Matchmaking Baby Read online

  Table of Contents

  Cover Page

  Title Page

  Dear Reader

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Books by Cathy Gillen Thacker

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Epilogue

  Copyright

  Matchmaking Baby

  Cathy Gillen Thacker

  Dear Reader,

  Imaging a warm ocean breeze blowing gently over your skin…the heady scent of flowers mixing with the salty tang of the sea air.

  Imagine warm, sunny days filled with love, passion and excitement…strong, sexy heroes and beautiful, spirited heroines. And you are ready to step into the romantic world of Bride’s Bay.

  Created by seven authors and a team of eight wonderful editors led by Marsha Zinberg, Bride’s Bay Resort is located on a fictional island off the coast of South Carolina. Working together, we strove to create a romantic world you would never want to forget and, indeed, would want to visit again and again.

  We hope you enjoy reading the Bride’s Bay books as much as we enjoyed writing them for you.

  With best wishes,

  Cathy Gillen Thacker

  P.S. Don’t forget to catch all seven books!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Cathy Gillen Thacker believes that love and laughter go hand in hand. Not surprisingly, her warm family stories and fast-paced romantic comedies are very popular with readers. She’s written forty-four novels and numerous nonfiction articles, and her books frequently appear on the Waldenbooks bestseller list. Cathy is originally from the Midwest, but now makes her home in North Carolina with her husband and three children.

  Books by Cathy Gillen Thacker

  HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

  102—HEART’S JOURNEY

  134—REACH FOR THE STARS

  143—A FAMILY TO CHERISH

  156—HEAVEN SHARED

  166—THE DEVLIN DARE

  187—ROGUE’S BARGAIN

  233—GUARDIAN ANGEL

  247—FAMILY AFFAIR

  262—NATURAL TOUCH

  277—PERFECT MATCH

  307—ONE MAN’S FOLLY

  318—LIFETIME GUARANTEE

  334—MEANT TO BE

  367—IT’S ONLY TEMPORARY

  388—FATHER OF THE BRIDE

  407—AN UNEXPECTED FAMILY

  423—TANGLED WEB

  445—HOME FREE

  452—ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE

  456—THE COWBOY’S MISTRESS

  472—HONEYMOON FOR HIRE

  483—BEGUILED AGAIN

  494—FIANCE FOR SALE

  506—KIDNAPPING NICK

  521—BABY ON THE DOORSTEP*

  526—DADDY TO THE RESCUE*

  529—TOO MANY MOMS*

  540—JENNY AND THE FORTUNE HUNTER

  556—LOVE POTION #5

  568—MISS CHARLOTTE SURRENDERS

  587—A SHOTGUN WEDDING

  607—DADDY CHRISTMAS

  HARLEQUIN INTRIGUE

  94—FATAL AMUSEMENT

  104—DREAM SPINNERS

  137—SLALOM TO TERROR

  300—GUILTY AS SIN

  * Too Many Dads miniseries

  Don’t miss any of our special offers. Write to us at the following address for information on our newest releases.

  Harlequin Reader Service

  U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

  Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

  Prologue

  “You’re here about the envelope, aren’t you?” the attorney said.

  “It’s time. I wish it wasn’t.” The woman cast a look at the towheaded toddler beside her. Taking her by the hand, she led her over to the sofa and watched as she climbed unassisted onto the seat. Taking the envelope from the attorney, the woman sat down beside the little girl and waited until she was settled comfortably, with her back against the sofa and her legs stretched out in front of her.

  “But I have to do what is best for Emily,” the woman continued.

  At the mention of her name, eighteen-month-old Emily perked up. She watched as the woman carefully loosened the flap of the envelope with the tip of her finger and removed the enclosed instructions. As the woman read, Emily mimicked her and “read” the paper, too.

  “Oh, my,” the woman said at last, tucking the paper back into the envelope and clasping a hand to her heart. She looked at the attorney, her glance startled. “What if this doesn’t work?”

