Millionaire Dad: Wife Needed

NATASHA OAKLEY

Nick Regan-Phillips: a millionaire, whom the world assumes has it all…but he's got a secret that he's kept from the world–he's a single dad. Nick's daughter, Rosie, is deaf. Nick missed the first five years of Rosie's life, but now she's come to live with him he's struggling to communicate with her….Lydia Stanford: beautiful, courageous, award-^nnning journalist. And seemingly the only person who can help Nick forge a bond with his daughter…"But when their fragile relationship is tested, will , Lydia realize how much this millionaire dad really means to her–and needs her–before it is too late?

Dear Reader,

Who was it who said “You make your plans and then life happens?” Certainly that’s true of my life.

It’s also true for Nick and Lydia in this story. By the end of this book they’ve learned a great deal about themselves…and each other. For Nick, full-time parenting is something of a challenge. And Lydia—well, she has to sort out what her dreams really are before she finds her happy ending. Just like all of us!

The British sign language Nick’s daughter, Rosie, uses to communicate is a particular passion of mine.

It all began for me when I was in an open-air production of Much Ado About Nothing, which was “signed” once a week. Sitting in the bushes waiting for my next entrance, I had a perfect view of the interpreter—who was amazing. I fell in love. Not with the man himself, although he was quite gorgeous, but with the language.

I’m now a qualified communicator—and in a few years I’m sure Nick will join me.

With love,

Natasha

NATASHA OAKLEY

told everyone at her primary school she wanted to be an author when she grew up. Her plan was to stay at home and have her mum bring her coffee at regular intervals—a drink she didn’t like then. The coffee addiction became reality, and the love of storytelling stayed with her. A professional actress, Natasha began writing when her fifth child started to sleep through the night. Born in London, she now lives in Bedfordshire with her husband and young family. When not writing, or needed for “crowd control,” she loves to escape to antiques fairs and auctions. Find out more about Natasha and her books on her Web site—www.natashaoakley.com (http://www.natashaoakley.com).

Millionaire Dad: Wife Needed

Natasha Oakley

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Silhouette Romance® is thrilled to bring you

a sparkling new book from British author

Natasha Oakley

Her poignant and emotional writing

will tug on your heartstrings.

“Her words shoot straight to your heart just like Cupid’s

arrow. Ms. Oakley has a special talent for making you

fall in love with her characters.”

—writersunlimited.com

“One of the best writers of contemporary

romance writing today!”

—cataromance.com

“Emotional, romantic and unforgettable,

Natasha Oakley aims straight for your heart with

richly drawn characters, powerfully intense emotions

and heart-stopping romance!”

—cataromance.com

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE (#u324bf15f-b8ed-5390-a7c2-be0db0a5d902)

CHAPTER TWO (#ua531d21b-d01d-56a2-a890-26a18e32b7f5)

CHAPTER THREE (#u60b55bc4-f10e-5b64-a29d-08577cf6fe12)

CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE

THERE was no one there.

Lydia Stanford set her heavy briefcase down and banged again on the dark blue front door of the cottage, stepping back to look at the top floor windows that peeked sleepily out of a roof of handmade tiles.

It was picturesque, but she wasn’t here to admire the view and it all looked ominously quiet. There was no glint of movement in the upstairs rooms. No sound of radio or television in the background. Nothing.

Well, nothing except the half-open window above the ramshackle single brick addition at the back. She lifted the brass plate covering the letterbox and peered inside. ‘Ms Bennington? Are you the