Marrying Molly Read online

  Christine Rimmer

  Marrying Molly

  Table Of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chater Tirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  About the Author

  New Releases

  "Well, well. Look who's here."

  Tate squinted into the darkness, still not believing that Molly O'Dare, big as life and twice as exasperating, sat in his leather-seated rocker. Without saying anything, he held back the covers so she could climb into bed with him where she belonged.

  "Fat chance," she muttered.

  "Then, if you don't mind me asking, what the hell are you doing in my bedroom at—" he paused to peer at the bedside clock "—two in the morning?"

  Molly crossed her beautiful legs and folded her, hands. "I've got...news, I guess you could say."

  Tate felt the cold kiss of dread at his cheek and a kind of creepy hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. If Molly had news for him, it probably wouldn't be good.... "Spit it out."

  And that was just what she did. "I'm pregnant, Tate Bravo. Sometime next January, you're going to be a dad...."

  And that was it. Before Tate could collect his wits and stop her, she turned, threw a slim leg up over the sill and slipped out the window the way she had come.

  Dear Reader,

  It's October, the time of year when crisper temperatures and waning daylight turns our attention to more indoor pursuits— such as reading! And we at Silhouette Special Edition are happy to supply you with the material. We begin with Marrying Molly, the next in bestselling author Christine Rimmer's BRAVO FAMILY TIES series. A small-town mayor who swore she'd break the family tradition of becoming a mother before she becomes a wife finds herself nonetheless in the very same predicament. And the father-to-be? The very man who's out to get her job....

  THE PARKS EMPIRE series continues with Lois Faye Dyer's The Prince's Bride, in which a wedding planner called on to plan the wedding of an exotic prince learns that she's the bride-to-be! Next, in The Devil You Know, Laurie Paige continues her popular SEVEN DEVILS miniseries with the story of a woman determined to turn her marriage of convenience into the real thing. Patricia Kay begins her miniseries THE HATHAWAYS OF MORGAN CREEK, the story of a Texas baking dynasty (that's right, baking!), with Nanny in Hiding, in which a young mother on the run from her abusive ex seeks shelter in the home of Bryce Hathaway—and finds so much more. In Wrong Twin, Right Man by Laurie Campbell, a man who feels he failed his late wife terribly gets another chance to make it up—to her twin sister. At least he thinks she's her twin.... And in Wendy Warren's Making Babies, a newly divorced woman whose ex-husband denied her the baby she always wanted, finds a willing candidate—in the guilt-ridden lawyer who represented the creep in his divorce!

  Enjoy all six of these reads, and come back again next month to see what's up in Silhouette Special Edition.

  Take care,

  Gail Chasan

  Senior Editor

  Please address questions and book requests to: Silhouette Reader Service

  U.S.: 3010 WaldenAve., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269 Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

  Published by Silhouene Books America's Publisher of Contemporary Romance

  If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as "unsold and destroyed" to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this "stripped book."

  For those of you who follow the

  Bravos, here they are,

  Texas-style!

  SILHOUETTE BOOKS

  ISBN 0-373-24639-0

  MARRYING MOLLY

  Copyright © 2004 by Christine Rimmer

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  ® and TM are trademarks of Harlequin Books S.A., used under license. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.

  Visit Silhouette Books at www.eHarlequin.com Printed in U.S.A.

  Books by Christine Rimmer

  Silhouette Special Edition

  Double Dare #646

  Slow Larkin 's Revenge #698

  Earth Angel #719

  *Wagered Woman #794

  Born Innocent #833

  *Man of the Mountain #886

  *Sweetbriar Summit #896

  *A Home for the Hunter #908

  For the Baby's Sake #925

  *Sunshine and the Shadowmaster #979

  *The Man, Tlie Moon and The Marriage Vow #1010

  *No Less Titan a Lifetime #1040

  *Hoheymoon Hotline #1063

  *The Nine-Month Marriage #1148

  *Marriage by Necessity #1161

  *Practically Married #1174

  *A Hero for Sophie Jones #1196

  *Dr. Devastating #1215

  *Husband in Training #1233

  *Married by Accident #1250

  *Cinderella's Big Sky Groom #1280

  *A Doctor's Vow #1293

  *The Millionaire She Married #1322

  *The M.D. She Had To Marry #1345

  *The Tycoon's Instant Daughter # 1369

  *The Marriage Agreement #1412

  * The Marriage Conspiracy #1423

  **His Executive Sweetheart #1485

  **Mercury Rising #1496

  **Scrooge and the Single Girl #1509

  The Reluctant Princess # 1537

  Prince and Future...Dad? #1556

  The Marriage Medallion #1567

  & 50 Ways To Say...I'm Pregnant #1615

  & Marrying Molly #1639

  Silhouette Desire

  No Turning Back #418

  Call It Fate #458

  Temporary Temptress #602

  Hard Luck Lady #640

  Midsummer Madness #729

  Counterfeit Bride #812

  Cat's Cradle #940

  Midnight Rider Takes a Bride #1101

  Silhouette Books

  Fortune's Children

  Wife Wanted

  *The Taming of Billy Jones

  The Bravo Billionaire

  Montana Mavericks:

