Daniella giggled. "With you as his mentor, I'm sure he'll make the future love of his life very happy."
Tommy had trashed Leo's original proposal. Garrett-Reynolds Engineering opened its doors that same week and the payoff for becoming full partners had been immeasurable. Not only did Leo have a lot of fun, but for the first time, his profit flowed directly from his hand instead of via carefully constructed financing agreements. Leo was right in the middle of every aspect of the business and it fulfilled him in ways he could never completely comprehend.
Without Daniella, he never would have taken that step. She'd invested in his potential and given him a makeover from the inside out. He'd gladly spend the rest of his life loving her for it.
"How're things going in there?" Leo spread his hand across Daniella's abdomen and the thought of their child eventually being inside tightened his throat with awe and tenderness.
"Not pregnant yet. Though certainly not from lack of trying." Her grin warmed his heart. Everything about her warmed his heart, touching him in places he didn't even know existed. "It's only a matter of time."
"We must try harder. I insist."
A baby was one of many possibilities he eagerly anticipated, owing to his new perspective on marriage. And life in general.
Leo kissed his wife and it felt like the beginning of something that would take a very long time to finish-forever.
* * * * *
Don't miss the next two books in the HAPPILY EVER AFTER, INC. trilogy from Kat Cantrell:
MATCHED TO A PRINCE
Available August 2014
MATCHED TO HER RIVAL
Available September 2014
If you liked this marriage of convenience tale, you'll love Kat Cantrell's
MARRIAGE WITH BENEFITS
Available now, from Harlequin Desire!
Keep reading for an excerpt from WHEN OPPOSITES ATTRACT... by Jules Bennett.
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Ten years ago one devastating night changed everything for Austin, Hunter and Alex. Now they must each play their part in the revenge against the one man who ruined it all.
Austin Treffen has the plan … Hunter has the money … Alex has the power!
Read each of their stories in the captivating Fifth Avenue trilogy,
only from Harlequin Presents:
Avenge Me by Maisey Yates (June 2014)
Scandalize Me by Caitlin Crews (July 2014)
Expose Me by Kate Hewitt (August 2014)
And don't miss the Fifth Avenue prequel that started it all, Take Me, by Maisey Yates!
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One
With a nice, round backside greeting him as he stepped over the threshold of the fancy stables, Grant Carter was more certain than ever that accepting this film project was not only a chance of a lifetime, it was a gift from God.
He might be looking to settle down and calm his ways, but to ignore the perfection displayed before him would be a sin. Besides, Grant knew his place, and he hadn't worked this hard in Hollywood to blow it just because temptation seemed to be glaring right in his face. Literally.
Temptation would have to wait, because producing a film revolving around horse-racing icon Damon Barrington was an opportunity he couldn't pass up … no matter the nightmares that followed him here.
The shapely woman in front of him might be a slight distraction, but that's all she could be. The new clause typed up in his contract had been reinforced before his arrival at Stony Ridge. Apparently, fraternizing with anyone involved in this film was a no-no. Shame, that.
Besides, even without the clause, nothing could cripple him more than being thrust back into the world of horses. But he could compartmentalize and he could be a professional on set. He simply couldn't let personal conflicts pass the barrier he'd built around his heart.
Grant eyed the round bottom hugged by tight black riding pants. Damn clause and personal demons.
The familiar smells of the straw, the feed, the leather saddles; the sight of beautiful Thoroughbreds … The combination brought back memories-memories that had no place in his life. Especially now.
Concentrate on the backside. A body like that could surely cure all ails. Even if she was off-limits, he had already taken a mental picture to fuel fantasies.
"Excuse me. Can you tell me where I can find Tessa Barrington?" he asked, carefully stepping farther into the stables, straw crunching beneath his new boots.
The petite, yet curvy woman stood up, turned and slid the vibrant red ponytail back over her shoulder. And he'd be a complete liar if he tried to deny the punch to the gut he felt when those sapphire eyes landed on him. In an instant, he wondered how many times she'd used those intriguing eyes to lure a man into her clutches.
Between the body and the face, she was a stunner, but he wouldn't be as clichéd as to say so. No doubt she had men falling all over her, and he refused to be so predictable.
"Are you the producer?" she asked, setting aside the brush she'd been using on the horse.
"One of them. Grant Carter." He closed the gap between them and extended his hand.
"I'm Tessa."
Surprise slid through him, but he prevented himself from dropping his jaw … just barely. So, he'd been admiring the beautiful jockey. Interesting.
When she propped her hands on her slender waist, just above her flared hips, he nearly swallowed his tongue. That sweet little package all wrapped in denim and plaid? Who knew he had a thing for country girls? Of course, Tessa Barrington was hardly just a country girl. This woman put the fear of God in most male jockeys, trainers and owners, if rumor served correctly.
"My father said you'd be arriving today." She gripped his hand, her gaze sliding down to his feet. "Pretty shiny boots you got there, Slick. We'll have to scuff those up a bit."
He couldn't help but smile at her piercing glare, her judgmental words. A woman who didn't hold back and wasn't throwing herself at him? He liked her already.
When she pulled her hand from his, Grant hated how such delicate features had calluses on them, but he knew this jockey took her lifestyle seriously. She didn't get to be the number-one contender in the country by sitting on the sidelines sipping mint juleps and wearing oversize hats.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," he told her, offering a smile. "I have to say, you're quite impressive."
A perfectly sculpted brow lifted as she crossed her arms beneath her breasts.
Grant laughed. "That didn't come out right."
Seriously? Was he in high school and suddenly unable to form an intelligent sentence?
"What I meant to say was I'm impressed with your talents."
Damn it. Nothing was working for him right now.
"I'm assuming you mean because of my racing," she replied, her brow still raised.
Relieved that she'd let him off the hook, he tilted his head. "I know you have a busy schedule-"
"It's beyond busy, Mr. Carter."
"Call me Grant," he told her, cutting off that curt tone. "We'll be spending a great deal of time together over the next couple of weeks."
Tessa turned, picked up the brush and stepped back into the stall with the stud. "Mr. Carter-"
"Grant," he reminded her with a grin.
Her eyes darted to his, then back to the horse she'd been brushing. "Mr. Carter, my schedule is pretty tight. I came up with a spreadsheet so you can see when I'm practicing, when I'm working in the stables and when I have time blocked off for you. Your area on the sheet is green. I would like to stick to this spreadsheet, but if you have other engagements during our time, I can attempt to rework it."