and from the office. Many a wintry night he had camped out at work rather than fight traffic and inclement conditions. Of course most nights he’d just as soon be here as at home.
Here, was his office at Wintersoft, Inc. As Senior Vice President of Technology, he commanded a large office outfitted with a wet bar he’d never used, an ornate armoire containing a television, stereo and DVD player he’d never touched and a sofa sleeper he’d never unfolded.
All he cared about sat on his enormous desk—his state-of-the-art computer and supporting equipment. The computer and its programs and files weren’t just his work; they were his life and, despite all the security precautions, somebody had violated it.
Now his computer wasn’t alone on his big desk. A second monitor and keyboard sat next to his and the sight of it only served to heighten the irritation that had been with him since the moment he’d awakened that morning.
A knock sounded on his office door. “Come in,” he called and turned away from the window.
Emily Winters, Senior Vice President of Global Sales and the boss’s daughter, entered and immediately sat on the burgundy sofa opposite Nate’s desk. “The forecast is for two to four inches by midnight.”
“What time does her plane arrive?” he asked. Kathryn Sanderson was a private investigator specializing in tech crimes and a part of his past he’d just as soon never encounter again.
Emily looked at her watch. “In an hour.”
“Then there shouldn’t be any problems,” he replied. He hoped his personal feelings about the subject didn’t color his words or tone. As far as he was concerned he wouldn’t care if bad weather kept Kathryn’s plane circling Logan International Airport for days.
He didn’t want her here. He didn’t need her help. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the boss. Emily’s father, Lloyd, was and it had been his and Emily’s idea to hire outside help. It had been sheer serendipity that they had chosen a woman—the only woman with whom he’d shared a tumultuous history.
“I’ve booked her a room at the Brisbain so she’ll be close to the office.” Emily tucked a strand of her shoulder-length brown hair behind an ear, her blue eyes troubled as she gazed at him.
“We’ve got to get to the bottom of this, Nate. We’ve got too much time and too much money tied up in the Utopia program for it to be tampered with and leaked to our competitors.”
“Trust me, I’m as upset about this as you are,” he replied.