CHRISTINE RIMMER - A Husband She Couldn’t Forget

The career she couldnt remember...
The marriage she couldnt forget

Aly Santangelos car accident left her with no memory of the past seven yearsnot her move to New York, nor her divorce from Connor Bravo. Connor reminds the vulnerable beauty that theyre no longer together, even as he lets her into his homeand his bed. But when unchecked passion leads to an unplanned pregnancy, Aly vows to play for keeps!

Connor wasnt really sure how it happened.

One second, Aly was a foot away, and the next, she was plastered up against him and his arms were banding around her.

That kiss.

Her kiss.

It was as good as the kiss last nightscratch that.

Better.

Her mouth tasted of coffee and the Twizzlers shed snacked on during the movie. He could kiss her forever, their tongues sparring and twining, the feel of her exactly right, soft and hot and lush and curvy under his roving hands.

It was a long kiss. But still it ended way too soon.

He did thatended itat that last possible second.

Not gonna happen, he muttered, breathing fast, pressing his forehead to hers, exerting every ounce of willpower he possessed not to claim those plush red lips again.

She was the one who stepped back. She gave him one of those scorching looks from under the thick fringe of her black eyelashes. Let me know if you change your mind. And then she turned and left him. Strolling off along the upstairs hall, hips swaying maddeningly, she disappeared into her room.

* * *

THE BRAVOS OF VALENTINE BAY:
Theyre finding loveand having babies!
in the Pacific Northwest

Dear Reader,

Too often in life we can lose what matters most. Only later, looking back with regret, do we realize that we were too young, too foolish, too proud or too obstinate to comprehend the enormity of what we were throwing away.

Connor Bravo and Alyssa Santangelo got married nine years ago. They loved each other to distraction, but one of them lied and one of them was too proud to make the first move toward reconciliation. Seven years ago, Connor sent Aly divorce papers. She signed them. And that was that. They havent spoken to each other since.

But now Alys beloved mother is pregnant again, a late-in-life, high-risk pregnancy. Her mom needs her only daughter at her side. So Aly takes an extended family leave from her job in Manhattan. Shes coming home to Valentine Bay for her moms sakeand only for her mom.

No way is she planning to get in contact with her ex-husband. Its over between them and has been for yearsor so she keeps telling herself until fate takes a hand.

Stories like this one are why I love being a romance writer. In a romance, no matter how impossible a happily-ever-after might seem, our hero and heroine will finally get it right. I hope that Connor and Alys story leaves you certain that broken hearts really can be mended and love will find a way to overcome the toughest obstacles.

Happy reading, everyone!

Christine

A Husband She Couldnt Forget

Christine Rimmer

Christine Rimmer came to her profession the long way around. She tried everything from acting to teaching to telephone sales. Now shes finally found work that suits her perfectly. She insists she never had a problem keeping a jobshe was merely gaining life experience for her future as a novelist. Christine lives with her family in Oregon. Visit her at christinerimmer.com.

Books by Christine Rimmer

Harlequin Special Edition

The Bravos of Valentine Bay

The Nannys Double Trouble
Almost a Bravo
Same Time, Next Christmas
Switched at Birth

The Bravos of Justice Creek

Not Quite Married
The Good Girls Second Chance
Carter Bravos Christmas Bride
James Bravos Shotgun Bride
Ms. Bravo and the Boss
A Bravo for Christmas
The Lawmans Convenient Bride
Garrett Bravos Runaway Bride
Married Till Christmas

Montana Mavericks: Six Brides for Six Brothers

Her Favorite Maverick

Visit the Author Profile page at www.Harlequin.com for more titles.

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For MSR, always.

Contents

Chapter One

T he accident never should have happened. And it wouldnt have happened if Alyssa Santangelo hadnt let herself get distracted by thoughts of the past.

With a long stay in her hometown ahead of her, Aly had promised herself that this time, she would not try to keep a low profile. This time, she wouldnt be slinking around town like a heartsick fool, trying to avoid any chance she might run into the guy whod lied and broken her heart and had her served with divorce papers after making zero effort to work things out.

And there. Shed just done it. Let her mind stray into dangerous territory. She wasnt going to do that. She would not think about him.

And she wasnt thinking about him. Not really.

She was only reassuring herself as to how this visit would go, only bolstering her resolution to stand tall and be strong. With a deep breath and a determined smile, she focused on the road ahead of her.

The drive from Portland International to Valentine Bay was a beautiful one. They called this section of US Route 26 the Sunset Highway. It wound in and out of the national forest, working its way west toward the setting sun.

It was just twilight on a warm Saturday evening in July. Aly had the windows down in her rental car and the air smelled of spruce and fir. Of Oregon.

Of home.

And her thoughts...

Her thoughts just wouldnt behave. They kept drifting, wandering, pretending to stay in the present, and then circling back again.

To her ex, to Connor Bravo.

Really, she hardly thought of the guy anymoreor if she did, she reminded herself firmly to stop thinking of him, to count her blessings instead.

And her blessings were many. She had a job she loved at Strategic Image. The ad agency had hired her as an assistant to an assistant straight out of the University of Oregon. Shed started at the bottom of the ladder, but shed moved up fast. Shed made friends, good friends, the kind a woman can count on. Her current apartment in Tribeca was perfect, a small space, but with a huge closet for her fabulous wardrobe. She was living her dream in New York, New York.

Only one thing was missingthe right man to share her life with.

It wasnt as though she hadnt tried to find him. She put herself out there, dating guys her friends had introduced her to and guys she met via Match and Coffee Meets Bagel. Somehow, though, that special something was always missing. Her relationships never lasted that long. The most recent of those had ended a couple weeks ago. Kyle Santos was a great guy. He just wasnt the right guy. It had seemed wrong to drag things out, so shed broken it off with him.

And seriously, what was she brooding about? She was only twenty-nine and mostly focused on her job. She would find the man for her, eventually. And she would get it right the second time around.

Coming home, though...

Well, it was tough. The memories were everywhere she turned. She and Connor used to drive this stretch of highway together several times a year, going back and forth from OU in Eugene. They would stop at rustic, logging-themed Camp 18 for burgers and to give their phones a workout snapping pictures of each other, mugging it up with the chainsaw sculpture of Big Foot at the entrance to the gift shop.