  Big Sky Brides

  "Suzanna"

  Lone Star Country Club

  Stroke of Fortune

  Lone Star Country Club:

  The Debutantes

  *Reinventing Mary

  *The Jones Gang

  *Conveniently Yours

  **The Sons of Caitlin Bravo

  **Viking Brides

  §Bravo Family Ties

  CHRISTINE RIMMER

  came to her profession the long way aro
und. Before settling down to write about the magic of romance, she'd been everything from an actress to a phone sales representative to a playwright. Christine is grateful not only for the joy she finds in writing, but for what waits when the day's work is through: a man she loves, who loves her right back, and the privilege of watching their children grow and change day to day. She lives with her family in Oklahoma. Visit Christine at her new home on the Web at www.christinerimmer.com.

  THE BRAVOS: HEROES, HEROINES AND THEIR STORIES

  THE NINE-MONTH MARRIAGE (SSE #1148)

  —Cash Bravo and Abby Heller

  MARRIAGE BY NECESSITY (SSE #1161)

  —Nate Bravo and Megan Kane

  PRACTICALLY MARRIED (SSE #1174)

  —Zach Bravo and Tess DeMarley

  MARRIED BY ACCIDENT (SSE #1250)

  —Melinda Bravo and Cole Yuma

  THE MILLIONAIRE SHE MARRIED (SSE #1322)

  —Jenna Bravo and Mack McGarrity

  THE M.D. SHE HAD TO MARRY (SSE #1345)

  —Lacey Bravo and Logan Severance

  THE MARRIAGE AGREEMENT (SSE #1412)

  —Marsh Bravo and Tory Winningham

  THE BRAVO BILLIONAIRE (Single Title)

  —Jonas Bravo and Emma Hewitt

  MARRIAGE: OVERBOARD

  —Gwen Bravo McMillan and Rafe McMillan

  (Weekly Serial at www.eHarlequin.com)

  THE MARRIAGE CONSPIRACY (SSE #1423)

  —Dekker (Smith) Bravo and Joleen Tilly

  HIS EXECUTIVE SWEETHEART (SSE #1485)

  —Aaron Bravo and Celia Tuttle

  MERCURY RISING (SSE #1496)

  —Cade Bravo and Jane Elliott

  SCROOGE AND THE SINGLE GIRL (SSE #1509)

  —Will Bravo and Jillian Diamond

  FIFTY WAYS TO SAY...I'M PREGNANT (SSE #1615)

  —Starr Bravo and Beau Tisdale

  Chapter One

  "Tate. Wake up, Tate."

  Sound asleep, Tate Bravo heard the taunting whisper. He knew the voice. Molly. Damn her. What right did she have to come creeping into his dreams?

  And why so often? Seemed like not a night went by that she didn't appear to torment him.

  "Hey. Pssst. Tate..."

  With a groan, Tate pulled a pillow over his head. "Go 'way, Molly," he muttered, still half-asleep. "Get outta my dreams..."

  "Tate Bravo, wake up."

  Tate opened his eyes under the pillow. He blinked. "Molly?" He tossed the pillow away and sat up. The window opposite the foot of the bed was open, letting in the warm wind from outside. And Molly O'Dare sat in the leather-seated rocker in the corner, not far from that open window.

  "Huh?" Tate squinted into the darkness, still not quite believing it could really be her. But it was. Molly O'Dare, big as life and twice as exasperating. Even through the shadows, with all her clothes on, he knew the shape of her and couldn't mistake the wheat-gold gleam to her hair or the velvety curve of her baby-soft cheek. Her perfume came to him on the night breeze; flowers and musk all mingled together in a scent that seemed specifically created to drive a man wild.

  Tate indulged in a slow, knowing smile. "Well, well. Look who's here." He thought a few things he had the good sense not to say. Things like, Couldn't stay away, could you? and I knew you'd be back.

  But no. He wasn't going to gloat, at least not out loud. He'd missed having her warm, soft body beside him in bed. Missed it a lot—much more than he ever intended to let her know. Now that she was finally here, he wasn't doing anything to send her off in a snit.

  Keeping his mouth firmly shut, he helpfully held back the covers so she could climb in bed with him where she belonged.

  "Fat chance," she muttered. Her tone was not the least bit lustful.

  Irritation borne of frustrated desire sizzled beneath his skin. But he didn't let her rile him. Not this time. Calm as you please, he gave her a shrug and tucked the blanket back in place. "Then if you don't mind my asking, what the hell are you doing in my bedroom at—" he paused to peer at the bedside clock "—two in the morning?"

