Winning Sara's Heart

Mary Anne Wilson

Could He Promise Her Forever?After years of sacrifice in order to keep a roof over her young daughter's head, Sara Flynn is thrilled when she's offered a part-time job at the local day-care center and is allowed to bring little Hayley with her. But it's her work on the upcoming charity ball that changes her life forever….E. J. Sommers might have the Midas touch in business, but what about love? After agreeing to hold the ball at his house, E.J. finds himself falling hard and fast for the blond beauty and her daughter. Only problem is, she doesn't know about his millionaire status or even his real name. Now E.J. has to find a way to win Sara's heart without losing her trust….Just for Kids: A day-care center where love abounds…and lasts forever!

Finally—she’d said it. There was nothing between them. There couldn’t be, not now—not ever…

He came around the desk and stood in front of her. “What did you think I was going to do?”

“I’m sorry,” she breathed.

He narrowed his gaze, then without warning reached out and cupped her chin. He ignored the way she flinched at the contact as his fingers pressed against her skin. “What in the hell happened to you to make you like this?”

Sara drew back, tried to absorb the pain that came with his words. “Who do you think you are?” she whispered.

He leaned toward her, coming so close that she felt his breath brush her face when he spoke. “Someone who can’t understand where all this anger is coming from, or why you’ve decided to cut off your life for your daughter.” He paused, then said softly, “But then again, I don’t know you, do I? I don’t understand.”

“No, you don’t,” she said, hating the way her voice was shaking.

She expected him to turn and walk away. But he didn’t.

Instead, he looked right at her and said in a low, tense voice, “But I want to…understand.”

Dear Reader,

Winning Sara’s Heart, part of my series JUST FOR KIDS, centers on E. J. Sommers and Sara Flynn, two people who aren’t looking for anything more than to be in control of their own lives. That premise always intrigues me—how two people can think they’re in control, only to meet that one person who can change everything.

This is a Cinderella story. There’s a “prince” and a “princess,” a magical ball, even a “fairy godmother” named Mary Garner, but no wicked stepsisters. However, there is a little girl named Hayley, who loves both the “prince” and the “princess.” She happens to end up in the middle of the magic that proves that even when two people don’t believe in love, it’s all around them and out of their control.

I hope you enjoy E. J. and Sara’s story and all the magic love can bring to this world, especially when it’s least expected. Please look for the next book in my JUST FOR KIDS series, When Megan Smiles, in March 2004.

Winning Sara’s Heart

Mary Anne Wilson

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

For Wendy Douglas

For being a great friend when life wasn’t easy.

Thanks for being there.

Contents

Chapter One (#u0dfd8bad-0799-5512-9f12-0547111df104)

Chapter Two (#uc7c327b1-4487-596b-b01a-417431c765d4)

Chapter Three (#u7461e078-2a10-50f7-8478-d54196af3a04)

Chapter Four (#u952e045c-9b6c-5647-af04-fc5dfc058276)

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 Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One

E. J. Sommers didn’t want to be here. He wanted to be anywhere but in the limousine heading into downtown Houston for a meeting at LynTech. He didn’t want to sit in some stuffy conference room, facing the head honchos across a shiny table and negotiate away part of his own company. If it were up to him, he’d be out somewhere in the open, alone, letting his attorney take care of the whole thing.

“Everything okay?” Martin