  The attorney smiled at Emily, taking in her sturdy little body, curly golden blond hair, fair skin and long-lashed blue-gray eyes. She was every parent’s dream.

  “It will,” he said confidently. “After all, who could resist such a precious little girl?”

  The woman watched as Emily removed the letter from her lap and tried to work the folded paper out of the envelope again. “You have a point there. Emily is an adorable child.”

  “Besides—” the attorney gestured to the letter “—we have a legal and moral obligation to at least try it that way first.” He paused. “We both promised that when the time came we would do what was requested of us.”

  “You’re right of course,” the woman said, sighing. “And I will keep my word. I’ll just have to trust that the plan is a good one and that everything will work out in Emily’s best interests.”

  “Here’s something that should help.” The attorney handed over a video cassette marked simply, “For Emily.”

  The woman accepted the cassette gratefully as Emily finally managed to clumsily pull the letter from the envelope and open it. Again the little girl pretended to read. “Oh, my,” she said, clasping a hand to her chest.

  The woman and the attorney chuckled softly at Emily’s mimicry.

  “She certainly is growing up fast,” the attorney said, gazing at the toddler fondly.

  “Too fast, I sometimes think,” the woman said with another sigh.

  Sensing something was going on, Emily studied the attorney and then the woman beside her. Abruptly losing interest in the letter and envelope she tossed them aside and scrambled onto the woman’s lap.

  “Kiss!” she shouted enthusiastically, determined, it seemed, to make her guardian feel better. Wreathing her tiny arms about the woman’s neck, she kissed her cheek and hugged her fiercely.

  The woman hugged and kissed her back, wishing she didn’t have to let Emily go. Yet she knew she had no choice but to follow the instructions she’d been given. She’d move heaven and earth to see that Emily had the wonderful home and caring parents she deserved. And if this was the only way to get those for her, Emily’s guardian thought determinedly, then so be it.

  “Are you ready for this?” she asked Emily thickly.

  Emily gurgled in response. She drew back to look at the woman’s face, waved both her arms and smiled again. Then, tinkering with a gold pin on the woman’s blouse, Emily said, “Geh Mama.”

  Chapter One

  “This can’t be right,” Joanie Griffin moaned.

  It was early Wednesday afternoon, and she was reading the memo Elizabeth Jermain had sent to all staff members. As concierge, Joanie thought she knew everything that was going on at the prestigious Jermain Island resort. Apparently not.

  “What can’t be right?” Liz Jermain, Elizabeth’s granddaughter and the hotel manager, asked, stepping into Joanie’s office behind the front desk. As always, Liz was
dressed chicly, today in a short lavender sheath, her long, brown hair was drawn back in a chignon.

  Joanie pointed to the memo bearing the Bride’s Bay Resort logo. “Do you know anything about this?”

  “Sure,” Liz said, crossing her arms and resting a hip against the built-in credenza opposite Joanie’s antique cherry desk. “I recommended Steve Lantz be hired as keynote speaker for the mentoring conference this week. You know, the one where college students learn how to mentor underprivileged kids and help them stay in school. Why that look? Do you know him?”

  All too well, Joanie thought. “I think the question is, since his shaving-cream commercials started airing on television almost two years ago, who doesn’t know him? The man is reportedly a lady-killer extraordinaire.”

  “And a two-time Olympic gold medalist,” Liz added. “Besides, those stories about him bedding every woman he meets are greatly exaggerated.”

  Joanie glanced heavenward. She knew the lust Steve Lantz could inspire. “I suppose he gave you his word on that?” Joanie returned, doing her best to hide the torrent of confused feelings welling up inside her.

  “As a matter of fact, he did.” Liz paused. She stepped closer and peered into Joanie’s face. “But you don’t believe it, do you?”

  “I think where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And in Steve Lantz’s case, there’s plenty of smoke,” Joanie said decisively.

