www.millsandboon.co.uk

      PATRICIA THAYER

      has been writing for sixteen years and has published over twenty books with Silhouette. Her books have been nominated for the National Readers’ Choice Award, Virginia Romance Writers of America’s Holt Medallion, Orange Rose Contest and a prestigious RITA^® Award. In 1997, Nothing Short of a Miracle won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best Special Edition.

      Thanks to the understanding men in her life—her husband of thirty-plus years, Steve, and her three grown sons and two grandsons—Pat has been able to fulfill her dream of writing romance. Another dream is to own a cabin in Colorado, where she can spend her days writing and her evenings with her favorite hero, Steve. She loves to hear from readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 6251, Anaheim, CA 92816-0251, or check her Web site at www.patriciathayer.com for upcoming books.

      My cousin and best friend Connie,

      You were there when I caught my first frog, and got my first boyfriend…and the second and the third…. The wonderful memories are endless. Although many miles separate us, you’re always in my thoughts.

      And always, Steve.

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Epilogue

      Chapter One

      If this wasn’t the worst day of his life it was damn close.

      Early Monday morning Shane Hunter turned off the highway onto the dirt-and-gravel road. Immediately the old truck’s lack of suspension had him bouncing in the seat. He eased his foot off the gas and steered to avoid the potholes. He released a breath as he glanced at the billboard sign that read Paradise Estates in bold letters. In the corner was, in smaller type, By Hunter Construction. He couldn’t help but feel pride. Barely two years ago he’d started the company, and now he was building the first phase of Haven, Arizona’s, newest housing development. Thirty-five single-family homes. Every dime he had or could borrow was wrapped up in this project. And if luck and the weather held Hunter Construction was on its way.

      His life would be nearly perfect if only he didn’t have to work for Kurt Easton. There wasn’t a resident of Haven who hadn’t heard about the Easton family’s ongoing feud with the Hunters.

      From the very start, Easton had done everything he could to push Shane off the project, especially after there had been two break-ins at the site. Not much damage was done the first time, but in the second incident several pieces of valuable equipment had been stolen. Shane hired more security, but Easton wasn’t satisfied. He’d persuaded investors to hire a project manager to keep the project on schedule and to keep an eye on Shane.

      Shane drove past the first row of the framed two-story structures. Farther down were several stacks of lumber and building supplies behind a chain link fence. He continued on to the construction trailer where he spotted his crew standing around outside. Shane checked his watch. It was after 7:00 a.m. What was going on? His crew knew their jobs. He’d given the supervisor the list of assignments last Friday. He parked his truck, climbed out and went straight to the framing foreman, Rod Hendon.

      “Rod, why is everyone standing around?”

      The foreman shook his head. “It’s not my call, Shane. The project manager said to wait until you got here.”

      Shane’s stomach knotted, and he had to fight to keep his cool. Easton would love to see him blow up over this. “Where is this project manager?”

      Rod pointed at the trailer. “Inside. And I’ll tell you right now, you aren’t going to like what you find.”

      Shane didn’t doubt it, but over the weekend his brother, Nate, had convinced him that he’d need to keep a cool head if he wanted to complete this job. Shane marched off toward the trailer. Fine, he’d work with a manager, but first they needed to get a few things straight and the sooner the better.

      Shane climbed the wooden steps, pulled open the door and stepped inside. “What the hell gives you the right to keep my crew from starting work?” He froze when he found a woman, not a man, sitting behind his desk.

      She was an auburn-haired beauty with pale, creamy skin, and a wide, inviting mouth with full, kissable lips. And when she looked up at him with those large green eyes he could only find enough air in his lungs to breathe out her name. “Mariah…”

      “Hello, Shane,” she said in that soft husky voice he could never get out of his head for the past dozen years. “It’s been a long time.”

      Not long enough to forget. He watched as she came around the desk. At five-eight, Mariah Easton was absolute perfection. She filled out a pair of faded jeans nicely. Too nicely. She wore an oversize chambray shirt that showed off her delicate frame but also hid the generous curve of her breasts. But he knew they were full and lush. Whoa. Don’t go heading down memory lane. You’ll only get into trouble. He shook his head and returned to the present.

      “If you’re waiting for your father, he isn’t here.”

      Mariah shook her head, causing her wild mane to move against her shoulders. “I’ve already talked with Dad this morning. He would have been here but I told him I wanted to handle this on my own.”

      He didn’t like the sound of this. “Handle what?”

      “I’m the new project manager.”

      This was the worst day of his life. “The hell you say.”

      Shane knew that Easton could play dirty, but no way would he ever let his precious daughter within ten feet of a Hunter, especially the no-good Hunter boy he’d run off years ago.

      Even though Mariah had had a week to prepare for this meeting, she was still nervous. Working in the construction business she’d become accustomed to men staring at her, making off-color remarks, but this man could make her blush with just a look. How had she let her dad talk her into this? The last thing she needed was Shane Hunter back in her life. How many rejections could a woman take anyway?

      She tried not to look at him, but Shane had always been hard to resist. He was six foot three and built solid. The years of heavy work had only toned his muscles. But to her it was his deep-blue eyes and that wicked grin that could melt her on the spot. Somehow she had to find a way not to think about how sexy he was and focus on business.

      “If you’d like to see my credentials and job experience…” She picked up the folder off the desk and handed it to him. “I just finished a large project in Phoenix.