  Molly, in a short skirt and a tight-fitting white top that seemed to gleam in the darkness, rocked back in the chair. She crossed those beautiful legs and folded her hands in her lap. "I've got...news, I guess you could say."

  Though he was known to be tougher than a basket of snakes, at that moment, Tate Bravo felt the cold kiss of dread at his cheek and a kind of creepy hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. If Molly had news for him, it probably wouldn't be good.

  Tate speared his fingers through his sleep-scrambled hair and let out a low growl of pure suspicion. Why the hell was she here? His best guess, being as how a little hot sex seemed ruled out, was that she must have come up with some new way to rescue the needy—at great expense to the town coffers, of course.

  As he had a million times in the past six months, Tate cursed the day Molly managed to get herself elected mayor of his town. It was the women who'd done it. They all hung out at Molly's beauty shop. When she'd decided to run for mayor, they rallied around her, making it possible for her to claim fifty-four percent of the vote.

  If you asked Tate, Molly's mayorship had been a disaster from the get-go. To Tate's mind—and to the minds of every other red-blooded businessman and responsible citizen in town—Molly O'Dare had been the worst thing to happen to Tate's Junction, Texas, since a disgruntled contingent of Comanche warriors on the run from the Oklahoma reservation took over the place for three days back in 1886.

  It was a problem of comprehension, Tate thought. Molly refused to comprehend the way things worked.

  She insisted on thinking independently. A very bad choice, as everyone knew that the job of mayor required no thinking at all. It was so simple. Tate Bravo, like his grandfather before him, decided what needed doing. Tate informed the mayor and the town council. They voted as per his instructions. And Tate got what he wanted for the town's betterment.

  It had always been done that way.

  Until Molly.

  From her first town council meeting, Molly refused to do things the way they'd always been done. Molly thought independently and came up with a lot of very bad ideas. When Tate wanted a bond issue, she wanted a sales tax increase. When Tate proposed a plan to improve parking access on Center Street, Molly fought him tooth and nail. Making it easier for the townsfolk to spend money on Center Street could wait, she said, brown eyes flashing, those gorgeous full breasts of hers stuck out high and proud. Oh, no, she'd insisted. Top priority should be putting her plan in place for indigent and shut-in care.

  Truth was, Tate had his head screwed on straight when it came to what was best for the Junction—and Molly didn't. Sure, he was all for helping out the needy. But the priority had to be supporting what kept any town running: business and commerce. Molly, a businesswoman herself, ought to have known that. But as mayor, she'd been all heart and no sense, and that was a plain fact.

  Tate had been seething with fury since the day she won that damned election. And since their constant head-butting struck sparks in more ways than one, he'd also burned to get her into bed.

  And he did get her into bed—a few months back. For a marvelous and thoroughly stimulating three weeks, that ripe, lush body of hers was his. In bed, he ruled her. However, once on her feet and wearing her clothes, Molly O'Dare continued to be the usual sharp thorn in his side.

  Tate leaned forward a little, straining to see her better. No doubt about it. Tonight, those amber-brown eyes had a strange light in them—determined and angry at the same time. Not good.

  "I have debated," she continued bleakly, "debated for a couple of weeks now, whether to tell you this. I don't want to tell you this. But I can't see any way around it in the end, being as how this is not something that I plan to hide. And since you're bound to know eventually, I've decided you might just as well know sooner as later. You can start getting used to it. You can start figuring out how you plan to deal with it—because, one way or another, you are going to be dealing wi
th it."

  Tate dragged himself back against the hand-hammered copper inlay of his bed's massive headboard and reached over to switch on the lamp. In the golden spill of light it provided, he could see the sneer on her soft mouth and the dark circles under those pretty eyes. Something warm and uneasy curled through him. It might have been concern for her. She really didn't look right.

  What the hell was going on? "Spit it out," he commanded.

  And that was just what she did. "I'm pregnant, Tate Bravo. Over two months along. Sometime next January, you're going to be a dad." She stood, leaving the rocker pitching back and forth behind her. "Your mouth is hanging open," she said.

  And that was it. Before Tate could collect his scattered wits and stop her, she turned, threw a slim leg up over the sill and slipped out the window the way she had come.

  Chapter Two

  "Molly, sweetie, don't you get those scissors near me with your eyes all glazed over like that."

  Molly blinked. She glanced at the scissors in her hand and then into the mirror, where she met the wary eyes of Betty Stoops. Red-haired and stick-skinny, Betty sat caped and shampooed in Molly's styling chair, ready for her monthly cut. "Sorry, Betty. Just thinking..."

  About Tate Bravo, of course. Molly was feeling a tad guilty over the way she'd handled things the night before.

  Okay, so maybe sneaking in through his bedroom window, delivering the big news and then jumping back out the window again hadn't been the most tactful approach to the problem. But she had said what needed saying. Discussion of the whole mess could wait.

  Molly began snipping at Betty's thinning hair. "So now, how has Titus been doing?"