  “Sounds to me like you’re the one with the fire,” a deep voice said from the doorway. Joanie turned to see Steve Lantz leaning against the portal.

  It had been two years, three months, four days and six hours since she’d last seen him. And he hadn’t changed a bit. At six foot six, he still had the honed-to-perfection body of a champion swimmer and the heart-stopping good looks of an all-American, all-around good guy, which was, she supposed, what had made him so popular as a motivational speaker and celebrity spokesperson for a variety of products. Since the Olympics, he had spoken at gatherings nationwide and sold everything from chicken noodle soup to suntan lotion, swim gear and designer warm-ups to shaving cream. And why not, with his knowing glances, burnished gold hair and dazzling white smile, he was every woman’s fantasy man. Every woman’s except hers, she thought.

  “Hello, Joanie,” he said, his eyes moving over her. He smiled and took another step closer. “Nice to see you. Again.”

  “SO YOU TWO KNOW each other?” Liz asked.

  “No,” Joanie said quickly. She’d just thought she knew him, which was, in retrospect, utterly ridiculous after just one week. “We don’t.”

  “Yes,” Steve said simultaneously, his gaze sweeping Joanie’s pink-and-gray checked jacket, pale pink silk blouse and slim gray skirt approvingly. “We do.”

  Liz looked from one to the other. “So which is it?” she asked. “Do you two know each other or don’t you?”

  “We met several years ago, when Steve was on vacation in Myrtle Beach and I was working at a hotel there,” Joanie said, knowing Liz would find out sooner or later if she didn’t fess up now. “I wouldn’t say we were anything more than casual acquaintances, however, if even that.”

  “But we would have been, if you hadn’t run off in a temper,” Steve countered.

  Joanie stood and stepped from behind her desk, planting her hands on her hips. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather not discuss that.”

  “I’m sure you wouldn’t,” he agreed mildly.

  “I wouldn’t mind hearing,” Liz interjected. “I’m always in the mood for a good story.”

  “There’s nothing to tell,” Joanie said, but her cheeks flamed as she made her denial.

  Liz looked at Steve for confirmation. “Joanie and I never did see eye to eye,” he said by way of answer.

  “Meaning?” Liz asked Steve pointedly.

  His eyes still on Joanie, Steve shrugged his broad shoulders. “I think the two of us have plenty to talk about, or at least we would have,” he said, “if Joanie hadn’t overreacted and run away.”

  “Well, Joanie, now I understand why you’re upset, anyway,” Liz said.

  “I am not upset!” Joanie snapped. With a swift about-face she marched into the lobby, her mane of hair billowing behind her, Steve and Liz both hard on her heels. “I just have a lot to do today,” Joanie said as she stepped behind the check-in counter and cast a look at the spacious lemon yellow lobby, with its gleaming wood floors. Bright spring sunshine streamed in through the floor-toceiling windows flanking the front doors. She bent beneath the counter, rummaged around and came up with a three-foot blue-and-white rope with a loop on the end. “We have a group of college kids checking in today for their annual Mentoring At-Risk Children seminar. A woman from Kansas—Mrs. Frances Flannagan—whose reservation was mysteriously lost, needs to be put up in one of the guest cottages until a room here in the hotel becomes available. And there’s a lost puppy, roaming the grounds.”

  Liz nodded, knowing as did Joanie that all this was par for the course. “Joanie, would you get Steve his key?”

  Joanie forced a nonchalant smile. “Where are you putting him?” she asked Liz.

  “I haven’t decided. Would you prefer a suite on the first or second floor?” Liz asked Steve.

  “Actually I’d prefer to be housed away from the main hotel and guest cottages so I won’t be overwhelmed by convention guests. Perhaps you have something in the staff quarters?” he suggested affably.

  “Unit 108 is available,” Liz replied.

  “Perfect.” Steve smiled.

