His 7-Day Fiancée Gail Barrett
Table of Contents
Title Page
About The Author
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Epilogue
Copyright
Gail Barrett always dreamed of becoming a writer. After living everywhere from Spain to the Bahamas, raising two children and teaching high-school Spanish for years, she finally fulfilled that lifelong goal. Her writing has won numerous awards, including Romance Writers of Americas prestigious Golden Heart. Gail currently lives in western Maryland with her two sons, a quirky Chinook dog and her own Montana rancher turned retired coastguard officer hero. Write to her at PO Box 65, Funkstown, Maryland 21734-0065, USA, or visit her website, www.gailbarrett.com.
To my wonderful editor, Susan Litman, with appreciation for all that youve done.Thank you so much!
Acknowledgements
Id like to thank the following people for their help: Destry Labo for answering my questions about Las Vegas; John K Barrett, for his information about guns; Mary Jo Archer for her usual super help; and, as always, Judith Sandbrook, critique partner extraordinaire. Thank you all!
Chapter 1
Fear razored through her belly like the slash of a switchbladeswift, hot, deep. It rippled through her awareness, stripped away her composure, shattering the illusion of safety shed so desperately built.
Leaving her weak, defenseless, exposed.
No. Amanda Patterson wheezed air past her strangled throat, pressed her palm to her rioting heart. She wasnt weak, not anymore. And she refused to be vulnerable again.
She jerked her gaze past the line of stretch limos, inhaled deeply to steady her nerves. Cars idled by the casino on the gridlocked Strip, their horns blaring, stereos booming. Neon lights beckoned and flashed. Andpeople streamed past, an endless parade of humanitylaughing, fearless people out to have fun on a warm April night.
She let out her breath, eased the death grip she had on her wrist,
forced her shoulders to relax. She was imagining things. Wayne wasnt watching her. He wasnt even in Las Vegas. Her exhusband was in Maryland, in prison, exactly where he belonged.
She was safe. Safe. She was thousands of miles away from Wayne, rid of him forever. She was in a new house, getting a new job, starting a new life.
Her sister, Kendall, finished paying the taxi driver and flashed her a smile. Ready to rock?
She dragged in another breath, tugged up the corners of her mouth. You bet.
Kendall tilted her head. Her thick, honeybrown hair slid over her sculpted dancers arms. Whats wrong? Youre not worrying about Claire already are you?
Her sister knew her too well. No, of course not. Mrs. Schmidt seems great.
She is great. And you warned her about Claires allergies a dozen times. So stop worrying. Claire will have a great time. Mrs. Schmidt will spoil her to death.
To death. Amandas heart squeezed. Dread shivered through her veins, but she shook off the gloomy thought. This was ridiculous. She was safe. Her three-year-old daughter was safe.
And she wasnt going to let her old fears ruin her new life.
Then what is it? Kendall probed. It better not be Wayne because if youre going to let that creep
Its not him. And Im fine, really, she lied, embar-rassed to let her sister know how rattled she was, how hard it was to quell that horrible feeling that he was spying on her, controlling her, even after all these months.
Kendall studied her with those perceptive hazel eyes. Then her mouth softened. Nothings going to happen. You know that, right?
Right. She wouldnt let it. No matter how badly shed mucked up the past, she owed her daughter a safe and stable life. Heck, she owed it to herself. Shed endured a hellish marriage, the terror of being stalked.
Now she was done with the past, done with the paranoia and fearand on to a much better life.
She straightened her shoulders, tugged the hem of the tight red minidress Kendall had insisted she wear and tried for a lighter tone. But getting arrested for indecent exposure isnt exactly what I need right now. Are you sure this dress is legal?
Kendall tossed back her head and laughed, her trademark exuberance drawing the gazes of passing men. Mandy, this is Vegas. The place where anything goes.
Yes, I know, but
But nothing. That dress is fabulousalthough I still say you should have lost that ugly purse. Now, come on, she continued when Amanda opened her mouth to defend the huge, battered bag. Lighten up. This is your lucky night out, remember?
Luck. Right. She latched on to Kendalls arm, turned toward the arched entrance to the famed Janus casino. But walk slowly. Im not used to these skyscraper heels.
Youre not used to having fun. Which is exactly why were here. Youre going to let loose for oncegamble, meet some hot men, have a ball.
Amanda grimaced. She had no intention of meeting men, hot or otherwise. She knew her limits too well. But Kendall was determined to light up the town, and the least she could do was try.