The Single Dad's Patchwork Family

Claire Baxter

Литагент HarperCollins EUR

Chase Mattner has come to tranquil, secluded Leo Bay to raise his daughter. In their house by the ocean, he plans a simple life. Regan Jantz isn't looking for distractions, either. With a tuna farm to run and two young sons to bring up alone, she's got her hands full.But as single parents, Regan and Chase form a special bond. For so long their lives have been like jigsaws without the final pieces. Could a proposal from this gorgeous single dad make them whole again?

“I don’t want to do something that will disrupt my daughter’s life. I don’t want to do anything that might get complicated.”

For a moment Regan stared. Was Chase still talking about work? Or did he mean her—them?

He caressed her cheek, smoothing his thumb lightly across the skin. A soft gasp escaped her throat when he bent his head and kissed her other cheek.

Slowly he lowered his gaze to her lips, and his warm brown eyes became intent.

Then he pulled back and stared at her. She had a moment of confused hope before reality came crashing in.

Kissing him was a bad idea. A very bad idea.

She’d been attracted to Chase since they’d met, she realized now. She’d been bewildered by the feeling.

Hadn’t accepted it. But it had been there all along.

Now it seemed that Chase might have been fighting the same feelings.

If you’re looking for fresh, sparkling and

warmly emotional stories, curl up and relax with a Claire Baxter book today!

Claire is a new Australian author who writes

feel-good, contemporary romances. She will sweep you away to gorgeous settings where you’ll meet lovable characters.

“Claire Baxter makes a noteworthy debut with Falling for the Frenchman, a sweet, sensual and sometimes funny reunion tale.”

—Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“Claire Baxter’s Best Friend…Future Wife combines a deceptively simple plot with fabulous, multi-faceted characters. It’s pure magic.”

—Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“Claire Baxter is an author who pens stories about characters that have a history, but it’s a history that will leave you spellbound.”

—www.CataRomance.com

Claire Baxter

The Single Dad’s Patchwork Family

Like many authors, Claire Baxter tried several careers before finding the one she really wanted. She’s worked as a PA, a translator (French), a public relations consultant and a corporate communications manager. She took a break from corporate communications to complete a degree in journalism and, more importantly, to find out whether she could write a romance novel—a childhood dream. Now she can’t stop writing romance. Nor does she plan to give up her fabulous lifestyle for anything. While Claire grew up in Warwickshire, England, she now lives in the beautiful city of Adelaide in South Australia, with her husband, two sons and two dogs. When she’s not writing, she’s either reading or swimming in her backyard pool—another childhood dream—or even reading in the pool. She hasn’t tried writing in the pool yet, but it could happen. Claire loves to hear from readers. If you’d like to contact her, please visit www.clairebaxter.com.

In memory of my dad (1924–2002)

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

EPILOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

REGAN JANTZ took a flute of champagne from a circulating waiter, then made her way to an alcove from where she scanned the mix of Japanese businessmen and local industry representatives.

‘You look like you don’t want to be here.’

Startled, she swung towards the deep male voice. Its owner smiled down at her. Being smiled down on wasn’t exactly a first but it was unusual enough to make Regan give him more than a cursory glance. She hadn’t realised there was someone already occupying the vantage point she’d chosen.

She pasted a professional smile on her face