  It was all Joanie could do not to swear. She was in unit 110, which meant they’d be side by side. Trying hard not to imagine how difficult that was going to be, seeing Steve coming and going at all hours of the day and night, Joanie used her front desk key to open the drawer beneath the counter. Inside were keys to all the rooms in the hotel, guest cottages and staff quarters arranged by number in little trays. She picked up the key marked 108 and handed it to him. “Here you go,” she said, making an effort to sound polite.

  His hand grazed hers as they transferred the key; his palm was as warm and strong as she recalled, her reaction to his touch just as potent.

  “Would you mind showing Steve to his quarters?” Liz asked.

  “There’s no need to trouble Joanie,” Steve said. “I can see she’s very busy.”

  Joanie’s breath lodged in her throat. He was up to something; she knew it. There was no way his taking a speaking job here was a simple coincidence, because unlike her, he hadn’t seemed the least bit surprised to see her. So he must have known she worked at Bride’s Bay and come, anyway. What did that mean? What did she want it to mean?

  Joanie slid a trembling hand into the pocket of her blazer. The last thing she needed was to have her heart broken by Steve again. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a puppy to track down.” And avoiding what she was certain was Steve’s assessing look, she turned and strode out of the hotel.

  “SORRY ABOUT THAT,” Steve said to Liz after Joanie left. He’d known his appearance would shock and perhaps even irritate Joanie initially. But maybe it was good they’d gotten it out of the way. Maybe when Joanie calmed down they would be able to talk reasonably again. At least he hoped so.

  Liz Jermain pulled a map of the resort from beneath the counter and handed it to Steve, then led him down a long hall and out the back way. They paused a moment, letting their eyes adjust to the brightness of the sun. The sharp salt tang of the Atlantic lent an invigorating crispness to the early-spring air, while the absence of traffic and crowds added to the overall tranquillity of this island paradise off the coast of South Carolina.

  They walked across the veranda of the two-story white brick mansion, which was, in fact, an old plantation home. Black wrought-iron railing and white Corinthian columns edged the porches on both floors. On either side of the gracious rectangular home was a half-circle wing. Long black-shuttered windows overlooked the immaculate lawns.

  “You didn’t mention you knew Joanie,” Liz said.

 
“If I had, would it have kept you from recommending me?”

  “It wouldn’t have influenced me one way or the other,” Liz responded, as they walked down the half-dozen steps that led to a path.

  Passing a beautiful formal garden and a swimming pool, they finally reached the converted stables that housed the staff. A low wall and flower beds surrounded the two-story building, adding to the quaint, homey appeal of the staff quarters. Sea gulls swooped and circled overhead.

  “We consider all our staff, including relatively new employees like Joanie, to be part of one big family. But in the final analysis I do what’s best for the resort.” Liz turned onto the sidewalk that led straight to Steve’s door on the main floor.

  “I won’t let you down,” Steve said, shortening his step to keep pace with her.

  Liz gave him a contemplative look as she paused in front of the covered portico with its latticework sides. The door behind her bore the gold-plated number 108. “But you have let Joanie down in the past,” she guessed.

  Steve didn’t mind Liz’s question; he knew she was only protecting her friend. He dropped his head, knowing he should never have let Joanie go. “She just thinks I did. It’s a misconception I intend to correct,” he stated firmly.

  And he’d known the moment he saw her today, sitting behind that desk, that he’d done the right thing in tracking her down and coming after her at long last.

  And it wasn’t just because she was gorgeous in her breezy, girl-next-door way, or because she had the loveliest golden hair and the most incredibly beautiful, long-lashed baby blue eyes he’d ever seen. Or because she’d greeted him like a duchess greeting a lowly serf. He was drawn to her for reasons that went beyond her soft, kissable lips and her high cheekbones and her flawless skin. He was drawn to her for how she made him feel.

  She might want to believe what they’d felt was ordinary; but after two-plus years of looking high and low to replace the passion and excitement he’d felt with Joanie, he knew what they’d shared was anything but ordinary. Maybe Joanie hadn’t realized that, but she would one day soon, he promised himself silently.